.

Bristol Blenheim

 .

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force

 .
.

                  .

Development

Entwicklung

 

 The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the first two years of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter. It was one of the first British aircraft to have all-metal stressed-skin construction, retractable landing gear, flaps, a powered gun turret and variable-pitch propellers.

A Canadian-built variant named the Bolingbroke was used as an anti-submarine and trainer. The Blenheim Mk I outran most biplane fighters in the late 1930s but stood little chance against the German Messerschmitt Bf 109 during daylight operations, though it proved successful as a night fighter. The Mark IV variant was equally unsuccessful in its daylight bombing role, suffering many losses in the early stages of the war.		   Die Bristol Blenheim war ein  leichter britischer Bomber von der Bristol Aeroplane Company entworfen und gebaut wurde und in den ersten zwei Jahren des Zweiten Weltkrieg verwendet wurde. Sie wurde als Interimslangstrecken und Nachtjäger verwendet, bis die Beaufighter verfügbar war. Es war eines der ersten britischen Flugzeugen, in Ganzmetall-Schalenbauweise und mit Einziehfahrwerk, Landeklappen, einem angetriebenen Geschützturm und Verstell-propellern.
Eine kanadische gebaute Variante genannt Bolingbroke wurde als Anti-U-Boot-Jäger und Trainer verwendet. Die Blenheim Mk I überholte die meisten Doppeldecker-Jäger in den späten 1930er Jahren, hatte aber kaum eine Chance gegen die deutsche Messerschmitt Bf 109 während Tagesoperationen, erwies sich jedoch als erfolgreicher Nachtjäger. Die Mark IV Variante war in den Tagesoperationen ebenso erfolglos, und erlitt viele Verluste in der frühen Phase des Krieges. 
                  .

Variants

Versionen
         
           
           
..

Operational history

Einsatzgeschichte

 

      
                  .
 

 

 

      

No. 6 Squadron

No. 8 Squadron

No. 11 Squadron
 

 

 

      

No. 13 Squadron

No. 14 Squadron

No. 15 Squadron
 

 

 

      

No. 18 Squadron

No. 20 Squadron

No. 21 Squadron
 

 

 

      

No. 23 Squadron

No. 27 Squadron

No. 29 Squadron
 

 

 

  

No. 30 Squadron (1940)

 No. 34 Squadron 1941

No. 35 Squadron
 

 

 

  

No. 39 Squadron

No. 40 Squadron 1940

No. 40 Squadron 1940
 

 

 

    

No. 42 Squadron

No. 44 Squadron

No. 45 Squadron 1940
 

 

 

      

No. 52 Squadron

No. 53 Squadron

No. 55 Squadron
 

 

 

  

No. 57 Squadron

 No. 59 Squadron 1940 No. 60 Squadron 1939
 

 

 
No. 60 Squadron 1941 No. 60 Squadron 1942 No. 60 Squadron 1942
 

 

 

No. 61 Squadron 1938

No. 62 Squadron 1941

No. 68 Squadron 1941
 

 

 

  
No. 82 Squadron No. 84 Squadron 1939

No. 84 Squadron 1940
 

 

 

    
No. 84 Squadron 1941 No. 86 Squadron No. 88 Squadron
 

 

 

  

No. 90 Squadron 1938

 No.  90 Squadron 1938 No. 92 Squadron
 

 

 

    
No. 101 Squadron 1941 No. 104 Squadron No. 105 Squadron
 

 

 

    
No. 107 Squadron

108 Squadron (1938)

 No. 110 Squadron
 

 

 

  
No. 113 Squadron

No. 114 Squadron (1937)

No. 139 Squadron  1938
 

 

 

      
No. 140 Squadron No. 141 Squadron No. 143 Squadron
 

 

 

    
No. 145 Squadron (1939) No. 162 Squadron No. 173 Squadron
 

 

 

    
No. 203 Squadron No. 211 Squadron (1940) No. 212 Squadron
 

 

 

  
No. 218 Squadron No. 219 Squadron (1940) No. 222 Squadron (1940)
 

 

 

    
No. 223 Squadron No. 226 Squadron No. 229 Squadron (1940)
 

 

 

      
No. 233 Squadron No. 234 Squadron No. 235 Squadron
 

 

 

      
No. 236 Squadron No. 242 Squadron No. 245 Squadron
 

 

 

  

No. 248 Squadron (1940)

No. 248 Squadron (1940)

 No. 252 Squadron
 

 

 

      
No. 254 Squadron No. 267 Squadron No. 272 Squadron
 

 

 

      
No. 285 Squadron No. 287 Squadron No. 288 Squadron
 

 

 

      
No. 289 Squadron No. 500 Squadron No. 516 Squadron
 

 

 

