Aircraft ID – Copenhagen, late forties?

The sea-shipment mode of transport (wings-off) was universal for airliners …. LOT were the only airline to air-ferry a new airliner from the USA to Europe pre-WWII , (via the South Atlantic ,Brazil- West Africa) This was Lockheed 14 SP-LMK

And the record-breaking 25000km flight was celebrated in the LOT airline sales offices e.g in Jerusalem

https://www.flickr.com/photos/74784995@N00/2442043468/sizes/o/

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Excellent links ,antoni….and on the Youtube sidebar there was this superb quarter hour of ‘Golden Era’ Northern European civil airliners …my guess an opening air display for the new Stockholm Bromma Airport 1936 (plus 1937 footage of DC-3 SE-BAA)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYDM2OlReCM

Some prewar footage of LOT’s Lockheeds here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMpc1AYg6eg

and here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf1qlY5ocbI

SP-ASK flew to Riga 5th September. Used by Estonian Air Force until occupation by Soviet Union. Destroyed at Riga summer 1941.

SP-BGK, the Electra in Jon Petersen’s atmospheric top photo force landed at Horodenka while still in Polish hands in 1939 , captured by the Russians it’s fate then becomes somewhat speculative (hence interesting 🙂 ) see under Lockheed L-10 Electra here: http://www.oldwings.nl/st/foreigners.pdf which also notes L-14 SP-BPN served as CCCP-L3453 after capture in Estonia and more exotically that the Soviets acquired a Japanese built Super Electra derivative

The Russians also acquired Bristol Pegasus powered DC-2 SP-ASK whose fate is recorded photographically. I can’t read Polish so haven’t navigated the website www.odrywca.pl

Very interesting read.

Again, thanks to all!

Jon

Interesting, they seem to have applied Polish style camouflage and markings.

And battle damage made sure SP-BPM didn’t return to Britain

At the start of the war the Lockheed 14Hs were prepared for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a number of courier flights to Stockholm, Helsinki, Budapest and Bucharest. Between 1st and 6th September four aircraft SP-BNH, SP-BPK, SP-BNE, SP-BPL, were evacuated to Romania where they were interned. Two L14s were already in Bucharest after their scheduled flights and remained there as Romania had assured Polish authorities that evacuation there would meet a friendly reception. On 2nd, 4th, and 6th September further L14s flew from Ogrodzienice near Grójec to Bucharest. During 10th to 13th September four L10s, one Ju 52, two Fokker F-VIIB/3ms and one RWD 13 flew from Żabczyce near Pińsk to Bucharest.

As a ruse to recover some of them the directorate PLL “Lot” arranged a fictitious sale of L-14Hs (and the Lockheed L-10As, Junkers Ju-52 and Douglas DC-2) to Imperial Airways. Due to pressure from the German Embassy in Bucharest the aircraft were not returned. After a few months they were been taken over by the Romanians. SP/YR-BNE cancelled 16th February 1945, war damage. SP/YR-BPK cancelled 27th July 1940, accident and never flew with its Romanian registration. SP/YR-BPL,BNH cancelled 24th November 1946 worn out. SP-BNH made a wheels up landing 12th September 1939. SP/YR-AYC cancelled 15th November 1946 due to accident. SP/YR-BGE,BGF,BGG,BGH cancelled 28th November 1946 worn out. BGF had an accident landing in crosswind 29th September 1941. From photographs BGH made a wheels up landing at some time.

A special Polish Romanian commission was to compile a detailed inventory of all Polish aircraft in Romania and establish their capital value. As the Romanians requisitioned all equipment for their own use the commission was never established. Polish attempts to put together such a register were obstructed by the Romanian authorities and a complete list was not possible to compile.

SP-BPN went to to Tallin Estonia from Ogrodzienice on 4th September where it was interned. In the years 1939-1940 it was used by the Estonian Air Force. In turn, it was taken over by the Soviet Air Force when they occupied Estonia and crashed in Riga in October 1940 taking off for Moscow.

The Red Army captured the PZL P.44 Wicher abandoned in Lwów together with two L10s abandoned at Kołomyja and Horodenka.

On 4th September SP-BNF (pilot Captain Klemen Długaszewski), SP-BPM (pilot Zbigniew Wysiekierski) and SP-LMK (pilot Leonard Satel) landed at Helsinki where white and red stripes were applied to their wings and tails. Finland allowed them to proceed to UK in three stages Helsinki, Stockholm, Stavanger, Perth between 21st and 24th September.

