No. 455 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force began operations in the ETO as part of RAF Bomber Command but transferred to Coastal Command at the end of April 1942. Still flying the Handley Page Hampden at that time, crews were immediately required to train in the delivery of airborne torpedo attacks, in advance of flying anti-shipping operations against Axis vessels operating in Norwegian coastal waters.

Flying from their home base at Leuchars in Fife, their Hampdens were not particularly suitable for this type of mission and initial success rates were disappointing, with many crews paying the ultimate price for their aircraft's lack of capability. Things improved from December 1943 onwards, when the unit traded their Hampdens for Beaufighters, with crews immediately developing tactics to maximize the impact of their capable new aircraft.

Operating in tandem with No.489 Squadron (RNZAF), the two formed the "ANZAC Strike Wing", using the combined strength of both squadrons to launch devastating attacks against Axis shipping in the North Sea. Beaufighters configured as heavy fighters attacked and neutralized enemy anti-aircraft defenses before the bomb and torpedo-equipped aircraft swooped to deliver their destructive blows.

The Strike Wing's tactics proved so effective that they were later called upon to clear the sea lanes of the English Channel in the months leading up to D-Day, paying particular attention to the E-boats which posed such a threat to Allied invasion planning.

Designed to counter the growing threat of the Luftwaffe, the British Bristol Beaufighter-known as "Beau"-first flew on July 17th, 1939. The rugged Beaufighter had two-speed supercharged radial engines mounted well ahead of the wing leading edges. The cockpit was located in the snub nose, which gave the pilot an excellent forward view. A navigator, wireless operator and rear gunner were positioned in a rear cupola. The Beau's premier role was as a nightfighter, but it was also used as a long-range fighter and developed into an antishipping and ground attack cannon rocket-firing fighter, torpedo plane and tactical bomber.

The Corgi "Aviation Archive" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The vast Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight, and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. Famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation are all honored.

Info: Beaufighter TF.Mk X - RAAF No.455 Sqn, NE775, Normandy, France, D-Day, June 6th 1944