NMUSAF adds Bristol Beaufighter October 19th

ww2John · **Posted:** Mon Oct 02, 2006 11:36 am

...from today's News & Notes...

"Museum adds British Bristol Beaufighter

An aircraft that once filled the need for an effective night fighter in the U.S. Army Air Forces until an American aircraft could be produced will be added to the National Museum of the United States Air Force’s Air Power Gallery on Oct. 19.

The museum’s Bristol Beaufighter will be marked as the one flown by Capt. Harold Augspurger, commander of the 415th Night Fighter Squadron, who shot down an He 111 carrying German staff officers in 1944.

Today, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Augspurger serves as a volunteer at the museum."

Here is the link to the NMUSAF page on this a/c (indicates still in restoration)

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsh ... asp?id=492

This has been many years in restoration and I can't wait to see the end result.

Not too many of these on this side of the pond (OK, on any side of any pond).
:wink:

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:00 pm

Good news! The Beaufighter has been in restoration both here and in Australia for many years now. That leaves just the "George" and Mike Rawson's A-25 left to be placed on display in the WW2 Gallery after their respective restorations are complete.

ww2John · **Posted:** Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:04 pm

Pat,

Imagine other museums saying they are "just" waiting for the George and the A-25. With the Beaufighter, those three are pretty impressive in and of themselves, without looking at the rest of the hangar.
:wink:

RMAllnutt · **Posted:** Mon Oct 02, 2006 7:29 pm

Don't forget the P-75 Eagle, and the Memphis Belle, which are under restoration for NMUSAF too.

Great to see that the Beaufighter is fully restored now.

Cheers,
Richard

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:29 pm

Richard;
I just gotta say, I love your heading photo!!!!
Jerry

Mark_Pilkington · **Posted:** Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:49 pm

It is great news to see this rare and very historic aircraft finally restored BUT.....

While an owner can paint its aircraft in what ever colour scheme it likes it seems a great shame for the USAFM to to do this to a RAAF combat veteran of the WW2 South Pacific theatre, and on the heals of the similar recent treatment of the ex RAAF Mark V Spitfire that had Defence of Darwin history, I thought we were "allies" who could have our historic aircraft presented in their own identities and history's even if there largely to represent a type flown by the US obscurely? at some time.

Where was our AWM at this time - buying B25's that they later sold??

Maybe we should get SwampGhost downuder and put it in a RAAF Colour scheme??

regards

Mark Pilkington

Shay · **Posted:** Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:57 pm

Mark_Pilkington wrote:

It is great news to see this rare and very historic aircraft finally restored BUT.....

While an owner can paint its aircraft in what ever colour scheme it likes it seems a great shame for the USAFM to to do this to a RAAF combat veteran of the WW2 South Pacific theatre, and on the heals of the similar recent treatment of the ex RAAF Mark V Spitfire that had Defence of Darwin history, I thought we were "allies" who could have our historic aircraft presented in their own identities and history's even if there largely to represent a type flown by the US obscurely? at some time.

Where was our AWM at this time - buying B25's that they later sold??

Maybe we should get SwampGhost downuder and put it in a RAAF Colour scheme??

regards

Mark Pilkington

I knew it was coming :lol:

What is the combat history of this beaufighter?

When it goes on display I can run out and get fresh pictures for ya'll if you like?

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

Mark_Pilkington · **Posted:** Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:29 pm

I understand it was operational with RAAF 31 Squadron in PNG and island/shipping operations in the 43/44 period.

I would be very keen to see pics of it, in any colour scheme, I'm gald that USAFM restored it when our own AWM couldn't be bothered or interested!

regards

Mark Pilkington

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Tue Oct 03, 2006 3:14 pm

the beau is 1 of my favorites, i love it's lines!!

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:53 pm

All you Beaufighter fans will really enjoy that news, and for OZ you can jump for joy, in your case down and up. Are there any flying?

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:31 pm

The NAM in Ottawa, Canada has a very derelict Beaufighter that sat OUTSIDE for something like twenty-five years. Complete with graffitti carved into the lower fuselage skins. Ex-portugese I understand.

Criminal. :roll:

Dan

TAdan · **Posted:** Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:01 pm

Glad to hear the Beau is almost done. I saw it two or three years ago in a tour of the resto hangers. I look forward to seeing it finished.

oz rb fan · **Joined:** Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:33 am **Posts:** 474

thanks bill
i saw this beau when it was owned by moorabin air museum back in the 70's/early 80's it's good to see it almost finished.
i'll be very happy to see pics of it complete and on display.
mark i agree with what you said in both your posts, the awm amongst others should hang their heads in shame ,these aircraft are our history.
congrats to the nmusaf for restoring another beutiful airframe.
paul

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NMUSAF adds Bristol Beaufighter October 19th

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