WWII 1942 British RAF Fighter "Bristol Beaufighter" W.E.F.T.U.P. ID Poster For Sale
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WWII 1942 British RAF Fighter "Bristol Beaufighter" W.E.F.T.U.P. ID Poster:
$212.50
Size: 19 x 25 inches
This original ‘RESTRICTED’ aircraft identification poster was published by the U.S. Naval Aviation Training Division Nov 1942. This poster was posted as a training tool as well as an in theater ID poster to help U.S. and other Allied pilots, bomber crews and Naval personal to identify Allied and enemy aircraft. W.E.F.T.U.P. or Wing, Engine, Fuselage, Tail, Undercarriage, Peculiarities was a system set up for the purpose of aircraft identification and recognition.
World War II saw some of the first introduction of these aircraft ID poster to prevent friendly fire and more accurate plane recognition in combat. It was believed these posters alone could save countless lives from friendly aircraft-on-aircraft or friendly anit-aircraft fire. These posters also could cut down precious second pilots, bomber gunners, and naval gun crews would have to ID a plane flying towards them intern saving their lives by shooting first.
Each poster provides the silhouettes, dimensions, and relevant information to educate both air and ground personnel in aircraft identification. Immediate identification of aircraft, friendly or not, was essential in order for the observer (whether in the air e.g., pilot, gunner, or patrol observer, or on the ground, e.g., anti-aircraft crew) to determine his next course of action (e.g., acknowledge, attack, evade, or report). Each poster details a large clean sky and background image of the specified aircraft located as the main top imagine on the poster. It also contains important ‘peculiarities’ such as where certain gun emplacements are located, other special aircraft features, as well as wing and length measurements.
TheBristol Type 156 Beaufighter(often called the Beau) was amulti-role aircraftdeveloped during theSecond World Warby theBristol Aeroplane Companyin the UK. It was originally conceived as aheavy fightervariant of theBristol Beauforttorpedo bomber. The Beaufighter proved to be an effectivenight fighter, which came into service with theRoyal Air Force(RAF) during theBattle of Britain, its large size allowing it to carry heavy armament and earlyairborne interceptionradarwithout major performance penalties.
The Beaufighter was used in many roles; receiving the nicknamesRockbeaufor its use as arocket-armedground attackaircraft andTorbeauas atorpedo bomberagainstAxisshipping, in which it replaced theBeaufort. In later operations, it served mainly as a maritime strike/ground attack aircraft,RAF Coastal Commandhaving operated the largest number of Beaufighters amongst all other commands at one point. TheRoyal Australian Air Force(RAAF) also made extensive use of the type as an anti-shipping aircraft, such as during theBattle of the Bismarck Sea.
The Beaufighter saw extensive service during the war with the RAF (59 squadrons),Fleet Air Arm(15 squadrons), RAAF (seven squadrons),Royal Canadian Air Force(four squadrons),United States Army Air Forces(four squadrons),Royal New Zealand Air Force(two squadrons),South African Air Force(two squadrons) andPolskie Siły Powietrzne(Free Polish Air Force; one squadron). Variants of the Beaufighter were manufactured inAustraliaby theDepartment of Aircraft Production(DAP); such aircraft are sometimes referred to by the nameDAP Beaufighter.
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