Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA2305 Bristol Beaufighter Mk.21 N-SK A8-116, 93 Squadron, RAAF “Green Ghost”, 1945 “Babs” “pistol packin’ gremlin”

Die-cast metal. Superb detailing in 1/72 scale. Pre-painted with pad applied markings. Fully assembled. Weapons that are not permanently attached. Comes with crew figures Display stand included. Option to display model with wheels up or down. Movable propellers. Minimum use of plastic.

History of this particular aircraft Date of Manufacture - 04/02/45 Squadron assigned to - 93 Sqn Kingaroy Markings Code - SK-N On Nose - “Babs” On Rudder - large gremlin “pistol pakin’ gremlin” Crew Members Pilot WOFF L.W. Mutton Nav FLTSGT C.G. Curthoys Incidents - 09/11/45 forced landing at Neomfoor after starboard engine seized. Aircraft Stored - 09/02/46 Struck Off - 08/08/49 The RAAF had their unique variant of the Beaufighter. It was built by the Department of Aircraft Production and was referred to as the DAP Beaufighter or Mk.21. The DAP variant was given new engines, a tail-plane with dihedral and enhanced armour. These aircraft were used as an attack/torpedo bomber. Australian production ended in 1946 but not before 365 Mk 21s had been built. Because of its quiet engines and heavy firepower the Japanese referred to the Beaufighter as “Whispering Death”.

The 93rd Squadron was formed on January 22 1945 without an official name or motto. So unofficially it became the “Green Ghost Squadron” and the unofficial motto was “Spookus Sneakinus”. Mid 1945 the squadron transferred to an island off Borneo called Labuan. Their task was to disrupt Japanese shipping and airfields. In August 1945 the squadron was tasked with destroying a Japanese oil tanker. The ship was destroyed but turned out to be the 800 ton private yacht of the Rajah of Sarawak. The 93rd Squadron was disbanded on 22 August 1946.

Specifications for the DAP Beaufighter Mk.21 Role - attack/torpedo bomber Entered Service - 1944 Crew - (2)

Performance (2) Bristol Hercules 14-cylinder radial engines, 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) each Speed - 320 mph (515 km/h) Service Ceiling - 19,000 (5,791 m) Endurance - Maximum range 1,470 miles (2,365 km)

Dimensions Length - 41.67 ft (12.7 m) Wing Span - 57.84 ft (17.63 m) Height - 15.9 ft (4.84 m)

Weight Empty - 15,600 lb (7,076 kg)

Armament 4 x 20-mm cannons in the nose 4 x .5-in machine-guns in the wings Able to carry (8) 5 inch HVAR rockets (2) 250 lb (110 kg) bombs (2) 500 lb (230 kg) bombs (1) Mk.13 torpedo