Dragon Rapides – Lands end

After posting those pics I did some in-depth research (Googled Sunderland Praa Sands 🙂 and there’s a page on the beaching)

Excellent find!

Are you sure about ‘EB being unique with the underfloor baggage stowage, I thought that ‘NL, NM, & DA all had it?
In the same way as ‘SH was my grandad’s favourite rapide, EB was his favourite S-61, they appear together in a British Airways corporate film!
The current situation with the possible loss of the heliport at Eastern Green, located at the end of the Paddington / Penzance main line, is an apalling one. To think that this service was revolutionary when it was started up and is amongst the highest in passenger numbers, and longest serving, facilities of its kind.
I can’t help thinking it is all part of a greater move to get rid of the Scillies helicopter service for good, replacing those magnificant, and remarkably well worked S-61Ns can’t be cheap.

Is that right?
I have for that date GW&S Dragon G-ACPY shot down by a He111 that was in the area, all six souls lost, the five passengers all coming from the same family.
It seems a particularly harsh attack.

Yes on the face of it, it does
The aircraft was a He 111 From KG28 based at Nantes, it was tasked to attack the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable at Barrow on Furness, but due to weather conditions received a recall. It was during its return flight that it glimpsed a camouflaged aircraft emerging from low cloud and immediately opened fire. I understand that the aircraft commander Lt zur See Klenck did in fact radio in clear on realising what had happened.
Anyone know the identity of the Heinkel and the rest of the crew ?
Tony K

The last Bessonneau Hangar i saw was at RAF Halton 10 or 15 years ago.

Dave

Bessonneau Hangar

No record of one at Lands Ends or St Marys but the ATC at Preddanack had one until it collapsed one winter making a mess of the gliders inside.
In fact the ATC had several incidents with these in later years and when they were falling on the new glass fleet it became a rather rather costly exercise.
The problem was they had stopped getting regular maintenance from a dedicated RAF working unit when it was disbanded.
These hangars need proper attention with their rigging and inside there are a couple of “props” that should be lowered in case of snow or high winds to add to the bracing.
The basic structure is petty beefy but the canvas and ropes have to kept up to scratch to avoid them going “wobbly”.
On a sunday evening the last job for the staff was to check on (and adjust) the tension of the main guy ropes after lacing the doors together.
They are a very substantial structure in fact and with modern materials as a cover work very well.

I came across this photo taken in 1968 taken at Lands End, when looking for a photo of an Eon Olyimpia. Which i cant find!

Dave