1960s pics – British Eagle

Hello LN,
I have sent you a PM
Regards Red Eagle

Coming across this thread has reminded me that I was very grateful to British Eagle for getting me out of Aden at the end of British rule in November 1967. Having been fortunate enough to get a seat on the last ‘Britannia Trooper’ from RAF Khormaksar to Heathrow, via Bahrain and Istanbul, I’ve always had fond memories of the red and white ‘Whispering Giant’ that brought me home!

Regards….Paul

Jan 2005 to Sep 2014 – now that’s a zombie thread !

Many thanks for the pic Newman

Rgds DC

You are welcome DC. Not much of a photo. I was only a kid. It was also my first flying experience.

We went from Heathrow to Dubai to Colombo to Darwin then finally Melbourne. Despite being born and bred within earshot of Heathrow (I also worked there on one of my returns to UK) I’d never heard of British Eagle before then.

When I was sorting out my digital photos at the weekend I thought I’d see what I could find out about the airline and the trip. It may only have been a one off. From memory the plane was full of migrants only. In those days most went by ship. From memory my parents were given the option and chose to fly. Our possessions went by sea. Were were in Oz for a good few weeks with not much I can tell you.

Regards

LN

I flew with my parents, in about 1966 to Luxembourg from Heathrow, in a BE ex-RAF Britannia with rear facing seats.

My first ever flying experience.

It wouldnt actually have been an ex RAF machine but because they were contracted to do regular trooping flights it would have been a requirement to have the seats rearward facing.
None of their Brits were ex RAF.

I flew with my parents, in about 1966 to Luxembourg from Heathrow, in a BE ex-RAF Britannia with rear facing seats.

My first ever flying experience.

Jan 2005 to Sep 2014 – now that’s a zombie thread !

Many thanks for the pic Newman

Rgds DC

A Photo

Hi. I don’t know if anyone is looking at this thread but I stumbled upon it the other day when I was looking into the attached photo. I took it on my family’s journey from Heathrow to Melbourne in November 1965 (Ten Pound Poms) at a short (refuelling?) stop over at Colombo airport in then Ceylon.[ATTACH=CONFIG]232102[/ATTACH]

Score DC 1 Senility 1
The Eagle Years page 17 : 13 Oct 1955 Lanc NX739 arrived ‘Bushe on contract loan to Eagle, to be flown by Eagle crews for air to air photography, turrets to bemodded with enclosed perspex..pic of nose on this page..Used 1956 Farnboro, and occasionally by Flight photographers. Lanc stayed ‘Bushe until 16 Jan 1957 until replaced by Linc RF332 (close Albert !!) which went back to RAF 15 May 1958.
No mention of fate of Lanc
Lanc G-ALVC joined Eagle 24 Aug 1949, not flown, used as spares for the Yorks

DC

Wow! Can you imagine ANY airline today buying a four-engined aircraft for air-to-air photography? I think the nearest we come to that today are one or two B-25 Mitchells in the States hired out to movie makers.

Score DC 1 Senility 1
The Eagle Years page 17 : 13 Oct 1955 Lanc NX739 arrived ‘Bushe on contract loan to Eagle, to be flown by Eagle crews for air to air photography, turrets to bemodded with enclosed perspex..pic of nose on this page..Used 1956 Farnboro, and occasionally by Flight photographers. Lanc stayed ‘Bushe until 16 Jan 1957 until replaced by Linc RF332 (close Albert !!) which went back to RAF 15 May 1958.
No mention of fate of Lanc
Lanc G-ALVC joined Eagle 24 Aug 1949, not flown, used as spares for the Yorks

DC

Thought you might like to see another view of the Eagle hangar at ‘Bushe
The Varsity was fitted out by Eagle for the RJAF, mid 1950s I think, the image was scanned from “Flight” magazine, as was the Eagle page.

I’ve reduced the size of both as I presume there is a kb limit to pics ???

Also have a b&w pic (not mine) of Halifax G-AIAP which I can upload if wanted

DC

Wow Mark, didn’t know those sort of shots still existed – as ever, what a shame the Lanc didn’t come out – but many many thanks for putting these up !

