Profiles and Logos
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber which served throughout the second World War. The aircraft started development as the Bristol Type 142 civil airliner which first flew in April 1935. The Air Ministry was impressed with the performance of the aircraft and ordered a modified version, the Type 142M for the RAF with delivery starting in March 1937. The aircraft was the first British all metal stressed skin aircraft and on introduction was faster than most fighters. At the outbreak of World War 2 the aircraft equipped 2 home and 11 overseas squadrons and on the day that war was declared a Blenheim was the first aircraft to fly over Germany performing a high altitude reconnaissance mission. Losses of the aircraft on bombing missions was very heavy especially during daytime missions. The aircraft was quickly obsolete as a bomber and used in other roles including night fighter and was used extensively worldwide where fighter opposition was lighter. In all a total of 4,658 aircraft were built.