Is this a Blenheim Mk V?

Nice comparison and convincing. I’d like to see a Blenheim IV in a similar size/attitude/angle/light before casing my final vote on the subject though.

Not quite a Blenheim IV or V, but near enough (Canadian Bolingbroke), and not quite in the same banking pose, but near enough to my eye to confirm the Ju-88 wins the cigar.

Regards

Mark Pilkington

Nice comparison and convincing. I’d like to see a Blenheim IV in a similar size/attitude/angle/light before casing my final vote on the subject though.

That photo does it for me, I agree its a Ju-88 too

regards

Mark Pilkington

OK, here’s my final attempt to prove it’s an ’88!

The photo shows the ‘mystery’ aircraft alongside a Ju88 in a similar attitude.

The main identifying points are the very large tailplane (longer than the height of the tail, (Blenheim was about the same), and the curve of the engine nacelles at the rear. The ‘turret’ is a mark on the negative. The cockpit is higher than the fuselage but because of the rear light source most of it blends in with the sky.

The Ju188 had a huge glazed cockpit, both the 88 and 188 had cockpits which were much higher than the fuselage dorsal line, and neither had dorsal turrets.

The mystery aircraft’s cockpit, on the other hand, is in line with the spine, in the same style as a Wellington, Whitley, Beaufighter, and Blenheim, and it does have a turret…

Hi Guys

First up can I just thank you all for the effort that you have/are putting into identifying just what the heck I have in this photo!

For those who would like a better quality image to work with please send me a PM and I’ll send you a 300 dpi scan of the original photo (or 600 dpi) if you think that will help.

I bought the image along with three others that show a German 1940 M-Class minesweeper either practice firing or firing at aircraft of the RAF.

Please accept my apologies for having gone somewhat quiet on this post for the past few weeks – it’s that time of year where I spend all of my ICT time writing tests, exams (not to mention the correcting of said work!) and reports for my students.

Thanks heaps.

Paul

I like that idea.

I would think that it could be a Maryland. I will give it more research.

Smith-Smythe

Just to add confusion…..

Is it a Martin Maryland?

RN-FAA was UK shore-based for training and part-time maritime recon roles. It was a Maryland which confirmed the departure of the Bismarck(?) from port in 1941. If the ‘gondola’ and the shadows around the nacelle/wing interface are distortions of the photo, then the Maryland fits the bill.

…geoff

The very distinctive smooth curve at the rear of the (obviously underslung) nacelles and the large tailplane show that it is either a Ju88 or 188. The short ventral gondola says Ju88. Seems very clear to me!

But not underslung engines…

Underslung engines? You can see the port engine pod outboard fillet shadow on the top of the wing. Due to the light conditions, only the wing leading edge is showing up, as a shadow.
Those radials are mid-mounted…

“I have many faults but being wrong isn’t one of them.”

But not underslung engines. I agree it would be much more likely to be a Mk.IV than a Mk.V, or a Ju188 for that matter. But I still feel on the balance of all indications, it is more likely a Ju88.

I’m not sure how anyone can be that categorical, either way.

Radials, sloping nose with that bulge underneath, and a dorsal turret – it’s a Blenheim V…

Sorry, but that video clip just seems to confirm categorically that the original photograph is NOT a Blenheim in any shape or form – there is no way of interpreting the aeroplane in the photograph as having its engiines positioned anywhere other than predominantly below the wings.

It is a Blenheim Mk IV

If you look closely at the photos that are blown up, you can see that what is black is really shadow from what must be low light that is coming from the sun at a low angle like just after sunrise or just prior to sunset. The scalloped nose glazing can just be made out. The Blenheim IV has a lot of dihedral.

Look at the video on the following link. Right at about the 11 second point, there is a similar angle of a Mk IV with the underslung aft pointing guns they had retrofitted.

http://www.airwargame.com/eng/planes/unitedkingdom/27/

No doubt in my mind, Blenheim IV

Also, if the original poster that started this string wants more information on the Channel and North Sea usage of the Blenheim, he need look no farther than Theo Boiten’s Blenheim Strike!

http://www.amazon.com/Blenheim-Strike-Theo-Boiten/dp/1871187311

Cheers

Smith-Smythe
Bolingbrokes 10070 10223 10142 9041

‘I must admit I thought it was a Blenheim at first, but I’ve changed my mind and I’d go for Ju-188’. from Scouse

Some really hard work gone into this thread, and now , with all the 88/188 pics at the same angle….well I have to aggree with Scouse…a Ju-188 it is.
…Well done chaps, home…and tea.

I recall reading, some two decades after the event, of the problems the ROC had in getting people to distinguish between the Blenheim and the Ju88. This thread shows that things haven’t changed much!

If the identification comes from the original, then it shows the Germans had much the same problem, but then like all navies they would shoot first and identify afterwards. Safer that way.

I still think it’s an ’88 not a 188, have a look at this photo in our library of a C-6 doing a very similar low level pass…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ww2images/6897167661/

I think the more curved shape of the 88 tail is lost by the over-exposure.

Is it ok to admit i’m quite proud of actually, potentially, working out what something is on here? Normally its some rare 1920s bipane i’ve never heard of, but i may, may, have just guessed this one right! I think the fact i had a matchbox 1/72 JU188 hanging from my ceiling when i was a lad in a similar angle may have helped……until one night the string broke and it divebombed me of course.

Simon