Bristol Beaufighter: Evolution of Night Warfare

Born out of necessity and innovative thinking, the Bristol Beaufighter made its mark in aviation history during the throes of World War II. First flown in July 1939, the Beaufighter, or ‘Beau’ as it affectionately became known, originated as a derivative of the earlier Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber. With the need for a new, powerful night fighter pressing, Bristol engineers were under the gun.