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Amherstburg, OntarioBristol Bolingbroke
Fairchild Bolingbroke Mk. IV, RCAF (Serial No. 9118), coded BK-V, No. 115 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron, Patricia Bay, British Columbia, 1942.
The Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke was a maritime patrol aircraft and trainer used by the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Built by Fairchild-Canada, it was a license-built version 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.
The longer range also fulfilled a Canadian requirement for a maritime patrol aircraft. Consequently, Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. (Canada) of Quebec started production of the Blenheim Mk IV as the Bolingbroke (the originally intended name for the Blenheim IV). This type was nicknamed the "Bolly". After a small run of aircraft constructed to British specifications, as the Bolingbroke Mk I, Fairchild switched production to the Bolingbroke Mk IV with Canadian and American instruments and equipment. These versions also included anti-icing boots and a dinghy. One of the early Mk IV variants was the Bolingbroke Mk IVW which was powered by two 825 hp (615 kW) Pratt & Whitney SB4G Twin Wasp Junior engines. Incapable of maintaining altitude on one engine, the normal bomb load was reduced to 500 pounds on these aircraft to compensate for the low engine power. The most-produced variant was the Bolingbroke Mk IVT trainer, of which 457 were completed. A total of 626 Bolingbrokes were produced. Wikipedia
Wikipedia Bolingbroke Bomber
Harold A Skaarup Web Page
Bolingbroke Bomber WWII
Bolingbroke - Kestrel Publications
CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (626), RCAF 400 Squadron (3), Canadian Aircraft Losses (43), Canadian Museum(8)Bolingbroke Mk. IVT 10187
Delivered to long term storage. To No. 3 TC on 24 Dec 1943, for use by No. 10 B&GS at Mt. Pleasant, PEI. Cat "A" crash with this school on 23 Jul 1944, when an engine cut on approach 'due to misuse of throttles by the student pilot', The a/c crashed and was destroyed. Among the crew Flight Sergeant J. Burgess was killed, and the three Leading Aircraftman trainees, B. Edwards, P. Enright, and P. Blagdon, were seriously injured. Wreckage to No. 4 RD on 31 July 1944 for scrapping.
RCAF - Accident Investigation File
1943-05-03 Taken on Strength No. 1 Training Command 2019-08-20
1944-January-23 Accident: 10 Bomb & Gunnery School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Foster | Kennison | Robinson | Skebo | Willesley
1944-July-23 Accident: 10 Bomb & Gunnery School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Blagdon | Burgess | Edwards | Enright
1944-08-16 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20
RCAF.info - RCAF Station Mount Pleasant PEI
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