      
No. 521 Squadron No. 526 Squadron No. 527 Squadron
 

 

 

      
No. 528 Squadron No. 600 Squadron No. 601 Squadron
 

 

 

      
No. 604 Squadron No. 608 Squadron No. 614 Squadron
 

 

 
13 OTU 1942 13 OTU 1942

54 OTU 1941
Blenheim in the RAF

Squadron

Type

Base

Codes

Period

    6 Sqn

Mk. IV

RAF Helwan Egypt

JV

Nov. 1941 - Jan. 1942

    8 Sqn

Mk.I
Mk.IV
Mk.V

RAF Khormaksar

HV

Apr. 1939 - Apr. 1942
Aug. 1941 - Apr. 1943
Sep. 1942 - Jan 1944

  11 Sqn

Mk.I
Mk.IV

RAF Tengah Singapore
Larissa Greece

YH

Jul. 1939 - Jan. 1941
Jan. 1941 - Sep. 1943

  13 Sqn

Mk.IV
Mk.V

RAF Odiham
Bilda (Africa)

OO *

Jul.1941 - Sep. 1942
Sep.1942 - Dec. 1943

  14 Sqn

Mk.IV

Port Sudan & Heliopolis Egypt

LY

Sep. 1940 - Aug. 1942

  15 Sqn

Mk.IV

RAF Wyton

LS

Dec. 1939 - Oct. 1940

  17 Sqn

 

 

UV

 

  18 Sqn

Mk.I
Mk.IV
Mk.V

RAF Upper Heyford
RAF Watton
RAF West Raynham

WV

May 1939 - May 1940
Mar. 1940 - Sep. 1942
Sep. 1942 - Apr. 1943

  20 Sqn

Mk.I

RAF Secunderabad India

PM *

 Jun. 1941 - Dec. 1941

  21 Sqn

Mk.I
Mk.IV

RAF Watton

JP & JH

Aug. 1938 - Sep. 1939
Sep. 1939 - Mar. 1942

  23 Sqn

Mk.IF

RAF Wittering

YP

Dec. 1938 - Apr. 1941

  25 Sqn

Mk.IF
Mk.IVF

RAF Northolt
RAF North Weald

RX & ZK

Dec. 1938 - Jan. 1941

  27 Sqn

Mk.IF

RAF Risalpur India

PT *

Nov. 1940 - Feb. 1942

  29 Sqn

Mk.IF

RAF Debden

YB

Dec. 1938 - Feb. 1941

  30 Sqn

Mk.I
Mk.IF

RAF Ismailia Egypt
Eleusis Greece

VT

Jan. 1938 - Mar. 1941
Jun. 1940 - May 1941

  34 Sqn

Mk.I
Mk.IV

Mk.V

RAF Tengah, Singapore
Palembang NEI
RAF Allahabad India
RAF Silchar India

LB & EG

Jul. 1938 - Nov. 1941
Jun. 1941 - Feb. 1942,
Apr. 1942 - Jan. 1943
Dec. 1942 - Jul. 1943

  35 Sqn

Mk.IV

RAF Bassingbourn

--

Nov  1939 - Apr. 1940

  39 Sqn

Mk.I
Mk.IV

RAF Tengah, Singapore
Lahore, Pakistan

XZ

Jun. 1939 - Jan. 1941
Dec. 1940 - Jan. 1941

  40 Sqn

Mk.IV

RAF Wyton

BL

Dec. 1939 - Nov.1940

  42 Sqn

Mk.V

RAF Palel India

AW *

Feb. 1943 - Oct. 194

  44 Sqn

Mk.I

RAF Waddington

JW *

Dec. 1937 - Feb. 1939

  45 Sqn

Mk.I
Mk.IV
Mk.IVF

RAF Helwan
RAF Fuka
Aqir & RAF Helwan

OB

Jun. 1939 - Feb. 1941
Feb.1941 - Jan.1942
May 1941 - Jan. 1942

  52 Sqn

Mk.IV

Mosul Iraq

--

Oct. 1942 - Feb. 1943

  53 Sqn

Mk.IV

RAF Andover

TE & PZ

Jan. 1939 - Aug. 1941

  55 Sqn

Mk.I
Mk.IV

RAF Ismailia Egypt
RAF Heliopolis Egypt

GM *

Mar. 1939 - Dec. 1940
Dec. 1940 - Mar. 1942

  57 Sqn

 Mk.I
Mk.IV

RAF Upper Heyford
RAF Wyton

EQ *

Mar. 1938 - May 1940
Mar. 1940 - Nov. 1940

  59 Sqn

Mk.V

RAF Andover & RAF Manston

TR

May 1939 - Sep. 1941

  60 Sqn

 Mk.I
Mk.IV		 RAF Ambala India
RAF Lahore India		 AD & MU Mar. 1939 - Feb. 1942
Mar. 1942 - Aug. 1943

