Colleyweston
*COLLYWESTON: Military Aerodrome
Military user: WW2: RAF Fighter Command 12 Group
*Battle of Britain RAF Station (10th July 1940)
23 Sqdn (Bristol Blenheims*) [1st August 1940 still based here]
Gunnery Research Unit
Location: 3nm SSW of Stamford, just W and adjacent to RAF WITTERING
Period of operation: 1940 to ? (still operational in 1985 according to one source)
Runways: N/S 1371 grass NE/SW 1335 grass E/W 914 grass
SE/NW 1152 grass
NOTES:
This aerodrome does appear unique, in that it overlapped the site of RAF WITTERING as it was later developed.
THE BLENHEIM AS A FIGHTER
* The use of the Bristol Blenheim in a fighter role by RAF Fighter Command came as a considerable surprise to me. I suppose it shouldn’t have been so much of a surprise considering the Luftwaffe were using Me.110s?
In fact, when the ‘Battle of Britain’ started in July 1940 RAF Fighter Command had Blenheims also on hand at CATTERICK (YORKSHIRE), DIGBY (LINCOLNSHIRE), MANSTON (KENT), MARTLESHAM (SUFFOLK), NORTHOLT (LONDON). The poor sods flying them were mostly slaughtered. To all intents and purposes flying on suicide missions? Or am I mistaken?
Indeed, I discovered that in 1940 one Blenheim ‘Squadron’ at TANGMERE was listed as a FIU, (Fighter Interception Unit).
Exactly who I wonder, what utter crackpot, decided that A): The Blenheim could perform such duties? And B): How on earth could such a type be expected to perform from a ‘Forward Airfield’ where even the best single-seat RAF fighters couldn’t be operated to any advantage? By and large even the 'first-line' fighters were placed far too near to the incoming forces to gain a strategic advantage.
A COMPARISON
Perhaps a basic comparison of these two types might be of interest? Although a highly questionable and simplistic approach I do think some truths emerge.
Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV Max speed: 266mph Range: 2351km Ceiling: 27,260ft
Messerschmidt Bf.110 C-4 Max speed: 348mph Range: 2410km Ceiling: 35,000ft
So, obviously the Blenheim could not be expected to attack a single-seat fighter, but what chance based on these figures, would it have had against its closest Luftwaffe foe?
SUICIDE MISSIONS
There is a huge amount of hypocrisy involved here. Ever since WW2 and even today we tend to think very poorly about the Japanese ‘kamikazi’ pilots. In fact they did not freely volunteer as such, they were heavily manipulated and coerced to undertake such duties. I think a direct comparison can be made for many missions undertaken by the RAF during WW2. It’s an interesting and fine-line distinction between going out intending to die on a mission taking-off knowing you’ll almost certainly die on a given mission?
OFTEN OVERLOOKED
Invariably the history of the RAF bombing campaign tends to focus on the heavy bombers. And indeed, they had a very tough time of it. But, nowhere near as tough a time as the medium bombers, who the RAF yop brass decided were invariably to be sent on low-level and clearly usually suicidal missions. Not just my opinion - the facts are there for all to see.
PERHAPS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER?
It occurs to me that most of the RAF top brass served in WW1, which of course had only ended twenty years before. So the principal of throwing troops “over the top” and it being mostly a numbers game was still probably much in evidence? I will certainly argue that ‘Butcher’ Harris as he was known by his aircrews in Bomber Command certainly took this approach? There is almost no evidence of any intelligent approach regarding tactics being made under his command.
And, we must not credit Harris with being the instigator for the radio navigation aids which later emerged. Or should we?
Which pehaps contrasts sharply with the methods used by Fighter Command under Dowding, using radar interception techniques and a fully integrated communications network.
With all this said I have a grudging admiration for 'Bomber' Harris. The poor man had so much to deal with, and, despite this came up with truly inspirational ideas - such as the thousand bomber raids. Without any doubt, when this offensive emerged, the Nazi regime shoud have realised the war was won. And many did of course - but the 'ball was rolling' and, as it turmed out, unstoppable.
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