What,Where,When.

G-ALVG (not -GV) was the original D.H. Comet prototype which was demonstrated at the first Farnborough show in ’49; and G-5-2 was the second Comet prototype, although you say it appears to be a Vampire type aircraft, which is a bit puzzling.

This thread will probably explain your confusion over the ‘G’ numbers, it did mine!

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=78806

Thank you all for the interesting replies. I will not be able to get any more scans done until my colleague has more time. However I have had a look at some of the other negs and can read several serial numbers. Here are a few if these are of any interest to anyone:

G-ALMR – appears to be a DeHavilland Dove? Many flags on forward cockpit.
G-5-2 with a ‘P’ in circle – Venom/Vampire?
G-ALGV – Comet Jet?
VR592 with large ’79’ code
VV612 with a ‘P’ in circle
VX784 with a ‘P’ in circle

Kind regards – Malcolm.

VV612 was the D.H. Venom prototype, first flight 02.09.49, and VX784 was the Avro 707 prototype, first flight 04.09.49. Both the above pics probably from the ’49 Farnborough show. The Avro 707 prototype lasted less than a month, crashing fatally on 30.09.49, so a negative of that must be quite rare.

G-ALVG (not -GV) was the original D.H. Comet prototype which was demonstrated at the first Farnborough show in ’49; and G-5-2 was the second Comet prototype, although you say it appears to be a Vampire type aircraft, which is a bit puzzling. VR 592 was a Boulton Paul Balliol that flew at the 1949 National Air Races weekend at Elmdon with the race number 79.

Thank you all for the interesting replies. I will not be able to get any more scans done until my colleague has more time. However I have had a look at some of the other negs and can read several serial numbers. Here are a few if these are of any interest to anyone:

G-ALMR – appears to be a DeHavilland Dove? Many flags on forward cockpit.
G-5-2 with a ‘P’ in circle – Venom/Vampire?
G-ALGV – Comet Jet?
VR592 with large ’79’ code
VV612 with a ‘P’ in circle
VX784 with a ‘P’ in circle

Kind regards – Malcolm.

[QUOTE=MJW;1240367]I have had a quick look through and no Luftwaffe types. I think some may have been take at Farnborough. A couple seem to have experimental jets ‘P’ insignia. [QUOTE]

A couple of prototypes appeared at the National Air Races at Elmdon in 1949. One was the Hawker P.1040 (later developed into the Sea Hawk) flown by Neville Duke, also a Short Sturgeon prototype flown by Tom Brooke-Smith. If the relevent negs could be scanned, MJW, we could at least nail some of the identities – or not, as the case may be!

It is…

If that is Elmdon in the background then that’s probably Blackburn Firebrand T.F. Mk. VA, serial EK621, taking part in the 1949 National Air Races. Strongly suspect the Beaufort pic was taken at the same venue, which may identify the silver monoplane to the left as Miles Hawk Trainer as G-AHNV. The aircraft to the right of the B/Fort could be Hawker Sea Fury T.20 VX280. My sources of information are (a) some possibly dodgy assumptions mixed with even dodgier eyesight, and (b) Putnams ‘British Racing and Record Breaking Aircraft’, a treasure trove of information for those who like treasure troves of information.:D

Just found it in wings of fame, two piccies of the Firebrand with the racing number, b***** awful aircraft by all accounts !

That’s what I thought too. Is that the old terminal at Elmdon in the background?

Roger Smith.

If that is Elmdon in the background then that’s probably Blackburn Firebrand T.F. Mk. VA, serial EK621, taking part in the 1949 National Air Races. Strongly suspect the Beaufort pic was taken at the same venue, which may identify the silver monoplane to the left as Miles Hawk Trainer as G-AHNV. The aircraft to the right of the B/Fort could be Hawker Sea Fury T.20 VX280. My sources of information are (a) some possibly dodgy assumptions mixed with even dodgier eyesight, and (b) Putnams ‘British Racing and Record Breaking Aircraft’, a treasure trove of information for those who like treasure troves of information.:D

Sorry Andy, I am unable to read any letters. Here is number 3 . . .

Looks like a Sea Fury with the wrong tail feathers

Blackburn Firebrand by the looks of it.

Cheers,
Richard

That’s what I thought too. Is that the old terminal at Elmdon in the background?

Roger Smith.

and the last until I can persaude my friend to do more . . .

USAF B-17, post 1947, due to the insignia. The serial number looks like 44-83591, which would make it a B-17G-90-DL built by Douglas at Long Beach, CA.

Cheers,
Richard

Sorry Andy, I am unable to read any letters. Here is number 3 . . .

Blackburn Firebrand by the looks of it.

Cheers,
Richard

Blackburn Firebrand I think

Sorry Andy, I am unable to read any letters. Here is number 3 . . .

with a Kings Cup racing number – seems you have a small treasure trove…. there are specialists who transfer negs to CD’s now, depends on your budget I guess…congrats on the find though

and the last until I can persaude my friend to do more . . .

Sorry Andy, I am unable to read any letters. Here is number 3 . . .

Well, that is a Bristol Beaufort. The Fleet Air Arm flew a number of them in a white livery, perhaps its one of those.

There appears to be a civil registration on the wings of the light aircraft on the left, G-A..V, if that was read off the original with a magnifying class it might give another clue.

Andy

I have had a quick look through and no Luftwaffe types. I think some may have been take at Farnborough. A couple seem to have experimental jets ‘P’ insignia. I am unable to scan them myself as I do not have a neg facility. However, a friend has prepared a few. Hopefully in the future he will do a few more. Anyhow another to get on with . . .

G.55 Centauro, VF-204 . Tangmere c1946
‘War Prizes’ by Phil Butler
Any Luftwaffe types in your negs from that era?

regards
Dave

Italian yes, but not a Macchi 202 but a Fiat G55 Centauro.

IIR a similar pic is in the book: Warprizes, name of the author escapes me at the moment.

A book very much recommended

Cheers

Cees

I would agree on the MC.205 – but the date could prove interesting as (I would assume – and forgive me for using that word) the HAS in the background seems to contradict the overall generally good condition of the (derelict) aircraft.

Macchi C205?