Canadian Warplanes 4: Bristol Bombay

Bristol Bombay

(IWM Photo CH2936)

Bristol Bombay Mk. I, RAF (Serial No. L5838), No. 216 Squadron, Aldergrove, County Antrim, UK.  

           The Bombay was a British 1930’s era twin-engine medium bomber, troop and cargo transport powered by a pair of Bristol Pegasus XXII radial piston engines.  The aircraft had a fixed undercarriage.  The Bombay was flown by Canadians attached to the RAF in the early years of the Second World War in Egypt.  Special features included a door arrangement with a built-in gantry allowing the loading of heavy freight and the fitment of power-operated gun turrets of Bristol design.

The Bombay was capable of dropping 250 lb(113 kg) bombs held on external racks, and was also used to drop 20 lb (9 kg)anti-personnel mines, which were armed and thrown out of the cargo door by hand.  Obsolete as a bomber by European standards, the Bombays were predominately used as transports, ferrying supplies and evacuating the wounded.  The bomber passed out of service in the mid-1940s. Internet:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Bombay.

Bristol Bombay Mk. I, RAF (Serial No. L5845), D, No. 216 Squadron in the Middle East.  (IWM Photo CH4230)

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