MTO Night Fighters

Beaufighter VIF RAF 600Sqn Wing Commander CP Paddy Green at Cassibile Sicily 1942 IWM CNA1182

Beaufighter VIF RAF 600Sqn Wing Commander CP Paddy Green at Cassibile Sicily 1942 IWM CNA1185

Wing Commander C P "Paddy" Green, Commanding Officer of No. 600 Squadron RAF, watches from the cockpit of his Bristol Beaufighter Mark VIF at Cassibile, Sicily, as his radar operator, Flying Officer R J Gillies touches up the swastikas on the aircraft's nose, indicating the eight victories they had claimed while flying together as a night fighter crew. Seven of these victories were achieved during three consecutive nights in July over Sicily, four of them in a single sortie. Green had just been awarded the DSO for his skill and leadership of 600 Squadron, which he commanded until the end of January 1944. Bristol Beaufighter Mark VIFs of No. 600 Squadron RAF parked in dispersals among the olive trees at Cassibile, Sicily. In the foreground the Commanding Officer of the Squadron, Wing Commander C P "Paddy" Green (second from right), and another pilot, talk to ground crew who are servicing the aircraft.

Imperial War Museum IWM CNA 1182 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205209255

Imperial War Museum IWM CNA 1185 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205209256

Bristol Beaufighter VIF E X8166 at Castel Benito Libya IWM CNA3947

Local Arabs and their camels pass by Bristol Beaufighter Mark VIF, X8166 'E', raised by its tail while undergoing gun maintenance and harmonisation at Castel Benito, Libya.

Imperial War Museum IWM CNA 3947 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205211937

Bristol Beaufighter VIF RAF 89Sqn S V8447 at Castel Benito Libya IWM CNA3932

Fitters inspect a damaged Bristol Hercules VI engine, removed from Bristol Beaufighter Mark VIF, V8447 'S' "Slippery Ship II", of No. 89 Squadron RAF (seen in the background), at Castel Benito, Libya. The aircraft was flown by the successful night fighting team of Flying Officer M C Shipard RAAF and Pilot Officer D Oxby, who achieved 13 confirmed victories together.

Imperial War Museum IWM CNA 3932 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205209488

Bristol Beaufighter VIF RAF 89Sqn at Castel Benito Libya IWM CNA3925

Armourers of No. 89 Squadron RAF servicing the 20mm Hispano cannons of a Bristol Beaufighter Mark VIF at Castel Benito, Libya.

Imperial War Museum IWM CNA 3925 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205209487

Bristol Beaufighter VIF RAF 89Sqn at Castel Benito Libya IWM CNA3923

Armourers of No. 89 Squadron RAF aligning and loading .303 Browning machine guns in the wing of a Bristol Beaufighter Mark VIF, before the firing butts at Castel Benito, Libya.

Imperial War Museum IWM CNA 3923 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205209486

Imperial War Museum IWM CNA 3922 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205209485