Few people are aware of just how quiet those big sleeve-valve radial Hercules engines really were. I’ve seen estimates that they couldn’t be heard until the airplane was within about 5-800 ft. of the enemy. Hence, the nickname “The Whispering Death”.
The old "whispering death" myth... Talk about lazy research. Maybe AF could write content for HIstory Channel - they aren't too concerned with accuracy.
Sorry - the designer was Lesley Frise - pronounced “fries” - as in “French fries” - rhymes with “sunrise”. I know, because he was a distant cousin of mine. Lesley also designed the Frise-type ailerons which are used in nearly all subsonic aircraft to this day.
I’ve liked the Beaufighter since reading about it in Bill Gunston’s book as a kid. I think the term “functionally elegant” is appropriate here-the Beaufighter looked brawny, because it WAS brawny, because it needed to be. Greg’s airplanes and automobiles has a nice video on the Beau, giving it a little well earned spotlight.
It is criminal that one of these prestigious aircraft isnt part of the BoBMF. They always get overlooked by the glamorous mosquito. Hopefully one of these is being made airworthy in Duxford. Great video by the way.
The Encyclopedia Of Air Warfare, a profusely illustrated 1974 book, which as a child I devoured, on pages 160-61, the Chapter ‘Fighter’s War, consists of across both pages, a beautiful colour photograph of Beaufighter taxing in Malta, directed by two back to the camera airmen. This took me back and made me dig the book up.
Met a Beaufighter pilot once "it was for killing" he said the "wooden plane" (as he called the Mosquito) "was a excellent aircraft - but the Beaufighter was for serious action".
Nice overview. Bravo! I particularly liked that you included, "reportedly", with regard to the, "Whispering Death", moniker, as Australian records show that the apocryphal story of the Japanese calling the Beaufighter as such, was 100% allied wartime propaganda. The Japanese never called it, "Whispering Death", and no records ever existed to back up the claim. It was, however, an excellent propaganda story that was well propagated by wartime media and sticks to the type to this day. As most Beaufighter veterans would attest, Hercules at attack power settings, roared like demons, and it was the use of excellent low level tactics to mask their approach, that allowed Beaufighter crews to pounce unexpectedly, and so effectively.
The IWM site at Duxford is restoring a Beaufighter, although it's been a few years since I was there. I Believe it was an Aussie aircraft but I don't know if it was an import or DAP produced. Even in it's half-naked state it's one of the most beautiful aircraft ever produced! 😍😍😍
The Beau is the only ww2 warbird yet to be restored to flying condition tho I understand that there is a crew in Wollongong who made a start on such a project. Meanwhile around southern Queensland a Beaufort project seems to have stalled.
I have heard of three restoration projects: Beaufighter Mk.IF X7688 - Owned by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) in Australia, this aircraft is being restored to fly. It will be a composite airframe based on X7688 (forward fuselage and center-section), with parts from other aircraft. Beaufighter Mk.Ic A19-144 - Owned by The Fighter Collection at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, this aircraft has been undergoing a lengthy restoration to flying status for some years. It is a composite aircraft built using parts from JM135/A19-144 and JL946/A19-148. Beaufighter TF.X RD867 - In storage at the Canada Aviation Museum, RD867 awaits restoration. It is a semi-complete RAF restoration but lacks engines, cowlings or internal components.
Thankyou informative if perhaps a little rough round the edges, I think the voice is that of a quite well known (ex)BBC journalist? Wesley Kerr was it ? Shame ,I believe there are several almost completed restored airframes still kicking around for want of engines.My belief is that there is a reluctance, inability , unwillingness maybe due to skill shortage (or all of the above) to obtain and restore several of the 55000 Hercs produced to power them.Sleeve valve fright ? Pity because I would love to see one fly as a testimony to all those brave men who flew into flak walls miles out at sea. I think I am right in saying the handling issues were eventually mostly sorted out with dihedral elevators and rudder mods' . Thanks again
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. I have been given a few tips here that i will try and improve future videos. I wasn't aiming for (or copied) a specific persons voice, but yes, was aiming for a BBC accent.
To be honest there is probably a videos worth of content per squadron. One lesson from this video is 16 minutes is probably too long. Most watch times are 7 minutes. But your right, 16 squadron in Africa and the Balkans in the Beaufighter was worth a mention for sure.
