This Day in Aviation History
September 14th, 1939
First flight of the Bristol Bolingbroke.

The Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke is a maritime patrol aircraft used by the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Built by Fairchild-Canada, it was a variant of the Bristol Blenheim Mk IV bomber.

In 1935, the British Air Ministry issued Specification G.24/35 to procure a coastal reconnaissance/light bomber to replace the Avro Anson. Bristol proposed the Type 149, based on its Blenheim Mk I, with Bristol Aquila engines to give greater range. While the Air Ministry rejected this proposal, a Blenheim Mk I, retaining its Mercury VIII engines, was converted as a Type 149 (Blenheim Mk III) for the general reconnaissance role. The nose was lengthened to provide more room for the bombardier, with the upper left surface of the nose being scooped out to maintain pilot visibility during takeoff and landing….

Source:
Wikipedia, Bristol Bolingbroke: http://gstv.us/1MlxxPq

YouTube, Bristol Bolingbroke (Son of Lassie, 1945): http://gstv.us/1MlxC5K

YouTube, Bristol Bolingbroke IVT (Blenheim IV) Serving with RCAF in the 1940’s: http://gstv.us/2cpKzhI

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Photo from: http://gstv.us/2cpKSJq

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