The Bristol Blenheim
>My father had to 'ditch' in the channel when he was shot down by anti-aircraft fire while flying one of these early in his career, before converting to heavies. He was picked up by a French fishing boat and taken over to France for a night before being taken back to England the following night.
These aircraft were basically obsolescent at the outbreak of the war. The one above is a Mark 4.
Crew: Three
Engines: Two 905 hp Bristol Mercury XV
Wing Span: 56'-6" (17.22m)
Length : 42'-7" (12.98m)
Height : 9'-10" (2.99m)
Empty Weight : 9,700 lbs. (4,400 kg)
Loaded Weight: 14,400 lbs. (6,532 kg)
Maximum Speed: 266 mph at 11,800 ft. (3,597 m)
Ceiling : 22,000 ft. (6,706 m)
Armament: One fixed 0.303" machine gun, dorsal turret and under-nose blister each with two 0.303" machine guns. Maximum bomb load, 1,000 lbs. (4,536 kg) internally, plus 320 lbs. (145 kg) mounted externally.
Bomber Command Squadrons Equipped With The Blenheim IV:
15, 18, 21, 34, 35, 40, 44, 57, 61, 62, 82, 88, 90, 101, 104, 105, 107, 108, 110, 114, 139, 144, 218, 226