The Beaufighter was for me up beside the Mosquito , it was built 3 times over for Strength an is one of my all time favorites , Great vid on a Aircraft that never gets the Credit it deserves..Great vid.
In much the same way the Hawker Hurricane is overshadowed by the Spitfire - - the Bristol Beaufighter is likewise overshadowed by the more famous Mosquito -- -- yet for my money - the Beaufighter's pugnacious look - adds to it's fighting reputation.
Yes, the US did get Beaufighters. Primarily the night fighter version as the US didn't have enough night fighters. However, they got older, tired and maintenance problem Beaufighters. The Beau fighter lead the way in the new art and science of night fighting. That required the very best instrument flying and hard won development of radar, communication and navigation technology. There are a few really good books out there on this.
@@Aircraft_Files no it isn't. You can say beaufighter without any problem so why is Beaufort so difficult? Bo- Fort... Bo-Fighter. Nit difficult at all.
Sorry, I also got a mans name pronunciation wrong, I typically parse words via tophonetics.com to check, but for this one i inexplicably forgot. Hopefully you still enjoyed the video.
The narration is elevenlabs AI. My accent is quite broad and I prefer videos ppl can understand. I do all research, scripting and content by hand. It takes me quite some time. I typically use tophonetics.com to check pronunciations. I missed the step here.
@@Aircraft_Files At least you own up to using an AI narrator and even go so far as to identify which one. Best yet, this one is not as over used as another one I hear all the time, so much so that as soon as I hear it, I log out and leave a nasty remark or two. However, this time I can let it go as I said, in not one that is used much and the subject matter was very well researched and presented. Now as one who own narration voice has left much to be desired, I still made the effort and tried to improve, that is until I decide making TH-cam video's really wasn't for me. May I make a suggestion......when doing a video, next time make two copies, one narrated by the AI and the other your own voice. That way you can a: improve your narration skills and b: let your audience be the judge, you might be very surprised. Anyways, keep up the good work and I look forward to more of your content in the future.
@@gumpyoldbugger6944 Cheers. I have a head for radio and a voice for an old school written book. :-) having said that I will have a go on next project.
There's an interesting photo @16:38 1x Beaufighter (long nosed) with US markings and what looks like 3x JU88 with what I presume is British roundals (b&W so hard to tell) has anyone any ideas?
Its a combination of a number of sources. There is a great deal of information (more than i could consume) on the Beaufighter on the web. Otherwise i hope you enjoyed the video. It took me quite some time, the longest one so far.
The Bristol Beaufighter Mk IC X7887 ( T4887 ) of No 252 Squadron RAF landed by mistake during a flight from Malta on Augusta airfield, Sicily, 6 January 1942. ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/captured-beaufighter.15056/
Ok script but the image duration is poor. As examples, taking about Aussie planes while showing US ones, describing Merlin types but showing Hercules powered planes and as for the out of place Bostons -? Also, where did the Beau in fascist Italian markings occur.
I'm calling foul on this entire video. It's too shonky to have been made by any genuinely interested aviation history buff, surely? The toneless robotic narration bears little to no relation to thr photographs; later war Beaufughters are shown during the narration of its development, night fighters are shown when talking about coastal command, theres not a single inage of a merlin equipped Beaufighter ii during the narration about it, and bizarrely, an image of the turret equipped experimental version pops up without any explanation at all. Come on, this was toshed out using AI soley for clicks and revenue, wasnt it?
Sorry you didn't appreciate the effort. It took me quite some time. In research and scripting. In terms of the Order of images in the video, its not thematic, rather a montage. Im new at this, but hopefully will improve. I appreciate the feedback Toby.
@@Aircraft_Files You've found some great photo's, some very interesting and unusual ones. inc with turret, with Merlin engines etc. critique not critisisum, With a bit of editing so that the pictures are in the right places and No AI voice this could be a real informative channel. I would subscribe, but I don't like AI voices, they lack emotion that is neede to discribe the historic significance of the subject.
I welcome all suggestions for improvement. Thanks. I have already created a video on the Lagg-3 for release Saturday. But for the next one after, on the The Bristol Blenheim, I'll give it a go with own voice. Cheers.
@@Aircraft_Files Looking forward too the Lag 3 and a real voice. even if you had a terrible lisp (which I'm sure you haven't) it would be better to hear than a robot, Some of the best channels I listen to haven't got the best speakers, but the speak from the heart, which is what matters. Hope you channel takes off, I'll keep following your progress and good luck.
