Editing Bristol Aeroplane Company (section)

=== Second World War ===
[[File:Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter ExCC.jpg|thumb|The Bristol Beaufighter]]
During the [[Second World War]], Bristol's most important aircraft was the [[Bristol Beaufighter|Beaufighter]] heavy two-seat multirole aircraft, a long-range fighter, [[night fighter]], [[ground attack aircraft]] and [[torpedo bomber]].<ref name = "bae heri"/> The type was used extensively by the RAF, other Commonwealth air forces and by the [[USAAF]]. The Beaufighter was derived from the [[Bristol Beaufort|Beaufort]] torpedo bomber, itself a derivative of the Blenheim.<ref name = "bae heri"/>

In 1940, [[shadow factory|shadow factories]] were set up at [[Weston-super-Mare]] for the production of Beaufighters, and underground at Hawthorn, near [[Corsham]], Wiltshire, for engine manufacture. Construction in the former stone quarry at Hawthorn took longer than expected and little production was achieved before the site closed in 1945.<ref>{{cite PastScape |mnumber=1576642 |mname=Personnel Lift 2, Spring Quarry |access-date=1 May 2016}}</ref><ref>Gray 1987, p. 35.</ref><ref name = "bae heri"/> The company's war-time headquarters was located in the [[Royal West of England Academy]], Clifton, Bristol.