The AIR-BRITAIN Civil Aviation Historical Quarterly

24.3.49 Lodestar badly damaged on t/o, Kingston, Jamaica. 4.5.49 Continental A/L C-46 left runway & hit hangar, St Thomas, Virgin Islands. 27.5.49 C-46 of Trans Air Hawaii exploded, Maui, Hawaii. 7.6.49 Stratofreight C-46 fell into sea nr San Juan, PR. 13.6.49 DC-3 w/o in landing, Kolunda, Israel. 22.6.49 American CV.240 cr Memphis, Tennessee. 23.6.49 KLM L.749 crashed off Bari. 12.7.49 Standard C-46 cr nr Chatsworth, California. Left: This photo from Lee Stollar, via Peter Berry, was taken at Manila International in March 1955. Oxford AS703 was an RAAF example, presumab- ly c/n 1365, but as it carries no military insignia it must have been demobbed. Feedback p.89/84 refers to Fleming A/W System Transport using an Oxford in 1956/7 and p.88/34 had a photo of an unidentified Pl-regd example. Is there any connection between these three and if so can anyone fill the gaps please? 93/2 The Italian-built Dornier Wals PART TWO Right: Four of the Wals of the SANA fleet are shown here at anchor at the Ostia (Rome) sea- plane base in 1926. From top to bottom they are I-DAUR, I-DEAR, I-DAER and I-DOAR. The smaller flying boats on the right appear to be a Savoia S-16 or similar at a distance and a Macchi-Nieuport M-18 as the nearer of the two. (Gianfermo Musitelli) * ^ u U A h C/n 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 3 7 Wal No. 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 Regn Delivery (Engine type), history, date I-DAER 29.11.25 (RR Eagle IX) 3.4.26 SANA, also flew with Jupiter engines. 7.28 Destroyed I-DEAR 14.11.25 (Jupiter IV) 27.2.26 SANA, damaged Capri 30.1.30 .30 Rebuilt as c/n 124/Wal 144. I-DOAR 20.11.25 (Jupiter IV) 1.4.26 SANA, broken up Spring .34. 7.7.26 (Isotta Fraschini Asso) SANA, not delivered, put at disposal of De Pinedo. 10.2.26 (RR Eagle IX) Chilean Navy. 25.2.26 (RR Eagle IX) Chilean Navy. 10.4.26 (RR Eagle IX) Chilean Navy. 25.4.26 (RR Eagle IX) Chilean Navy. I-DOUR 22.3.26 (Lorraine Dietrich) CMASA, to USSR. 38 39 57 58 40 59 I-DOER 4.5.26 (Lorraine Dietrich) CMASA, to USSR. I-DAOK 3.11.26 (RR Eagle IX) 8.11.26 SANA, [regn also quoted as I-DAIR, see c/n 26/43] Also flew with Jupiters. 30.6.34 Ministero Aeronautics 10.34 Italian Air Force. J-BAAE 20.9.26 (RR Eagle IX) Japanese Ministry of Civil Aviation. Cabin Wal. [This would be an early 1930's regn, which may indicate that it was delivered unregd & could be the Wal converted by Kawasaki in 1929/30 for Nihon Koku Yuso KK. Components for two others were imported for Kawasaki production 10/11.30. One was J-BCDO, the other J-COGI.] 41 42 43 60 61 62 10.6.26 (RR Eagle IX) Dutch Navy. 14.6.26 (RR Eagle IX) Dutch Navy. 22.7.26 (RR Eagle IX) Dutch Navy. Right: C/ns 33 to 36 formed the first batch of Wals for Chile with 360 hp RR Eagle IX engines. Stan- dard fitments were the "park bench" control assisters mounted above the ailerons and elevators. The small aerofoil on the side of the fuselage was intended to keep spray from the sponson off the rear propeller during take-off, but it was not adopted as stan- dard. No c/n - serial tie-up is known to identify No. 14 shown here, (via Jack Meaden) 93/3 Left: J-BCDO "Shirahato" (White Dove) was built by Kawasaki in 1930 with 500 hp Kawasaki-built BMW 6 twelve cylinder upright vee water- cooled engines. The airframe was unique in having a more pointed bow with the cockpit right forward and the circular -window cabin moved back, plus two additional struts each side from the top of the hull to the sponsons. Unfortunately "Shirahato" broke up in a snowstorm and a second similar aircraft was taken out of service, (via Jack Meaden) 44 63 45 64 46 65 47 66 48 67 49 68 I-AYZY 20.8.26 (RR Eagle IX) Dutch Navy. 30.8.26 (RR Eagle IX) Dutch Navy. 8.8.26 (Isotta Fraschini Asso) Italian Navy "Marina I". Took part in search for the airship "Italia" 1928. Modified hull. 29.8.26 (Isotta Fraschini Asso) Italian Navy "Marina II". As for c/n 46. 10.1.27 (Farman 12WE) Uruguayan Navy. For intend- ed round the world flight. 10.1.27 (Jupiter IV) 7.2.27 SANA. Damaged 11.6.32 in f/1 off Anzio. 30.6.34 Ministero Aeronautica. 10.34 Italian Air Force. 51 71 - 28.12.26 (Lorraine Dietrich) Portuguese Air Ministry, "Argus", flown to Brazil by Maj S de Beires, dep Lisbon 2.3.27. Possibly lost in f/1 at sea between Belem & British Guiana on date unkn after 7.4.27. 52 72 I-AZAA 9.1.27 (Isotta Fraschini Asso) Aeroespresso. 14.8.34 Ministero Aeronautica. 10.34 Italian Air Force. 53 73 I-AZDA 24.4.27 (Isotta Fraschini Asso) Aeroespresso "6". 26.1.29 or 25th? Destroyed, burnt, possibly at Corfu.[see 65] 54 74 - - Aviolanda. Not completed, delivered without engines (Lorraine Dietrich inten- ded). Possibly pattern a/c for Dutch production? 50 70 I-AYZZ 28.12.26 (Jupiter IV) 11.1.27 SANA. 9.28 Destroyed by fire. 55 75 M-MWAN 14.1.29 (Jupiter IV) Spanish Navy W-14. 56 76 M-MWAO 2.3.29 (Hispano-Suiza 42) Spanish Navy W-15. [One source quotes this as becoming M-MWAP but this was CASA-built Wal W-16 "Numancia" which f/1 in the Atlantic 21.6.29.] 57 77 G-CAJI 10.6.28 (Napier Lion 5) 23.4.28 CofR Appn, Capt F.T.Court- ney, though owner believed to be E.Hosmer. Dep Azores en route from Pisa to Halifax 1.8.28. 1/2.8.28 Engine fire, f/1 about 42° N 41° W. Salvaged 5.8.28 taken to Canadian Vickers, Montreal, arr 21.8.28. Scrapped. 58 78 - 10.6.27 (BMW VI) Yugoslavian military. 59 79 I-AZDB 4.5.27 (Isotta Fraschini Asso) Aeroespresso "3" [or 8?]. 24.12.29 Crashed in Aegean nr Andros en route Istanbul - Athens. Left, top: A side view of Aeroespresso' s I-AZDA with the "park bench" fittings clearly visible above the wings and tailplane. Centre: This front view also appears to be I-AZDA, the fleet number "6" (or possibly "5") is visible on the nose as the Wal lies at anchor at Old Phaleron, Athens c.1929. Bottom: The caption says that this is I-AZDA as it burnt and sank at Mytilene (Lesvos) during refuelling 30.6.30 but other records claim that to have been the fate of I-AZDH c/n 65. (All photos via Andrew Stamatopoulos) 93/4 Top, left: I-AZDB anchored at Vathi, Isle of Ithaca, south of Corfu, early in 1929. Above: I-AZDC, number 4 of Aeroespresso, made an emergency landing at Kavalla in north-east Greece, early in 1927. The passengers are seen here being taken off. Note the original square cabin windows of this Wal. Top, right: Another view of I-AZDC, this time at the Isle of Syros, date unknown but most probably post-31 as the cabin windows are now round - see next photo. Centre, right: I-AZDC taking off at Megalo Pefko, the alternate seaplane base for Athens, north-west of Piraeus, in 1931. It still has the square windows. Lower, rioht: Passengers disembarking from I-AZDC at the Old Phaleron base at Athens in the summer of 1934. Clearly visible are the round cabin windows. Presumably this conversion increased the structural strength of the hull? (All photos via Andrew Stamatopoulos) 60 80 I-AZDC 23.5.27 (Isotta Fraschini Asso) Aeroespresso " 4 " . 14.8.34 Ministero Aeronautica. 10.34 Italian Air Force. 61 81 I-AZDD 10.7.27 (BMW VI) CMASA D- ? Fritz Hammer, for Transaerea, Berlin ? 62 82 I-AZDF 13.7.27 (BMW VI) CMASA D-1196 .27 Deutsche Lufthansa AG, for South American services. P-BADA .28? Syndicato Condor. [This may be the a/c which cr at sea 45 mis from Rio 28.2.28 ?) 63 83 I-AZDE 11.8.27 (BMW VI) CMASA D-1213 .27 Deutsche Lufthansa AG, for South American services. P-BACA .28? Syndicato Condor "Santos Dumont", later "Ypiranga". 3.12.28 Cr in sea nr U n a das Cobras, Rio de Janeiro. PP-CAC Rebuilt and re-regd ? 64 84 I-AZDG 19.8.27 (Isotta Fraschini Asso) Aeroespresso. .35 To R.A.I., then Ministero Aeronautica. 3.40 Broken up. 65 85 I-AZDH 3.9.27 (Isotta Fraschini Asso) Aeroespresso "6" [see 53) 10.6.30 Destroyed by fire, Mytilene Harbour, Lesvos. [This is also suggested as I-AZDA] 66 86 - 10.4.28 (Napier Lion V) Chilean Navy. 67 87 - 11.4.28 (Napier Lion V) Chilean Navy. 68 69 88 89 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 I-AYAA ? I-W102 - - I-W101 - I-W100 - I-AZDV ? I-W103 - - - I-AZDI I-AZDL 5.4 15.4 20.3 28.3 27.3 10.4 4.5 15.4 6.7 10.7 12.7 2.8 7.8 30.6 5 15.9 9.10 8.4.28 (Napier Lion V) Chilean Navy. 10.8.28 (Napier Lion V) Chilean Navy. Possible error for Wal 70 ? .28 USSR (BMW V I ) . .28 USSR (BMW V I ) . .28 USSR (BMW V I ) . .28 USSR (BMW V I ) . [Also quoted as I-W103] ? .28 USSR (BMW V I ) . .28 USSR (BMW V I ) . Delivered 3.30 ? .28 USSR (BMW V I ) . "C/n 77 Military" ? .28 USSR (BMW V I ) . [Also quoted as I-W102] ? .28 USSR (BMW V I ) . .28 USSR (BMW V I ) . 28 USSR (BMW V I ) . 27 (Jupiter IV) Piaggio built. 27 SANA. Damaged in f/1 25 mis off Tripoli 28.4.32, salved 34 Ministero Aeronautica. 35 Cancelled. 27 (Jupiter IV) Piaggio built. 27 SANA. Modified with 600hp Jupiter VIIIs. 32 Lost 34° 17'N 13° 52'E bet- ween Sicily & Tripoli. 3.11 9 3 / 5 83 84 85 103 I-AZDM 20.10.27 (Isotta Fraschini Asso) Aeroespresso. Piaggio built 14.8.34 Ministero Aeronautics. 5.35 Cancelled. 104 I-AZDN 105 D-1397 86 106 D-1443 P-BAIA PP-CAI 2.28? (Isotta Fraschini Asso) Aeroespresso. Piaggio built .35 Ministero Aeronautics. 3.40 Broken up. 28.5.28 (BMW VI) Piaggio built. Deutsche Lufthansa AG, "LUbeck", later "Kiel", c/s DANCL. Damaged at Insel Gorgona 20.6.28 and at Gothenburg 10.6.29. .35 Broken up for spares. 22.6.28 (BMW VI) Piaggio built. Deutsche Lufthansa AG. 10.28 Syndicato Condor, "Guanabara". .32 Re-regd. .35 Cld and off DLH inventory. P-BALA 108 I-AZDS D-1626 D-ARIP 89 109 I-AZDT D-1647 90 110 I-AZDV D-1648 D-APYL 91 111 I-AZDZ Left: SANA'S I-AZDI, wearing a number "VIII" or "NoIII" on the nose, at Malta, possibly Kalafrana. The Duke of Toledo (Alphonse XIII) deplanes there on 27.4.32 after flying from Rome, accompanied by Lady Louis Mountbatten and the Duke of Miranda. Far left: A picturesgue scene not without its drama. I-AZDN shown at Linaria, Isle of Skyros, Greece, after a forced landing and severe battering by a gale. Damage to the fuselage by the letter Z, and also to the wing tips, may be seen. (Both "L' Illustration" via Andrew Stamatopoulos) 14.3.29 (BMW VI) Piaggio built. Deutsche Lufthansa AG, "Hamburg", c/s DANDD. 12.29 German regn cld. 2.30 Syndicato Condor "Olinda" 12.9.31 Cr on t/o off Natal, Brazil .32 Cancelled. [Intended as PP-CAL but ntu •?] 15.3.29 (BMW VI) Piaggio built CMASA 5.29 Deutsche Lufthansa AG, "Flensburg", c/s DANDF. .34 Re-regd. Taken off DLH inventory 1935. 20.4.29 (BMW VI) Piaggio built CMASA 6.29 Deutsche Lufthansa AG, "Bremerhaven", c/s DANDH. .35 Broken up for spares, cld. 25.5.29 (BMW VI) Piaggio built CMASA 6.29 Deutsche Lufthansa AG, "Helgoland". F/l nr Coruna 26.5.30, damaged Stettin 16.8.30. 12.34 Re-regd. .35 To DVS GmbH, cancelled. .29? (Jupiter VIII) Piaggio bt. 1.8.29SANA. 30.6.34 Ministero Aeronautica. 