@@Aircraft_Files Opines the critic: ".....not a single inage(sic) of a Merlin equipped....." Looked like one at 5:12 and 10:08. Not sure about 0:53. If the critical commenter isn't all that observant, don't take the criticism too seriously. (We await with bated breath *_his_* video.) Nice video, do another. I'll watch.
Enormously silly and ignorant ‘cover’ _artwork_ picture with 4 (Mosquito copy) nose .303" machine guns which would have been in the pilot’s seat. The typical six machine guns were of course in the wings. The cannon were below and behind the pilot, like in the Mosquito.
An amazing warbird. The heavy fighters are ignored, but critical in the war.
Besides this and the P-38, most of them kinda sucked.
@@franktreppiedi2208 Not as Night fighters. Light fighters couldn't carry the radar kit. Bf 110 for instance, this chap does a good vid on them.
Few people are aware of just how quiet those big sleeve-valve radial Hercules engines really were. I’ve seen estimates that they couldn’t be heard until the airplane was within about 5-800 ft. of the enemy. Hence, the nickname “The Whispering Death”.
The old "whispering death" myth... Talk about lazy research. Maybe AF could write content for HIstory Channel - they aren't too concerned with accuracy.
The ‘nicknames’ supposedly used by the various enemies were pure B.S. usually created by some rear echelon _hack._
Perhaps one of the most under-estimated and ignored effective air weapons of WW II
The statistics (over 150,000 tons of shipping) speak for themselves.
Sorry - the designer was Lesley Frise - pronounced “fries” - as in “French fries” - rhymes with “sunrise”. I know, because he was a distant cousin of mine. Lesley also designed the Frise-type ailerons which are used in nearly all subsonic aircraft to this day.
Very sorry to have mispronounced your cousins name. I typically use tophonetics.com to check pronunciations. I missed the step here.
No prob - I’ve had it mangled all my life.
SO, IN FACT, WHEN THE CREWS SET OFF, IT WAS ''FRYING TONIGHT'' FOR THEIR VICTIMS.
As a night fighter it won the battle of Brittan then as the Torbeau it sunk all the ships... brilliant plane. Just brilliant.
Then as the Rockbeau even tiger tanks werent safe
Hard as nails and capable of causing a lot of damage wherever it was used.
I’ve liked the Beaufighter since reading about it in Bill Gunston’s book as a kid. I think the term “functionally elegant” is appropriate here-the Beaufighter looked brawny, because it WAS brawny, because it needed to be.
Greg’s airplanes and automobiles has a nice video on the Beau, giving it a little well earned spotlight.
It is criminal that one of these prestigious aircraft isnt part of the BoBMF. They always get overlooked by the glamorous mosquito. Hopefully one of these is being made airworthy in Duxford. Great video by the way.
The Encyclopedia Of Air Warfare, a profusely illustrated 1974 book, which as a child I devoured, on pages 160-61, the Chapter ‘Fighter’s War, consists of across both pages, a beautiful colour photograph of Beaufighter taxing in Malta, directed by two back to the camera airmen.
This took me back and made me dig the book up.
Now thats great feedback! Glad you enjoyed it.
Met a Beaufighter pilot once "it was for killing" he said the "wooden plane" (as he called the Mosquito) "was a excellent aircraft - but the Beaufighter was for serious action".
Nice overview. Bravo!
I particularly liked that you included, "reportedly", with regard to the, "Whispering Death", moniker, as Australian records show that the apocryphal story of the Japanese calling the Beaufighter as such, was 100% allied wartime propaganda. The Japanese never called it, "Whispering Death", and no records ever existed to back up the claim. It was, however, an excellent propaganda story that was well propagated by wartime media and sticks to the type to this day.
As most Beaufighter veterans would attest, Hercules at attack power settings, roared like demons, and it was the use of excellent low level tactics to mask their approach, that allowed Beaufighter crews to pounce unexpectedly, and so effectively.
Thank you. At circa 17 minutes, it did seem i only just scratched the surface. Its a true Icon.
The IWM site at Duxford is restoring a Beaufighter, although it's been a few years since I was there. I Believe it was an Aussie aircraft but I don't know if it was an import or DAP produced. Even in it's half-naked state it's one of the most beautiful aircraft ever produced! 😍😍😍
Great Aircraft
The Beau is the only ww2 warbird yet to be restored to flying condition tho I understand that there is a crew in Wollongong who made a start on such a project. Meanwhile around southern Queensland a Beaufort project seems to have stalled.
