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Chaz Bowyer
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Beaufighter: The Untold Story of a Wartime Icon (Great Planes of World War Two Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Chaz Bowyer (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 out of 5 stars 192 ratings
A fascinating and detailed history of one of the great aircraft of World War II: the Beaufighter.

Ideal for fans of Alexander McKee, John Nichol, and Martin W. Bowman.

Developed to meet the RAF’s urgent need for a long-range fighter just before World War II, the Beaufighter was the most heavily armed aircraft of any type used in active service from 1940 until the late 1950s.

Drawing on numerous original sources and meticulous research, Chaz Bowyer traces the Beau’s origins from planning, design, and factory floor through test flights, adaptations to meet service needs, and its remarkable and widespread use throughout the war. Bowyer includes many first-hand accounts from those who flew the plane in action and from ground crew who maintained it, giving readers a sense of the genuine affection felt for this formidable fighting machine.

Ultimately, around 6,000 Beaufighters rolled off the production line, from where they were sent across the globe to serve in at least 77 squadrons of the RAF and Commonwealth air forces until they were finally retired from service in the 1960s. Bowyer recounts the aircraft’s many roles during the war—as a night and day fighter, reconnaissance vehicle, anti-shipping strike and torpedo bomber, ground strafer, and air-jungle rescue searcher, among many other uses. Through personal accounts and reminiscences, readers are brought vividly into the experience of piloting and supporting the Beau’s operations across vastly different theatres of war and environments, including Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Burma, the Mediterranean, UK coastal waters, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Though merely a machine, there are many who owed their lives to the strength and capability of the ‘Mighty Beau.’ Their stories serve as a reminder of the incredible sacrifice, bravery, heroism, and devotion to duty of those service men and women, and why this plane should be proudly remembered as one of the all-time classic British fighters.
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  1. Book 1 of 5
    Great Planes of World War Two
  2. Print length
    258 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    April 21, 2025
  6. File size
    1.7 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DTHV1W9V
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sapere Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 21, 2025
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.7 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 258 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0854956067
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 5 ‏ : ‎ Great Planes of World War Two
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 out of 5 stars 192 ratings

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Chaz Bowyer

Chaz Bowyer

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Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
192 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Lone Wolf
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
    Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This was a great book about an airplane that I read about but did not know about the inside of a plane that flew despite being replaced by the Mosquito, it flew on even after the war. A testament to a well designed airplane! The author writing was good but I would loved to pictures of the various versions of the airplane! Overall, a good book!!
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  • Tari Terry
    5.0 out of 5 stars RAF air crews of WW 2
    Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I had never read or seen much about the Beaufighter twin engine aircraft. The book covers when the aircraft was first built till the end of the war
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  • Bernie
    3.0 out of 5 stars Quality was not there
    Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Well written but with no pictures. Very hard to understand concept, construction and service history.
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  • Robert A. MacLeod
    2.0 out of 5 stars No illustrations.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2025
    Format: Kindle
    There are no illustrations in this book. Books about airplanes generally have lots of photographs and cut-away drawings. This one has none.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Stephen Dedalus
    2.0 out of 5 stars Boring
    Reviewed in Italy on June 30, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    How not to write an exciting book. Frankly, who could be really interested in reading long list of places, dates, squadron numbers, names of people without any meaning for the contemporary reader?
    I collect military aviation books as an hobby and I found this one, well, just boring.
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  • Reggie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Very informative. There was a wealth of detail and I even came across a WW2 aircraft I'de never heard of before. Highly recommended/
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  • kevin yates
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beau
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 3, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A superb book on an iconic aircraft that was often overshadowed by the mosquito a great read very much enjoyed.
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  • S. Littleboy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 17, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent book, well you wouldn't expect anything less of this author would you?
    Great for Beaufighter enthusiasts, but anyone interested in airplanes would also enjoy it.
    Report

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