rothermere

navigate by keyword : 142 142m 1935 1937 aeroplane air aircraft airliner april blenheim bomber bristol british built cases challenge civil commenced commercial company deliveries design designed developed europe extensively fastest first flew for force from impressed its light lord march ministry modified named newly ordered performance produce raf response rothermere royal second some squadrons throughout two type war which world years

Bristol Blenheim i Mk1. British light bomber from the early second world war. Royalty Free Stock Photo

The Bristol Blenheim is a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company Bristol which was used extensively in the first two years and in some cases throughout the Second World War. The aircraft was developed as Type 142, a civil airliner, in response to a challenge from Lord Rothermere to produce the fastest commercial aircraft in Europe. The Type 142 first flew in April 1935, and the Air Ministry, impressed by its performance, ordered a modified design as the Type 142M for the Royal Air Force RAF as a bomber. Deliveries of the newly named Blenheim to RAF squadrons commenced on 10 March 1937.