WORLD WAR TWO CANADIAN BEAUFIGHTERS
72 FLYPAST September 2018
was to have each strike-specialist
squadron use the aerial torpedo as
its main weapon while their anti-
flak brethren attacked anti-
aircraft guns with cannon and
machine guns.
Bombs were also used on occasion.
Coastal Command Beaufighters
were factory fitted with racks to carry
a 250-pounder under each wing
and by early 1944, special adaptor
rigs were available to take a pair of
500-pounders under the fuselage.
Back in 1943, the rocket projectile
(RP) had also came into use on anti-
flak Beaufighters. No.404 Squadron
began training with this new
weapon in August while converting
from the Beaufighter Mk.XIc to
the multi-role TF.X. By the time
Overlord launched on D-Day (June
6, 1944), trained units were using
RPs to sink ships.
As airmen became more skilled
at using rocket weaponry, the
expensive Mk.XV 18in aerial
torpedo equipping the Beaufighter
squadrons was relegated for use
only in perfect conditions. This
eventually led to greater tactical
versatility within the strike wings:
the torpedo specialists became anti-
flak experts with a secondary strike
role, while the RP squadron became
the primary strike element that alsomaintained proficiency in anti-
flak gunnery.
By the time their operations in
the south had ended, the Wick/
Davidstow/Strubby Strike Wing
had survived a busy summer of
near constant combat. For its
part, 404 Squadron had become
an RP exponent with its anti-flak
capabilities still intact.RETURN TO 18 GROUP
The Buffaloes (a namesake derived
from 404’s official crest) prepared
to leave Strubby for Banff in
Aberdeenshire, on September 1,- There was a lively send-off
with their departing |CO, Wg
Cdr Ken Gatward DSO DFC* as
special guest. Like Gatward, the
new ‘boss’, Wg Cdr E W ‘Teddy’
Pierce, was also a seasoned veteran
of the campaign, having joined the
squadron when it was still flying
Bristol Blenheim IVfs in 1941.
He would lead the unit for the
remainder of its wartime tenure
with 18 Group.
By September 3, the advance party
busily organised itself on the new
station and the main party arrived
the next day. By September 6 the
heavy rains that hampered the unit
settling in gave way to steadily
improving conditions.
Based on an early morning report
from a 333 (Norwegian) Squadron
de Havilland Mosquito crew, a strike
was mounted almost immediately. A
full wing effort was assembled and,
by mid-afternoon, 26 heavily armed
Beaufighters – 12 of 404 Squadron
with RPs and 14 anti-flak aircraft of
No.144 with cannon only –
were headed for Utvaer on the
Norwegian coast.
One returned to base early due
to technical problems but the rest
continued, arriving in weather
less than ideal for low-level anti-
shipping work. The strike was called
off after a brief sweep up the coast.
Back at Banff, the Mosquitos of 235
Squadron arrived from Portreath.
Apart from the regular 333
Squadron morning recces, there
was no operational flying over the
next two days as the units assumed
the routine practice of air testing
and maintenance.
A combination of relatively
clear skies, and potential shipping
targets spotted by the ever-vigilant
Norwegian fighter recce squadron,
resulted in a large wing effort to
the Stavanger-Kristiansand area
on the 9th. However, conditions
deteriorated again and all aircraft
returned to base without sighting
the targets.Above right
Beaufi ghter TF.X NV173/
EE-X, the usual mount of
Wg Cdr ‘Teddy’ Pierce. It
was lost while being fl own
by a different crew on
December 9, 1944. TERRY
HIGGINS-AVIAEOLOGY
Below
With rocket projectiles in
place under the wings,
Beaufi ghter NV291/EE-H
is pictured at Banff on
September 6, 1944. ED LEE