In late 1939, the Air Ministry were looking to replace the Blenheim as a
medium bomber. Bristol Aircraft Company (BAC) initially came up with a
bomber development of the Beaufighter, the Type 161. Due to
specification changes and redesigns, the end result was the Type 163
Buckingham, a twin engined, twin tailed medium bomber. At the time of
the Buckinghams conception inquiries were made about a torpedo bomber
version. A redesign of the Buckingham brought about the Type 164
Brigand. The torpedo requirement was eventually dropped and the aircraft
re-configures as a bomber. With no suitable trainers to train the
Buckingham and Brigand pilots BAC came up with the Buckmaster, which was
basically a Buckingham with a new nose section containing dual
controls.
By the time the Buckingham and Brigand entered service their roles had
been superseded with newer and better aircraft. Most Buckinghams went
straight into storage to await their fate, but some were converted in
high speed courier aircraft with four seats. But it was too little too
late. The Mosquito could do a better job at almost half the cost. The
Brigand with its long range was earmarked for the Far East and the
battle against Japan, but the war ended before they could be sent over.
It was the Malaya Emergency that saved the Brigand. Carrying out a role
for which it was never designed, that of a dive bomber, two Squadrons
carried out over 3,500 against the Communist Terrorist.
Had it not been for the constant delays and construction changes the
aircraft may have lived up to their expectations. As it was they were
plagued by mechanical and hydraulic issues as well as structural
defects. After a number of catastrophic airframe failures the Brigands
were retired from operational service in early 1953.