I have heard of three restoration projects:
Beaufighter Mk.IF X7688 - Owned by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) in Australia, this aircraft is being restored to fly. It will be a composite airframe based on X7688 (forward fuselage and center-section), with parts from other aircraft.
Beaufighter Mk.Ic A19-144 - Owned by The Fighter Collection at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, this aircraft has been undergoing a lengthy restoration to flying status for some years. It is a composite aircraft built using parts from JM135/A19-144 and JL946/A19-148.
Beaufighter TF.X RD867 - In storage at the Canada Aviation Museum, RD867 awaits restoration. It is a semi-complete RAF restoration but lacks engines, cowlings or internal components.
Thankyou informative if perhaps a little rough round the edges, I think the voice is that of a quite well known (ex)BBC journalist? Wesley Kerr was it ?
Shame ,I believe there are several almost completed restored airframes still kicking around for want of engines.My belief is that there is a reluctance, inability , unwillingness maybe due to skill shortage (or all of the above) to obtain and restore several of the 55000 Hercs produced to power them.Sleeve valve fright ? Pity because I would love to see one fly as a testimony to all those brave men who flew into flak walls miles out at sea. I think I am right in saying the handling issues were eventually mostly sorted out with dihedral elevators and rudder mods' . Thanks again
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. I have been given a few tips here that i will try and improve future videos. I wasn't aiming for (or copied) a specific persons voice, but yes, was aiming for a BBC accent.
Brilliant video from start to finish! I'm subscribing pal 😉
Thank you. High praise indeed!
You forgot the South African Air Force - my dad was 16 SAAF. Squadron badge is my "profile pic".
To be honest there is probably a videos worth of content per squadron. One lesson from this video is 16 minutes is probably too long. Most watch times are 7 minutes. But your right, 16 squadron in Africa and the Balkans in the Beaufighter was worth a mention for sure.
The Beaufighter was for me up beside the Mosquito , it was built 3 times over for Strength an is one of my all time favorites , Great vid on a Aircraft that never gets the Credit it deserves..Great vid.
The Mossie is soon on my list, a personal favourite. Very glad you enjoyed the video. :-)
@@Aircraft_Files Look forward to it.
WHAT A GREAT BUT SCARY LOOKING PLANE. '' MORE LIKE A FLYING BULLDOG''. THAT COULD TAKE PUNISHMENT.
In much the same way the Hawker Hurricane is overshadowed by the Spitfire -
- the Bristol Beaufighter is likewise overshadowed by the more famous Mosquito --
-- yet for my money - the Beaufighter's pugnacious look - adds to it's fighting reputation.
Yes, the US did get Beaufighters. Primarily the night fighter version as the US didn't have enough night fighters. However, they got older, tired and maintenance problem Beaufighters. The Beau fighter lead the way in the new art and science of night fighting. That required the very best instrument flying and hard won development of radar, communication and navigation technology. There are a few really good books out there on this.
It's pronounced 'Bofort'.
Thanks Greg. Was a tricky one to enunciate.
@@Aircraft_Files no it isn't. You can say beaufighter without any problem so why is Beaufort so difficult?
Bo- Fort...
Bo-Fighter.
Nit difficult at all.
@@Aircraft_Filesthe rest of narration was really good and pleasant change from annoying robots.
She was known as Whispering Death by the Japanese in Burma
You believe anything then.
Why do you keep saying “Beaufud” instead of “Beaufort”!
It’s very distracting.
Sorry, I also got a mans name pronunciation wrong, I typically parse words via tophonetics.com to check, but for this one i inexplicably forgot. Hopefully you still enjoyed the video.
'Derived from the Bristol Beaufud' 😂😂😂
Was this a real narration or AI?
The narration is elevenlabs AI. My accent is quite broad and I prefer videos ppl can understand. I do all research, scripting and content by hand. It takes me quite some time. I typically use tophonetics.com to check pronunciations. I missed the step here.
@@Aircraft_Files At least you own up to using an AI narrator and even go so far as to identify which one. Best yet, this one is not as over used as another one I hear all the time, so much so that as soon as I hear it, I log out and leave a nasty remark or two. However, this time I can let it go as I said, in not one that is used much and the subject matter was very well researched and presented.
