The Bristol Beaufighter is a British heavy fighter aircraft that could also perform other types of roles, from pure and night fighter to light and torpedo bomber. It was designed during World War 2 by the Bristol Aeroplane Company. With almost 6.000 units manufactured from May 1940 to 1946, the type proved successful and was therefore employed by many air forces around the globe. One of such was the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF with four squadrons operating the Beau (as it was commonly known).
The first of those units was No. 406 "City of Saskatoon" Squadron. This formation was created in May 1941 and was equipped with Bristol Blenheim Mk. IF (which was the heavy fighter variant of the Bristol Blenheim bomber), although they only lasted for a month, because in June that same year the squadron was re-equipped with the much better Beaufighter Mk. IIF (the Rolls-Royce Merlin powered night fighter variant).
The Mk. IIF was operated for one year, until June 1942 when they received the Mk. VIF (another night fighter variant equipped with an Al Mk. VIII radar and powered by the Bristol Hercules engines). The Mk. VIF was operated until August 1944 when the squadron completed the transition to the De Havilland Mosquito Mk. XII, transition which began in April 1944. During the war, No. 406 Squadron operated only from British soil.
The Mk. IIF was operated for one year, until June 1942 when they received the Mk. VIF (another night fighter variant equipped with an Al Mk. VIII radar and powered by the Bristol Hercules engines). The Mk. VIF was operated until August 1944 when the squadron completed the transition to the De Havilland Mosquito Mk. XII, transition which began in April 1944. During the war, No. 406 Squadron operated only from British soil.
Another Beau-equipped RCAF squadron was No. 409 Squadron, which received the Beaufighter Mk. IIF in August 1941, replacing their Boulton-Paul Defiants and performing the night-fighter role. During the early days of this unit's existence, two victories were claimed, with more being claimed in June 1942 when the squadron received the Mk. VIF. The unit retained their Beaus until March-May 1944 when they were reassigned to the 2nd Tactical Air Force (TAF) and their Beaus were replaced with Mosquitoes Mk. XII.
Assigned to RAF's Coastal Command, No. 404 squadron, received the Beaufighter Mk. IIF in as late as September 1942. Unlike other units above, this squadron was tasked with coastal patrols and anti-shipping operations in the Atlantic Ocean. In January 1943, operating from Devon, the squadron was tasked with anti U-boats patrols over the Bay of Biscay, task which was kept in March 1943 when the squadron received the Beaufighter TF Mk. X (a dedicated anti-shipping variant, commonly known as the "Torbeau", powered by the Hercules Mk. XVII engines).
In May/June 1944 the squadron was tasked with the defence of the western approaches from England to France, in order to support Operation Overlord. It was during those months that the squadron attacked three German destroyers spotted south of the French port of Brest. Although the destroyers managed to arrive to port safely, two of them were sunk on the next day by surface ships. In July 1944 they were rebased to the eastern shore of England, where they were assigned to anti-shipping duties on the Dutch coast. This task lasted until September, when they were rebased to Scotland, where they were assigned to the famous Banff Strike Wing, one of the most effective anti-shipping units of the war. In as late as March 1945 their Beaufighters were replaced by Mosquitoes Mk. VI.
In May/June 1944 the squadron was tasked with the defence of the western approaches from England to France, in order to support Operation Overlord. It was during those months that the squadron attacked three German destroyers spotted south of the French port of Brest. Although the destroyers managed to arrive to port safely, two of them were sunk on the next day by surface ships. In July 1944 they were rebased to the eastern shore of England, where they were assigned to anti-shipping duties on the Dutch coast. This task lasted until September, when they were rebased to Scotland, where they were assigned to the famous Banff Strike Wing, one of the most effective anti-shipping units of the war. In as late as March 1945 their Beaufighters were replaced by Mosquitoes Mk. VI.
The last RCAF unit to operate the Beaufighter was No. 410 Squadron, which operated the Beaufighter Mk. IIF for less than a year, as they began to replace their Boulton-Paul Defiants in April 1942. The first official sortie of this unit took place on the night of 4th June 1942 when twelve Beaus Mk. IIF took off from RAF Drem, Scotland. In November the unit began its transition to the Mosquito NF Mk. II, transition that was completed in January 1943.
Sources:
1st https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bristol_Beaufighter_operators
2ns https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/404_Long_Range_Patrol_and_Training_Squadron
3rd https://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RCAF/404_wwII.html
4th https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/406_Maritime_Operational_Training_Squadron
5th https://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RCAF/406_wwII.html
6th https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/409_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron
7th https://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RCAF/409_wwII.html
8th https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/410_Tactical_Fighter_Operational_Training_Squadron
9th https://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RCAF/410_wwII.html
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