
Bristol Blenheim/Bolingbroke Mk IV [@ RAF Duxford]
In August 1935 the Air
Ministry issued Specification B28/35, covering the conversion of the Bristol
Type 142, a fast eight seat passenger aircraft developed as a private venture,
to the bomber role under the designation Type 142M. Some major modifications
were necessary, including raising the wing from the low to mid wing position to
make room for an internal bomb bay, and widening the nose section to accommodate
both pilot and observer/bomb aimer. Defensive armament comprised a single 7.7mm
(0.303in) Lewis machine gun in a power-operated dorsal turret; the thinking was
that the aircraft was fast enough to out-run any contemporary fighter. A
Browning 7.7mm (0.303in) was also installed in the port wing leading edge and
fired by the pilot.