The Bristol Bombay Bomber/Transport Part 2
Bibliography with Notes plus Bonus Content
Dingers Aviation Pages, The Bristol Bombay—An under-appreciated British transport/bomber aircraft of WW2. https://dingeraviation.net/bristol/bombay.html
“The Bombay was sometimes used on nuisance raids, rather than dropping large bombs it would be loaded up with large numbers of small
bombs. It could then cruise back and forward over its target for much of the night, with a bomb being manually fused and thrown out of the cargo door every few minutes, to deprive the Italians of sleep and keep their nerves on edge.”
Dingers Aviation Pages, The Bristol Bombay–An under-appreciated British transport/bomber aircraft of WW2. https://dingeraviation.net/bristol/bombay.html
“During the siege of Tobruk, from April to December 1941, Bombays would fly hazardous night missions to take in urgently needed supplies and evacuate casualties.”
Dingers Aviation Pages, The Bristol Bombay–An under-appreciated British transport/bomber aircraft of WW2. https://dingeraviation.net/bristol/bombay.html
“…supplying forward airfields. Because of their short-field capability and ability to carry fuselage-mounted tanks of both fuel and water, Bombays could bring in supplies in a way impossible for other types of aircraft.”
Dingers Aviation Pages, The Bristol Bombay–An under-appreciated British transport/bomber aircraft of WW2. https://dingeraviation.net/bristol/bombay.html
“Lieutenant-General “Straffer” Gott, who had been appointed to be the new head of the British 8th Army only the day before. Shortly after taking off, the Bombay was attacked by German Messerschmitt Bf109 fighters and the Bombay crashed. General Gott and nine Army casualties were trapped in the fuselage and died.”
Dingers Aviation Pages, The Bristol Bombay–An under-appreciated British transport/bomber aircraft of WW2. https://dingeraviation.net/bristol/bombay.html
“From February 1943, some Bombays were given to 1 Air Ambulance Unit (AAU) of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to supplement their de Havilland DH 86 aircraft.”
Dingers Aviation Pages, The Bristol Bombay–An under-appreciated British transport/bomber aircraft of WW2. https://dingeraviation.net/bristol/bombay.html
“In the Summer of 1941, the Special Air Service (SAS) was formed by David Stirling to perform commando-style strikes against the enemy by being dropped from the air. Five Bombays of 216 Squadron were allocated for the training of the force.”
Dingers Aviation Pages, The Bristol Bombay–An under-appreciated British transport/bomber aircraft of WW2. https://dingeraviation.net/bristol/bombay.html
“Many of the SAS men were injured on landing, dragged over rocks and sharp shrubs by the strong winds before they could release their parachutes. ”
Dingers Aviation Pages, The Bristol Bombay–An under-appreciated British transport/bomber aircraft of WW2. https://dingeraviation.net/bristol/bombay.html
“When war was declared by Italy, on the 10th June 1940, the Bombays of 216 Squadron were pressed into service as night bombers and started raids on Italian positions. The first took place on the night of 14th -15th June when a single Bombay bombed the harbour of Tobruk. With no night-fighters and very few searchlights, there was little opposition.”
Nash, Ed. Military Matters Online, Bristol Bombay the Forgotten Work Horse.
https://militarymatters.online/forgotten-aircraft/bristol-bombay-the-forgotten-work-horse/
“With Italy’s entry into the war in June 1940, Bombay’s based in Egypt became one of the prime night bombers for RAF forces in the theatre until modern aircraft could replace them in the role, and they were soon attacking Italian targets in Libya and East Africa.”
Nash, Ed. Military Matters Online, Bristol Bombay the Forgotten Work Horse.
https://militarymatters.online/forgotten-aircraft/bristol-bombay-the-forgotten-work-horse/
“A Bombay was used to fly the Greek Royal Family out to Alexandria from Crete, apart from King George II who initially tried to stay until it was obvious that the island was going to fall.”
Bonus Illustrations
WWII in North Africa 