Hi Folks, Has anyone any info/pics/knowledge of what the rear obs/radar op cockpit area looks like, or the rear cockpit layout in these two aircraft types please. I know the Beaufighter had the radar op facing aft with the viewing radar scopes suspended from the roof, but would like some evidence of what it looked like. With the Havoc MkI/II or Turbinlite I cannot find anything about the rear cockpit layout or the radar scope fit. If anyone can help, thank you. Shessi
Hi C, Many thanks for that, and yes I have seen that before. And that is the only hard evidence of what the back seat looks like in a Beau! It would be good to see any radar hardware and the setup in either the Beau or Havoc. I appreciate it was so hush-hush, that prob very few pics were taken, and with any diagrams both would have been very closely guarded by the radar outfitting company and MAP. Cheers Shessi
File:AI Mk VIIIA receiver in Beaufighter CH16667.jpg - Wikimedia Commons Above is a contemporary picture. Unfortunately not the best for a whole picture Interesting article with a diagram of the whole layout https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/blog/small-object-big-story/ I’ll check to see if any of the books I have on the types have any better images.
Hi O, Many thanks, excellent article from the RAF Museum, and that Fig 42 diagram is next best thing to a photo, so shows what it was like. I have seen the photo in Wiki before , and even though it says it's in a Beau, it's not. The fuselage is too rounded and although the equipment may be in the correct location, the Beau did not have that huge tool locker blocking the way in front (as this direction would be facing the pilot), where the fusleage tunnel and cannon breeches have good access threre. I think it's a maritime aircraft of some sort. If you have anything on the Havoc/Turbinlite, would be great. I appreciate you taking the time to look, thank you. S
Hmm not much use The recent Valiant wings airframe guide on the Beaufighter specifically states they were unable to find any installation diagrams for the Mark Vlll radar. And they’re a pretty good source for info As to the Boston/Havoc, Wolf’s book The Douglas A-20 the ultimate look doesn’t have any interior shots of RAF radar installations. There are two P70 rough sketches of the interior setup of the SCR-540 (Mark IV) and the SCR-520 (Mark VIII) I could post but nothing much else.
If you could post the P70 sketches, as you prob know the SCR540/520's were direct copies of our radars, so the fit might be replicated as well, thanks.
You star! Well that's the first evidence I've seen on the P70/Havoc fit. Almost certainly it would be the same fit, obviously no one ever fitted the MkVIII/520 in the Havoc/P70. What book are they from?
This doorstop of a book: https://www.amazon.com/Douglas-20-Havoc-Peerless-Ultimate/dp/0764348337 It’s expensive but worth it. Have his B25 book too
Ha ha..just looked, as you say mahoosive but excellent...very tempting....... Thanks again for your help.
