About the Bristol Blenheim
When it was found to outperform the existing fighters, it was presented to the nation and served in roles including fighter, bomber and reconnaisance among others. Often called "The Forgotten Bomber" its achievements, including as a night fighter in the Battle of Britain, have been overlooked in favour of the more glamorous Spitfire and Hurricane day fighters.
Image from allfree-clipart.com
Contents
- A Tribute to the Blenheim
- About the Bristol Blenheim
- Technical Information and the Complete History
- Photographs of the Blenheim
- Speed Problems
- Featured Item: The Blenheim Story
- Displaying a Bristol Blenheim
- Pilot's Manuals and Notes
- Faith, Hope and Charity
- Blog Posts from fans
- The Blenheim in flight
- News about the Blenheim
- Avro Vulcan Restoration projects
- Other lenses about aircraft
- What are your views?
- More Aviation Lenses
- About the lensmaster
A Tribute to the Blenheim
The Forgotten Bomber
About the Bristol Blenheim
Its origins and history
The Bristol Blenheim, one of the most overlooked aircraft of the Second World War, has its origins in a civilian aircraft. The protoype, called "Britain First" was built to challenge speed records, and was quickly discovered to be 50mph faster than the fighters in service at the time. Viscount Rothmere presented his protype to the nation in 1935, and it was developed into the Bristol Blenheim.
On the outbreak of war in 1939, it made up the bulk of the RAF's front-line forces. Unfortunately it was quickly outstripped by other aircraft and its flaws exposed. A total of three Victoria Crosses were awarded to Blenheim crewmen (according to the RAF site).
By 1943 it had been almost entirely replaced, but its service in the early years of the war was vital. As a bomber it handled a number of raids, taking horrific casualties as the aircraft's speed was reduced by a full bomb loads. As a fighter it served well early on, but was quickly outperformed by the newer machines.
However, while the daylight of the Battle of Britain belonged to the Spitfire and Hurricane, it handled the majority of night fighting over the UK. Allowing the development of nightfighting tactics, it had some notable successes until replaced eventually by the Bristol Beaufighter and of course the "Wooden Wonder" - the deHavilland Mosquito.
In India it had a prolonged lease of life, as the glue that held the Mosquito together did not fare well in heat and humidity.
The last Blenheims were part of the Finnish airforce, used in every role from bombing to reconnaisance over their long lifespan and were finally retired in 1957.
One surviving Blenheim still displays, appropriately painted as a nightfighter.
The wikipedia article contains more details:
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was later adapted into a successful long-range and night fighter. It was one of the first British aircraft to have all-metal stressed-skin construction, to utilise retractable landing gear, flaps, powered gun turret and variable pitch propellers. A Canadian-built variant named the Bolingbroke was used as an anti-submarine and training aircraft.
Technical Information and the Complete History
The complete history of the Bristol Blenheim
Type:
Light Bomber / Nightfighter
Crew:
2/3
Max Speed:
266mph
Service Ceiling:
22,000ft
Range:
1500 miles
Engines:
2 x Bristol Mercury engines
Length:
42 ft 7 inches
Wingspan:
56 ft 4 inches
Height:
9 ft 10 inches
Weight:
15,000lbs
A two technical diagrams of the Blenheim are available from Mediastorehouse. Although they don't offer a preview version, the images can be viewed here:
- Bristol Blenheim Mk1: Published 24/06/37 - Media Storehouse - Cutaway showing internals
- Bristol Blenheim Mk IVF, 1941. - Media Storehouse - Plan View
For more about the Blenheim this book details the history of the fighter bomber.
The Bristol Blenheim: A Complete History
Amazon Price: $54.95 (as of 12/25/2009)
Used Price: $70.45
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Photographs of the Blenheim
Photographs from Flickr
Commercial images of the Blenheim are available from Media Storehouse
Below are images from Flickr which users have kindly made public.
Bristol Freighter, P...
Blenheim Duxfod
Bristol Blenheim IV
Bristol Blenheim IV
Bristol Blenheim IV
Bristol Fighter, Avi...
Speed Problems
The prototype's great speed was never fully realised in production. The weight of the bombs and the redesign to fit cannon both slowed her significantly, leaving her vulnerable to better armed, more modern fighters.
Featured Item: The Blenheim Story
A 3 DVD set covering history and operations
Covering the development of the plane after Vicount Rothmere presented his protoype to the nation, through to its performance during World War II and the Dieppe landings.
Displaying a Bristol Blenheim
Video covering prep, takeoff and flight.
Pilot's Manuals and Notes
Flying the Bristol Blenheim
PILOT'S NOTES: BLENHEIM V. AEROPLANE
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
Bristol Blenheim V -Pilot's Notes
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/25/2009)
Faith, Hope and Charity
An unlikely role was playing in the defense of Malta, when the three Gloucester Gladiator biplanes that made up the island's only air defense were fitted with engines from a Bristol Blenheim to improve performance.
They were fast enough to make Italian intelligence think there were more planes!
Blog Posts from fans
More about the Bristol Blenheim
- Bristol Blenheim V: W/Cdr.Malcolm and the Award of a Posthumous VC ...
- W/Cdr. Hugh Malcolm was remembered as a determined and inspiring leader in the harsh conditions of the 1942 North African campaign.
- Peak Wreck Hunters: Bristol Blenheim Mk.1F L1449
- Bristol Blenheim Mk.1F L1449. A few scraps which were missed by the multiple waves of looters who have visited the site of this Blenheim crash, found by an attractive waterfall in the pine wood planted since the crash. ...
- Bristol Blenheim Bolingbroke 1
- Bristol Aeroplane's Blenheim was a British high-speed light bomber used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was later adapted into a successful heavy fighter. A Canadian-made variant named the Bolingbroke was used ...
News about the Blenheim
Supplied by the BBC
News headlines from the BBC about the Blenheim, updated daily.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byAvro Vulcan Restoration projects
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What are your views?
Share your opinions
Seen her fly? Have an opinion on the aircraft? Share it here!
-
Reply
- TheWhistler TheWhistler Nov 10, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
- Great lens, very informative.
More Aviation Lenses
An index of my Aviation lenses is here:
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About the lensmaster
Tirial&Error Lensography
Lensmaster tirial has been a member since August 11 2008, has rated 195 lenses, favorited 7, and has created 239 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Dragon Cave - the online hatching game". See all my lenses
My Bio
Aviation, IT, History, Gaming, I'm interested in just about anything! I made the Squidoo Top 100 Club in June 2009.
For a full list of my lenses, see my Lensography.
by tirial
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