Bristol Blenheim

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The Bristol Type 142M Blenheim was a high-speed light bomber used extensively in the early days of World War II, built by Bristol Aeroplane Company.

Related Topics:
Light bomber - World War II - Bristol Aeroplane Company

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The design had started as a civilian aircraft, a project of Lord Rothermere, owner of the Daily Mail. In order to promote British aviation, he asked the industry to deliver the fastest civilian aircraft in Europe, capable of carrying 6 passengers and 2 crew members. Bristol responded with the Type 142, and when it first flew as Britain First in 1934 it proved to be faster than any fighter the RAF had at the time.

Related Topics:
Lord Rothermere - Daily Mail - RAF

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Needless to say the Air Ministry was interested in such a plane for their own uses, and quickly sent out Specification B.28/35 for prototypes of a bomber version of Bristol called the 142M (M for "military"). The main changes were to move the wing higher on the fuselage from its former low position, to allow room under the spar for a bomb-bay. The aircraft was all-metal with twin Bristol Mercury VIII radial engines of 860 hp (640 kW) each. It carried a crew of three – pilot, navigator/bombardier and gunner/wireless operator – and was armed with a forward firing 0.303-in machine-gun in the wing root and a 0.303-in (7.7-mm) machine-gun in a semi-retracting dorsal turret firing to the rear. A 1,000-lb (454-kg) bombload was carried in the internal bay.

Related Topics:
Air Ministry - Bristol Mercury

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The plane was ordered directly from the plans, and the first production model, known at the time as the Bolingbroke, served as the first and only prototype. The name then became Blenheim I, and deliveries started in 1937. The plane would prove to be so successful that it was licensed by a number of countries, including Finland and Yugoslavia. Other countries bought it outright, including Romania, Greece, and Turkey. Total production of the Blenheim in England amounted to 1,351 Mk.I's.

Related Topics:
Finland - Yugoslavia - Romania - Greece - Turkey

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After France fell to Germany in June 1940, the was formed at RAF Odiham in the guise of Groupe Mixte de Combat (GMC) 1, consisting of a mixed bag of Blenheims and Westland Lysander liaison/observation aircraft, which eventually went to North Africa and saw action against the Italians and Germans.

Related Topics:
France - Fell to Germany - 1940 - Westland Lysander

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