Although by 1945 the Bristol Beaufighter had been replaced in the night-fighter role in Europe by the de Havilland Mosquito, in Burma it remained the primary type, albeit with little 'trade' for the two squadrons in theatre, 89 and 176. Late on March 25, 1945, Fg Offs J Forbes and H Pettridge of 176 Squadron were scrambled from Akyab in Beaufighter VIf KV977 and flew south to set up a patrol, as the squadron's diary recorded: "They flew to the west of Ramree Island and were vectored onto a low-flying bogey. Contact was made at 8 miles. An interception was carried out which subsequently proved [it] to be a friendly. A second vector was given for a Bandit at 7,500ft."
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