I have read somewhere recently about (Eagle?) operating a Lanc to do icing trials on behalf of one of the Ministries, then it was replaced by a Linc for the same purpose……….Yes, I know this sounds like Cranfield with PA474, then RF….. , and I’m having a senior moment trying to remember where the **** I read it, and whether I am remembering right or not

Could it have been these that Mark saw…………but yes Albert, makes total sense to have one as a spares queen

DC

These shots are extremely interesting, as I have no record of Eagle ever operating a Lincoln(did you log the serial-looks like RF333 under the wing?). They first operated 6 Halifaxes and the Lancaster would have been G-ALVC which was only acquired for spares use for the Yorks. However, the Lincoln is still in RAF colours and I am almost tempted to say that insignia on the nose may be that of 23 Squadron? Perhaps Steve Bond might read this, as he probably knows?

Eagle Lancaster and Lincoln?

One of the highlights of the annual holiday to Devon in the 1950’s was the charabanc ride from Victoria Coach station. Having limped through the pre by-passed Staines in up to two hours, the drive, smack through the middle of operational Blackbushe airport would be imminent.

For some years there was a Lancaster parked adjacent to the Eagle hangar and it was latterly my understanding that this aircraft was operated by Eagle on behalf of the Ministry of Supply for various duties, including a camera platform for air to air photography.(please correct if you know better).

The aircraft was later replaced by a Lincoln and as I began to spread my wings as a spotter, so to speak, it came within cycling/photography radius.

Here is a fairly rough shot of the Lincoln into sun, but it does show the Eagle emblem on the hangar. On one occasion it was towed right across the main A30 road much to my delight and took off on some mission or other. Just look at that car in the foreground, a 1930’s something, Wolesley Hornet perhaps, like many others of its pre-war generation still giving faithful service well into the 1960’s through the austere post-war period.

The shot I took of the Eagle Viking that day unfortunately was double exposed over the Lincoln. Who then had ever heard of power wind or frame lock out?

Mark

OK let’s try another Eagle tack !

G-ANCG Britannia left LHR for the Far East (Australia?) and had a gear problem
To cut the story short, several hours later she was put down on a foam carpet at Manston. I don’t recall the date, but facts/date are well documented and on the internet….what I am wondering about is photos. The Daily Express the next morning had a great head on pic across the front page, caught at the moment she settled into the foam, even showed bending props
Anyone by a chance got a copy, or any ideas where to start with the D Express ??

Willy :
Many thanks…yet another one for my collection ! Coincidence because I visited BRU in 1958 (on a school trip!) and well remember the Sabena S58s flying around – BTW have yoiu seen the other current thread about them ?

Albert :
Just been to TAHS, what a little goldmine ! Have bought the Eagle book, also British Independent Airlines 1946-1976, thanks for the tip ……so plenty to read instead of finding liquid libation tonight
DC

Great I have both those books, which are the best references you can find on BE. Great friends of Tony & family at TAHS, always very helpful and knowledgable! Ah,happy memories of the comings and goings of Eagle…….

Old Eagle, there was a thread starting from a surviving S-58 (D-HAUG). I put a link to a Belgian S-58 site.

Willy :
Many thanks…yet another one for my collection ! Coincidence because I visited BRU in 1958 (on a school trip!) and well remember the Sabena S58s flying around – BTW have yoiu seen the other current thread about them ?

Albert :
Just been to TAHS, what a little goldmine ! Have bought the Eagle book, also British Independent Airlines 1946-1976, thanks for the tip ……so plenty to read instead of finding liquid libation tonight
DC

Eagle

Red top Viscount at Brussels in 1958

AW

MM : Hmmmmm, I’m thinking initials……would AW be anywhere near yours ?
Very sorry to hear of Cliff’s demise, he was one of lifes gentlemen, and a superb pair of hands…..I have vague memories of an Aero Commander with a scuffed underside ???

DC

“Skipper – left a bit, right a bit, got it!” 🙂

Mark

John : Thanks for the site info..there is a pic of GAOVB nosedown being recovered and also one after repair…I’m trying to get electronic copies

Albert : Thanks for the Dove pic, one day I’ll get to TAHS and buy a copy of the book
…I remember Dave Hedges was a steward at LHR

Ron : Agreed , nine and three quarters out of ten – a mini airliner which proved how effective the Eagle scheme was….and let’s face it, Invicta liked the scheme as well,
or perhaps it was a matter of economics ?

MM : Hmmmmm, I’m thinking initials……would AW be anywhere near yours ?
Very sorry to hear of Cliff’s demise, he was one of lifes gentlemen, and a superb pair of hands…..I have vague memories of an Aero Commander with a scuffed underside ???

DC