56 BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER M k.X
Dive brakes were usually deactivated and
venturis below wings removed. Brakes
removed if maintenance downtime permitted.Tropical fittings,
including engine
carb intake filter
housings and nose-
shroud pieces,
usually removed
at MU for coastal-
destined aircraft.This wing shows a universal bomb
carrier (UBC) in place just inboard
of the wing gun ejector chutes.
An R/P blast plate and fairing are
illustrated on the opposite wing,
with the fittings for the UBC just inboard
of it. A pair of UBCs is illustrated either
side of the forward entrance hatch
with a pair of sway braces in between.Beaufighter TF.X (early production),
in service within Coastal Command
as anti-flak R/P strike aircraft- typical in service with Coastal
Command squadrons from late 1943
through to December 1944
Beaufighter TF.X (early production)
delivery configuration- typical as delivered to Coastal Command
squadrons through to at least August-
September 1943. - ASV transmitter Yagi aerial seemed to
be retained in service only for a short
while on most squadrons. Torpedo-
specialist units seemed to retain them
longer through into late 1944 at least. - ASV receiver aerials (sword aerials,
either side of nose) were retained on
coastal aircraft for Rebecca beacon
system prior to RD130, even if
transmitting Yagi was removed. From
RD130 onwards (see lower drawing,
next page) a larger aerial mounted
in the new wooden wingtips replaced it
functionally.
Note the asymmetrical layout of the
cannon blast tube ports under the
nose. This was standard across all
Beaufighter marks.Either a 'balloon' or Marstrand twin-contact type
could be used on the tail landing gear – usually
depended on airfield conditions and surfacing.On coastal Beaufighters prior to serial
RD130 fitted for operational R/P work, the
twin landing light fixture in the port wing
was clad with sheet metal and finished in
the local camouflage colour.© Terry Higgins of Aviaeology Publishing, 2014-2015
52-57_Drawings.CC.indd 56 19/03/2015 15:09