109 e3b against spitfire II

[Seadog]

Originally Posted by Kurfürst

But this pretty much explains where 100 octane fuel went in such quantities - even those 8 Blenheim Squadrons were consuming a lot. Total tankage was 468 imp. gallons compared to 85 gallons on the Spit - a worth of about 45 Fighter Squadrons..

No.
468 gallons is with no bomb load
Total internal fuel capacity was 280 imperial gallons, or less, when used as a bomber. Normal TO weight = 13500 lb and 14300lb max.

Empty weight = 9790 lbs
Bombs = 1000lb
crew = 600 lbs
oil = 200lb (28 gallons)
fuel = 280 gals = 2016lb (468 gallons = 3370lb and 15300lb TO weight with 1000lb bomb load)
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= 13886lbs, when normal max was 13,500lbs and overload = 14,400lb

13500lb = ~230 gallons with a 1000lb bomb load.

Most BofB Blenheim missions were tactical strikes into France or as fighters where even 230 gallons was far more than was required.