Now as one who own narration voice has left much to be desired, I still made the effort and tried to improve, that is until I decide making TH-cam video's really wasn't for me. May I make a suggestion......when doing a video, next time make two copies, one narrated by the AI and the other your own voice. That way you can a: improve your narration skills and b: let your audience be the judge, you might be very surprised.
Anyways, keep up the good work and I look forward to more of your content in the future.
@@gumpyoldbugger6944 Cheers. I have a head for radio and a voice for an old school written book. :-) having said that I will have a go on next project.
@@Aircraft_Files in my case I have a face made for radio and voice made for a wonky airport PA speaker.......
1960 the last one flew off from Seletar.
9:47 What are those aircraft in the back, Ju-88 G-6 in French markings?
I would assume a trio of captured German Ju 88s
There's an interesting photo @16:38 1x Beaufighter (long nosed) with US markings and what looks like 3x JU88 with what I presume is British roundals (b&W so hard to tell) has anyone any ideas?
I believe its a TF Mk. X
"Beau Fudd" - really?
The script is a ripoff of the Wikipedia article. Next time, do your own research.
Its a combination of a number of sources. There is a great deal of information (more than i could consume) on the Beaufighter on the web. Otherwise i hope you enjoyed the video. It took me quite some time, the longest one so far.
11:04 - is it Beaufighter in Italian marking? Captured somewhere in Afrika?
The Bristol Beaufighter Mk IC X7887 ( T4887 ) of No 252 Squadron RAF landed by mistake during a flight from Malta on Augusta airfield, Sicily, 6 January 1942. ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/captured-beaufighter.15056/
You should add Chapters buddy.
Done. Thanks for the tip. It's a great feature, but not obvious.
Ok script but the image duration is poor. As examples, taking about Aussie planes while showing US ones, describing Merlin types but showing Hercules powered planes and as for the out of place Bostons -?
Also, where did the Beau in fascist Italian markings occur.
Thanks for the feedback Billy. Another has mentioned the un-sequenced images, I'll take it onboard for future, thanks.
I'm calling foul on this entire video. It's too shonky to have been made by any genuinely interested aviation history buff, surely? The toneless robotic narration bears little to no relation to thr photographs; later war Beaufughters are shown during the narration of its development, night fighters are shown when talking about coastal command, theres not a single inage of a merlin equipped Beaufighter ii during the narration about it, and bizarrely, an image of the turret equipped experimental version pops up without any explanation at all.
Come on, this was toshed out using AI soley for clicks and revenue, wasnt it?
Sorry you didn't appreciate the effort. It took me quite some time. In research and scripting. In terms of the Order of images in the video, its not thematic, rather a montage. Im new at this, but hopefully will improve. I appreciate the feedback Toby.
@@Aircraft_Files You've found some great photo's, some very interesting and unusual ones. inc with turret, with Merlin engines etc.
critique not critisisum, With a bit of editing so that the pictures are in the right places and No AI voice this could be a real informative channel. I would subscribe, but I don't like AI voices, they lack emotion that is neede to discribe the historic significance of the subject.
I welcome all suggestions for improvement. Thanks. I have already created a video on the Lagg-3 for release Saturday. But for the next one after, on the The Bristol Blenheim, I'll give it a go with own voice. Cheers.
@@Aircraft_Files Looking forward too the Lag 3 and a real voice. even if you had a terrible lisp (which I'm sure you haven't) it would be better to hear than a robot, Some of the best channels I listen to haven't got the best speakers, but the speak from the heart, which is what matters.
Hope you channel takes off, I'll keep following your progress and good luck.
@@Aircraft_Files Opines the critic: ".....not a single inage(sic) of a Merlin equipped....." Looked like one at 5:12 and 10:08. Not sure about 0:53. If the critical commenter isn't all that observant, don't take the criticism too seriously. (We await with bated breath *_his_* video.) Nice video, do another. I'll watch.
Enormously silly and ignorant ‘cover’ _artwork_ picture with 4 (Mosquito copy) nose .303" machine guns which would have been in the pilot’s seat. The typical six machine guns were of course in the wings. The cannon were below and behind the pilot, like in the Mosquito.
Thanks for the heads up. Ill look for a more authentic version.
Is this a bot?
No I just use AI voice from eleven labs
Reduce its speed by 24 mph is actually false.😊
Oh i found 2 sources that said it was... but happy to be corrected.