Bolingbroke 9048 Restoration Project

Over the past few years, the Bristol Aero Collection has been working on the restoration of a Second World War Bristol Bolingbroke bomber. The aircraft, which is a Canadian-built version of the Bristol Blenheim, has not been restored since its withdrawal from the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1946. Once restored, the aircraft will go on display in our museum in the RCAF colours it wore in 1942.

Historic wartime photograph of Bolingbroke 9048 flying over Alaska in 1942.

The Bolingbroke, serial number 9048, was delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942, and flew maritime reconaissance roles on both the Altantic and Pacific coasts. Read more about its history here.

The centre wing and rear fuselage sections at Filton shortly after arrival.

After lying derelict in Calfornia for thirty years, in 2006 the Bristol Aero Collection arranged for the dismantled remains to be transported 6000 miles to Bristol for restoration. Read more here.

See the construction of the Bristol Blenheim/Bolingbroke in detail in our interactive Bolingbroke cutaway drawings.

Restoration Progress Reports