The Beaufighter Mk. VIF was a night-fighter version of the Mk. VI that was equipped with
AI Mark VIII radar. The Mk. VI had the improved Hercules engines with over 1,000 aircraft
of this variant being made. Most of the Beau night-fighters were eventually replaced in
this role by the faster Mosquito but the Beau continued to fight on performing anti-
shipping duty as well as ground attack and long range interdiction. The Beaufighter was
produced in 14 variants and operated by 11 countries.


Beaufighter Mk. VIF ND220 belonged to Sqn Ldr J.H. Etherton of the 176th Sqn
stationed at Minneriya Ceylon from late 1944 until April 1945. Etherton was a Beaufighter
Ace with 6 kills in North Africa before joining the 176th. He used the aircraft to visit
remote units of the squadron and was painted in full South-East Asia Command markings
but lacked aircraft letters. On June 28 1945 the aircraft swung on take-off collapsing the
undercarriage and writing the aircraft off.