DAP Beaufighter Mk.XXI

The Australian Government's Department of Aircraft Production manufactured 365 Mk. XXI Beaufighters between 1944 and 1945. The Australian Mk. XXI differed from the British Mk.X mainly in terms of the supercharging of the twin Bristol Hercules XVIII engines and machine gun armament. The British Mk.X used by the RAF's Coastal Command in the anti-shipping role, had the high speed stage of its engine's superchargers disconnected. This optimized it for low altitude performance. The RAAF Mk.XXI had both stages fully operational. The Aussie Beaufighter Mk.XXI carried four .50 inch Brownings in the wings instead of the standard RAF six .303 inch Brownings. All Beaufighters carried four Hispano 20 mm cannons in the belly.  Beaufighters that carried rockets did not have machine guns mounted in their wings.

              Green Ghosts

One of the RAAF squadrons that operated the DAP Beaufighters was No. 93. They were nicknamed the 'Green Ghosts' due to their all over foliage green colour scheme. Most of them carried personalised and colorful emblems on their rudders. They were based on Morotai Island, north of Borneo. Colin Muir's original release of his superb 3D model of the Mk.XXI Beaufighter had the skin for 'SK-F' with a red colored 'Bunyip' monster on the rudder. It is available at Simviation. Click onto the image below. The Mk.21 Beau is top item on this page.

Colin has also produced an alternative skin for a RAAF 93 squadron Beaufighter Mk.XXI 'Green Ghost'.

This new skin depicts 'SK-L', A8-112, It has a Disney style 'Goofy' character riding a rocket like a cowboy on its rudder. It was normally flown by Flt. Lt. Carter (pilot) and Flt. Sgt. Noaks (Navigator). Picture from Pentland G, (1989) RAAF Camouflage and Markings 1939-45 Vol. 2, Kookaburra Technical Publications Melbourne, Australia.

To download Colin Muir's new Green Ghost skin, 'SK-L' with 'Goofy' riding the rocket press the image of it, firing its guns over the jungle below: