Bristol Beaufighter

The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often called the Beau, was a British multi-role aircraft of the Second World War, conceived as a heavy fighter variant of the Beaufort torpedo bomber. Its large size let it carry heavy armament and early airborne interception radar, which made it an effective night fighter in the Battle of Britain. It later flew as the rocket-armed Rockbeau ground attacker and the Torbeau torpedo bomber, and the Royal Australian Air Force used it as an anti-shipping aircraft at the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 17 July 1939. Twin Bristol Hercules radial engines replaced the Beaufort Taurus units. British production ended in September 1945 after 5,564 had been built.