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
