| Royal Air Force (RAF) Beaufighters attack shipping in the Aegean Sea. The Beaufighters proved themselves in North Africa and the Middle East, handling a variety of roles from antishipping and bomber escort to low-level attacks on enemy transport and installations. They protected convoys from Tobruk and Malta and flew antisubmarine patrols over Royal Navy ships in the Mediterranean. The Beaus excelled in ground strafing missions against enemy road convoys. They would fly straight down the road at low altitude, letting loose with nearly everything they had. Then, the number 2 plane would fly down and repeat the process as the surviving enemy drivers looked on in awe from the ditches. The New York Times reported on March 22, 1944: “Cairo, Egypt – Beaufighters based in the Middle East, in a sweep over the central Aegean Sunday, sank an enemy supply ship and damaged four others, according to today’s Royal Air Force communiqué.” “A formation of British aircraft scored several hits with cannon as well as bombs on a supply vessel in the port of Naxia and damaged it considerably, while in Marmara Bay on the Island of Paros RAF planes bombed and shot up a fair-sized enemy vessel. Three times Beaufighters swooped down on a small enemy freighter in the port of Nausa, causing it to sink later.” “Flying close under the cliffs at the port of Nicos, Beaufighters spotted two more enemy vessels and attacked them, scoring hits with cannon shells. An enemy freighter in Paroekia harbor on the island of Paros sank after receiving two direct hits from a Beaufighter yesterday.” | |
| Image Filename | wwii0696.jpg |
| Image Size | 164.79 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1000 x 774 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Royal Air Force Official Photographer |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | March 22, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | |
| Country | Aegean Sea |
| Archive | Royal Air Force |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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