AA28903 Bristol Beaufort MkIa ‘35’ - Middle East Check and Conversion Unit

Bristol Beaufort MkIa, EK979 '35', Middle East Check and Conversion Unit, RAF, Egypt 1944.

Following the introduction of the Bristol Beaufighter in a maritime strike role, many Beaufort squadrons were subsequently sent to operate from bases in the Mediterranean and Middle East and after a significant reorganisation in theatre during late 1941 and early 1942, would once again find themselves taking a heavy toll of Axis shipping. Beauforts arrived in Egypt from around August 1941, where they would replace Blenheims and Martin Marylands which had previously been holding the line, with all aircraft in this region looking very different to those operating from Britain, by virtue of their attractive desert camouflage scheme they wore. 

It has been reported that as Axis shipping virtually stopped operating by day, the Mediterranean Beauforts spent more time engaged in training sorties than they did flying offensive strikes and as a consequence, more aircraft would be lost in accidents and to mechanical failures, than as a result of enemy action. Nevertheless, Beauforts did prove ruthlessly effective in mauling Axis shipping in the Mediterranean, preventing the resupply of the Afrika Korps by sea, enabling ground forces to continually have the Germans on the retreat, eventually bringing about the surrender of the Afrika Korps. 

Later in the war, Mediterranean Beauforts were equipped with ASV radar equipment, in an attempt to assist crews in locating the ever more elusive Axis shipping by day and by night, with the war taking a significant turn in favour of the Allies.