Bristol Beaufort Mk.1, 217 Sqn RAF, ?Admiral Hipper? Attack

After already taken a heavy toll of Allied shipping during a previous patrol, the mighty Admiral Hipper was dispatched from RAF St. Eval in Cornwall to the most heavily defended location in Europe, the Brest Harbour.

Product Info

Bristol Beaufort Mk.I L9866, RAF No.217 Squadron, St Eval, Cornwall, Attack against German Cruiser Admiral Hipper, 1st February 1941.

As arguably Britain's most capable maritime strike aircraft, the Bristol Beaufort was charged with carrying a heavy burden during the early years of the war, particularly when the RAF were engaged in targeting German surface raiders putting into port at Brest for repair and replenishment. Having already taken a heavy toll of Allied shipping during a previous Atlantic patrol, the mighty Admiral Hipper had successfully completed a period of repair in Brest and was almost ready to return to sea once more by the end of January 1941, something the RAF could not allow. 

Charged with the task of stopping her, several Beaufort torpedo bombers of No.217 Squadron were dispatched from RAF St. Eval in Cornwall just before 15:00 hrs on 1st February 1941, a force which included L9866/MW-J under the command of Sgt John Bell Rutherford. Setting a course for Brest Harbour, the Beaufort crews knew they were headed for one of the most heavily defended locations in Europe, but worse than this, they also knew that as the German ship was about to come under steam, enemy defences would be expecting a visit from the RAF and would be ready for them. 

If the British bombers were to successfully press home their attack, they would need much more than just flying skill to survive this withering German defensive onslaught, in addition to the unwanted attentions of the Luftwaffe before and after making their strike run.

Tech Specs

Item Length - Without Packaging (cm)

17.5

Item Height - Without Packaging (cm)

5

Item Width - Without Packaging (cm)

25

Item Scale

1:72 Scale

License line

BAE SYSTEMS is a registered trade mark of BAE Systems plc.

Finish

Painted

Colour

Multi

Wingspan (mm)

250

Detailed Crew Figures

Yes

Fine Rigging Detail

No

Fixed Undercarriage

No

Folding Wings

No

Fuel Tanks

No

Movable Sweeping Wings

No

Moving Parts

No

Moving Rear/Ventral Gun(s)

No

Open/Closed Airbrake

No

Opening Bomb Bay Doors

No

Opening Canopy

No

Opening Radio Hatch

No

Optional Undercarriage Down

Yes

Removeable Engine Covers

No

Rotatable Propeller(s)/Rotor(s)

Yes

Rotatable Turret(s)

No

Sliding Door

No

Stationary Drooping Rotor Blades

No

Visible Gun Bay

No

Wood Grain Effect Propeller

No

Aviation Archive Special Features

Yes

Aviation Photo-etched Aerial(s)

No

Aviation Armament/Weapons

No