Here’s another set of pictures recently digitised by Tony Clarke from his archive. They were taken by the late Gerald Lawrance at Shoreham in May 1960 on the occasion of the Royal Aero Club Business and Touring Aircraft Competition. They show the start of foreign dominance of British light aviation.
G-AOVZ is significantly the first British registered Jodel. A D.140 Mousquetaire, it was destroyed 14-9-75:
G-APRR is the well known Super Aero 45 which was active until an accident at Blackbushe 28-2-09:
G-APWV, L.40 Meta Sokol was destroyed at Stapleford 17-7-65:
The Helio Courier has been rare on the British register. G-APXH was the first, but only lasted until an accident 8-11-64:
G-APXM is an early PA-22 160 Tri Pacer (W/O 7-10-78):
A sign of things to come, G-APYA is a Cessna 175A, I believe it was only the fourth post-war Cessna single on the register. It became EI-AND in 1963 and was W/O 30-10-94:
An early Aztec, G-APYX survived until being destroyed in 1985:
This early PA-24 250 Comanche, G-APZG is still active as G-DISK:
G-APZK, PA-18 160 Super Cub became EI-CKH in 1994 and was W/O 3-8-96:
Another survivor is PA-18 150 Super Cub G-ARAN, seen here when brand new. Still active in 2011:
A Shoreham resident is AS.65 Consul G-AHEG of Meridian Airmaps. It was withdrawn within a year and scrapped at Shoreham:
In service with Channel Airways is this DH.104 Dove G-APAG. It ended its days derelict in Libya:
Finally, two stored Marathons. G-ALVY/XA252 and G-AMER/XA261 (Edit) saw RAF service from 1952 to 1958 as navigation trainers. They were not converted and were both scrapped in 1962:
By: Ewan Hoozarmy - 5th December 2011 at 21:52
G-APAM, Thruxton Jackaroo ‘Myth’ (converted back to Tiger Moth and still active 2011). Can anyone identify the badge on the nose?:
The aircraft was owned/flown by Sheila Scott at the time and I believe that this was her ’emblem’..
By: Duxman - 5th December 2011 at 19:29
I think that the pictures posted have – just about – caught three, rather than two, Marathons (the third being that behind G-ALVY). Presumably the third is either G-AMER or G-AMHT, which made up the quartet which F.G.Miles bought with the intention, albeit unsuccessful, of refurbishment for commercial use. All except G-AMHT were scrapped in February 1962, with the latter following its brethren to the same fate not many months later. I suspect that it was the last surviving Marathon in the UK. In the world, too? Maybe, but the legend of the Japanese Marathon hasn’t surfaced for a while!
The photographs would have been taken, I surmise, on 20, 21 or 22 May 1960. Shoreham was quite busy (for that time) over those three days for the RAeC competition. In Peter Campbell’s Shoreham log he records 42 visiting and 12 resident aircraft on the aerodrome. Everything from a Bensen gyrocopter to a DC-3!
The 3rd Marathon noted at this event in addition to G-ALVY and G-AMGR was indeed G-AMER. A correction I think to caption of the 2 photographs shown is that the one coded B is indeed G-AMER. G-AMGR was coded P as indicated in the photograph below. According to a report in Air Britains BCAN for June 11 1960 Marathon G-AMHT was noted in the hanger being converted back to civil but I assume this was never completed.
By: Wokka Bob - 4th December 2011 at 19:56
You’ve got reason to feel more ancient still. The London, Brighton & South Coast Railway ceased to exist in 1923! But don’t worry, it must have been summer 1965 as the B.206S first flew at Shoreham on 23 June that year. However maybe not, as the Marathons would not still have been there at that time. All considered, I fear that you may be suffering a bout of merged memory syndrome!!!!
Not in the minds of those of us that lived there. But enough of that, I feel a Jeremy Clarkson coming on. :diablo:
We used to go to Shoreham most years for a summer holiday/treat! So from the early 50/60’s, we got a snapshot of life at Shoreham. This included the charabanc to Farnborough, and later Biggin Hill as well as Gatwick (when you could walk on top of the terminal. Dad took photos, but they seem to have disappeared into the midst of time.
Thanks for the superb photos, please keep them coming.
Bob
By: T J Johansen - 4th December 2011 at 13:57
G-APOY, DHC-1 Chipmunk 22A. This was sold in Norway in 1971 but seems to be still ‘off the radar’. Any news?
Stored by owner for 30+ years. I saw the plane in a barn around 1986-87. Recently put on the register, so maybe it is being worked on.
