THE CAMDEN MUSEUM
OF AVIATION
OF AVIATION
Beaufort (cockpit) Mk 8 A9-703A9-703 was manufactured in Australia by Beaufort Division of the Department of Aircraft "Production". Plans for production of Beauforts in Australia were initiated in September 1939 using mainly British built components, but by July 1941 the first wholly Australian Beaufort was produced. Production of major components was undertaken in three states and it was from the Chullora Railway Workshops near Sydney, that the Museum obtained the cockpit. The cockpit was donated by the NSW Government Railways in August 1970 and was still in its original transport crate in which it had been stored since the end of WWII.Beauforts were used by the RAAF principally in New Guinea and SW Pacific Islands, although operations ranged from Bougainville to Borneo. They played a prominent part in the Battle of Bismarck Sea in which 22 Japanese warships and transport vessels were sunk. They also helped in the isolation and final defeat of Japanese fortress at Rabaul. A very rugged aircraft, they were capable of flying after incurring heavy battle damage. Late in WWII, several Beauforts were converted to a transport role and known as Beaufreighters. |
 A9-703 at the Museum with A84-209 behind  RAAF Beaufort in flight Photograph courtesy of A Shennan |
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