Carl_Brisgamer
05-22-2013, 20:22
My WGS Project #15 for 2013 is a flight of three 1/200 Helmet Historical Aircraft Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV bombers of No.139 Squadron RAF. This squadron sent to France on 2 September 1939 as part of the RAF's Advanced Air Striking Force. Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV N6215 of 139 Sqn piloted Flying Officer A McPherson flew the first RAF sortie of WW2 when he crossed the German frontier to reconnoitre and photograph the German Fleet on 3rd September 1939. The Blenheim was designed in the early 1930's as a 'fast bomber', relying on speed to avoid interception. That was fine in 1935, but by 1939 the poorly protected aircraft was too slow to escape the latest generation of monoplane fighters, of which the Luftwaffe had one of the best examples in the Messerschmitt Bf 109E.
91059
On the early morning of 12 May 1940 nine unescorted Blenheim IVs of No 139 squadron attacked German troops moving into Belgium coming from the direction of the Maastricht bridges. The planes approached from medium altitude, in order to evade the German light FLAK present in large numbers. The mission ended in disaster however, with the Blenheims attacked by large numbers of JG27 Messerschmitt Bf 109s as they approached the target shooting down seven of the RAF bombers.
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The three aircraft I have represented are 'XD-B', 'XD-E' and 'XD-I'. 'B' and 'I' were shot down by 109s during the Maastricht Raid on 12 May 1940. 'E' survived the 1940 subsequent campaigns to be scrapped in 1944.
91057
91058
The upper surfaces are standard RAF green/brown and the undersides are light sea green (later duck egg green), metallic brown around the cowls of the Bristol Mercury engines. Canopies are metallic blue with a dash of white. Decals are from Shed, 48" wing roundels and 42" fuselage roundels.
91056
My unofficial statistics for the Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV are as follows:
Manouver Deck: XB
Damage Points: 24
Firepower: Short A/A, Long A/A. The Blenheim's front armament consisted of one .303in machine gun in the left wing. The dorsal turret was equipped with one or two .303in machine guns, but it did not have 360 degree traverse, only covering to the rear about 95 degrees either side of the centreline of the aircraft).
Climb Rate: 7 (6.6m/s)
Top Altitude: 11 (9600m)
91055
A few of my RAF AASF aircraft - two Hurricanes from 73 Sqn, three Battles of 12 Sqn and three Blenheims of 139 Sqn.
91059
On the early morning of 12 May 1940 nine unescorted Blenheim IVs of No 139 squadron attacked German troops moving into Belgium coming from the direction of the Maastricht bridges. The planes approached from medium altitude, in order to evade the German light FLAK present in large numbers. The mission ended in disaster however, with the Blenheims attacked by large numbers of JG27 Messerschmitt Bf 109s as they approached the target shooting down seven of the RAF bombers.
91054 91053
The three aircraft I have represented are 'XD-B', 'XD-E' and 'XD-I'. 'B' and 'I' were shot down by 109s during the Maastricht Raid on 12 May 1940. 'E' survived the 1940 subsequent campaigns to be scrapped in 1944.
91057
91058
The upper surfaces are standard RAF green/brown and the undersides are light sea green (later duck egg green), metallic brown around the cowls of the Bristol Mercury engines. Canopies are metallic blue with a dash of white. Decals are from Shed, 48" wing roundels and 42" fuselage roundels.
91056
My unofficial statistics for the Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV are as follows:
Manouver Deck: XB
Damage Points: 24
Firepower: Short A/A, Long A/A. The Blenheim's front armament consisted of one .303in machine gun in the left wing. The dorsal turret was equipped with one or two .303in machine guns, but it did not have 360 degree traverse, only covering to the rear about 95 degrees either side of the centreline of the aircraft).
Climb Rate: 7 (6.6m/s)
Top Altitude: 11 (9600m)
91055
A few of my RAF AASF aircraft - two Hurricanes from 73 Sqn, three Battles of 12 Sqn and three Blenheims of 139 Sqn.