Having finally convinced myself that what I found on a Norfolk beach back in 2003 is an oil tank from a Bristol Blenheim, can anybody suggest any possibilities for which Blenheim it came from?
So far I only have Blenheim I L6641 which force-landed on the beach of Scolt Head Island on 6th January 1940 but that seems a likely candidate as it was possibly only five miles or less from where I found the oil tank.
Also has anybody got any better photographs or drawings of Blenheim oil tanks?
By: flitzerfalke - 23rd February 2012 at 01:19
alclad is not weldable
certain aluminium alloys are weldable and some are not. Any alclad will be of the non weldable variety.
cheers
By: Creaking Door - 9th March 2010 at 15:03
It was a light alloy of aluminium (Alclad?) and some of it was in remarkable condition, back in 2004 when I came across it. However where the pure aluminium surface coating had ‘failed’ it had corroded to nothing. The fittings (some of which I have) were light alloy castings / stampings that were fitted by small bolts (with locking wire through their heads) and rubber gaskets to backing pieces within the tank.
The welded seams were exquisite!
By: Last Lightning - 9th March 2010 at 14:46
Looks in remarkably good condition for something thats been exposed to sand/salt water for 70 years or so….whats it made out of?
By: Bruce - 9th March 2010 at 12:43
There is a little discussion in this old thread:
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=90703&highlight=norfolk+coast&page=3
There is also a load of argument and banter, but that cant be helped now!
Bruce
By: Creaking Door - 9th March 2010 at 12:02
Tank from a Bolingbroke.
Sorry, I think I misunderstood your earlier post; you weren’t saying that it was a Bolingbroke tank were you…
…just providing me with an excellent photograph…..thanks! 😮
By: Creaking Door - 9th March 2010 at 10:20
Yes, I agree, nothing there looks like it but my thinking was that the Mark I tanks were different. The most distinctive feature, apart from the more rounded (less wedged) shape, is the angled filler neck on the front edge of the tank (which cannot really be seen on the period photograph that I posted) and which the Mark IV seem to lack.
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th March 2010 at 10:01
I’m struggling to see your oil tank here, Creaking Door.
It’s only vaguely similar to the auxiliary tank.
This is the Blenheim IV A.P. by the way.
By: Creaking Door - 9th March 2010 at 09:50
Tank from a Bolingbroke.
Why do you say Bolingbroke? One of the things that convinced me it wasn’t a Blenheim tank was that I have been able to examine the oil tanks of the Duxford Blenheim/Bolingbroke while it is being rebuilt and they are significantly different (although there are similarities). However the period photograph that I posted is of a Mark I Blenheim and that has convinced me that it is a Blenheim tank (unless somebody knows different).
Is there a ‘filler neck’ on the front of the Bolingbroke tank?
Here is another photograph (turned the right way up) that shows the side profile better.
Which beach in Norfolk? We have quite a few!
Holkham Beach just east along the coast from Scolt Head Island.
By: Bruce - 9th March 2010 at 07:46
Which beach in Norfolk? We have quite a few!
By: bolyman - 9th March 2010 at 04:05
Boly tank
Tank from a Bolingbroke
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March 9, 2010 at 2:37 am