List of Bristol Blenheim operators

Australia

Royal Australian Air Force

Canada

Royal Canadian Air Force

Article XV squadrons operated under direct RAF command, utilizing RAF-owned aircraft.
- No. 404 Squadron RCAF employed the Blenheim IVF from April 1941 to January 1943 within Coastal Command.
- No. 406 Squadron RCAF operated Blenheim I and IV variants as night fighters between May and June 1941.
- No. 407 Squadron RCAF flew Blenheim IV aircraft from May to July 1941 during their operational training with Coastal Command.

Independent State of Croatia

Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države Hrvatske

Following the April 1941 invasion, the ZNDH obtained eight captured Mk I Blenheims originally from the Royal Yugoslav Air Force via German forces. Several of these aircraft remained in service until the war’s conclusion, with one retreating to Klagenfurt, Austria, after the collapse of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) in May 1945.

Finland

File:Blenheim-luonetjarvi.jpg

Bristol Blenheim of the Finnish Air Force. Photo taken in March, 1944.

Finnish Air Force

Finland was the earliest export customer for the Blenheim, receiving 18 Mark I models between 29 July 1937 and 27 July 1938. Although a license for domestic production was granted in April 1938, none of the 15 units ordered from the State Aircraft Factory were delivered before the Soviet invasion. Subsequently, Finland acquired twelve new Mark IVs redirected from RAF production, followed by an additional dozen former RAF Mark Is.

Free France

Free French Air Force

No. 342 Squadron RAF

Nazi Germany

Luftwaffe

During the Battle of France in 1940, a damaged Blenheim Mk IV was seized. After repairs, it served as a specialized training aircraft from 1940 through 1942.

Greece

Hellenic Air Force

In their operations against Italy and Germany during 1940 and 1941, the Hellenic Air Force deployed 12 Mk IVs, which had been delivered prior to WWII lacking sights, bomb racks, radios, and intercom systems, along with 6 Mk Is received in February 1941. In the Middle Eastern theater, the force operated 19 Mk IVs between January 1942 and January 1943, followed by 31 Mk Vs from January to September 1943.

India

Royal Indian Air Force

Indonesia

Indonesian Air Force

A single Blenheim Mk IV was captured from the IJAAF during the Indonesian National Revolution. This aircraft was later fitted with Nakajima Sakae engines.

Italy

Regia Aeronautica

On 13 September 1940, Blenheim Mk.IV N3589 from No. 40 Squadron RAF mistakenly landed at Pantelleria and was examined at the Guidonia airfield near Rome. Additional captures included one aircraft in Yugoslavia and two in Italian East Africa, though the latter were recovered when British forces retook the region. The N3589 is believed to be the same Mk.IV featured in a non-operational capacity in Roberto Rossellini’s 1942 film Un Pilota Ritorna.

Japan

Imperial Japanese Army Air Service

In August 1947, wreckage of at least one Blenheim Mk I and two Mk IVs was found in Semarang, Java. These were likely captured during either the Malayan campaign or the Dutch East Indies campaign.

New Zealand

Royal New Zealand Air Force

No. 489 Squadron RNZAF

Poland

Polish Air Forces in Great Britain

No. 307 Polish Night Fighter Squadron utilized four Mk I and Mk IV aircraft variants as trainers and utility planes.
One Blenheim IV converted into a VIP transport was used personally by General Władysław Anders, commander of the 2nd Polish Corps.

Portugal

Portuguese Air Force
Portuguese Naval Aviation

Romania

Royal Romanian Air Force

In 1939, Romania acquired 40 Blenheim Mk.I aircraft from Britain, although only 37 were delivered. The initial plane was equipped with dual controls. The first units were assigned to the 1st Long Range Reconnaissance Squadron within the 2nd Guard Aviation Flotilla. Subsequently, three additional long range reconnaissance squadrons received Blenheims. These four squadrons conducted surveillance operations along the borders with Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Soviet Union. In January 1941, Romania purchased three more Blenheims, which were previously captured from the Royal Yugoslav Air Force and acquired from Germany.

At the onset of Operation Barbarossa, the long range reconnaissance squadrons undertook some of the initial missions. The Royal Romanian Air Force suffered its first wartime loss with a Bristol Blenheim. By the close of that year, six aircraft had been lost. In September 1941, the Malaxa factory (FAUR) enhanced the aircraft's armor. After 1941, the remaining Blenheims were reassigned to the 3rd Bomber Flotilla. By August 1942, only 27 planes remained operational and took part in the Battle of Stalingrad. By December's end that year, three more aircraft were lost. Throughout 1943, the remaining airworthy Blenheims primarily conducted missions along the Black Sea coastline. Early in 1945, these aircraft were retired from frontline service but continued to be used until 1948.

* 759 Naval Air Sqn 
* 762 Naval Air Sqn 
* 770 Naval Air Sqn 
* 771 Naval Air Sqn 
* 772 Naval Air Sqn 
* 775 Naval Air Sqn 
* 776 Naval Air Sqn 
* 780 Naval Air Sqn 
* 787 Naval Air Sqn 
* 788 Naval Air Sqn

* 798 Naval Air Sqn

Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment
Royal Aircraft Establishment

Yugoslavia

Royal Yugoslav Air Force

The Royal Yugoslav Air Force obtained 24 Mk I aircraft from the RAF inventory and later initiated a licensed manufacturing series producing approximately 36 units. Preparations to begin tooling for the Mk IV production were underway but were halted due to the Invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941. Around 20 partially assembled airframes, along with manufacturing equipment and spare components, were eventually sold by Germany to Finland.

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