10.34 Italian Air Force. To be concluded. . . I-AZDT was one of the early Piaggio-built cabin Wals. It had BMW 6 engines and the later unstepped fin and rudder with no rudder balance. The "park bench" fitments can be seen on ailer- ons and elevators and the cabin has circu- lar windows, (via Jack Meaden) 93/6 THE "POWDER PUFF" DERBIES 1929-31 The annual National Air Races held at Cleveland, Ohio from 1929 featured a combination of pylon races, barnstorming and long- distance events. The publicity that would result easily convinced the Santa Monica Bay Districts Exchange Club of the value of sponsoring an all-woman race, and so it was that the first Women's Air Derby was conceived. The race began at Clover Field, Santa Monica, CA on 18.8.29 and finished at Cleveland 2,700 miles later on 26.8.29 which was the third day of the National meeting. Above:Amelia Earhart first flew a Lockheed Vega in 1929 and came third in that year's Derby in NC31E c/n 36. She flew six Vegas altogether and here is taxying in at Oakland after flying from Hawaii in Vega NR965Y c/n 171. (via Jack Meaden) There were originally 23 entrants but three withdrew before the race and one, Mae Haizlip, started a day late due to the delayed arrival of her aircraft! The aircraft were divided into two classes, the CW class of light sports aircraft and the DW class for the more powerful commer- cial types. The more powerful racing types were not allowed to compete. The starters were as follows: No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 11 16 18 43 54 61 66 76 100 109 105 113 •p Pilot Marvel Crosson Florence "Pancho" Barnes Blanche Noyes Louise Thaden Mary Von Mack Amelia Earhart Phoebe Omlie Margaret Perry Ruth Nichols Opal Kunz Aircraft Travel Air Travel Air Travel Air Travel Air Travel Air Lockheed Vega Monocoupe Spartan C-3 Rearwin K-R Travel Air Jessie "Chubby" Keith-Miller Claire Fahy Thea Rasche Ruth Elder Mae Haizlip Evelyn "Bobby" Trout Edith Foltz Gladys O'Donnell Vera Dawn Walker Neva Finley Paris Fleet Kinner Travel Air DH.60G Moth Swallow J-5 American Eagle Golden Eagle Eaglerock Bullet Waco 10 Curtiss Robin Curtiss Robin The race was not without unwanted incident. On 19.8.29 Marvel Crosson was killed near Welton, Arizona, apparently falling from her crashing Travel Air Speedwing during a bout of airsick- ness caused by the desert heat. The following day Claire Fahy withdrew after a forced landing (although some sources allege sabotage), then "Pancho" Barnes tore the starboard wings off her Travel Air on landing at Pecos, Texas on 21.8.29, when she hit a car which had strayed too close to the strip. Margaret Perry was the next retirement, due to typhoid fever not flying problems, on 22.8.29 at Fort Worth. At the final stop at Columbus, Ohio, Ruth Nichols' Rearwin Ken-Royce hit a tractor/steam engine while taxying - one report says for take-off, another on landing! Winner of the heavy class was Louise Thaden in the Travel Air Speedwing R671H in a total flying time of 20 hrs 2 mins 2 seconds (one source quoted 20-19-10). Second was Gladys O'Donnell in Waco NC9558 in a time of 21-21-43, and third was Amelia Earhart in Vega NC31E timed at 22-12-42. The next two places were taken by Blanche Noyes and Ruth Elder. In the light class Phoebe Omlie was the clear winner in her Monocoupe in a time of 25-10-36. Second was Edith Folz in the Alexander Eaglerock Bullet in 41-37-41, third the Australian "Chub- bie" Miller's Fleet in 52-24-24, with Thea Rasche's Gipsy Moth fourth some 12 hours later. 1930 The 1930 Derby was actually two separate races with the 'heavies' routed from Long Beach, CA to Chicago, IL between 17 and 25.8.30 while the light aircraft flew there from Washington, DC Some of the 1929 Powder Puff Pilots: Above left : Gladys O'Donnell; Far left: Florence "Pancho" Barnes; Above right: Marvel Crosson; Far right: Ruth Elder. 93/7 from 22 to 26.8.30, this event being known as the "Dixie Derby". A number of leading women pilots boycotted the race because they were still refused the right to compete in higher- powered aircraft alongside the male pilots. Gladys O'Donnell was first in the race from Long Beach in her Waco CTO Taperwing NC21R, followed by Mildred Morgan (Travel Air), Jean LaRene (American Eagle Phaeton), Rith Barron (Buhl) and Ruth Seward (Curtiss Robin). Margery Doig re- tired her Pitcairn at Emporia, KS on the penul- timate day. The "Dixie Derby" was won by the 1929 light race winner Phoebe Omlie again in a Monocoupe, second was Martie Bowman (Fleet), followed by Laura Ingalls (DH.60G Moth), Nancy Hopkins (Kitty Hawk B-4) and Charity Langdon (Avian) . Vera Dawn Walker, this time flying an Inland Sport, retired from the race. 1931 The third and final time that a separate women's race was held was in August 1931. In 1929 and 1930 the Aerol Trophy was awarded to the winner but in 1931 this was re-assigned to the women's closed-circuit race at the Nationals. A major change to the long-distance race was that it became a handicap event, run alongside the men's race, from Santa Monica to Cleveland, commencing on 23.8.31. At the finish on 31.8.31 Phoebe Omlie was again the winner, this time of the whole event, flying Monocoupe 110 NC518W in which she beat her handicap by a greater margin than did the winner of the men's event. Second was Martie Bowman (Inland Sport), third Mae Haizlip (Mono-coupe), 4th Edith Folz and 5th Louise Thaden in her Thaden T-4 NC502V. The other entries were Gladys O'Donnell, "Pancho" Barnes, Jean LaRene, Debie Stanford, Ruth Stewart, Joan Shankle, Mildred Morgan, Clema Granger, Mary Charles, Blanche Noyes and the British pilot Winifred Spooner. Left upper: Alexander Eaglerock Bullet flown as "109" by Edith Folz in 1929. Centre: Gladys O'Donnell collects her CTO Taperwing NR21M c/n A-151 from Waco. For 1930 it was given a full racing conversion, Lower, becoming NC21R race no. 7. It had a 300 hp Wright R-975 with NACA cow- ling, single faired interplane struts, faired over front cockpit and small wheels with spats. Above: Miss Jean LaRene took 3rd place in the 1930 Derby in an American Eagle Phaeton with a Wright Whirlwind engine. She is seen here flying a Kinner engined Phaeton. Below: In 1931 the Monocoupe 110 won a number of races including Pheobe Omlie's Derby victory in NC518W c/n 5W58. This standard 110, NC12312 c/n 6W13, shows the 110/125 hp 7-cyl Warner Scarab radial engine with Townend ring and spatted under- carriage. (All photos this page via Jack Meaden) POSTSCRIPT A number of the women pilots mentioned above need very little introduction but others may be less familiar. "Pancho" Barnes worked as a company pilot for Union Oil, for Lockheed and for Beech. Marvel Crosson had set a women's altitude record of 24,000 ft in a Ryan B-3 on 29.5.29. Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly the Atlantic (as a passenger and then as a solo pilot), to fly Los Angeles - New York non-stop and the first person to fly from Hawaii to California. She held numerous other long- distance records and, as is well-known, vanished in the Pacific during her round-the-world flight with Fred Noonan on 2.7.37. Ruth Elder had attempted to fly the Atlantic with George Haldeman in 10.27. Forced to land at sea after 2620 miles, they were fortunate to be picked up by a ship. Claire Fahy was killed when the engine of her Waco failed on take-off at Tonopah, Nevada 1930. She was married to Lockheed test pilot Herbert Fahy who was killed in a Sirius on 25.4.30. Edith Folz was the personal pilot of J.Don Alexander, president of the Alexander Aircraft Co. "Chubbie" Miller broke both east- and west-bound trans- continental records in October 1930 flying the last Alexander Eaglerock Bullet. Previously the passenger in Bill Lancaster's 1928 Avian flight from England to Aust- ralia, she became the first woman to fly the route. Blanche Noyes was co-pilot to Louise Thaden in the Beech C17R NC15835 which won the 1936 Bendix Race. Gladys O'Donnell founded the O'Donnell Aircraft Inc Flying School with husband Lloyd at Long Beach in 1928. She won seven events in the 1929 National Air Races. Louise Thaden had set the women's altitude record in 1927 at 22,500 ft in a Travel Air and also set an endurance record of 22 hours. In 1936 she won the Bendix trans- continental race in a Beech C17R with Blanche Noyes. "Bobby" Trout with Elinor Smith established a refuelling endurance record for women in November 1929 in a Commer- cial Sunbeam. They failed to break the overall record when their refuelling aircraft broke down. She briefly held the solo endurance record for women on two occasions in 1929, each time being surpassed by Elinor Smith. 93/8 The Whole Truth: PART FIFTY DH.60 MOTH Right: Gipsy I Moth G-AAEW c/n 1043 is seen here being flown by its first owner D.S.Schreiber with race number 4 on the rudder. (Aeroplane, via Jack Meaden) MOTH 1023/1026 Probably sold by Arnhold 3.29 to Honan and to Chinese Nationalist Air Force 1.30. 1033/1036 Ordered by Wuhan Civil Aviation Co 12.28 and probably to Chinese Nationalist Air Force 1.30. 1043 G-AAEW The lapse of C of A from 21.1.36 was probably a result of an accident at Baddesley, nr Romsey on 26.6.35. 1045 X5035 Survived decoy use to be allotted 2915M 25.1.42 and to Sheffield UAS. Later issued to No.297 ATC Sqn, Castleford. 1049 G-AAJN In accident 3.10.36, pilot JS Wilkinson was killed. 1055 G-AAIU the crash date is now quoted as 11.2.39. 1065 VH-UKU/A7-87 was, in error, restored as VH-UFU. This DH.60 (not A7-89 c/n 275) was bought by Sqn Ldr JC Homewood from Archerfield in 1945 and taken to Newcastle, NSW by rail. Restored as VH-UFU (using that aircraft's identity) 8.3.46 to JC Homewood, Brisbane. Sold (date unknown) to DB Richardson. Crashed St George, Queensland 6.10.51. Regn eld 3.12.51. 1075 G-AAOR This was the identity quoted on the registration of the ex-Spanish DH.60G EC- AAO as G-AAOR by John Pothecary when it was regd 15.4.85. It, in fact, derives from the fact that the Gipsy I brought back with the airframe was the engine originally fitted to 1075. The airframe, however, came from a different location. (See also EC-AAO notes in Spanish section of Index). 1077 SP-TUR Owner T Pruszkowski was rector of Academy of Art, Warsaw; named Moth "Sroka" (Magpie). Evacuated to Romania 9.39 and believed operated in Romanian markings until .45. 1090 G-AAIA original owner William P.Taylor, Speke and sold and replaced by DH.80A G-ABEH 6.33. 1099 G-AAHU delivered Edinburgh Flying Club 20.12.38. 