FIREDOG BEAUS

Neil Robinson builds a pair of 1/48 Beaufighters, representing the end of the type’s operational service life... ... and uses the opportunity to compare the Tamiya and Revell kits.

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Bristol Beaufighter TF.X

Kit No: 03943

Scale: 1/48

Type: Injection Moulded Plastic

Manufacturer: Revell www.revell.de

Bristol Beaufighter TF.X

Kit No: 61067

Scale: 1/48

Type: Injection Moulded Plastic

Manufacturer: Tamiya www.hobbyco.net

Operation Firedog Beaufighters

Although the conflict in Malaya (known as the Malayan Emergency), between June 1948 and July 1960, primarily involved British and Commonwealth ground forces against what were termed Communist Terrorists (CTs) in jungle warfare, the RAF played an important air support role in the conflict under the codename Operation Firedog. Following the declaration of the State of Emergency, along with the Spitfire FR.18s and Dakota C.4s sent to the area, two Squadrons of Beaufighter TF.10s were also involved.

Note: In 1947, the Mark/sub type designation of RAF aircraft changed from the wartime Roman numerals to the Arabic numeral system.

No 84 Squadron, which had relinquished its Mosquito FB.6s for Beaufighter TF.10s in November 1946 when based at Seletar in the north-east of Singapore, moved to Tengah in the west of Singapore in March 1948. Following the declaration of the State of Emergency in June, detachments were sent north to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaya, to support ground forces. At that time, No 84 represented the main dedicated RAF strike unit in Malaya and Singapore, albeit supplemented by the Spitfire FR.18s from Nos 28, 60 and 81 Squadrons as required. In fact Spitfires of 60 Squadron undertook the first strike missions against CT positions in the Perak district of Malaya in July 1948, but No 84 Squadron only remained in the area until the October, when the squadron relocated to Habbaniya in Iraq.