Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV that operated in the 13th. Training Unit Operational
in Speke, England, in 1941. Military Registration V6083;
individual letter B and FV letters indicating the unit.
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When Lord Rothermere, the wealthy owner of "Mail Dailies" wanted to have the fastest, most European aircraft (if not directly the best in the world), said firmly requesting the last aircraft of the Bristol babies: The "135." Was a small twin-engine six to eight lances Barmwell Frank, head of the British house planning, had studied in 1933 and for which, in the absence of suitable propellant, it had made an engine Bristol star "as" : Eagle, 350 hp. Lord Rothermer pay eighteen thousand five hundred pounds if the plane would be ready within the year and, therefore, gave away half of the figure to sign the order. Bristol kept the faith with the commitments undertaken with the press magnate (which, among other things, was a power in the pre-war English political world) and a prototype aircraft, designated "142" and equipped with more powerful 640 hp Mercury engines, first flown at Filton on 12 April 1935.
was inevitable that the Air Ministry took an interest in this aircraft, favorably impressed by the speed of the twin that exceeded, by far, the fighter aircraft then in service in the Royal Air Force. At this point, there was only immediately propose the transformation of the "Britain First" (and had been renamed the plane), in a fast bomber. 28/35 specification Type 142M Blenheim was born I started already, though not yet passed from the papers with a firm order of one hundred and fifty copies. On June 25, 1936 the first of these, the K7033, made its first flight at Filton. Having quickly completed the assessment tests in Martlesham Heath, in the following December was decided to start mass production of new aircraft.
The Blenheim, all-metal monoplane, was altogether a very simple design unit in which the aerodynamic finish seemed to have been sacrificed to obtain other important benefits. Medioplano convergent wing plant, was conducted in three parts, of which the plant was riveted to the fuselage, the two wing spars was obtained from two heavy steel flanges alclad ribs, the ribs were also made in alclad and lining of the wing was the same material. flaps were also alclad, while the wings were coated metal frame and fabric. The fuselage monocoque resistant structure was divided into three sections alaclad coated rivets. The tail section, cantilever monoplane, was also completely mobile metallic surfaces coated fabric and aerodynamically balanced and statically.
The landing gear was the main wheels shrink back (in the drive aisles) with hydraulic command but with the addition of an emergency command manual. At first, even the tail wheel was given in the fuselage. The undercarriage was fitted, usually, Dunlop brakes.
engines Mercuty nine-cylinder Bristol-model according to different variants of the aircraft, were equipped with three-bladed propellers with variable pitch metal. Two fuel tanks of 632 liters each, were located in the center wing section, whereas the oil tanks (two for a total of 77 liters) were installed inside the motor nacelles.
The standard aircraft equipment included, inter alia, radio transceiver, cameras and navigation equipment, oxygen systems, fire extinguishers, etc..
The crew, usually consisting of three people, undertook a pilot, a navigator-bombardier and gunner controlling the firing back in the fuselage.
The first units arrived in Blenheim in March 1937 (the No. 114 Squadron Wyton was the one who received the first twin), and at first asked one hundred and fifty copies, was followed by another by 434 aircraft. Almost simultaneously, also abroad became interested in the new device: among other countries, Finland, Turkey and Yugoslavia.
thirteen were provided copies of Blenheim I to Romania in November 1939, hoping to persuade her that she join the Allies. A year later, the Balkan country joined the Axis and Blenheim, as the Finns, were used against the Russians accordingly.
Blenheim I All these engines were fitted with Bristol Mercury VIII star of 840 horses, carrying a crew of three men and a turret weapons semirretráctil Bristol undertook Mk.1 with 7.7 mm Lewis machine gun, the previous weapon , of the same caliber Browning was installed in the left wing.
In total, from July 1936 until the introduction of the later variant, Blenheim I production was 1,280 copies, of which 250 had been manufactured by the AV Roe factory in Chadderton and 336 by Rootes Speke and Blythe Bridge, while the rest were armed by the Bristol Filton.
In 1940, a Blenheim I (L 1348) was amended by Bristol to improve their performances and photo-reconnaissance aircraft.
At the beginning of the war, Bomber Command had six Squadron equipped with the Blenheim IV: two of them were immediately transferred to France as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force, while the other four units were the Corps air component British expedition. After the fall of France, the Blenheim IV day continued with missions on the continent, often without fighter escort, but losses were significant. Among the most significant missions can count Bremen attack on July 4, 1941, by which HU Wing Commander Edwards earned the Victoria Cross and the attack on Cologne next month. A major task that had attacked the Blenheim enemy fleet in the Channel and the Bay of Biscay. These attacks were made, usually at altitudes of 15 to 20 meters and, in these conditions, the aircraft were severely subjected to heavy enemy reaction. However, overall, showed very well resist the attacks of the air defense.
When Germany began the "Operation Barbarossa" to the Soviet Union, attacks by Bomber Command against German industrial targets regained force. Then, the Blenheim successfully completing many raids in Germany: Cologne and Rotterdam allaron between the centers involved. More than three hundred thousand tons of coastal vessels also were sunk in just three months with the loss of 68 Blenheim.
also in distant Malaysia, against the Japanese, the British twin wore. From Rangoon, the Blenheim periodically conducted bombing missions over Nipponese columns advancing through the rivers Salween and Sittang. Several
Blenheim IV, who were required to make crash landings in Portugal, were confiscated, and that military aircraft, which again put into service with their own colors next to the other copies of the same aircraft purchased in England.
Recent Blenheim were employees in the Bomber Command until August 1942, giving way to the Douglas "Boston" and De Havilland "Mosquito", while in the Far East, the twin-engine Bristol remained active until the end of the conflict. Some specimens were used even by the training units of Flight Command to navigation school.
Information obtained from the work Storia dell Aviazione.
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