Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke IV-T (10201) [@ RAF Duxford]
In August 1935 the Air Ministry issued Specification
B28/35, covering the conversion of the Bristol Type 142, a fast eight seat
passenger aircraft developed as a private venture which first flew on the 12th
April 1935 at Filton,
Gloucestershire, to the bomber role under the designation Type 142M. Some
major modifications were necessary, including raising the wing from the low to
mid wing position to make room for an internal bomb bay, and widening the nose
section to accommodate both pilot and observer/bomb aimer. Defensive armament
comprised a single 7.7mm (0.303in) Lewis machine gun in a power-operated dorsal
turret; the thinking was that the aircraft was fast enough to out-run any
contemporary fighter. A Browning 7.7mm (0.303in) was also installed in the port
wing leading edge and fired by the pilot. Powered by two Bristol Mercury VIII
radial piston engines it was claimed to be able to reach 280 mph, however when
carrying bombs (maximum bomb-load 450 kg) the top speed was significantly
reduced. Pending the arrival of the Bristol Beaufighter in 1940-1941 the type was also
adapted for the long-range fighter and night fighter roles and as the basis for
the Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber.
Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke (10201) [@ RAF Duxford]
Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke IV-T (9895) [@ Koninklijk Leger Museum, Brussels]
During the early stages of development of the Blenheim, the
Bristol Company designed a derivative of the Type 142 in response to an Air
Ministry request for a coastal reconnaissance and light bomber aircraft to
replace the Avro Anson. The Type 149 was a Blenheim with greater fuel capacity
and a lengthened nose for an observer and his gear. However, the Air Ministry
then began to worry that this new aircraft would interfere with the production
of the Blenheim I which was already underway so the prototype was shipped to
Canada to help start the production lines at Fairchild Aircraft Ltd of Quebec. The Type 149 would enter production in the UK as the
Blenheim Mk IV.
The Blenheim Mk IV was basically a Mk I airframe with two
Mercury XV radials driving de Havilland three blade variable pitch propellers,
extra fuel tankage and a much redesigned, lengthened nose. In total 1930 Mk IVs
were built and the variant entered RAF service with 53 Squadron based at RAF Odiham, Hampshire, in January 1939. By the 3rd
September 1939 the RAF had 197 Blenheim IVs on strength and N6215, a Blenheim
IV, became first RAF aircraft to fly over Germany during WW2 when Flying Officer
A Macpherson of 139 Squadron carried out an armed reconnaissance over
Wilhelmshaven.
On the second day of the war a total of 10 Blenheim IVs of 107 and 110
Squadrons from RAF Marham, Norfolk, carried out the RAF’s first offensive
operation when they unsuccessfully attacked units of the German Navy in the Elbe
Estuary. Blenheims were used in the defence and support of the British
Expeditionary Force (BEF). The inadequacy of the Blenheim’s defensive armament
became apparent in the battles of Norway and France, when Blenheims engaged in
anti-shipping operations in the North Sea suffered appalling losses. The
armament was subsequently increased to five machine guns.
Delivered to the RCAF as a Bolingbroke
IV-T (a multi-purpose trainer), 9895 entered service on the 9th
June 1942. Struck off charge on the 15th May 1946 and was sold at
RCAF MacDonald,
Manitoba,
to a farmer for parts later in the year. Rebuilt using parts from
10038 of the RCAF, 9895 is shown in the photographs in the livery of L9416/XD-A
a Blenheim Mk1 from 139 Squadron. Tasked
to bomb and strafe German troop columns advancing out of the Dutch city of
Maastricht (Limburg) and advancing towards Tongeren (Limburg), Belgium,
L9416/XD-A made a crash landing on the 12th May 1940 near the village
of Hoepertingen in Belgium.
Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke IV-T (9895) [@ Koninklijk Leger Museum, Brussels]
Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke IV-T (10001) [@ RAF Hendon]
The final British built version of the Blenheim was the
Bristol Mercury XV or XXV radial powered Mk V, of which 942 were produced during
1942, mostly the VD tropical version for service in North Africa.
With extra armour and weapons, but the same engines, meant that the combat
losses of the variant were very heavy and the type was soon replaced by US
Baltimores and Venturas.
Delivered to the RCAF as an IV-T on the 20th
October 1942 10001 was allocated to the 3 Bombing & Gunnery School based at RCAF
McDonald, Manitoba, during November 1942. Struck off Charge on the 15th
May 1946 and sold in the same year to a farmer for parts. Purchased by the
museum on the 25th April 1966, from the same farmer, 10001 arrived in
the UK in 1968 and was placed into storage. The deal involved an exchange
of a Beaufighter (RD867) with the RCAF since the RCAF had provided assistance
with dismantling and packing. After a very long restoration period 10001
was finally placed on display in August 1978. In the photographs 10001 is
in the livery of L8756/XD-E of 139 Squadron.
Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke IV-T (9940) [@ RAF East Fortune]
Over 200 Mk I bombers were modified into
Blenheim Mk IF long-range
fighters and were operated by both Bomber and Fighter Commands. The
variant entered RAF service with 600 (Auxiliary Air Force) Squadron base at RAF
Hendon in September 1938 and by 1939 at least seven squadrons were operating the
type.
slower and less nimble than expected and with daylight Blenheim losses
causing concern for Fighter Command it was then decided by June 1940 that
the Mk IF would be relegated mainly to night fighter duties.
Some Mk IFs were equipped with AI Mk III radar and flew alongside 23
Squadron who had already operated the type under night time conditions with some
success. About 60 Blenheim Mk IVs were
converted into Mk IVF fighter standard.
Built in Canada, 9940 entered service with the Royal Canadian
Air Force as a gunnery trainer on the 8th August 1942.
Following a category B crash on the 21st February 1943 9940 was
placed into storage and was then later used as target tug. Struck off
Charge on the 21st August 1946 9940 sold to the private market.
After some restoration in Canada, 9940 was bought over to the UK by Sir William
Roberts as an exhibit his Strathallan Aircraft Collection at Auchterader,
Scotland, in late 1972. Purchased from the Strathallan Collection auction
in 1981 by the Museum of Flight, 9940 is shown in the photograph undergoing
restoration. Intended for static display 9940 as so far been restored using the
wings from 9059 and is also fitted with restored Mercury engines.
Twelve Blenheims were supplied to Finland (which built an
additional 55 between 1941 and 1944 under licence), 13 to Romania and 22 to
Yugoslavia, where a further 48 were built under licence.