The Bristol Blenheim light bomber made its debut in 1936. Its origins began when newspaper magnate Lord Rothermere placed on order with Bristols to design and construct a high speed executive aircraft for his personal use. It emerged as the type 142, a low wing all metal monoplane powered by two 840hp Bristol Mercury radials. Its performance was so outstanding that Lord Rothermere named it ‘Britain First’; and in a patriotic gesture he presented the aircraft to the nation. With a maximum speed of 260mph the 142 could outrun current RAF fighters with comparative ease and with such potential it was developed into a mid wing light bomber.
A Harsh Reality
The Blenheim as it was named; represented an enormous advance over the 180mph Hind biplanes which it supplanted, setting a new pattern in light bomber design. It was the precursor of a future generation of bombers of stressed skin construction, and more than any other type it sounded the death knell of the biplane fighter. Upon entering service it was shown it could outpace the RAF’s front line interceptors, the Gloster Gauntlet and Hawker Fury
Contemporary reports of its performance were trumpeted to an eager nation. Yet such was the pace of aircraft evolution up to 1939 that the Blenheim was found not to be the redoubtable weapon it had been supposed. When exposed to the harsh realities of combat it proved to be sadly deficient in defensive armament and armour plating.
Into Service
The original short-nose Blenheim entered service in 1937 with No.114 squadron based at Wyton in Huntingdonshire, and by 1939 it equipped 16 squadrons of Bomber Command plus 11 Home Fighter units. By the outbreak of war the Mark 1s in frontline service had been largely replaced by the improved Mark 1V. The earlier versions were relegated to less hazardous theatres such as the Middle East where they gave sterling service in the early desert campaigns.
Overseas Service
During the ill-starred Greek campaign of February/April 1941 No.211 squadron performed valiantly in a situation that was virtually hopeless from the outset. In January 1942 it was transferred to Sumatra and Java. Again it was called on to operate until it was eventually overwhelmed by the advancing Japanese. A total of 12 Blenheim squadrons operated with the Mk 1 in the Middle and Far East, plus three units in the fighter role. It was during the doomed 1941 Malayan campaign that a posthumous VC was awarded to S/Ldr.Scarf of 62 sqdrn.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom the Blenheim pioneered early versions of A.I. radar during the night blitz of 1940/41; although their performance was inadequate to exploit the potential of the new equipment which was a task later fulfilled by the hard-hitting Bristol Beaufighter.
The versatile Blenheim may have not lived up to its initial promise but still merits a place as a significant aircraft of World War II.
 |
 |
 |
