This Day in History: April 12, 1935

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by Simonov

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This Day in History

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On April 12, 1935, the Bristol Blenheim takes its maiden flight. Developed as the Type 142 civil airliner, the aircraft was originally designed to meet a challenge to create the fasted commercial aircraft in Europe. Its performance caught the attention of Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) and soon an order for a version modified for use as a bomber aircraft was placed. Entering service as the Bristol Blenheim, the first deliveries were made to the RAF in 1937 with a version fitted a different cockpit design following soon afterward. Heavy fighter and night fighter variants were also produced. The aircraft would also serve as the basis/inspiration behind the Beaufort torpedo bomber and Beaufighter strike aircraft. The Blenheim would be retired from British service in 1944 after admirable service in Europe, the Pacific, African, and Asia; however, it continued to serve with the Finnish military as a bomber through the end of the war and as a target tug until 1958. Approximately 4,400 Blenheims were built during the war. There is currently only one left in airworthy condition (and can be seen in the 2017 film Dunkirk directed by Christopher Nolan).

Keywords

aircraft 409, bomber 307, this day in history 249, tdih 244, wwii 233, aviation 183, world war two 86, britain 64, raf 27, royal air force 5, blenheim 1, april 12 1, bristol blenheim 1

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Type: Picture/Pinup

Published: 5 years, 9 months ago

Rating: General

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caldaq

5 years, 9 months ago

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Facinating I did not realize they retired aircraft during the war if I've read this correctly.

RabbitGTI

5 years, 9 months ago

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@ caldaq

"	caldaq wrote:
	Facinating I did not realize they retired aircraft during the war if I've read this correctly.

No, I didn't realize that either.

RabbitGTI

5 years, 9 months ago

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Very interesting as always. What an amazing areal resume! 1935 was also the year my grandad was born (a fellow Brit) I watched Dunkirk with him and my brother, his girlfriend, and a cousin of ours went to see it new in theatres.