1101 G-AAJO was, according to Janes 1931, purchased by the Hon Mrs Edwin Montagu in Amman 16.5.31 to replace G-ABFW (c/n 1820) on her and Rupert Belville's Persian & Russian tour. 1109 SP-ADX 1112/1121 1123 G-AAJP 1138 1139 1141) 1144) 1146) 1152 1153 VT-AAX 2605M 2482M G-AATM 1156/1158 1159 1164 1166 1173 G-AALR G-AAPA G-AAPC G-AAPJ It arrived back in the UK via Poland & Germany 15.6.31. Sold autumn 32 to S Iwanowski & J Osinski (editors of aeronautical magazine "Skrzydlata Polska"). Sold to A Strakacz early .38. Destroyed in invasion 9.39. To Chinese Nationalist Air Force 6.29. as a seaplane and flown by John Grierson, it left Brough 5.8.33, arriving at Reykjavik 7.8.33. It capsized on take-off the next morning and was damaged. Shipped back to Hull and rebuilt as a landplane. For sale 10.34 by Grierson for £400, but possibly not sold until 8.36 (unless intermediate owner prior to Blow?). Record flights by Grierson included to Lahore 10.30 and return from Karachi to Lympne 24/28.5.31 (4 days 10 hrs 30 mins). Also to Baghdad .31 and Moscow .32. In his book "High Failure" John Grierson confirmed that he did acquire G-AAJP from Kidston (82/22). Allotted 2819M 3.12.41 and to No.77 ATC Sqn, Redruth. It seems most likely that this aircraft was presented to Bombay Flying Club by Sir Charles Wakefield 2.12.29 and named "Sir Charles Wakefield" the following day. MI serial issued 19.6.41 and Moth kept at St Georges Square, Sheffield. Delivered to Shansi 9.29 against 4.29 order. Allotted 2.2.41 and used by St Athan. Operated by South Downs Aero Club, Ford by 3.33 (owned by Rollason Aviation Co). Delivered to Shansi 9.29 against 4.29 order. probably abandoned in Rio de Janeiroby The Aircraft Operating Co during local revolution in 1930. Accident 17.7.35 resulted from failure to recover from spin. It crashed adjacent to Hedon Airfield, killing passenger Keith Atkin. In accident 22.3.36, passenger Miss Clarke was killed. In accident 16.8.36, passenger Joseph Donnelly was killed. 93/9 Left: The Aviation League of Canada's DH.60M Moth c/n 1302 CF-AAA, which carried its own list of ports of call in Canada and the USA during 1929-33. The total of 154 included multiple visits, 5 to Toronto and Detroit, 4 to Montreal and Quebec, 3 to Chicago and London, and yes, visits to Halifax, Peterborough, Whitby and Stratford, all without leaving North America'. Total mileage covered as at June 1st 1933 was 82,500 - using Imperial Oil Ltd pro- ducts, (de Havilland via Jack Meaden) 1186 G-AARA 1187 2590M 1204/1206 ) 1208 ) 1209 G-AARW 1210/1211 ) 1219/1220 ) 1231 CS-AAG 1242/1243 1244 G-ABJT 1247 G-ARAO 1270 G-ABBK 1284 2595M 1290 2603M 1322 CF-APA 1362 G-AAHY 1384 J9922 OK-ATH 1389 J9927 Was based at Roborough 1934/35 by Surrey Flying Services Ltd, who had set up a branch club there (see Archive 2/86). Allotted 3.6.41 and used by No.1059 ATC Sqn, Astley House, Maidstone. Probably to Chinese Nationalist Navy 2.30. Alternative accident date quoted as 26.1.30. Probably to Chinese Nationalist Navy 2.30. was owned by Aero Club de Portugal, Lisbon .32. Probably to Chinese Nationalist Navy 7.30. Re Feedback 3/87; both clubs were under cannon ownership, thus Northamptonshire Aero Club was probably just the operator not owner. was badly damaged c.30 at Brooklands when it was struck by G-ABBW (c/n 1277) which had been started up without chocks. Operated by South Downs Aero Club, Ford by 3.33 (possibly owned by William A Rollason or Surrey Flying Services). MI serial allotted 3.6.41 and 451 ATC Sqn was based at King Edward School, Lower High St, Stourbridge. Allotted 17.6.41 and used by Cambridge UAS, based at Fen Causeway. Bought by Jack Landage in early 60s and reflown after rebuild on 4.5.67. Despite renewal of C of A in December 1986, (Archive 1/90) this reflew after rebuild in early July 1985. First flown, by Geoffrey de Havilland 1.10.29. A photo in Aeroplane Monthly May 1975 shows this aircraft still with The DeHavilland School of Flying titles. This does not fit previously published facts. It is thus probable that 0K-ATH was a 1931 issued regn and preceded the Moth's regn as D-2296 in July 1932. DH.&OAs OK-ATF/ATG were delivered 12.30 which supports this idea. It also provides for a more logical sequence to account for the brevity of restoration as G-ABNE and return as GK-ATT in November 1935. Operated by 5 FTS Sealand. 1397 D-1737 1411 2607M 1432 1446 OY-DEH 1460 G-AATA 1482 G-AAVR 1486 2593M 1506 691M 1517 1072M 1535 G-AAYF 1545 SP-ADY 1546 G-AAYG regn confirmed; it is incorrect in Karl Ries* standard work on the pre-war German register. Kept by Belfast UAS at Rosemary Hall. To Manchu 5.30. Amend second Danish Army serial to S-357 (Archive 3/86). Remains acquired by Ron Souch in .87 and regd G-AANL 26.6.87 to Derek & P Ellis. Rebuilt, including much new build and Gipsy II engine, at Sarisbury Green and reflown early 91. Painted in pre-war National Flying Services c/s. Regd 23.12.29 to WB Dick & Co Ltd. The collision occured nr Borne, Surrey, killing Capt JJ Flynn and passenger Miss Aurora Tasselli and also Segt Smith of 19 ERFTS aboard the Hart. MI serial allotted 3.6.41 and kept by 339 ATC Sqn at Torbay Country Club, Paignton. amend IA history to read - To 691M at 3 FTS Grantham 24.7.35. To 3 S of TT Manston 15.8.35. To University of London Air Squadron, (Kenley?) 28.9.35. To 6 S of TT Hednesford 28.10.39. To Cardington 18.5.38. According to Aeroplane Monthly August 1984, this was delivered new to C Robinson of Tunbridge Wells via Ronald Walters and Mr Fisher of Home Counties Aircraft Services, Penshurst on 23.5.30. It was displayed in a local motor garage during Empire Week. Since it was regd to Home Counties less than two months later, perhaps the sale fell through. Regd to Kolejory Klub Sportowy Gornego Slaska (later renamed Aeroklub Slaski). Named "Mieszko". Destroyed in invasion 9.39. suffered accident Lympne 25.3.35. Photo G-EBQE c/n 370, p92/70: V.W.Clarkson takes us to task for our over-frivolous caption here. The gold-painted "Arom" was Shell's first Moth, shown at Stag Lane on 30.3.27, being "christened" by Mrs Wilson, wife of the Assistant General Manager, who stands with umbrella by the steps. Capt H.Shaw, Shell's Aviation Manager, watches from the top of the steps as she pours fuel from a special gold-painted can marked "Shell Motor Spirit". We promise to behave in future! 9 3 / 1 0 Complete Civil Registers : 3 PART FORTY-ONE New Zealand Above: Beaver ZK-CCY served with Fieldair for over 22 years. (W.Zwakhals collection) ZK-CCR Registration not yet allotted. ZK-CCS Morane Saulnier MS.880B Rallye Club 5230 8.10.62 Seabrook Fowlds Ltd, Auckland. To Rotorua AC 11.12.62; to Tokoroa AC, Tokoroa 5.9.64; op by Pegasus School of Avn Ltd, Tauranga "Pegasus I" and by Rotorua AC 9.68; sold to Pegasus School of Avn 3.2.70; to I. A.Wardsworth 23.5.72?; to A.E.Boyd, Thames 23.5.72. 26.2.73, regn eld 5.12.88. Crashed near Hanmer and Mount Cook Airlines Ltd 1.1.68. To Mount Cook S Southern Lakes Tourist Co Ltd, Christchurch "24" 18.7.73; to R.D.MacKay, Rotorua 5.10.82. Crashed at Parakai 29.1.90. Regn eld 1.6.90. ZK-CCY DHC-2 Beaver 1 1512 26.11.62 Fieldair Ltd, Gisborne. F/f NZ 20.2.63. To Field- air Holdings (Central) Ltd, Palmerston North 18.11.80; to Fieldair Holdings Ltd, Palmerston North 30.3.84. Wfu at 12,950 hrs t/t, 1985. Regn eld 15.5.89. Sold as VH-XIX 10.4.90, cr, eld 3.92. ZK-CCT Fletcher FU-24A Mk II 102 9.10.62 Ex N6507C. Air Parts (NZ) Ltd, Hamilton. To James Avn Ltd, Hamilton; erected by them and f/f 6.2.63; convtd to 260hp 8.12.65, to 300hp 10.4.70; cr at Tahora 11.8.70, rebt 11.70; to 400hp 13.8.73. Sold to Associated Farmers Aerial Work Ltd, Martinbor- ough 21.8.84. Regn eld 14.9.88, d/d to Australia ex Auckland 8.9.88, regd VH-HVO 26.9.88. Restored 21.1.92 to ZK-CCT as FU-24-950M to Super-Air Ltd, Hamilton. Current. ZK-CCU Auster B.8 Agricola B.105 11.6.65 Ex ZK-BMM (and parts of -BMK, -BML & -CCV) . Asso- ciated Farmers Aerial Work Ltd, Martinborough. Rebuilt by Airepair Ltd, Hastings (AIRP850), f/f 11.6.65. Crashed Ohariu Valley, nr Wellington, 13.2.77. Regn eld 11.8.77. ZK-CCV Auster B.8 Agricola B.118 26.9.62 Ex (ZK-BMO), G-APFZ. Air Contracts Ltd, Masterton. Crashed Pongamara, nr Masterton 19.2.63. Regn eld 5.3.63, parts used for ZK-CCU. ZK-CCW Beagle A.109 Airedale B.528 15.10.62 Ran MacDonald (Light Aircraft) Ltd, Christchurch. Assembled by Wellington AC, f/f NZ at Rongotai 22.12.62. To P.Roy, Edendale 18.12.63. To C.McKen- zie, Gore 8.9.75; to C.G.Mills, Gore 15.7.81. Current. ZK-CCX Cessna 185 Skywagon 0115 19.10.62 Ex N9915X. Aerial Work (Marlborough) Ltd, Omaka. To Southern Scenic Air Services Ltd, Queenstown; op by NZ Tourist Air Travel Ltd, Queenstown 1.5.65 ZK-CCZ Beech 23 Musketeer M-104 26.11.62 De Havilland Aircraft Co of NZ Ltd, Wellington. Op by Waikato AC, Hamilton d/d 12.4.63. Cr Trafford's Hill, Waioeka Gorge 21.3.65, 3 fatalities. Sold to Waikato AC 12.4.65 and regn eld 22.4.65. ZK-CDA Morane Saulnier MS.890A Commodore 145 Originally allocated to c/n 10324 but ntu, became F-BLBB. ZK-CDA SEEMS MS.892A Commodore 150 10464 (2) Seabrook Fowlds Ltd, Auckland. Erected f/f 4.2.65. Crashed nr Waharoa 27.3.65. by .65 TEAL, ZK-CDB Morane Saulnier MS.880B Rallye Club 5302 .62 Seabrook Fowlds Ltd, Auckland. Erected by TEAL. To Northern Districts AC, Whangarei; to Mercury Bay AC, Whitianga; to R.P.J.Poole, Auckland 13.6.68; to H.N.C.Monckton, Hamilton 10.9.68. Crash landed at Whatawhata 19.10.69. Regn eld 28.10.69. ZK-CDC Morane Saulnier MS.880B Rallye Club 5317 1.63 Seabrook Fowlds Ltd, Auckland. Erected by TEAL. To Northern Wairoa AC, Dargaville; to Motueka AC, Motueka 29.5.67; to Whenua-Rangi Land Co Ltd, Taupo 22.6.72; to Glenmore Flying Group, Auckland 9.1.74. Damaged by gale 5.75, reduced to spares. Regn eld 11.5.90. ZK-CDD Druine D.31 Turbulent PFA/428 11.62 R.E.Keyte (constructor), Kaitaia. To C.E.Reid, Blenheim 22.5.72; to Rarangi Flying Group, Blen- heim 9.3.77. Withdrawn from use and registration eld 21.6.84. Since sold to A.D.Chaytor, Blenheim. 1 Right: Agricola ZK-CCU was a typical "bitser" built from parts of crashed machines. It has cowlings off in this shot while the fuselage seems to have a liberal coating of fertiliser ovei it. (Wim Zwakhals col lection) 93/11 Left: Admiring glances for immaculate Turbulent ZK-CDD, with highly po- lished cylinder head covers and exhausts. (Wim Zwakhals collection) Below, left: Always a difficult type to photograph, but the raised camera position clearly shows the large cockpit, dihedral and leading-edge slots on MS.885 Super Rallye ZK-CDF at Timaru 21.8.72. (R.W.Kerr) Below: NZ Aerial Mapping's Aero Commander 680F ZK-CDK seen at its home airfield, Hastings. (R.W.Kerr) ZK-CDE Morane Saulnier MS.885 Super Rallye Not taken up. Believed to have been allocated to c/n 5333 which as c/n 333 became F-BKZR 7.64. ZK-CDE Morane Saulnier MS.880B Rallye Club 5201R 20.10.69 (2) Ex ZK-CBW c/n 5201 rebuilt by K.Wylie, Central A/c Maintenance Ltd, using parts of ZK-CDB. To H.N.C. Monkton, Hamilton 29.10.69; to D.F.Barker, Hamil- ton 30.4.70; to F.D.Pullen, Taumaranui 28.11.79; to Dennis Thompson Intnl Ltd, Ardmore 19.6.80; to R.W.Dell, Waihi 20.10.80; to P.J.Butt, Seddon 21.10.87. Current. ZK-CDF Morane Saulnier MS.885 Super Rallye 5248 12.62 Seabrook Fowlds Ltd, Auckland. Erected by TEAL. To South Otago AC, Balclutha; to R.W.Skurr, Sheffield 18.3.69; to A.A.Innes, Fairlie 7.8.72; to D.R. Davison, Culverden North 22.3.78. Current. ZK-CDG Beagle A.61 Terrier 2 B.625 4.63 Ex Auster T.7 WE542, G-35-11. Ron MacDonald (Light Aircraft) Ltd, Christchurch; to H.C.Sowerby, Temuka 6.63; to R.Hunter, Gleniti 12.63; to Ron MacDonald Ltd, Christchurch .64; to George Martin Ltd, Blenheim 14.8.67; to RNZAF Auckland Aviation Sports Club, Whenuapi 26.11.68; to W.G.Allan, Morrinsville 12.5.76; to K.H.Nielson, Mt Maunganui 16.5.77; to Hejlemann Holdings Ltd (Nielson) 28.3. 