  61 Sqn

 Mk.I RAF Hemswell -- Jan. 1938 - Mar. 1939

  62 Sqn

 Mk.I RAF Tengah Singapore JO & PT Feb. 1938 - Feb. 1942

  64 Sqn

 Mk.IF RAF Church Fenton XQ* - SH * Dec. 1938 - Apr. 1940
  68 Sqn Mk.IF RAF Catterick WM Jan. 1941 - May 1941
  82 Sqn Mk.I
Mk.IV		 RAF Andover
RAF Watton		 OZ* & UX Mar. 1938 - Sep. 1939
Aug. 1939 - Mar. 1942

  84 Sqn

Mk.I
Mk.IV

Heliopolis, Egypt
Haraklion, Greece

VA

Feb. 1939 - Apr. 1941
Mar. 1941 - Mar. 1942

  86 Sqn

Mk.IV

RAF Gosport

BX *

Dec. 1940 - Jun. 1941

  88 Sqn

 Mk.I
Mk.IV

RAF Sydenham
RAF Swanton Morley

RH

Feb 1941 - Jul 1941
Jul 1941 - Feb 1942

  90 Sqn

Mk.I
Mk.IV

RAF Watton

TW

May 1937 - Apr 1940

  92 Sqn

Mk.IF

RAF Tangmere

GR

Oct. 1939 - Mar. 1940

101 Sqn

 Mk.I
Mk.IV

RAF Bicester
RAF West Raynham

LU* & SR

Jun. 1938 - Apr. 1939
Apr 1939 - Jul 1941

104 Sqn

Mk.I
Mk.IV

RAF Bassingbourn
RAF Bicester

PO & EP

May 1938 - Apr 1940
Nov 1939 - Nov 1940

105 Sqn

 Mk.IV RAF Honington, RAF Watton GB Jun 1940 - Dec 1941

107 Sqn

Mk.I
Mk.IV

RAF Wattisham

OM

Aug 1938 - Jun 1939
May 1939 - Feb 1942

108 Sqn

Mk.I
Mk.IV

RAF Bassingbourn
RAF Bicester

MF* & LD*

Jun 1938 - Apr 1940
Jun 1938 - Apr 1940

110 Sqn

 Mk.I
Mk.IV		 RAF Wattisham AY & VE Jan 1938 - Sep 1939
Jun 1939 - Jun 1942

113 Sqn

 Mk.I
Mk.IV
Mk.V		 RAF Heliopolis Egypt

RAF Asansol, India		 VA & AD Jun 1939 - Apr 1940
Mar 1940 - Dec 1942
Oct 1942 - Aug 1943

114 Sqn

 Mk.I
Mk.IV
Mk.V		 RAF Wattisham

Comiso Italy		 FD & RT Mar 1937 - May 1939
May 1939 - Sep 1942
Sep 1942 - Apr 1943

139 Sqn

 Mk.I
Mk.IV
Mk.V		 RAF Wyton

RAF Horsham St. Faith		 SY & XD Jul 1937 - Sep 1939
Jul 1939 - Dec 1941
Jun 1942 - Nov 1942

140 Sqn

 Mk.IV RAF Benson ZW Sep 1941 - Aug 1943

141 Sqn

 Mk.I RAF Turnhouse UD Nov 1939 - May 1940

143 Sqn

 Mk.IVF RAF Aldergrove HO Dec 1941 - Sep 1942

144 Sqn

 Mk.I RAF Hemswell NV Aug 1937 - Apr 1939

145 Sqn

 Mk.IF RAF Croydon SO Oct 1939 - May 1940

162 Sqn

 Mk.IV
Mk.V		 RAF Idku Egypt -- Feb 1942 - Jul 1942
Jul 1942 - Jan 1944

173 Sqn

 Mk.IV RAF Heliopolis -- Jul 1942 - Sep 1943

203 Sqn

 Mk.I
Mk.IVF
Mk.V		 RAF Aden
RAF Khormaksar
LG.227/Gianaclis Egypt;		 NT Mar 1940 - May 1940
May 1940 - Nov 1942
Oct 1942 - Nov 1942

