Bristol Blenheim / Bolinbroke

Some news a lot of people have been looking forward to. Nearly there -
(Courtesy of www.globalaviationresource.com/ )

Aviation News – Bristol Blenheim Mk.I L6739 (G-BPIV) unveiled

by Elliott Marsh | May 31, 2014 | Aviation News , News , Warbirds | 1 comment
On 30 May, the Aircraft Restoration Company’s Bristol Blenheim Mk.I L6739, registered as G-BPIV, appeared in public at IWM Duxford for the first time as a complete aircraft since its long-term restoration began in Summer 2003. Photographs courtesy of David Whitworth.The Blenheim was manufactured in 1934 by the Bristol Aircraft Company, initially intended to be operated as a small airliner. However, the Blenheim’s speed and handling capabilities made it well suited for military operations as a light bomber, and the aircraft underwent extensive modification before joining the RAF. The twin-engine Blenheim was the fastest light bomber of its time, with a top speed excelling that of the single-engine fighters of the era; Blenheims were manufactured in great numbers and for a time, towards the start of the war, the Blenheim was the most numerous aircraft in RAF service, with more than 1,000 on charge. Its career didn’t end as a light bomber, for the Blenheim was far too adaptable to be held back in a single role – indeed, it became the first multi-role combat aircraft, serving as a night fighter and long-range fighter in addition to its bomber tasks. ARCo’s first Blenheim (G-MKIV) was recovered from Canada and underwent a 12 year restoration project by a small team, who brought the aircraft back to flight in May 1987. In a terrible incident for all involved, the Blenheim was badly damaged in a crash just one month after its first flight. Harnessing all their determination to get a Blenheim back in the air, the same team of volunteers strove over the next five years to restore Blenheim G-BPIV and in June 1993, she took to the skies, before being rolled out in public at her IWM Duxford home at a specially organised unveiling event that included a small flying display and many representatives of the national media and aviation press. The world’s only flying Blenheim was back, and she was in much demand over the next decade, appearing at airshows all over the UK. Tragedy struck again in August 2003 when the Blenheim team suffered another crash, this time a landing accident at IWM Duxford. The team behind the Blenheim’s upkeep did not, however, give in, and a trust was formed to protect the aircraft’s future in the UK. The ARCo was contracted to provide two full-time engineers to the restoration project undertaken by Blenheim Duxford Limited (and supported by The Blenheim Society) and she has been undergoing an extensive rebuild in IWM Duxford’s Hangar 3, and latterly in the ARCo’s facilities, which has seen the Blenheim converted to Mk.I standard with the earlier, shorter nose. The aircraft performed it’s first engine run on 23 May, with plan for the other engine to be run vey soon. The Blenheim was rolled out in public for the first time as a complete aircraft, fully painted as a night-fighter and with both Bristol Mercury engines now installed, on 30 May. This came on the heels of the aircraft’s first engine run the week prior. We now await the aircraft’s first flight ahead of what will hopefully be a very busy airshow season for ARCo. Once it returns to the skies, the Blenheim will be the world’s only airworthy example of this beautiful aircraft.Keep checking back for more updates on the Blenheim’s return to flight! With thanks to David Whitworth.




It's going to be so good seeing the Blenheim back on the show scene.

Steve

Lovely pictures guys. Here is a picture of it (one of many I have taken over the years) at East Fortune in 2000. This was the first time a Blenheim had landed there since the war. Blenheims were based at EF with 60 and 132 OTUs. Another East Fortune connection to this aircraft is that the former Strathallan Blenheim (actually Fairchild Bolingbroke) that was undergoing restoration to flying condition is at East Fortune and since the engines that were being overhauled to flying condition were not needed for a static example, which EF's is, they went to Graham Warner for his first incarnation of the aircraft.

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She finally flew again today at Duxford -

forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=10...05ae4fe9626ef2069e81

Great news, looking forward to seeing her flying

The Bristol Blenhiem (or Bolingbroke which ever you prefer) looked & sounded fantastic at Old Warden last Sunday -



Steve

Blenhiem & friends at East Kirkby Airshow -



Steve

On 19th July 1941 Bristol Blenheim Mk IV T2120 of 254 Squadron, R.A.F. Aldergrove was being piloted by Flying Officer Walter Hargreaves King 88706 when a serious crash occurred.

Flying Officer King had dived the aircraft to low level over the airfield but unfortunately he struck a telegraph pole and lost control.

The aircraft crashed into the roof of the NAAFI Building and when the fuel tanks of the aircraft burst the burning fuel set the building alight killing some of the girls who worked there and injuring a number of others.

Some of the wreckage was thrown into a 23 Maintenance Unit Hangar where the Ground Defence Force was drilling and thirteen casualties were sustained including one fatality.

Fire Tenders from Aldergrove and Nutts Corner attended and the fire was later extinguished but not before much loss of life and serious injury.

The three crew members of the aircraft, Flying Officer King along with Sergeant Philip Evans Neale, 947874, and Sergeant Richard Edward Lea,552844 who was only 18 years old were killed along with SIX Girls who worked in the NAAFI and one airman, Aircraftsman First Class Clifford Henry Hore, 1301399 who was 20 years old.

Some of the NAAFI girls who were killed were Miss Margaret Castles who was 24 years old and from Blaris Road, Lisburn. She was buried in Belfast City Cemetery from 25 Kitchener Street, Belfast.
Annie Watson from Pernau Street, Belfast was also buried in the City Cemetery while Annie Violet Crozier from Farnham Street, Belfast is buried in Knockbreda Cemetery.
I believe the other three NAAFI Girls were Elizabeth Osborne from Ballymacateer, Lurgan, Brigid McGarry from The Largy, Crumlin and Mary Mulholland from Aldergrove.

Along with the fatalities a further TEN Airmen, one of whom being David Comer, FOUR NAAFI Girls and a Civilian Worker were all injured. - With all that burning aviation fuel flying around I am sure it was a horrible scene.

As you can see from above I have been doing some research into this crash.
Can any of you folks tell me where I would perhaps find an Accident Report??

I would like to gather as much information as I can as there does not currently appear to be any Memorial and I would like to be in a position to do something about this.

Andy

What a great story Andy, it would be great if you could get to the point of a memorial! If you PM Paul Bellamy or Paul Francis I know they will be able to point you in the right direction

I have no information as to how the Women were buried.
My guess is that it would have been individually by the relevant families.

I have contacted NAAFI to see if they have any information but have not received ant reply.

Thanks Andy, I deleted my query post when I realised that you had provided burial details in your report but obviously you read it in the very short time that it was on-line!

In my experience there was a mix of local ladies and expat ladies in NAAFI service so I wondered, in this case, if anybwere from mainland UK.