83; to K.H.Nielson 29.7.86; to White Island A/W, Rotorua 5.1.87; to C.A. & C.J.Sutherland, Rotorua 3.7.90. Current. ZK-CDH Cessna 185A Skylane 0511 1.2.63 Ex (N2511Z). Rural Avn Ltd, New Plymouth. Crashed at Oporae, 7.3.63. ZK-CDI Yeoman YA-1 Cropmaster 250 110 20.2.64 Ex VH-DEQ. Farmers ATD Co Ltd, Invercargill. Erected by Southland A/c Engineering Ltd, f/f at Invercargill 17.2.64. Converted to Yeoman-Hanes YA-1 (3-seater) 1968. To Hanes Engineering Co Ltd, Horotiu 7.68; to F.E.Pike, Auckland 6.11.89; CofA expired 18.12.90. Current. ZK-CDJ Cessna 172D 50492 11.9.63 Ex (N2892U). Rex Avn (NZ) Ltd, New Plymouth. F/f NZ 21.11.63. To Mercury Bay AC, Whitianga 15.12.63; to R.P.J. & M.M.Poole, Ardmore 22.2.71; to D.J.McGregor Ltd, Auckland 13.9.73; to W.A. Bennett Ltd, Papakura 19.8.77; to H.M.Baxter & P. Bouma, Te Awamutu 29.6.78. Current. ZK-CDK Aero Commander 680F Ex N78395. New Zealand Hastings "Matariki". To L cate, Te Awamutu. Current. 1289-132 10.63 Aerial Mapping Ltd, S S Aerial Map Syndi- ZK-CDL Cessna 172D 50503 11.9.63 Ex N2903U. Rex Avn (NZ) Ltd, New Plymouth. To New Plymouth AC; to Rex Avn (NZ) Ltd, Ardmore 13.12.71; to H.V.Wilkins, Whakatane (t/a Whakatane District FS) 20.10.72; to Gordon Stewart Ltd, Cheviot 18.2.74; to Goode Vernon & Co, Auckland 24.3.74; to New Plymouth Travel Centre Ltd 14.8.80, to Scherer Farms Ltd, Putarunu 16.2.82. Crashed at Killermont, North Otago 27.3.89. Sold "as is" to L.W.Sutherland, Levin 23.4.90. Regn eld 12.2.91 as "not rebuilt". To be continued. Left: The sole Yeo- man-Hanes 250 ZK-CDI. Compared with the Yeoman Cropmaster ZK- CCP on p. 92/96 the large cockpit area for the 3-seater con- version by Hanes is apparent. The forward part of the cockpit retains the pilot's sliding canopy. (R.W.Kerr) 93/12 The Whole Truth: MILES M.65 GEMINI PART TWO 6291 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AJWF to Chartair Ltd 16.6.47. CofA issued 7.7.47. To Eric Pilkington Ltd 10.47. To G.Dawson 5.48 and to Guernsey Salvage Co Ltd (a Dawson company) 10.48. To E.J.Farrow, Croydon 7.50. To K.P.Murray 17.6.53 and sold to Eire. Regd EI-AGF to J.Kelly 18.7.53 and delivered 19.7.53. Regn eld 4.11.53. Restd as G-AJWF to H.Mitchell, Portsmouth 5.11.53. To J.P.D.Heyward (Blackbushe Flying Club) 3.54. To Fenhurst Properties Ltd, White Waltham 5.55. To R.Jones, Fairoaks 11.56, later Munstead Heath. To A.R.Pilgrim, Elstree 8.58. To R.R.Harring- ton, Elstree 1.61. Wfu at Elstree 9.63 with CofA current to 1.10.64 and acquired by Ministry of Aviation for static testing of glued joints at Cranfield. 6292 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AJWG to Chartair Ltd 16.6.47. CofA issued 20.8.47. To J.W.Adamson (Oldstead Aircraft), Newcastle 26.5.48. To R.P.Adler, Elstree 6.50, operated by Roberts Eagle Flying Club and named "Roberts Eagle". CofA expired 13.3.65 and wfu at Sleap. Scrapped and burnt there, 11.66. Registration cancelled 8.10.81. 6293 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AJWH to W. A. Rollason Ltd 13.6.47. CofA issued 31.7.47. To R.J.B.Pearce, Plymouth 3.49. To Prince Bira of Siam, Ramsgate, named "City of Bangkok". To H. C. Kennard (Air Kruise [Kent] Ltd), Lympne, then Ramsgate. To W. S. Shackleton Ltd, Kidlington 11.57. Regn cancelled as sold abroad 29.6.59. Regis- tered F-BJEP to Ste Ratier, Toussus 20.8.59. To Ste Sodiko, Angers 3.60. To Robert Denizot, Nantes 12.63. CofA suspen- ded 6.9.64 and regn cancelled 3.65. 6294 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AKDB to McCowan & Cross Ltd 6.8.47. CofA issued 2.9.47. To J.M.Banks, Redhill, then Croydon, 7.50. To P.Filmer-Sankey, Croydon 12.53. To H. Hannan 11.56. To J.M.Banks, Croydon, then Biggin Hill, 3.58. To A.W.Sawyer & L.N. Roe, Tollerton 4.62. To Lance Engineering Co Ltd, Tollerton 9.65. Broken up at Tollerton 11.70. Registration cancelled as wfu 16.5.72. 6295 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AJWC to Derek Crouch (Contractors) Ltd, Peterborough 16.6.47. CofA issued 22.8.47. To J.Logan, 1960. Acquired by Ministry of Aviation for glue tests .63 and destroyed at Cranfield. Registration cancelled 9.63 with CofA current to 12.6.65. Top: Robert Adler's "Roberts Eagle" (Adler = Eagle in German) G-AJWG c/n 6292 derelict at Sleap on 30.5.66. (Terry Sykes) Above: Siamese Twin! Racing driver Prince Bira of Siam's G-AJWH c/n 6293 awaiting sale at Kid- lington on 4.3.58. (Peter Keating) Below: G-AJWC c/n 6295 at Turnhouse 20.8.60: was J.Logan the Scottish entertainer? (G.Hunter) 6296 Gemini 1A. Registered. G-AKDA to Patrick Duval Aviation Ltd, Elmdon 6.8.47. CofA issued 22.8.47. Cancelled 9.10.50 as sold abroad. Registered SE-AYM to G.Esbjorns- son, Kagerod, Sweden 1.11.50. Remained in same ownership until cancelled 31.7.76. 6297 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AJZS to G.Trapani 30.7.47. CofA issued 20.8.47. To J. J. Hofer, White Waltham 2.48. To B.N.White- Sponner Ltd, White Waltham. To S.G.Nichol- son .60. CofA expired 28.3.64, wfu at White Waltham, regn cancelled 12.64. 6298 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AKDE to Miles Aircraft Ltd, Woodley 18.8.47. CofA issued 22.8.47. To L. Roper, Elmdon. Regn can- celled 20.2.53 as sold abroad. Registered VP-TBI to Shell Oil Co Ltd, Trinidad. Later to United British Oilfields, Piarco, Trinidad. Fate unknown. Right: G-AKDB c/n 6294 from Tollerton was visiting its former home base at Biggin Hill when photographed in September 1967. (Mike Hooks) 93/13 Left: G-AJZS c/n 6297 visiting Yeadon on 19.6.60 for the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club open day. (Terry Sykes) Below, left: G-AKEG c/n 6299 wearing "CAT" and appropriate feline symbol possibly from its Middle Eastern days? (George Jenks) Below: C/n 6300 during its eight year spell in New Zealand as ZK-AUA. (via M.Condon) 6299 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AKEG to S. G. New- port 21.8.47. CofA issued 5.9.47. Owner- ship transferred to Arab Contracting & Trading Co (of which Newport was a direc- tor) and operated in the Middle East. Damaged in belly landing at Mafrag, Trans Jordan, but repaired. To Air Couriers (Transport) Ltd, Croydon 9.55. To B.K.S. Engineering Ltd, Southend 9.56. To Balfour (Marine) Engineering, Southend 2.57. To E.Crabtree, Yeadon 4.58. Converted to Srs 3C (145 hp DH Gipsy Major 10 Mk2), 1958. Wfu at Yeadon on CofA expiry 3 0.6.63. Dis- mantled at Baginton 1964 and parts used to rebuild G-ALZG (c/n HPR.141) in 1967. 6300 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AKDL to Private Hire Service Ltd, Gatwick 20.8.47. CofA issued 22.8.47. To N.R.L.Urquhart, Croydon 1.48. Regn cancelled 23.3.50 as sold abroad. Registered ZK-AUA to Northwest Airlines Ltd, Nelson, New Zealand 20.2.50. NZ CofA issued 14.10.50. To Nelson Aero Club 5.10.51. To L.McGuire (t/a Mac's Air Charter), Auckland. Crashed at Whangarei 5.11.56. Regn cancelled 13.6.58. 6301 Gemini 1A. Registered ZS-BRV to Sir George Abu, Parktown, Johannesburg 3.4.47 without UK CofA. To Shepard & McDonald, Port Elizabeth .48. To C.Bennet. To C.H.Baden- horst. Wfu and donated to SAAF Museum, Port Elizabeth in 1979. Remains stored at Pretoria. 6302 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AJTE to Miles Aircraft (SA) Pty Ltd 29.5.47. Regn eld 8.11.47 as sold abroad. Regd VP-KEG to Noone & Pearce Air Charters Ltd, Nairobi, Kenya. Broken up at Nairobi 8.52. 6303 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AJTF to Miles Aircraft (SA) Pty Ltd, Johannesburg 2.6.47. CofA issued 3.7.47. Regn cancelled 5.1.48 as sold abroad. Regd ZS-BSP 6.47 but not taken up and eld 9.47 as not imported as the aircraft had already been delivered to the Belgian Congo. Regd there as OO-CDJ to Camelbeeck, Elizabethstad 18.3.48. Damaged in accident 2.6.48 and regn cancelled 7.10.48. 6304 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AJTH to Miles Aircraft (SA) Pty Ltd 2.6.47. CofA issued 7.7.47. Regn eld 14.9.47, having been sold to The Uganda Company as VP-UAY regd 7.7.47. Regn eld 4.48 on sale as VP-KFL to Noone & Pearce Air Charters Ltd, Nairobi, Kenya. To Southern Aircraft Ltd, Fort Ternan. Regn eld 10.53 as sold abroad. Restored as G-AJTH to W.S.Shackleton Ltd, Kidlington 2.11.53. To D.S.Martyn, Cardiff 1.54 and to W.S. Shackleton again 9.55. To F.G.Miles Ltd, Shoreham 4.56; then F.G.Miles (Engineering) Ltd, Shoreham 4.61 and Miles Aviation & Transport (R & D) Ltd, Shoreham 10.65. To P. Blamire, Coven- try 9.8.66. To K. A. Learmonth, Biggin Hill 17.7.72. CofA expired 20.2.75. Repor- ted on rebuild near Redhill 1976-84 but eventually abandoned and scrapped at Banstead. Regn eld as wfu by CAAY 15.9.86. 6305 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AHKL to G.W.Har- ben, White Waltham 17.4.46. CofA issued 4.11.46. First production aircraft regd. Smithfield Refrigerator Co Ltd, Elstree 28. 2.50. To R.B.Damon, Lympne 29.3.65. Regn cancelled 15.2.66 and wfu at Lympne. 6306 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AIDO to Miles Aircraft Ltd, Woodley 30.8.46. Second Gemini to fly, used as company demonstra- tor. CofA issued 30.8.46. To E.G.Hayes, Isles of Scilly 9.6.48. To F.G.Miles Ltd, Redhill 9.5.50. Regn eld 9.1.52 as sold abroad. Cr 11.2.52 Norrkoping-Kungsangen, repaired. Regd SE-BUG to AB Jordbruksflyg, Stockholm 9.5.52. To Fibbetorp, Mora 12.9.52. CofA expired 5.8.58. Sold to AB Stockholms Aero, Bromma 31.8.59 but regn eld 15.11.61. Left: Two Geminis of Noone & Pearce Air Charters which, though registered in Kenya, were based at Kilwa Road Airport, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanganyika where they were seen, with VP-KFL in the fore- ground, on 2.9.49. (John Pike, who also appears) 93/14 Right: G-AJTH c/n 6304 at Shoreham during the late fifties. (P.J.Marson) Below: G-AIDO c/n 63 06 as fitted with a dummy nose engine to evaluate the effects on performance with a view to using it as a test bed. This could not be a mock-up of the Miles engine which was to be an 8-cyl horizontally- opposed type while only an inverted in-line type could fit this installa- tion. .(Miles via P.Amos) Far right: G-AIHM c/n 63 07 at Stapleford on 6.9.62. (George Jenks) H j L ! M*- **"" •^*mmamr 5 ^ G-4JHM ^m M . * , j * . jk / M Above: G-AIDO with the port engine stopped makes a low-level flypast for the press 1.47. The 100 hp Cirrus Minor 2 engines of the Gemini 1A did not provide enough power to do much more than "stretch the glide" on one engine. Here with only the pilot on board its nose-low position indi- cates high speed developed in a shallow dive to keep it going during a restart. (Aeroplane via Jack Meaden) Right: G-AIDG c/n 6308 at Croydon in 1947 when with International Airways Ltd. (via John Havers) 6307 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AIHM to the Mar- quess of Londonderry 17.9.46. CofA issued 27.9.46. Operated by Londonderry Air Charter, Newtownards. To Ulster Aviation Ltd, Newtownards 22.1.48. To North West Airlines (IOM) Ltd, Ronaldsway 21.5.51. To R.A.Young, Southend 10.12.51. To Miss K.A. King, Southend 31.5.54. To Herts & Essex Aero Club (1946) Ltd, Stapleford 12.6.57. To B.J.Webb, Stapleford 6.7.59. To Thur- ston Engineering Ltd, Stapleford 3.5.61. Crashed on take-off from Le Touquet 18.11.62. Remains transported to Staple- ford and regn cancelled 28.12.62 as wfu. 6308 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AIDG to W.A.Roll- ason, Croydon 27.8.46. CofA issued 30.10.46. To Thos. Barclay Ltd t/a Inter- national Airways Ltd, Croydon 14.12.46. To The Hon M.A.R.Cayzer, Redhill 29.6.49. Delivered to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 28.11.49 and regn cancelled 12.12.49. Op- erated by Shoa Electrical Light & Power Co in UK marks until re-registered to them as ET-P-14 on 7.6.51. Damaged in forced landing following engine failure 16.9.52. Wreck still extant at Addis Ababa Old Airport in 1.67. 