211 Sqn

Mk. I

RAF Ismailia Egypt

LJ & UQ

Apr 1939 - Nov 1941

212 Sqn

 Mk.IV RAF Heston -- Feb 1940 - Jun 1940

218 Sqn

 Mk.IV RAF Oakington HA Jul 1940 - Nov 1940

219 Sqn

 Mk.IF RAF Catterick FK Oct 1939 - Feb 1941

222 Sqn

Mk. IF

RAF Duxford

ZD

Okt. 1939 - Mar. 1940

223 Sqn

 Mk. I Wadi Gazouza Egypt -- Jun 1941 - Jan 1942

226 Sqn

 Mk.IV RAF Sydenham MQ * May 1941 - Dec 1941

229 Sqn

Mk.IF

RAF Digby

RE

Okt. 1939 - Mar. 1940

233 Sqn

 Mk.IV RAF Leuchars ZS Oct 1939 - Jan 1940

234 Sqn

 Mk.IF RAF Church Fenton AZ Nov 1939 - Mar 1940

235 Sqn

 Mk.IF
Mk.IVF		 RAF North Coates LA Feb 1940 - May 1940
Feb 1940 - Dec 1941

236 Sqn

 Mk.IF
Mk.IVF		 RAF Stradishall
RAF Thorney Island		 FA Nov 1939 - Jul 1940
Jul 1940 - Feb 1942

242 Sqn

 Mk.IF RAF Church Fenton -- Dec 1939 - Dec 1939
244 Sqn Mk.IV
Mk.V		 Shaibah Iraq -- Apr 1942 - Dec 1942
Oct 1942 - Apr 1944
245 Sqn Mk.IF RAF Leconfield -- Nov 1939 - Mar 1940

248 Sqn

 Mk.IF
Mk.IVF		 RAF Hendon
RAF North Coates		 WR Dec 1939 - May 1940
Mar 1940 - Jul 1941
252 Sqn Mk.IF
Mk.IVF		 RAF Chivenor PN Dec 1940 - Apr 1941
Dec 1940 - Apr 1941
254 Sqn Mk.IF
Mk.IVF		 RAF Sutton Bridge
RAF Hatston		 QY Nov 1939 - Apr 1940
Jan 1940 - Aug 1942

267 Sqn

 Mk.I RAF Heliopolis Egypt -- Aug 1941 - Apr 1942

272 Sqn

 Mk.IV RAF Aldergrove XK Nov 1940 - Apr 1941

285 Sqn

 Mk.I RAF Wrexham VG Dec 1941 - Feb 1942

287 Sqn

 Mk.IV RAF Croydon KZ Nov 1941 - Jan 1942

288 Sqn

 Mk.IV RAF Digby RP Nov 1941 - Feb 1942

289 Sqn

 Mk.IV RAF Kirknewton YE Nov 1941 - Jan 1942
404 Sqn Mk.IV RAF Thorney Island EE Apr 1941 - Jan 1943
406 Sqn Mk.IF
Mk.IVF		 RAF Acklington HU May 1941 - Jun 1941
May 1941 - Jun 1941
407 Sqn Mk.IV RAF Thorney Island RR May 1941 - Jul 1941
500 Sqn Mk.IV RAF Bircham Newton MK Apr 1941 - Nov 1941
516 Sqn Mk.IV RAF Dundonald -- Apr 1943 - Dec 1944
521 Sqn Mk.IV RAF Bircham Newton 5O Jul 1942 - Mar 1943
526 Sqn Mk.IV RAF Inverness MD Jun 1943 - May 1945
527 Sqn Mk.IV RAF Castle Camps WN Jun 1943 - May 1945
528 Sqn Mk.IV RAF Filton -- Jun 1943 - Sep 1944
600 Sqn Mk.IF
Mk.IVF		 RAF Hendon
RAF Northolt		 BQ Jan 1939 - Oct 1941
Nov 1939 - Jan 1940

601 Sqn

 Mk.IF RAF Biggin Hill UF Jan 1939 - Feb 1940

604 Sqn

 Mk.IF RAF Hendon NG Jan 1939 - Jan 1941

608 Sqn

 Mk.I
Mk.IV		 RAF Thornaby UL Feb 1941 - Aug 1941
Mar 1941 - Sep 1941

614 Sqn

 Mk.IV
Mk.V		 RAF Macmerry
RAF Odiham		 LJ Jul 1941 - Aug 1942
Aug 1942 - Jan 1944

* Codes not carried
.
 
Specifications  

Wingspan

Spannweite

  

Length

Länge

  

Height

Höhe

  
Wing area Flügelfläche  

Engine

Motor

  

Maximum speed

Höchstgeschwindigkeit

  

Empty weight

Leergewicht

  

Loaded weight

Startgewicht

  

Climb Rate

Steigrate

  

Service ceiling

Gipfelhöhe

  

Range

Reichweite

  

Armament

Bewaffnung

  

Capacity

 Zuladung  
.
-

last update 27. March 2016

written 27. March 2016

-

 -
- Corrections, additions and remarks please send to the Webmaster Michael E. Fader -
- If information from this site is used as source material please credit www.wings-aviation.ch  -
- If this page does not have a navigational frame on the left, click HERE to see the rest of the website. -