Tag: RAF Museum Hendon

The Survivors: Bristol Beaufighter – The “Whispering Death” of the Pacific and Beyond!

DAP Beaufighter Mk.21 (A8-328) at the Australian National Aviation Museum, Moorabbin Airport, Victoria (May 2019)

Reportedly dubbed “Whispering Death” by Japanese ground forces due to its quiet engines (courtesy of engine sleeve valves), fast and powerful Bristol Beaufighter heavy fighters were flown by Allied pilots to strike Axis shipping and ground targets in the European, North African, Mediterranean and South West Pacific theatres of World War Two. I can picture… Read More The Survivors: Bristol Beaufighter – The “Whispering Death” of the Pacific and Beyond!

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The Survivors: Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger – Germany’s “Peoples Fighter”

Heinkel He 162A-2 Volksjäger ("People's Fighter" - Werk Nummer 120086) "Yellow 2" of JG 1 is on display at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, Ontario (2013)

The Reichsluftfahrtministerium Volksjäger (“People’s Fighter”) design competition was issued on September 10th, 1944 by the German Ministry of Aviation (Reichsluftfahrtministerium – RLM) to develop an inexpensive, mass produced emergency light jet fighter that was fast but easy to fly, to combat the Allied bomber offensive that was devastating Germany. Designs were to be returned by… Read More The Survivors: Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger – Germany’s “Peoples Fighter”

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The Survivors: Fiat CR.42 Falco – Maneuverable But Outgunned!

The Swedish Air Force Museum Fiat CR.42/J 11 Falco (Fv 2543) entered service in 1942 and was one of the last retired in 1945 – November 2017

The Fiat CR.42 Falco (“Falcon”) fighter aircraft was an Italian sesquiplane variant of the biplane design, where the lower wing was not more than half the surface of the upper wing. Introduced into Italian Regia Aeronautica service in 1939, the fighter was already obsolete in the World War Two era of modern, faster monoplane aircraft… Read More The Survivors: Fiat CR.42 Falco – Maneuverable But Outgunned!

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The Survivors: Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer

Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4/R6 (Werk Nr. 730301) 1944 night fighter and DB 601 engine – RAF Museum London Hendon, UK 2012

The Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer (“Destroyer”) twin-engine heavy fighter was designed for the Luftwaffe to combat bombers and fighters alike. It seemed to offer it all when it was first flown on May 12th, 1936 and entered Luftwaffe service in 1937. With the introduction of more powerful Daimler-Benz DB 601 engines in 1938, the Bf… Read More The Survivors: Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer

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