6309 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AIKW to E.G.Hayes, Isles of Scilly 30.9.46. CofA issued 9.5.47. Crashed in sea off Isle of Rum, Scotland 7.9.47. Regn cancelled 28.10.47. 6310 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AIIE to Mrs E.R. Genin 17.9.46. CofA issued 10.12.46. Regn cancelled 10.3.50 as sold abroad. Regis- tered F-BFPP to Aero Club du Rhone et Sud- Est, Lyon 5.5.50. Regn cancelled 9.61. Noted at Antwerp-Deurne in 1962 and repor- ted sold to BIAS in Belgium, 1963. 93/15 Above, left: F-BFPP c/n 6310 at Croydon 10.5.55 on a visit from Lyon. (Peter Keating) Above: North Middlesex Flying Group's G-AIIF c/n 6312 seen at Kid- lington on 8.5.60. (George Jenks) Left: C/n 6313 wearing "delivery" registration VR-GGG at Els tree prior to departure to Malaya. (Michael Stroud coin.) Below: Southend's own Gemini, G-AIRS c/n 6315 seen at home on 28.5.53 was previously a mount of Peter Masefield. (Peter Keating) 6311 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AILG to Miles Air- craft Ltd, Woodley 18.10.46. CofA issued 3 0.1.47. To Neptune Continental Merchants Ltd (London) 1.5.47. Regn cancelled 18.4.52 as sold abroad. Regd F-BGPR to Ets. Marc Rozier, Lyon-Bron 9.5.52, named "Jeroboam". To Aero Club du Rhone et Sud- Est, Lyon 2.59. To Armand Bernado, Pezenas 2.62. CofA suspended 18.3.62 at Pezenas, reported written off in crash. 6312 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AIIF to Cambridge University Gliding Club (Pty) Ltd 17.9.46. CofA issued 2.4.47. To R.C.G.Slazenger, Cambridge 9.9.54. To G.E.A.Moore & I.Harrison (t/a North Middlesex Flying Group), Elstree 9.12.57. To Moore only on behalf of NMFG, 8.7.60. To E. de Vadder, Elstree 18.6.64. To O.P.Bradley, Jersey 18.12.69. To A.J.Richards t/a Brendon Motors, Taunton 25.6.70. To Lulsgate Air Services Ltd, Bristol-Lulsgate 8.12.70. CofA expired 16.4.71, wfu at Lulsgate and regn cancelled 1.5.71. 6313 Gemini 1A. Purchased by Crown Agents for Colonies (Straits Settlements) and CofA issued 5.4.47. Registration VR-GGG applied 4.47 (probably in error as this sequence belongs to Gibraltar). Regn corrected to VR-RGG 6.47 after delivery. To Govt of Federation of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. Regn cancelled on sale to Singapore, regd there as VR-SDJ 12.7.51. Delivered to UK ex Kallang 8.2.52 and regn eld 3.52. Regd to W.S.Shackleton Ltd as G-AMRG 2 2.3.52. To J.K.D.Hogue and based in Paris area. Regn cancelled 13.9.58 as sold abroad and regd HB-EEH to Raoul Wander, Villacoublay, France 25.7.58. Regn cancelled 10.2.65 as wfu and aircraft broken up. 6314 Gemini 1A. Purchased by Crown Agents for Colonies (Singapore) and CofA issued 14.4.47. Registration VR-DCA applied 4.47 for delivery flight. Re-registered VR-SCA 6.47. To Tradeastern Ltd, Hong Kong 11.52. To A. F.W.Andrew, Kallang .54. Regn can- celled as wfu 13.4.61. 6315 Gemini 1A. Registered G-AIRS to the Mini- stry of Civil Aviation 14.10.46. CofA issued 7.2.47. Used by Peter Masefield and based at Gatwick, later 'Stansted. To Southend Municipal Flying School .50 (sale not recorded). To East Anglian Flying Services, Southend 8.10.52. To The Mayor, Aldermen & Burgesses of the Corporation of Southend-on-Sea, 6.12.52. To R.S.Turner, t/a Pedigree Cars, (London NW1) 18.8.55. Crashed on Oxhey golf course, Watford 11.3.56. Remains broken up at Elstree. Regn cancelled 2.8.56 as destroyed. 6316 Gemini 1A. Supplied unregistered to H. Hennequin & Cia, Argentina. UK CofA issued 2 3.6.47. To LV- . History unknown. 6317 Gemini 4. Ambulance modification. CofA issued to Miles Aircraft Ltd 14.1.48. Intended for H.Hennequin & Cia, Argentina as LV- ? but not taken up. Registered G-AKKE to Western Manufacturing Estates on 8.4.48. Regn cancelled as sold abroad 27.5.49. Registered CR-LCD to Aero Club de Benguela, Angola. Used as ambulance air- craft with Red Cross markings and named "Dr Fausto Franzoa". Fate unknown. 6318 Gemini quin & 2.4.47. 1A. Registered LV-RGH to H.Henne- Cia, Argentina. UK CofA issued on Subsequent history unknown. To be continued. . . . 93/16 FROM CAIRO TO THE CAPE SURVEYING THE FIRST TRANS-AFRICAN AIR ROUTE, 1919 Immediately following the Turkish surrender on 31st October 1918, the GOC RAF Middle East, Maj- Gen William G. H. Salmond, CB, CMG, DSO, planned the surveying and construction of landing grounds from Cairo to Cape Town. Apart from Khartoum, which had a landing ground built in 1915 to deal with Ali Dinar of Dafur, there were none south of Heliopolis. Three sectors were chosen and a party of eight officers and up to twenty other ranks (the RAF had not yet devised the title "airman") was allocated to each. Locally recruited natives were to be used for the clearing and levelling work at each site. The easiest sector was from Cairo to Victoria Nyanza which was allocated to Maj Howard 0. Long, DSO, RAF (who had recently been released after two years as a prisoner of war), in charge of No.I Party. The route from Helio- polis to Khartoum was completed in time for Brig-Gen Philip L. W. Herbert to carry out an inspection by Handley Page HP.0/400 in January 1919. The next section was from Mwanza to Kituta and was allo- cated to No ..II Party commanded by Maj Edwin C. Emmett, MC, DFC, RAF, a well-known big game hunter, pre-Great War pilot and founder-member of the South African Aviation Corps in 1914. The final section was allocated to a pre- Great War explorer, Maj Chaplin Court-Treatt, RAF, who was in charge of No.Ill Party surveying Kituta to Cape Town. There were no charts, but the area of the survey was entirely in British-administered territory, depicted on world maps in red, which avoided having to obtain permis- sion from foreign countries. For this reason the route became known as the "red route" and was chosen in prefer- ence to the more prestigious Indian route which would cross several foreign frontiers. The vast sector from Kituta to Cape Town prompted Maj Court-Treatt to cover the area from Cape Town to Bulawayo and to appoint his deputy, Capt G. C. Shortridge, RAF (who was killed in a flying accident in Australia in 1931), responsible for the portion from Kituta to Bula- wayo. Kituta was quite unsuitable, having mosquito-laden swamps, so Abercorn was selected instead. •RELI0P0LIS, Helouarg^^' - ^ ^- ! Idas tag \ I t Samamut *> V k I •ASS / Kara.^ t L H3f rr jf El . A l a q u i ^ A S S O T A ^ . RflShkO. ,Gh art > &/ADI HALFA r ^ S t a t i o n 6 ^ N N Statio n 10* N . Sheraik1J A } sh8ndi .Kw; V #JEBELETH •ELIRI Duk Faruiill * V V The choice of site did not merely rely on the availabil- ity of a piece of flat land, but was dictated by the ease of access by water or land for the delivery of petrol, oil, food and spares, apart from being within flying distance of the previous site. There were few railways in the heartland of darkest Africa and even fewer cart tracks (certainly not roads). There were many large swamps which caused deviations from the original planned route. The outcome of the survey was the clearance of over forty landing grounds, some of which remain in use as aero- dromes to this day. These are listed below with basic details: leg and running distances, grid reference, height AMSL, fuel, communications and accommodation facilities. Emergency Landing Grounds (ELGs) are named in italics. It was all this work, in trying conditions, which was to enable Lt-Col Helperus A. "Pierre" van Ryneveld, DSO, MC, RAF, and Fit Lt Christopher J.Q.Brand, DSO, MC, DFC, RAF, to achieve the first flight from Great Britain (Brooklands) to South Africa (Germiston) between 24th January and 2 0th March 192 0 using two Vickers Vimys and a DH.9 in the process. It was another ten years before local airlines were formed and even longer before Imperial Airways started flying on the route and used many of the original landing grounds. \ #M0NCilLLA . Nimui&Jt*'* J •*-* ~\ ^rjjjA ahira'ti * taoMir' EGYPT HELIOPOLIS 0 / 0 miles 3007N 3125E Petrol, oil & water. Rail, road S telegraph. Accommodation: aeroplanes, personnel. HELOUAN 18.2/18.2 mis 2955N 3114E Petrol, oil & water. Rail, road & telegraph. Accommodation: aeroplanes, personnel WASTA 40.2/58.4 mis Water. Rail & telegraph. 2920N 3112E 50 ft 60 ft 70 ft V ^ M W A t f A A L . Shinyanza fc %.^ •TAJ30RA Zim'ba X ^•^VABERCORN ; — i N d o l a j P / BROKEN FEtLL - i ^ ^ €L I v T N G S T 0 H E 3DXAWAY0 j PALAPlffi PRETORIA • GERMiSTON •BL0EMF0NTEIN A CT0RIA WEST" .UTORT WEST CAPE TOWN % vl7( • LANDING GROUNDS K Emergency Landing Grounds Railways THE "RED ROUTE". 1919 93/17 SAMAMUT 76/134.4 mis Water. Rail S telegraph. 2818N 3042E ASSIUT 83.6/218 mis 2710N 3112E Petrol, oil & water. Rail & telegraph. KARA 102.3/320.3 mis 2605N 2303E Water. Rail & telegraph. LUXOR 43.5/363.8 mis 2543N 3238E Water. Rail & telegraph. EDFU 55.3/419.1 mis 2457N 3252E Water. Rail & telegraph. 90 ft 130 ft 185 ft 235 ft 265 ft MWANZA 123.5/2513.1 mis 0232S 3255E 2730 ft Petrol (570), oil (Castrol 48) & water. Steamer. Accommodation: personnel. SHINYANZA 79/2592.1 mis Steamer & telegraph. 0336S 3320E ZIMBA 207.4/2903 mis Water. Rail & telegraph. 0752S 3152E 3650 ft TABORA 103.5/2695.6 mis 0501S 3250E 3930 ft Petrol (772), oil (Castrol 127) & water. Rail & telegraph. Accommodation: personnel. 2580 ft ASSOUAN • 59.8/478.9 mis 2405N 3254E Petrol, oil & water. Rail & telegraph. Accommodation: personnel. EL ALAQUI 66.3/545.2 mis 2308N 3245E Water. Telegraph & steamer. ROSHKI GHARB 71.4/616.6 mis 2230N 3152E Water. Telegraph & steamer. SUDAN WADI HALFA 53.9/670.5 mis 2155N 3118E Petrol, oil & water. Rail, telegraph & steamer. STATION 6 82.4/752.9 mis Water. Rail & telegraph. 2045N 3235E 295 ft 335 ft 375 ft NORTHERN RHODESIA ABERCORN 79.2/2982.2 mis 0849S 3123E 5500 ft Petrol (800), oil (Castrol 120) & water. Telegraph. (Elizabethville Radio Station. Belgian administration. Call sign: OQH. Wavelength: 900, 1200.) NDOLA 336/3318.2 mis Water. Rail & telegraph. 1258S 2838E 4220 ft BROKEN HILL 103/3321.2 mis 1427S 3827E 3874 ft Petrol, oil (bulk delivery within 7 days) & water. 