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The Blenheim Society From 1986, with the return to flight of a Bristol Blenheim imminent in the United Kingdom, a group of RAF veterans, their families and friends got the idea of forming a Society to recognise the history of the Blenheim, of the men who had served with that aircraft, and of their Squadrons. In early September 1987 the Society held its first informal meeting. However, by then the newly restored Blenheim IV had been written off in an unfortunate accident, though without casualties, only four weeks after returning to flight. The late W/Cdr Hugh George DFC and Graham Warner were instrumental in the forming of the Society. Warner himself was the driving force behind the British Aerial Museum Blenheim project, through the largely volunteer restoration team at Duxford. Warner and supporters now decided that a second restoration project would be undertaken and an appeal for funds was opened. The Society’s Journal first appeared as Newsletter No 1 in April 1988, the main topics being the origins of the Society, a summary of the Blenheim restoration project, and the 21 June 1987 accident. When the first General Meeting of The Blenheim Society was held at Hendon on 19th March 1989, the existing ad-hoc committee stood and was elected en masse by the members present, with Hugh George as Chairman. The Society thereupon formally adopted its main aims:
Ultimately, a Blenheim IV was restored to flight once more. Taking to the air in May 1993, G-BPIV flew for many a season to the delight of old and young. Unfortunately, the aircraft was badly damaged in an accident in August 2003, again without casualties. Despite this further misfortune, the aircraft’s many supporters once again bent their will to returning a Blenheim to the air. With the Society’s ongoing and determined support, the third restoration of a Blenheim to flight is well advanced at Duxford in the hands of John Romain’s Aircraft Restoration Co (ARCo) team and volunteers, for the aircraft owners, Blenheim (Duxford) Ltd. Society Membership Despite the inevitable loss of founder members as time passes, The Blenheim Society is well established with membership pretty much stable over the years, standing at around 650 in 2011. Their fine little Journal, Bristol Blenheim, appears three times a year with articles of interest on all matters Blenheim: the aircraft and squadrons in service, the young men who flew them, the work of the Society today, and of course progress at ARCo on restoring the Blenheim to airworthy condition. A number of commemorative and fund raising events are held each year. The Society has many interesting items of Blenheim memorabilia available for sale, funds so raised going to forward their aims (and the Blenheim restoration in particular). The Blenheim Society website includes links to the Aims of the Society, the Membership Application Form, the Mail Order Form, and progress reports from the ARCo team working on the restoration. Society membership not only helps the return of a Blenheim to flight, but offers members special discounts on a range of excellent books like Blenheim Over the Balkans and The Bristol Blenheim: A Complete History. The Blenheim Among the earliest young volunteers was the teen-age John Romain, now ARCo Managing Director and Chief Pilot—and a fine display pilot. After the untimely death of Haydon-Baillie in 1977, the project was purchased by Graham Warner. In 1980, Warner’s British Aerial Museum recommenced work on the aircraft at Duxford. Following the brief glory of Summer 1987, in 1993 a Mark IV Blenheim once more returned to the air, flying for many seasons before the major accident of 2003 at Duxford. After so many years of support and effort, Graham Warner and John Romain once more found a way forward through misfortune, and ownership of the Blenheim passed from Warner to Romain’s newly formed Blenheim (Duxford) Ltd. Having previously found time to write The Forgotten Bomber and Spirit of Britain First (PSL 1996), Graham Warner continues his work, not only as President of the Blenheim Society from 2004 but also as author of the finest account to date of a remarkable aircraft in The Bristol Blenheim: A Complete History (Crecy, 2nd edn 2005). Since 2003, great strides have been made towards returning a Blenheim to the skies for the third time, this time in Mark I form, thanks to the expertise of ARCo as restorer and operator of the aircraft, with the ongoing support of the volunteer team and the Blenheim Society.
Taken by John, son of the late Jim Oblein of 211 Beaufighter days. Work has continued to advance since last July, recently concentrating on the engine mountings, nacelles and on cockpit fittings. The Blenheim Society site includes a photographic record of progress. On completion the aircraft will represent The Old ‘Un, one of 113 Squadron’s Mark I aircraft involved in an altercation with RA CR42s over Derna in Libya, on 4 September 1940. With P/O JH (Mouse) Reynolds 41803 dead or dying in the pilot’s seat, together Sgt Observer John (Ian) Blair 550006 and the WOp/AG, LAC (Hank) Hankinson, managed to extricate his body. Blair then took control for the 350 mile flight back to Ma’aten Bagush, where he landed the aircraft safely. For his actions Blair was awarded an immediate DFM. Shortly thereafter he remustered as a pilot and was later appointed to a commission, reaching the rank of Squadron Leader. The aircraft now under repair was originally a derelict RCAF Fairchild-built Bolingbroke Mark IVT 10201. Restored to airworthy and registered G-BPIV, on first flight (28 May 1993) the aircraft carried the identity Z5722 WM-Z of 68 Squadron, later appearing as L8841 QY-C of 254 Squadron, and finally as R3821 UX-N of 82 Squadron. The first restoration, of Fairchild Bolingbroke Mark IVT 10038, had returned to flight on 22 May 1987 registered as G-MKIV, appearing as V6028 GB-D of 105 Squadron. Sources www.211squadron.org © D Clark & others 2012 |
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