By: Moggy C - 5th February 2007 at 00:55
In the German night bombing raid on London of June 18th (1940), Blenheims accounted for five German bombers thus proving they were better suited in the nocturnal role. In July, the 600 Squadron from Manston had some of their IF’s equipped with A1 Mk III radar and with this equipment a Blenheim from FIU at Ford airfield achieved the first success with this radar.
This from www.battleofbritain.net
Moggy
By: Hurrifan - 5th February 2007 at 00:02
Sorry Ian,
Thought i had something for you but its 604 and they apparently started getting radar fits in late June/Early July 1940 ..
will keep reading and update if poss!!
By: EN830 - 4th February 2007 at 22:03
Thanks, I have a copy of cover of Darkness and will have another look.
I am trying to establish when 600 Sqn’s Blenheims were first equipped with radar, as I had written September 1939 in an account that I have been drafting, however it now appears that I was wrong (should have asked my wife, she’s usually right :D), and it should have been September 1940.
By: bloodnok - 4th February 2007 at 21:53
if you can get hold of a copy of Cover of Darkness by Roderick Chisholm, it covers the development of the RAF nightfighter force from the Blenheim, through Beaufighter and then onto the Mosquito, and also various radars on lancasters as well. it from his point of view as a pilot, and gives a first hand account of how bad the first lot of radar was, and how it improved through the war. he even went to germany after the cease fire and interviewed german pilots and technicians on how effective the Mosquito was.
its an old book, written in 1953, and i picked up my copy for a few pence at a local boot sale.
By: Eye on the Sky - 4th February 2007 at 18:31
AI Equipped Blenheims
A quote from ‘Osprey Combat Units 5- Blenheim Units of WW2’ by Jon Lake:
“On 17th July 1939 a secret minute called for 21 Blenheim 1F’s to be equipped with radar, and equipment was rushed to the RAE from the Pye and Metrovick factories. The radar was installed at the RAE, and deliveries of the AI equipped Blenheim 1Fs to No 25 Sqn began on 31 July 1939. Some 15 AI- equipped aircraft were on charge by the time war broke out.”
Hope this helps…
Dean
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February 4, 2007 at 6:13 pm