Blenheim Squadrons of World War 2 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 5) [Paperback]

Jon Lake (Author), Chris Davey (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Combat Aircraft | Publication Date: July 2, 1998

Built in large numbers in the years leading up to World War II (1939-1945), Bristol's Blenheim saw use as both a fighter and bomber thanks to its high speed in relation to the biplane types it was then replacing. Aside from its work as the staple medium RAF bomber from 1939 through to 1942, Belnheims also served as pioneer radar-equipped nightfighters in 1940/41 and long-range patrol aircraft with Coastal Command. Obsolete in Europe by the end of 1940, the Belnheim continued to serve as a frontline bomber in North Africa, the Mediterranean and the Far East well into 1943.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Osprey's Combat series combines the best archival photography available with specially commissioned artworks and first hand accounts, making these books favourites amongst historians, modellers and aviation enthusiasts everywhere.

About the Author

Jon Lake’s most recent work for Osprey was the well-received Combat Aircraft volume on the Blenheim. Jon Lake is one of Britains leading journalists and historians, and secretary of the Freelance Aviation Journalists Association.

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (July 2, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1855327236
• ISBN-13: 978-1855327238
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.2 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,176,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compact, comprehensive and great value, March 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Blenheim Squadrons of World War 2 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 5) (Paperback)

This book describes the operational history of the Blenheim - one of Britain's least known, but most important, bombers of the Second World War. It includes some 40 superb full-colour profiles showing the various colour schemes applied to the airplane, and includes scale plans, making it as useful to the airplane modeller as to the armchair historian. It's a fascinating story, well told and nicely packaged.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book on a Forgotten Plane, November 26, 2002

By 

R. J Szasz "Rod Szasz" (Tokyo, Japan Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blenheim Squadrons of World War 2 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 5) (Paperback)

It gets 5 stars because it is about Blenheims. I bought this slender volume for my mate who was, when he lived, one of the few remaining Blenheim pilots. He flew them for over 3 years and loved them as a flying machine. He said that nothing could come close to the feeling of a sunny day in the Bay of Biscay with two engines humming -- as long as there were no German Fighters around -- if there were you were toast.

Although not a particularly effective fighter, in the bomber role it was used against shipping, and for recon. There were a plethora of squadrons across the RAF, RCAF, RAAF and Free French. This books gives you squadron designations, markings and the full kit of someone flying the rig. I actually still possess the flying suit for this machine in Canada. It also gives you their major varients, development their eventual disbandment. It includes a lot of reminiscenses from wartime pilots as well.

Athough my mate is now flying Blenheims of God's own eternal squadron, mere mortals like us can still enjoy the plane he loved so much when he was alive. A very nice volume.