410 ft Rail & telegraph. Accommodation: personnel. LIVINGSTONE 290.6/3611.8 mis 1750S 2548E 2990 ft 650 ft Petrol (500), oil (Castrol 20) & water. Rail & telegraph. STATION 10 80.5/833.4 mis 1942N 3308E Water. Rail & telegraph. SHEREIK 69.9/903.3 mis 1847N 3335E Water. Rail. 1110 ft SOUTHERN RHODESIA BULAWAYO 237.6/3849.4 mis 2010S 2830E 4485 ft 1130 ft Petrol, oil (bulk delivery within 7 days) & water. Rail & telegraph. ATBARA 76/979.3 mis 1742N 3358E Petrol, oil & water. Rail £ telegraph. SHENDI Water. Rail. 74.4/1053.7 mis 1642N 3326E KHARTOUM 5.5/1059.2 mis 1537N 3232E Petrol, oil £ water. Road, rail £ telegraph. Accommodation: personnel. JEBELEIN 208.3/1267.5 mis 1237N 3253E Petrol, oil £ water. Steamer. 1150 ft 1200 ft 1245 ft 2437 ft ELIRI 220.9/1488.4 mis 1014N 3042E 2450 ft Petrol (444), oil (Castrol 110) £ water. Telegraph. (Malakal Radio Station. British administration. Call sign: MLR. Wavelength: 700.) DUK FARWILL 198.3/1686.7 mis 0730N 3136E Water. Telegraph. MONGALLA 159/1845.7 mis 0512N 3147E Petrol (1214), oil (Castrol 110) £ water. Telegraph £ wireless. NIMULE Telegraph. UGANDA 110.4/1956.1 mis 0336N 3203E 2400 ft 2650 ft 2860 ft JINJA 231.7/2187.8 mis 0027N 3313E 3750 ft Petrol (206), oil (Castrol 32) S water. Steamer. BRITISH EAST AFRICA (not yet named Kenya) KISUMU 113/2300.8 mis 0005S 3446E 3760 ft Petrol (1000), oil (Castrol 50) £ water. Rail, steamer £ telegraph. EX-GERMAN EAST AFRICA (not yet named Tanganyika) SHIRATI 88.8/2389.6 mis 0107S 3400E 3680 ft Water. Rail, steamer £ telegraph. BECHUANALAND PALAPWE 182/4031.4 mis 2232S 2715E 3011 ft Petrol (1000), oil (Castrol 50) £ water. Rail £ telegraph. UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA PRETORIA 257.7/4289.1 mis 2553S 2906E 4500 ft Petrol (3000), oil (Castrol 200) £ water. Rail £ telegraph. Accommodation: personnel. GERMISTON 64.3/4353.4 mis 2611S 2807E 6000 ft Petrol, oil (bulk delivery within 7 days) £ water. Rail £ telegraph. Accommodation: personnel. (Port Mulloth Radio Station. British administration. Call sign: BZJ. Wavelength: 2000.) BLOEMFONTEIN 230.4/4583.8 mis 2905S 2613E 4500 ft Petrol (500), oil (Castrol 20) £ water. Rail £ telegraph. Accommodation: personnel. (Durban Radio Station. British administration. Call sign: VND. Wavelength: 600.) VICTORIA WEST 243.2/4827 mis 3124S 2307E 4164 ft Petrol, oil (bulk delivery within 7 days) £ water. Rail & telegraph. Accommodation: personnel. BEAUFORT WEST 71.5/4898.5 mis 3220S 2235E Petrol (100), oil (Castrol 50) £ water. Rail S telegraph. Accommodation: personnel. 2792 ft T O W S RIVER 158/5056 mis 3317S 2005E 2500 ft Petrol, oil £ water. Rail £ telegraph. (Cape Town Radio Station. British administration. Call sign: VNC. Wavelength: 300, 600.) CAPE TOWN 142/5198.5 mis 3356S 1830E 50 ft Petrol (3000), oil (Castrol 200) £ water. Rail £ telegraph. Accommodation: aeroplanes Si personnel. 9 3 / 1 8 frjfr&sagas «*** . <**. *i* *<<l c* * V «*«*, 23.5.47 p.528: One Gemini may have been "VR-GGG" c/n 6313 correctly VR-RGG, the other "VR-DCA" c/n 6314 was VR-SCA. p.530: Construction of the Essex Aero Sprite was aban- doned when only partly built. The all-magnesium 2-seat monoplane was to have a 100 hp flat four (possibly the Continental A 40?), span was 30'0", length 24'7", the proposed empty weight was 879 lb, all-up weight 1548 lb with a max speed of 140 mph and range of 760 mis. p.548: TWA L.049-51-26 Constellation NC86508 c/n 2029 "Star of Athens" went into spiral dive from 2,500 ft, 10 mis north of Cape May at 0900. Elevator boost system mal- function suspected. No radio calls received. 6.6.47 p. 606: United DC-4 NC30046 c/n 18324 cr when pilot attempted to abort take-off. Gust lock had not been removed. A stewardess and 1 passenger also survived but a total of 43 died in or after the crash. p. 606: Eastern DC-4 was NC88814 c/n 18380 cr at Point Deposit, Havre de Grace, Maryland, probably as result of tailplane failure. Worst US accident to date. p.606: Icelandic C-47A-25-DK TF-ISI c/n 13389 cr at Hedinsfjordur en route Reykjavik - Akureyri. 20.6.47 p.663: C/n of Proctor 5 G-AHZX was Ae.83, owners G.J.Dawson t/a Atlas Avn Ltd, operated by Guernsey Air Charter. Cr 10 mis off coast. One woman passenger picked up by French fishing boat but her 2-yr old son, another woman and pilot R.A.Payne were lost. We begin this time with three dates held over from the last issue - the first being particularly topical if Part Two of the Gemini production history elsewhere in this issue is studied! A couple of additions to the responses published last time: 23.11.45 p.603: Peter Marson notes that the first of Peter Masefield's Lockheed C-56s, 42-57223 went to Lloyd Aero Boliviana as CB-28. The other one, 41-19729 is still in existence at Travis AFB Museum. 28.3.47 p.298: Mike Hooks notes that Anson PH599 was used by British High Commissioner AVM Meredith, CO (of the EATS ?) until 3.45. If the Flight report is correct then this could be the aircraft presented to the Southern Rhodesia PM. The Anson File however has this aircraft as going to New Zealand, indeed it became ZK-AXY. 11.4.47 p.345: Could the third aircraft be Martinet Trainer JN668/G-AKOS? We can now move on to another batch of Extracts, compiled by Malcolm Fillmore, which now include entries from Flight as well as from Aeroplane - and Malcolm comments that sometimes the two sources can differ. Aeroplane 20th June 1947 *p.644 - On 14th June, North Sea Air Transport lost its only Aerovan when it crashed on take-off at Croydon. Pilot Capt Malcolm Kerr killed, 2 injured. The Aerovan was carrying 26 cases of pigeons to Guernsey. *p.664 - On 13th June, Capital Airlines DC-4 crashed in Blue Ridge Mountains, NW Virginia, killing 47 passengers and 3 crew. En route Chica- go to Washington. Aeroplane 27th June 1947 *p.693 - On 19th June PAA Constellation "Eclipse" forced landed near Meyadin, Syria, following engine fire. 8 passengers and 7 crew killed. En route Karachi to London. *Advert - Comper Swift for sale, recently reco- vered but needs CofA. Offers E.Baxindale, Malpas, Cheshire. *Advert - Flying Flea - Mignet's modified safety model, British Anzani engine, good order £75. Flight 3rd July 1947 *p.7 - Flight had a tour around the Miles factory at Woodley and amongst the photos was one of the Miles M.35 (actually M.39B) Libellula U4, "in a corner the yellow Libellula rests until it is wanted for further experimental flying". (The Putnam Miles Acft does not identify the precise fate or date of destruction of this aircraft; presumably scrapped following the collapse of Miles in 9.47? According to a report on the Open Day held on 20.7.47 in Aeroplane 25.7.47, the Libellula flew.) *p.8 - An American ex air force mechanic had flown an ex US Army 65 hp aircraft that he had bought for £75 the 2,300 miles from Berlin to Shannon via Brussels, Croydon and Belfast in 20 hrs flying time, including being forced down with engine problems in the Russian Zone. •Small ads - Cierva C.30A G-ACWM for sale in fly- away condition. Southern Fencing Co, Upstreet, nr Canterbury. Also offered in the same advert was Magister G-AJGP, slight fabric repairs needed. (No post-war CofA was ever issued to either a/c.) Aeroplane 4th July 1947 *p.26 - Ulster Aviation's Miles Aerovan crashed into the Irish Sea on 28.6 en route Reading to Newtownards. Capt B. M. Little and radio operator L.G.Lewsey were rescued. •Small ads - Commercial Transocean (London) Ltd, of London Wl, have for sale Ju 52 aircraft (new and reconditioned) and Fieseler Storch (2/3 seaters and ambulance versions) made in France. (Presumably only acting as agent for French sales ?) Aeroplane 11th July 1947 •p.55 - Air Transport Association Ltd lost one of its Ansons on July 3rd. The aircraft and crew of two vanished whilst on a flight from Jersey to Southampton. Flight 17th July 1947 •p. 58 - An interesting article on the Canadian- built Anson V, due for a series of European demonstrations "shortly". The type was being converted by Aircraft Industries of Canada for Viking Air Service Co, who had previously concen- trated on the Canadian and South American markets (indeed OB-QAF154 was illustrated). Only one had so far been sold in Europe (to Loftleider HF, Iceland, delivered in 6.46 - the first Anson ever to fly the Atlantic). The Anson V had advantages over the Anson I in terms of payload and higher cruising speed. Aeroplane 18th July 1947 •p.82 - During the night of June 22-23, fire broke out at 0030 hrs and destroyed the hangars of Herts & Essex Aero Club, Broxbourne. In the main hangar three Tiger Moths and a visiting Danish aircraft were pulled clear, but all told 8 Tiger Moths, 3 Proctors and 3 private aircraft were destroyed. Cause of fire unknown, •p.85 - A letter from W H C Blake talked about the Shuttleworth aircraft and other vintage aircraft. The Blackburn monoplane had been found on a farm near Grantham lying under a hayrick. The aircraft at 5MU Kemble were "left over" from the Hyde Park Exhibition of 1919 (?) and Blake had traced them to the basement of the Science Museum, South Kensington before the war where they had been discarded exhibits. He recalled a Sopwith Tri- plane, RE8, LVG and possibly an Albatross. •Small ads - In view of the continuing doubt about the identity of certain Leopard Moths, it is interesting to note that Miles Aircraft were selling "a considerable quantity of spares for Leopard Moths". (Presumably these included the remnants of G-ACGS and G-ACLZ. Can anyone please explain what Miles were doing with these aircraft in the first place - neither were shown on RAF records as sold to Miles, merely SoC as scrap at 5MU Kemble 18.3.45? Miles never operated any Leopard Moths and seemed not to have done any- thing with them. Whilst some sources suggest that both Leopard Moths went to Eastleigh for spares use - to Southampton Air Services Ltd? - a more 93/19 likely answer is that at least parts of G-ACLZ went to Langley in 1946/7 and were used in a rebuild of G-ACTJ of Graviner Manufacturing Co Ltd, since that aircraft "adopted" G-ACLZ's c/n of 7040 in 1947. Who now knows the full story - and what therefore is the history of G-APKH? In this context it should also be noted that Peter Franklin originally attempted to register his rebuilt Leopard Moth as G-ACLZ c/n 7040 on 5.9.57 but this was refused because 7040 was now the identity of G-ACTJ. In the end DH were "persua- ded" to allocate a "new" c/n 7131 on 15.1.58 and this was registered as G-APKH on 23 .1.58.) Aeroplane 25th July 1947 *Small ads - Bargain. Sea Otter. Registered. No CofA. Total hours under 300. Ready for first flight. Owner unable to take delivery from MU. Offers? Box No. Flight 31st July 1947 *Small ads - Two Supermarine Walrus flying boats, less than 50 hours since new, one with 12 months CofA. Magnificent condition - better than new. Offers around £2000 to Bellamy, Monk Sherbourne, Basingstoke. Aeroplane 1st August 1947 *p.l41 - Skyways York G-AIUP was wrecked at London Airport on July 25th when it ran off the end of Runway 23 during a night landing. The brakes had failed due to a cable snapping. Inbound from Moscow carrying a British trade delegation, four of whom were slightly injured. Flight 7th August 1947 *Small ads - Baxendale again advertising Comper Swift for sale (see Aeroplane 27.6.47). Aeroplane 8th August 1947 *p.l51 - W.S.Shackleton relates the tale of a Mr Brian Grover who, in the autumn of 1938, bought an old Klemm Pobjoy Swallow from him and flew it to Russia in an attempt to repatriate his wife. He left Bromma airfield, Stockholm early in the morning and flew east until he ran out of fuel after about 600 miles. He forced fanded near Staritza, a little short of Moscow, and was promptly arrested. Eventually, after much press and media pressure, he and his wife were released and returned to London by train. According to Shackleton this was the only British civil air- craft exported to Russia! *p.l71 - BSAA Lancastrian "Stardust" bound from London to Santiago was lost in the vicinity of the Andes on 2.8.47. No trace found of the air- craft or 6 passengers, 5 crew including Capt J.R.Cook. Flight 14th August 1947 *p.l69 - A new solo round-the-world flight record was established by ex Bristol test pilot William P Odom who encircled the world in 73 hrs 5 min. He flew Douglas A-26 "Reynolds Bombshell" leaving Chicago on 7th August and returning on 10th via Gander, Paris, Cairo, Karachi, Calcutta, Tokyo, Anchorage and Fargo. Flying time was 63 hrs 15 min, av speed 310.6 mph. In the issue of August 28th it was reported that the aircraft was for sale by its owner, Milton Reynolds, for $50,000. Flight 28th August 1947 *p.230 - By way of follow-up to the article on 17.7.47, it was reported that the second Anson V had flown the Atlantic recently to Norway for a Left •• Peter Franklin's DH.85 Leopard Moth G-APKH at the PFA Sywell rally on 6.7.75. Con- jecture about the origins of the aircraft, which was built from parts and first flew on 8.8.63, is revived in the Extract from Aeroplane 18.7.47 below. If, as stated by AJJ, the Leopard was built from parts of G-ACGS, why was it not given c/n 7002 initially? (Editor's photo) demonstration tour and the third was recently delivered by air to Tarsa SA, a new Swiss charter company based in Geneva. Tarsa, and its associate Air Bleu, has another Anson V and a Beech 18 on order. *p.230 - The prototype Tudor II G-AGSU crashed on take-off at Woodford on 23.8.47 killing four on board: Roy Chadwick, Avro's Chief Technical Director, Sydney Thorn, chief test pilot, and two others. Two other occupants survived. On the same day, BOAC Sandringham G-AHZB crashed on landing at Bahrein in the dark. It was en route Hong Kong to Poole and 7 of the passen- gers and 3 crew were missing. *p.231 - showed artists' impressions of the Vis- count painted as G-AJZW. If this was the Naiad powered project c/n 3 does anyone know whether it was actually built, since c/n 3 was later used on G-AMAV? Or were major components used for G-AMAV and if so why was the original regn foresaken? Flight 4th September 1947 *p.242 - The Aerotec Research Group, c/o David Macfarlane of Bristol, announced plans to con- struct a single-seat high performance ultralight aircraft - the "Sportsman". It would have a tricycle undercarriage and enclosed cockpit and would be sold in kit form for home building. The Group was formed in October 1946. Anything known on the project? Aeroplane 5th September 1947 *p.264 - At the 1947 International Air Races at Lympne, Ladi Marmol demonstrated the Zlin 24 Krajanek glider OK-8592. This became G-ALMP 28.3.49 and BGA.655 in June 1950. The CofA did not lapse until April 1978 - what was its fate? *p.277 - DNL lost a Sandringham on 28.8.47 when it hit a mountain at South Harstad, Northern Norway in thick fog. Twenty-seven passengers and eight crew all killed. Flight 11th September 1947 *p.282 - In a review of British aircraft it was commented that the Essex Aero Sprite under con- struction at Gravesend would fly within a year but struck a warning note that production will largely depend upon delivery of the 100 hp Nuf- field flat four engine. *p.294 - More on the proposed Indian production of the Portsmouth Aerocar. A new company had been formed with capital of £1,125,000 (a very large sum in those days). A works would be constructed at Port Sika but immediate production will be commenced at Jamnagar. L.M.J.Balfour will go to India as resident joint managing director and W.H.Jenks, secretary and director, was already there. Major F.L.Luxmoore had been appointed director in charge of the development of the aircraft and technical adviser to both companies. Provisional orders ammounting to 288 aircraft had been received representing £1,750,000. Flight 25th September 1947 *p.372 - A Viking of the King's Flight force- landed shortly after take-off from Dyce on Sep- tember 12th with mechanical trouble. En route for London Airport, it was successfully landed but ran through two stone walls. The 3 crew members were injured. The Viking was normally used for staff and training purposes. 9 3 / 2 0 PARIS SALON 1946 - THE OUTCOME Morane Saulnier MS.560 Morane Saulnier displayed MS. 560-01 F-BBBB (flown as F-WBBB) and seen above without mark- ings. It was an all-metal single-seater with a 75 hp Train 6D-01 six cylinder inverted in-line engine and a retractable tricycle undercarriage. It was followed by the MS.561 and MS.563-01 F-BBGC with a 95 hp Mathis G4 four cylinder inverted in-line engine, but only the prototypes were built. The next development appeared as prototype two seater MS.570-01 F-BBBC with 140 hp Renault 4Pei four cylinder inverted in-line engine. The production version was displayed as MS.571-01 F-WBGB/F-BBGB with the same engine, this becoming a 3-4 seater and being followed by the MS. 572-01 F-BCDZ. Only a few examples were built of the MS. 571, the next being F-BCDY and numbers 2 to 5 being registered F-BEJK, I, L and M in that order. No quantity production took place. (Morane Saulnier via Jack Meaden) Morane Saulnier MS.472 The MS.472 advanced trainer promoted at Paris in 1946 was a development of the 1945 MS.470-01. This had a Hispano-Suiza 12X vee twelve in-line engine which was replaced in the production MS.472 Vanneau by the 700 hp Gnome Rhone 14M5 fourteen cylinder 2-row radial engine. One MS.472 demonstrator was registered F-BDJN. Later production changed to the MS. 475 with the Hispano-Suiza 12Y45 vee twelve of 850 hp with a Mustang-style under-fuselage radiator. The quantity-built MS.472/475 advanced fighter/trainer served the Armee de l'Air and Aeronavale success- %»Hi fully for many years, (via Jack Meaden) Nord 1500 The Nord 1500 Noreclair prototype first flew on 29.8.47 in time to appear in this "Aeroplane Spot- ter" photograph (right) but only limited testing was completed before it was abandoned. Maximum speed was 335 mph and it was only slightly heavier than a 1945 Sea Mosquito, but by the time it could have entered service it would have been well jj outdated and the proto- type remained the only example, (via Jack Meaden) 93/21 I NC.701 Martinet The German Siebel Si 204D was manufactured in France during the War and after the Liberation a few were converted and one built as the NC.700, all with the typically-German short all- transparent nose (left). The 600 hp Argus 12-cylinder inverted vee AS411 engines were identifi- able by their two-blade Argus propellers with pitch control vanes on the spinner nose. French production aircraft were powered by SNECMA-built 590 hp Renault 12S-00 engines, a deve- lopment of the French-built Argus. French post-war produc- tion by SNCAC of the short nose version was the NC.701 Martinet, of which c/n 102 is shown here (centre). The NC.702 was the French version of the Siebel Si 204A with orthodox nose and stepped windscreen. F-BBFS c/n 144 shown (below) with the titles of the S.G.A.C.C. on the nose. In both cases the standard production version had 3-blade Ratier controllable pitch prop- ellers, (via Jack Meaden) SE.3000 The SE.3000 twin rotor French development of the Focke Wulf Fa 223 first flew 23.10.48 registered F-WFDR. The twin rotor layout with orthodox tail unit is well shown in this flying view (below) . It was only used experimentally and was not developed further. (Aeroplane via Jack Meaden) 93/22 Breguet 761 S Following the prototype F-WFAM/BFAM, the first of three pre-series Breguet 761S Deux Ponts was F-WASK/BASK {right), seen here on air-drop trials with an NC.701 Martinet as chase plane. The production 763 Provence commenced with twelve for Air France, with c/n 4 F-BASQ {below) being delivered to the airline in 1953 and converted to a freighter in 1965, for which purpose the clamshell rear loading doors made it particularly suitable. The three pre-production aircraft reverted to military use in 1955 and were followed by six of the former Air France mach- ines in 1964. Four new military models designated 765 Sahara were built for the Armee de l'Air 1958, a much larger order having been cancelled when pro- duction was already under way. While the 761 prototype had four Gnome-Rhone 14R-4/5 engines of 1,590 hp each, all other variants used Pratt & Whitney R- 2800s producing up to 2,434 hp on take- off in the case of the model 763. The third photo {right) shows the three model 761S aircraft c/ns 01 to 03, ex F-WASK, L and M, in military use with Escadron de Transport 2/64 as 64-PA, PB and PD. (Aeroplane via Jack Meaden) Wm SEEL , . * - * 'mm ' Mp" MS H^M = ^ ^ - T ^ g ; Jk mJLMZLmmmmmS mmm^^**-^ •• /•••i:w :•••:-. mm- : . • . • • • ' "L ...... .. ' . • .-, *—- -. F j jr———^^a^aaawipwr^ • i t f * ^ ^ . * . wtwmm ~~ Immwmm^^mmfT^ WmWCS& i m • ^ T i ^ H M p M . Q 6 u . P , I ^ ^ — { j m ^Wmmmmmrr™^ 3 l l » < W | f a SO. 6 0 0 0 Triton I The SO.6000-01 Triton {left, upper) became ''% the first French jet to fly, on 11.11.46. It was powered by a Jumo 004B-2 engine and had a "shark mouth" chin intake. The Paris - Show aircraft -03 was soon developed to take the Hispano-Suiza built RR Nene with which a number of French experimental designs were to be powered, and in this form it was fitted with "ear" intakes just ahead of and slightly above the wing leading edge root, becoming F-WFKY. The two seat side-by-side layout was intended to allow it to be used as a jet trainer, but although this would have been useful for test pilot conversion it was not developed further for this purpose. Later, chin and ear intakes were used together and SO.6000-04 F-WFDH was operated in this form with the Nene {left, lower) . Planned during the Occupation, the Triton became an important jet development aeroplane and F-WFKY was saved for posterity in the Musee de l'Air. (Aeroplane via Jack Meaden) 93/23 Guerchais Roche T35 The 1944 prototype all-wood Guerchais Roche T3 5 two seater F-BBCZ (left, upper) with 140 hp Renault 4Pei four cylinder inverted in- line engine shown at Paris was a conversion of the Ford powered T3 0 F-BBCS. A few were produced with Renault engines as the T35/2. A development, the three seat T39 prototype F-WCEG/BCEG was also shown with a 175 hp seven cylinder Mathis G7R radial engine. The produc- tion T39/2 version having the 175 hp Salmson 9ND radial as seen on F-BBSU (left, lower) . Only a small number of T35 and T39 models was built, (via Jack Meaden) The SO Ml glider displayed at Paris was registered F-WFDJ and was carried aloft for trials by a French-built Heinkel He 274. The SO Ml was followed by the Derwent- powered SO M2 F-WFDK which was a half-scale model of the SO 4000 jet bomber powered by two Nenes, F-WBBL c/n 01 (above) . The SO 4000 was abandoned after only one flight but the M2 was ex- tensively revised (left, upper) and with tiptanks added completed a programme of high speed testing in Armee de l'Air colours with fuselage letter D. An exper- imental fighter evolving from experience with the SO Ml was the SO 2060 Espadon which became the SO 6026 "N" (left, lower) with a SEPR 251 bi-fuel rocket motor mounted below the tailpipe of its Nene engine. (Aeroplane via Jack Meaden) 93/24 Casualty Compendium PART FORTY-EIGHT Above: The C-54 which landed safely after hitting a hill top between Los Angeles and Burbank on 3.12.47 (last issue) may be identified below. This photo, via John Wegg, shows the damage to the starboard engines and missing propellers. Right: The SM.95 lost on 15.1.47 (see below) was c/n 3 I-ABQH, a pre- production version with short fusel- age. Shown here the next pre-prod- uction acft c/n 4, in military marks as 240-1 at Athens, later became I- DALM. (N.W.Lewis via Jack Meaden) We begin with a couple of additions to previous solutions and then complete the section held over from last time: 11.3.47 TWA Constellation "Star of Hollywood" was NC90814 c/n 2076 confirming p.92/109. Earlier "Star of Cairo". 