Invisible Campaigns: Assessing Bomber Command's Minelaying Operations 1940-1945

[Orwell1984]

Originally Posted by MW Giles

It is alright, competent but not inspiring

If you know the general story already it is not going to tell you much.

You will get far more from downloading the official histories - RAF Maritime War and the War at Sea series.

One point I disagree with is where it is stated that Blenheims carried out Gardening sorties in Bomber Command. I have never seen any evidence for this and suspect that a Blenheim would not have anywhere to put a 1940 or 1941 era vegetable.

Has anyone seen evidence of horticultural Blenheims in other theatres?

Martin

Some sources on Blenheims on mine laying sorties.

https://asnc.flightsafety.org/wikibase/409356

Narrative:
Blenheim L8789: Took off for mine-laying sortie to the Ijmuiden-Amsterdam canal. (NL). 06/07/1940
Crew were unable to reach their base due to bad weather following a night mine-laying sortie to the Ijmuiden-Amsterdam canal in the Netherlands. Subsequently the aircraft hit landing obstructions during an attempted forced-landing at a disused civil airfield near Ramsgate, Kent late afternoon.
Aircraft was damaged but repairable.
Crew:
F/Lt (25095) Ian Howard BARTLETT (Pilot) RAF Ok
Sgt. (517434) Robert Edward ALDRIDGE (Obs.) RAF Ok
Sgt. (551845) Edward Denis SHELDRICK (WOp/AG) RAF Ok.
Sources:

Blenheim production list
ORB 53 Sqdn RAF

From https://www.britishmilitaryhistory.c...raining-units/

Tuesday, 15 April 1941, was a normal day for this period. There was an Air Raid Warning Red alert issued between 02.55 and 04.28 hours. Six Bristol Blenheim aircraft from No. 18 Squadron at R.A.F. Wattisham called at R.A.F. Chivenor before leaving at 13.45 hours on an operational mine laying sortie over France. This was the first operational sortie carried out from R.A.F. Chivenor, albeit with visiting aircraft. Five of them landed on their return from their sortie, refuelled, and then departed for their home base. One Blenheim failed to return, R.3841, which was lost without trace. The pilot was the Commanding Officer of the squadron, W/C C. G. HILL, R.A.F., and the other air crew were F/Sgt J. FRODSHAM, R.A.F.V.R. and F/Sgt C. D. McPHEE, R.A.F., all of whom are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Another Blenheim loss on a minelaying mission:

https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/cras...ea-3-killed-58