Blenheim

RAAF Bristol Blenheim Mk.I, IV & V
454,456 & 459 Sqns RAAF

A plan had been developed in 1938 which would have seen 50 Blenheim IV aircraft produced in Australia for the RAAF and the A8 series of serials was allotted for this purpose. Shortly thereafter, the Australian Government invited a British Air Mission to discuss the defence needs of Australia and Singapore. Also on the Australian Government's agenda, was a rapid expansion of the Australian aircraft industry to meet the needs of both the RAAF and RAF in the region.

As the design for the Bristol Beaufort began to mature, the decision was taken to produce this aircraft for the RAAF instead of the Blenheim, due it's greater versatility and design potential. Hence, on 1 July 1939, orders were placed for 180 airframes and spares and the Beaufort Division was formed within the Commonwealth Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) to oversee production while the Blenheim project was cancelled. The Beaufort was allocated the next series of serials in the A9 range and A8 was ultimately reallocated to the DAP built Beaufighter.

Bristol Blenheim MkI, IV & V aircraft did serve with three RAAF article XV Squadrons (454, 456 & 459) with RAF serials as follows:

454 Sqn: On 2 April 1942, No. 454 Squadron was re-raised at Blackpool in the United Kingdom in a reconnaissance/light-bomber role, from RAF personnel. Two months later, the squadron was transferred to Egypt, where the ground crews were sent to RAF Aqir to service aircraft from other squadrons and they moved to the Suez shortly after this. In late September, the squadron received aircrew and concentrated at back at Aqir. It proceeded to Iraq where it was equipped with Bristol Blenheims which it operated from November 1942 to January 1943. During this time the squadron was based at Qaiyara, and was employed in a training role, providing Blenheim refresher training for crews from other RAF squadrons. Early in 1943, the squadron moved to Gianaclis, near Alexandria, where it was re-equipped with Martin Baltimores.

456 Sqn: No. 456 Squadron RAAF was formed on 30 June 1941 at RAF Valley, Isle of Anglesey, Wales, in the United Kingdom under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme as a night-fighter squadron, equipped with Defiant turret-fighters. This unit was the RAAF’s only dedicated night fighter unit in any theatre of the conflict. The squadron was soon re-equipped with Beaufighters and scored its first kill in January 1942. During this period, at least three Blenheim Mk.Is (L1170, L1371 & L4907) are known to have been operated by the squadron as they transitioned from the single engined Defiant to the twin engined Beaufighters.

459 Sqn: No. 459 Squadron was established at Burg-el-Arab, Egypt, on 10 February. The squadron was assigned to No. 201 Group RAF, which formed part of Middle East Command, and was tasked with performing a maritime reconnaissance role. Although the squadron initially possessed only six aircraft – two Lockheed Hudsons and four Bristol Blenheims – its first operations came four days after it was formed, when two Hudsons conducted a reconnaissance mission during which an unsuccessful attack was made on a German or Italian submarine. By May 1942, the squadron had received its full complement of Hudsons and had ceased operating the Blenheims, which had been on loan from No. 203 Squadron RAF.

We still have a fair amount of work to do to complete this page.

Please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you can assist.

Serial	Type	C/N	Airframe History
L1170	Mk.I	?	Ex-51 OTU, 21/05/42 to 05/10/42 To 456 Sqn, RAAF, Later to 409 Sqn RCAF.
L1371	Mk.I	?	Ex 68 Sqn RAF, 04/42 to 13/05/42 To RAAF 456 Sqn, RAAF, Loaned to 96 Sqn, RAF, 06/42 09/42 Returned to 456 Sqn, RAAF, To 488 Sqn RNZAF, 01/07/1943 SOC.
L1499	Mk.I	?	454 Sqn, RAAF ? 75 OTU a/c? 01/01/1944 SOC.
L4907	Mk.I	?	Ex 54 OTU, 28/08/41 to 23/06/43 To 456 Sqn, RAAF Coded "20" . To 55 OTU. Struck off 09/07/43
L8383	Mk.IV	?	Built by Rootes Securities, 454 Sqn, RAAF 75 OTU. 01/04/1943 Ran into Baltimore AG786 at Gianaclis.
R3901	Mk.IV	?	Built by Rootes Securities, 01/06/1941 Arrived in Middle East, 454 Sqn, RAAF 25/11/1942 Cat E, Undercarriage retracted after landing at Qaiyara, DBR. 28/02/1943 SOC.
R5800	Mk.IV	?	454 Sqn, RAAF (From crew log books)
Z7580	MK.IV	?	Built by Rootes Securities, 454 Sqn, RAAF (From crew log books)
BA389	MK.V	?	Built by Rootes Securities at Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire, 15/07/1942 Arrived in Middle East, To 454 Sqn, RAAF Coded "O", To 162 Sqn, RAF, 27/07/1944 SOC.
BA400	MK.V	?	Built by Rootes Securities at Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire, 15/11/1942 108 MU, 206 Group, To 454 Sqn, RAAF, ??/04/1943 To ?? 27/07/1944 SOC.
BA457	MK.V	?	Built by Rootes Securities at Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire, 05/09/1942 Arrived in Middle East, To 454 Sqn, RAAF, 31/12/42 To 244 Sqn, RAF, 20/05/1943 Undercarriage collapsed, Sharjah, 01/08/1943 SOC,
BA498	MK.V	?	Built by Rootes Securities at Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire, 28/02/1942 Arrived in Middle East, To 454 Sqn, RAAF Coded "P", ??/03/1943 To ?? 27/07/194 SOC.
BA606	MK.V	?	Built by Rootes Securities at Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire, 15/11/1942 108 MU, 206 Group, To 454 Sqn, RAAF, To 244 Sqn, RAF, 24/08/1943 Cat E FA (Flying Accident). Tyre burst on landing at Sharjah and undercarriage collapsed, burnt, 01/11/1943 SOC.
BA677	MK.V	?	Built by Rootes Securities at Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire, 15/11/1942 108 MU, 206 Group, To 454 Sqn, RAAF, To 244 Sqn, RAF, 27/07/1944 SOC.
BA678	MK.V	?	Built by Rootes Securities at Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire, 15/11/1942 108 MU, 206 Group, To 454 Sqn, RAAF, 29/11/1942 Cat E FA (Flying Accident). Swung on landing and undercarriage collapsed, A/C burnt out. Qaiyara, DBR. SOC.

Page Authors: Darren Crick, Brendan Cowan & Mark Lax.

Source: British Military Aircraft Serials 1911-1979, Bruce Robertson, Australian War Memorial, National Archives of Australia , Alamein to the Alps : 454 Squadron, RAAF 1941-1945 by Mark Lax.

Emails: Gordon Birkett, Mark Lax

Updated 17 June 2019