26.7.47 Was TWA's NC86511 c/n 2035 "Star of Paris" renamed "Star of Dublin" before or after this incident? Indeed, does anyone have a definitive listing, with dates, of all these TWA Constellation name changes? 3.12.47 United DC-4 N85587 c/n 10457 is recorded as suffering a "hard landing" at Burbank on 4.12.47. This seems likely to be the same incident unless anyone can clearly identify two. 20.10.48 KLM Lockheed 049-46-25 PH-TEN "Nijmegen" c/n 2083 overshot at Prestwick when abandoning a GCA landing ap- proach on Runway 31 due to high crosswinds. Capt Parmentier (KLM's Chief Pilot and second in the England- Australia Air Race 1934) intended to go around visually to Runway 26 but the aircraft hit h/t wires shown at 45 ft on a chart instead of 450 ft. A ruptured fuel tank caught fire and the a/c crashed on rising ground and burned at Tarbolton a few miles from the airport at 0031 local on 21.10.48. One survivor out of forty. 11.12.48 Qantas aircraft which crashed at Condamine, Queensland still untraced. It is suggested that this should be the 11.2.48 accident to Lockheed 10A VH-AEC c/n 1034 w/o near Condamine in a f/1 following engine failure. 2.1.49 Seattle Air Charter C-47A-DL NC79025 c/n 10181 veered off runway on take-off and hit hangar at Boeing Field, Seattle, at 2203 in fog and possible icing conditions, despite a warning from the tower. Written off, three crew and 11 of 27 passengers, all Yale students, on board were killed. 30.1.49 Pan American Lockheed 749-79-22 N86530 "Clipper Monarch of the Skies" c/n 2528 was 10 minutes out of New York/La Guardia en route for Shannon and London, climbing through 3500 - 4000 ft in clear weather over Port Washington when it was struck from above by Cessna 140 N76891. The two Cessna occupants, on a local flight from Meriden, CT were killed but the Constellation landed safely at Mitchel AFB without injury to the 10 crew and 23 passengers. The CAA enquiry blamed the Pan American crew for not keeping a proper lookout and failing to give way to the Cessna. (See photo next page) P.92/54 The Curtiss T-32 Condor photo at Eastleigh reminded Keith Palmer of one published in "Air Enthusiast 6" of G-AEWF but that was at Croydon and in perhaps a more nose-down angle. "Flight" of 21.10.37 refers to Roll- asons at Croydon rebuilding a Condor which had been damaged on an early flight after its erection at South- ampton. Could it have been roaded to Croydon for repair? The work included the replacement of a section of steel longeron near the wing root. It was mentioned again on 4.11.37 while on 14.10.37 a photo of G-AEZE in service appeared which eliminated that candidate. Elsewhere a photo of G-AEWE at Croydon 1.8.37 with one other probably accounts for that, leaving G-AEWD or G-AEWF as the most likely candidates - so was the "Air Enthusiast" caption incorrect regarding location? Vic Smith spotted a similar photo of G-AEWF in "AAHS Journal" Spring 1967, credited to AJJ, suggesting Croydon but no buildings are visible to confirm this. P.92/84 "Kahu" was Lockheed 10A ZK-AGJ c/n 1127 of Union Airways which skidded on landing on wet ground at Bell Block aerodrome, New Plymouth on 23.7.39. Left u/c and wing tip were damaged, as were the propellers, and after temporary repairs the Electra was flown out to Milson on 15.8.39. 5.3.46 Ju 52 of CSA was from Paris. It circled Prague in bad weather with engine trouble and crashed at 1915 hrs. Co-pilot and 3 passengers survived, ten occupants killed. Known CSA Ju 52s are OK-PCC, PDC, TOI, ZDO. 8.4.46 Shensi Province, China, is some 500 mis from the sea! This was a US Army aircraft carrying Communist nego- tiators which crashed. 10.4.46 Indian National Airways reported crash on 8th at Pratapgarh, 35 mis N of Allahabad, of a 6-seater aircraft on a ferry flight. Capt B Ramchandra Rao and Capt H O'Neill killed. This seems to refer to DH.89A Dragon Rapide VT-ART c/n 6656, ex HG657. Burnt out, total loss. 13.7.46 Central AT aircraft which crashed on t/o at Tsinan, China, due to engine trouble, was a Curtiss C-46. All CAT C-46s were grounded after this accident in which 2 crew and 11 passengers were killed, 33 occupants injured and 3 unhurt. 9 3 / 2 5 Above; The fuselage of Pan Am Constellation N86530 after the impact with a Cessna 140 on 30.1.49. (via John Wegg) 20.9.46 CNAC aircraft crashed 60 miles south of Sichang, China. Not identified, but Capt A Lungbotham and 31 others were held captive by Lolo tribesmen - what happened to them? 1.10.46 Philippine A/L DC-3 belly landed in swamp at Bulusan, 50 miles east of Cotabato, and was abandoned there. While one source gives PI-C59 (identity unknown) another says that the aircraft was actually C-47A-70-DL 42- 100791 c/n 19254 on loan (or in the process of transfer?) from the Air Force, en route from Manila to Davao. Crew and 2 passengers on board were unhurt. PI-C59 had also been damaged at Zamboanga on 17.9.46. 17.10.46 Lockheed 10E XH-TAB c/n 1133 of TACA crashed on t/o from Yoro, Honduras. Our source quotes another accident on the same day on a mountain between Ignacio and Tegucigalpa killing seven, involving "Lockheed No.1104". Is this coincidence? The same incident? What was c/n 1104? 27.11.46 LACSA C-47A-90-DL RX-76 c/n 20590 regd to the affiliated Cia Panamena de Aviacion crashed on mountainside at Cedral near San Jose, Costa Rica about 1030 (on 26th?) with twenty-two fatalities. 4.12.46 Aeroflot crash at Meshad airport, NE Persia, probably an Li-2. Twenty-four killed. 16.12.46 CAT DC-3 cr nr Changsing, China was either on 14th or 15th. Aircraft was carrying half a ton of banknotes. The three crew and two passengers were killed. 16.12.46 CNAC DC-3 cr into 3 a/c at Lunghwa airfield, Shanghai. Date again either 14th or 15th. 25.12.46 C-46 "No.115" of CNAC, Capt Preus, cr landing at Lunghwa, Shanghai killing 29 of 36 on board. There was heavy fog at Shanghai on that morning, accounting for the three accidents there on the same date. 25.12.46 Philippine A/L DC-3 cr Cotabato does not appear in airline records as w/o so must have been damage only. 25.12.46 C-47 (or C-46 ?) "No.48" of CAT cr on approach to Kiangwan airport, Shanghai, killing 10 plus one on ground. 25.12.46 CNAC DC-3 "No.140", Capt Greenwood, crashed landing in fog out of fuel at Lunghwa airfield, Shanghai, 10 fatal of 22 on board. CNAC DC-4 from Shanghai hit mtn on approach to Tsingtao, China. Other sources suggest this was a C-46. Reports give either 38 or 44 fatalities including Capt Charles Sharkey. Dakota which force-landed at Koepang, Timor was British-registered. It was en route Port Darwin to Morotai, Halmahera Islands and the passengers were transferred uninjured to another aircraft, implying that this was not a serious accident. DC-3 of CNAC cr south of Chungking, China en route from Canton. 26th? Capt Blackmore. CNAC C-46 cr 100 miles west of Hankow after leaving Shanghai. Capt Papajik. International Air Freight DC-3 NC54451 crashed in emergency landing at Harrington, Delaware, when en route New York to West Palm Beach, Florida. Pilot A.G.Buhl killed. CSA Dakota cr after t/o, Klavno, Czechoslovakia. Three crew were killed and inefficient maintenance was blamed, which led to a crew strike until 18.2.47. Savoia Marchetti SM.95 c/n 3 I-ABQH intended for the Air Courier Service but taken over for military courier flights with Corrieri Aerei Militari by Cdr Aldo Tait, who was lucky not to be flying it on that day. One of his pilots, Fit Lt Mario Villani, was ordered to captain the flight from Rome-Ciampino to Cairo with crew Fit Officer R.Pressenda, Eng Sgt M.Arco, R/Op Sgt G.Cesca and Sgt A.Giaconelli. The ten passengers included Princess Amina Fadil (a relative of King Farouk of Egypt), Lt Col L.D.D'Accadia of the Military Aeronautics Intelligence Service, Capt E.Garfagnini and various high-ranking Egyptians. Weather conditions were perfect but after only 50 miles at 0930 the SM.95 broke up in flight and crashed in the sea off Terracina without trace. No distress message was received and salvage was prevented by the nature of the currents and seabed at the site. Sabotage was suspected. 9.3.47 South American A/W C-47-DL C-400 ex 41-18631 c/n 4792 crashed near Villa Vincento in the Cordillera Moun- tains, Colombia on 8.3.47 with the loss of 4 crew and 5 passengers.. 25.4.47 CNAC No.141 (type?) cr after t/o Lungwa, China, killing three on the ground. 4.5.47 TACA Lockheed 18 TI-84 crashed in flames near Nicoya, Costa Rica. This leaves us again short of space, leaving aside the DH.86 photo problem for the moment (only one suggestion re- ceived!), so we have transferred the next batch of problems to page 93/2. Credits for the solutions in this issue are due in part to some of those listed in the Part Forty-seven, together with new contributions from Brian Austria-Tomkins, Peter Berry, Barry Collman, Giani Gambarini, Harm Hazewinkel, Mike Hooks, Fred Kirby, Jack Meaden, Tony Morris, Matthew Rodina, Vic Smith and John Wegg. 5.1.47 20.1.47 25.1.47 28.1.47 5.2.47 13.2.47 15.2.47 9 3 / 2 6 F E E D I )| 3 y a J THE EP.9 PROSPECTOR 28 on p.92/112 the final cancellation date is 20.3.74. 35 G-APLP noted at scrapyard of Gussirani & Co, Takeley on 3.8.63 as a frame. 36 ZS-CHZ is currently exhibited at Lanseria, where it arrived on 24.1.81, finished in standard Army green/brown camouflage with serial XM797. It is said to still be in flying condition but shortage of cash means that such activity is unlikely. Details- of the proposed Prospector 4