I happen to be reading "The Long Road to the Sky - Night Fighter Over Germany" by Graham White, and he makes it clear that the Beaufighter II with the Merlin engines was a nasty aeroplane which was underpowered, and took off in ever-decreasing circles. The accident record was so bad they took it out of front-line units and - against all logic - sent them to training stations! Apparently 337 were built and 102 crashed - 2 due to enemy action and one shot down by the Americans...
Without Big Bristols, it just wouldn't be a Beau...