Exactly 79 years to the day since a British light bomber aircraft last flew out of RAF Bicester in active service, the same plane will now be leading the aviation display at Bicester Heritage’s flagship flywheel event.

The aircraft is the last Bristol Blenheim known to exist anywhere in the world and it is the only Blenheim of any version still in airworthy condition, a suitable accolade as part of the best-preserved WW2 RAF bomber base’s ten-year anniversary celebrations.

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The event will be taking place on June 17 and 18.

Bicester Heritage is based on the site of RAF Bicester, a former bomber station for Bristol Blenheim aircraft during the second World War.

On February 28, 1944, the final squadron of Blenheims flew out of the RAF base for good.

The aircraft which will be displayed at the flywheel event entered service on September 2, 1939, one day after the Second World War officially commenced.

It served as a night fighter with RAF 23 Squadron during the Battle of Britain.

The aircraft was restored by Aircraft Restoration Company (ARCo) at Duxford in a restoration spanning 11 years and over 25,000 man hours.

Flywheel will see a host of classic motoring marques join the displays along the tree-lined avenues of the historic site.

Fans of vintage flight can expect an equally spectacular showcase, with a broad range of historic aircraft set to grace the site’s grass airfield – winding back the years and commemorating the site’s heritage as an RAF Blenheim Bomber training station.

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1