BRISTOL (FAIRCHILD) BOLINGBROKE
- The Bristol-developed Blenheim IV adopted by RCAF for coastal reconnaissance,
with original British name retained, and licence for production obtained
by Fairchild Aircraft Ltd at Longueuil, Quebec. Bristol Bolingbroke prototype
K7072 first flew in Britain on September 24, 1937, later shipped to Canada.
Total of 676 built in fol-lowing versions:
Bristol Bolingbroke I: First 18 aircraft assem-bled by Fairchild, using
British drawings, British equipment and some British compo-nents. 840
hp Mercury VIII engines. First aircraft flown at Lonqueuil on September
14, 1939. A few fitted with ventral gun packs served with No 115(F) Sqn;
others with Nos 8 and 147(BR) Sqns.
Bristol Bolingbroke II: A single Bristol Bolingbroke I (705) rebuilt with US equipment
and instruments after it had crashed.
Bristol Bolingbroke III: One Bristol Bolingbroke I (717) for trials as a seaplane,
with twin Edo floats. Operational evaluation by No 5(BR) Sqn, 1940-41.
Bristol Bolingbroke IV: Standard Canadian-built version for RCAF with US
equipment, dinghies for overwater reconnaissance role, wing de-icing boots
and interchangeable wheel and ski gear. Production of 185 with 920 hp
Mercury XVs. Used by Nos 8(BR), 115(BR), 119(BR) and 147(BR) Sqns, mostly
on patrols from Canadian west coast and in Alaska. Also some photo-recce
use by No 163(AC) Sqn.
Bristol Bolingbroke IV-W: Fifteen aircraft as Bristol Bolingbroke IV but with 835
hp R-1535-SB4G Twin Wasp Junior engines. Used by No 119(BR) Sqn.
Bristol Bolingbroke IV-C: A single airframe (9074), as Bristol Bolingbroke IV with
900 hp Cyclone R-1820-G3B engines.
Bristol Bolingbroke IV-T: Final 457 Canadian airframes (including 51 spare)
with 920 hp Mercury XX engines, equipped as naviga-tion and gunnery trainers
and used in Canada until 1945. Boulton Paul Type C dorsal turret in place
of Bristol B.I. Some used also in target-to wingfrble.
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