T J
By: DCW - 4th December 2011 at 09:39
I have identified a few more pictures from the Shoreham event. The date was 21st May 1960.
G-ADNB, DH.87B Hornet Moth became N36DH in 1971 and is believed on rebuild in Canada:
G-AFJU, Miles M.17 Monarch. On retirement it spent time at Strathallan and East Fortune and is now believed on rebuild in France:
G-AIED, Percival P.28 Proctor I (Wfu by 1965):
G-AJZO, Miles M.65 Gemini (W/O 4-69):
G-AKHC, Miles M.65 Gemini (W/O 9-65):
G-AKRN, DH.89A Dragon Rapide (Wfu 1960):
G-ALAW, Miles M.38 Messenger I (Wfu by 1967):
G-APAM, Thruxton Jackaroo ‘Myth’ (converted back to Tiger Moth and still active 2011). Can anyone identify the badge on the nose?:
G-APOY, DHC-1 Chipmunk 22A. This was sold in Norway in 1971 but seems to be still ‘off the radar’. Any news?
By: avion ancien - 4th December 2011 at 07:52
when I got home after a wonderful steam train ride courtesy of The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway all the way to Haywards Heath!
I feel ancient.
You’ve got reason to feel more ancient still. The London, Brighton & South Coast Railway ceased to exist in 1923! But don’t worry, it must have been summer 1965 as the B.206S first flew at Shoreham on 23 June that year. However maybe not, as the Marathons would not still have been there at that time. All considered, I fear that you may be suffering a bout of merged memory syndrome!!!!
By: DCW - 3rd December 2011 at 22:00
The only Marathon production list I have gives G-AMHV cancelled to CF-NUH 11-3-61 but not taken up, broken up Wymeswold 1963.
By: super sioux - 3rd December 2011 at 20:26
An end to the Marathon
[QUOTE= All except G-AMHT were scrapped in February 1962, with the latter following its brethren to the same fate not many months later. I suspect that it was the last surviving Marathon in the UK. In the world, too? Maybe, but the legend of the Japanese Marathon hasn’t surfaced for a while!
![/QUOTE]
While on crashguard(Jet Provost) at Wymeswold in I think 1964 there was a Marathon in the hangar belonging to possibly Airwork. It had been modified for crossing the Atlantic to Canada for missionary work! The fuselage was full of extra fuel tanks for the trip which never took place because there was no way of topping up the engine oil. Was this the last Marathon in the world.:eek:
By: Wokka Bob - 3rd December 2011 at 19:58
Ahhhhhhh! Brings back many happy memories. Sitting on Shoreham foreshore/beach? Miles Student screeching? flying over. Scramble to the airfield with my Dad and elder brother to see what’s happening. Being chased away from the Beagle Factory hangar doors. The 206S was being readied for first flight. Marathons, Moths (Tiger & Gypsy) and others I had to look up in my Observers books when I got home after a wonderful steam train ride courtesy of The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway all the way to Haywards Heath!
I feel ancient.
By: avion ancien - 3rd December 2011 at 17:49
I think that the pictures posted have – just about – caught three, rather than two, Marathons (the third being that behind G-ALVY). Presumably the third is either G-AMER or G-AMHT, which made up the quartet which F.G.Miles bought with the intention, albeit unsuccessful, of refurbishment for commercial use. All except G-AMHT were scrapped in February 1962, with the latter following its brethren to the same fate not many months later. I suspect that it was the last surviving Marathon in the UK. In the world, too? Maybe, but the legend of the Japanese Marathon hasn’t surfaced for a while!
The photographs would have been taken, I surmise, on 20, 21 or 22 May 1960. Shoreham was quite busy (for that time) over those three days for the RAeC competition. In Peter Campbell’s Shoreham log he records 42 visiting and 12 resident aircraft on the aerodrome. Everything from a Bensen gyrocopter to a DC-3!
By: T-21 - 3rd December 2011 at 16:38
DCW,
Brilliant photographs thanks so much for posting.
By: avion ancien - 3rd December 2011 at 14:01
Excellent material again – and typical Shoreham weather that day, by the looks of it!
By: DCW - 3rd December 2011 at 11:19
Is it me, or do most things you photograph end up being destroyed in crashes soon after? :confused:
I can’t claim any contribution to aircraft accident statistics, but in life generally I have plenty of luck. The problem is, it’s mostly bad….
By: Banupa - 3rd December 2011 at 10:58
Is it me, or do most things you photograph end up being destroyed in crashes soon after? :confused:
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December 3, 2011 at 10:17 am