Export Bristol Blenheims

[Dénes Bernád]

I have a photo that shows a pair of all-silver Britol Blenheims, wearing black civilian markings. One of them might have been G-AFGE/L. Unfortunately, only the first letters (G-AF) are legible, the others are uncertain. I assume these were export Blenheims.
Does anyone have further details?

P.S. With the same lot another photo of a British airplane came in. It looks like a Miles Hawk, nick-named "Flying Baby" (on the engine cowling). Again, no markings are visible, only the lower edge of the first two letters, that might have been I (or H) and B (or D). Could it be a Swiss-registered aircraft?

Thanks,

[Amrit1]

A series of Blenheims with G-AFxx were registered to the Bristol Aircraft Company. Some were sold to Turkey

[Alex Smart]

Hello Amrit
I have sent you an e-mail
Alex

[Amrit1]

Hi Alex

nothing yet but will keep checking my inbox.

A

[Alan Clark]

I've taken a look at the CAA G-INFO list and there are a number of Blenheims in the G-AFxx series as Armit said.

I think the one you have the photo of is G-AFCE (GE & GL were other a/c types). It was registered on the 2nd November 1937 as a Blenheim Mk.I, it was noted as going to Yugoslavia (entered in the Usual Station box) along with G-AFCF neither have dates for removal from the register.

All the others did not note the destination for the aircraft.

The blocks were:

G-AFCE & G-AFCF, Mk.I
G-AFFP to G-AFFZ (except Q which wasn't used), Mk.I, de-registered 9.38
G-AFLA to G-AFLS (except Q), Mk.I, de-registered 31.1.29 to 3.8.39
G-AFXD to G-AFXO, Mk.IV, de-registered 1.1.40 to 25.3.40

[Dénes Bernád]

Originally Posted by Alan Clark

I think the one you have the photo of is G-AFCE (GE & GL were other a/c types). It was registered on the 2nd November 1937 as a Blenheim Mk.I, it was noted as going to Yugoslavia (entered in the Usual Station box) along with G-AFCF neither have dates for removal from the register.

All the others did not note the destination for the aircraft.

The blocks were:
G-AFCE & G-AFCF, Mk.I

This very much looks like the pair of all-silver Mk. Is caught by the photo camera.
So, they apparently went to Yugoslavia, right?

Thanks for your assistance, Alan.

[Alan Clark]

Yes, they seem to have gone to Yugoslavia.

The register pages are

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-AFCE.pdf

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-AFCF.pdf

[Martin388]

Originally Posted by Dénes Bernád

This very much looks like the pair of all-silver Mk. Is caught by the photo camera.
So, they apparently went to Yugoslavia, right?

Thanks for your assistance, Alan.

I recall that YU Blenheims went as a war prize 1941 to WNF (repair works I) at Wiener Neustadt to be prepared for further use by German or other satilite airforces. Maybe I could dig out photos of which at WNF.
Anyone who knows more?

Martin

[Dénes Bernád]

Originally Posted by Martin388

I recall that YU Blenheims went as a war prize 1941 to WNF (repair works I) at Wiener Neustadt to be prepared for further use by German or other satilite airforces. Maybe I could dig out photos of which at WNF.

You're correct, Martin, about WNF repairing captured Blenheims (and other types). However, at least some of the work was done on site, i.e. in former Yugoslavia.
If you could dig out some photos, it would be excellent.