Bristol Blenheims, Beaforts and Beaufighters

I’ll be happy to see that Blenheim/Bolngbroke back where she belongs, whatever conk she’s wearing!

IIRC,615sqn took Gladiators to France in 1939 and flew them through the Phoney War period, but had just converted onto Hurricanes when the German invasion kicked off. Although it seems that no RAF Gladiators were involved, I think there were a number used in action by the Belgian AF before their capitulation.

Originally posted by Dave Homewood
It would be good if they could make it interchangable between the ugly but interesting Mk 1 nose and the lovlier Mk IV nose, using a big zip or perhaps velcro or something!! LOL

Or perhaps a tupperware seal, it has marvellous preservative qualities, don’t you know? 😀

Would the Mk1 nose on the IV aircraft be an authentic mix? Did the Mk1 and MkIV have the same dimensions etc? I just wondered how such a change would go down with the CAA. Would they be in a way creating a new Mk by mixing the two.

It would be interesting to see the Blenheim with a Mk1 nose, im happy to see it with whichever nose though to be honest.

Steve

Originally posted by Dave Homewood
I have been wondering, did any Blenheims operate in France during the Battle of France? I’ve read that Hurricanes, Defiants and Battles operated there, but no Spitfires, and I wondered if maybe Blenheims or that other BofB veteran the Gladiator ever got used in the French defences.

I also wonder, at the time was there a general feeling of envy or even jealousy among Spitfire squadrons that they were not sent to the front lines in France in 1939-40? Or were they generally happy to be the defence rather than offence as it were? I assume they still made sweeps over the continent from Britain? There’s a famous photo of a Spitfire crashed on the beach at Dunkirk so they must have I guess.

Blenheims were used as bombers in France in 1940, and Gladiators were also sent to France too.
I believe Spitfires were held in Britain because there was little else left – even though the French demanded their presence. Spitfires were used over Dunkirk, in fact lots of different aircraft were put into use durring the Dunkirk period (the Blackburn Roc, for example; a type not used anywhere else…).

Flood.

Found one of the things I was searching for last night…

Dave, Andy Appleton’s excellent Bristol survivors site has a very current list of the surviving Blenheims / Bolingbrokes / Beauforts / Beaufighters worldwide.

http://www.filton.flyer.co.uk/

Thanks guys. I feel the Blenheim is a type of aircraft that played a big role but is somewhat neglected. At least a few survive. That goes for its descendants, the Beaufort and Beaufighter too.

Hmm, a Blenheim flying with a Mk 1 nose. Hmmm. I’m not so keen on that idea as I prefer the Mk IV’s lines anyday. But it would certainly make an interesting warbird, especially for Battle of Britain displays. It would be good if they could make it interchangable between the ugly but interesting Mk 1 nose and the lovlier Mk IV nose, using a big zip or perhaps velcro or something!! LOL

I have been wondering, did any Blenheims operate in France during the Battle of France? I’ve read that Hurricanes, Defiants and Battles operated there, but no Spitfires, and I wondered if maybe Blenheims or that other BofB veteran the Gladiator ever got used in the French defences.

I also wonder, at the time was there a general feeling of envy or even jealousy among Spitfire squadrons that they were not sent to the front lines in France in 1939-40? Or were they generally happy to be the defence rather than offence as it were? I assume they still made sweeps over the continent from Britain? There’s a famous photo of a Spitfire crashed on the beach at Dunkirk so they must have I guess.

Blenheim IVf s were used by Fighter Command in the BoB – which had a four gun pack on the belly, I believe. They were also used by Bomber Command, Coastal Command, in the OTUs, everywhere.
There is approximately ONE genuine complete Bristol built Blenheim and that’s the one in Finland (BL-200). There is also the nose (or several noses, maybe) of a mark 1 in Finland. All the other complete examples are Bolingbrokes.
I will let someone with a more up to date copy of the Warbird Directory fill in how many Blenheim/Bolingbrokes, Beauforts, and Beaufighters survive…

Flood.

Dave,

I’m not sure about complete Blenheim I’s, but I think there’s something (whether a complete airframe or just the remains of one) in Finland. I don’t have any reference material to hand at the moment but will look it up at the weekend.

There’s also a Mark I nose being restored at Duxford, which I understand was being looked at as a possible installation onto the airworthy Blenheim at some stage.

Beaufighters – numbers of survivors vary, depending on who you listen to. 😉 Again, I’m without reference material at the moment, but I believe it’s eleven.

Steve

Interesting to hear this about the Blenheims. I had never considered the idea of Bomber Command being involved in this way before in the Battle of Britain. I guess because it wasn’t mentioned in the movie! LOL

I guess the bombing of the invasion fleet was as important and as much a deterant as what Fighter Command were doing.

Blenheims were used to bomb German invasion barges during the B of B. I’ve heard that Bomber Command lost a similar number of aircrew to Fighter Command in this period of the war.

hello,
a little reply.Yes Mk IV flew during the BoB.I know that squadrons 235 and 236 flew with this aircraft.They are on the list of the fighter squadrons of BoB.and the aircrew bore the BoB clasp.Two Belgians had a victory on Mk IV Henri GONAY and Leon PREVOT.their victims were two He 60