The Polish Government in exile wished to establish air liaison with occupied Poland. General Sikorski ordered General Zając on 28th Novemeber 1939 to “.. organize permanent secret air communication links with major centers of the occupied country: Lwów, Warsaw, Kraków and, if possible, Poznań; found such an organization on own equipment (light aircraft adapted for long distance flying and airliners of PLL “LOT”) and on aircraft obtained from the Allies, who should at once be approached on the matter.”

Two days earlier General Sikorski discussed the subject with Air Chief Marshal Sir Cyril Newall and asked for suitable aircraft to be made instantly available to the Polish Government so that the first flight could be made by 2nd December. A similar approach was made to General Romatet, French Deputy Chief of Air Staff. The time scale was unrealistic and both Allies were discouraging.They pointed out that no aircraft that had sufficient range to land in Poland and return home were available. Both Air Chiefs suggested that the Lockheed L14H airliners of the PLL “LOT” offered the best solution but would have to be adapted. Air Chief Marshal Newall added that if the mission was urgent the aircraft could be destroyed after landing or fly on to the nearest neutral country.

By the middle of November General Zając had begun exploring the possibility of obtaining two RWD 15 tourers that had evacuated to Romania. SP-KAT was particularly suitable as it was a long range variant developed for Stanisław Karpiński’s attempt at the international long distance record. However, it had been sold by the DWL directors at a knock-down price of £350 to a Romanian owner who refused all offers to buy it back. There was a similar situation with SP-ALA.

The only option remaining was the “LOT” Lockheeds. SP-BNF and SP-BPM were requisitioned in Great Britain by the Polish Aviation Command. SP-BNF was to be speedily adapted for liaison flights to Poland, SP-BPM to be overhauled and transferred to Paris for possible conversion later, and SP-LMK was to be used for training selected flight crews in Great Britain.

Instructions for the modification of SP-BNF were issued on 20th December 1939. Range was to be increased to 3,000 km by the addition of extra fuel and oil tanks. Fuselage doors to be altered and two fixed machine guns in the forward fuselage and two flexible lateral guns in the rear side windows were to be fitted. The work was to be carried out by Airwork at Heston and completed by 10th February 1940. At the same time General Zając tried to acquire in England six fast warplanes for one-way flights to Poland. The Air Ministry was asked to help but declined on the grounds that no suitable aircraft were readily available and the aircraft industry was overloaded with defense orders.

SP-BNF was not delivered to Heston until 17th January and preparation of detailed specifications and detailed drawings took several days. By this time the British civil aviation authorities began to protest about the proposed use of civil airliners for military purposes. Despite General Zając’s assurances that all civil markings would be removed and the aircraft would be camouflaged in RAF style and carry Polish red-and-white chessboard national insignia. Imperial Airways continued to oppose its use and raised the question of legal ownership of the three “LOT” L14s. The airliners were formally deposited with them as surety against loans granted by the Corporation to the PLL “LOT” for its transport operations outside Poland.

As the wrangle continued British authorities began to use delaying tactics. Deliveries of parts and armament needed for modifying the SP-BNF were persistently delayed and the Poles alarmed by the situation removed SP-BPM, in need of a major overhaul, to France in the middle of March. They asked for British mechanics to be sent to Paris to carry out the work but this was refused. Lockheed’s European representative came to the rescue organizing maintenance and spares for the airliner.

Early in May the Air Ministry began new negotiations over the Lockheeds expressing a desire to purchase the L14s in Heston and Paris for BOAC. In return the Ministry would exert maximum diplomatic pressure on the Romanians to release all the “LOT” transport aircraft held in Romania. They undertook to supply Polish squadrons with Wellingtons which, according to the AM, were better suited for flights to Poland. Agreement was eventually reached on the condition that two long-range Wellington bombers with British and Polish crews would be put at the disposal of PAF Command for such operations. The sale was completed by the end of May. Airwork at Heston was instructed to bring SP-BNF back to its original airliner standards and British crew was to bring SP-BPM back to Britain but the collapse of France prevented this.

I had a look through some files I was sent 4 years ago and a serious researcher in Poland sent me this:

Aircraft evacuated to Great Britain ………………………. Pilot

4.IX Lockheed L-14H Super Electra SP-BNF 1421 Długaszewski Klemens Helsinki-Stockholm-Stavanger-Perth to G-AGBG
4.IX Lockheed L-14H Super Electra SP-BPM 1494 Wysiekierski Zbigniew Helsinki-Stockholm-Stavanger-Perth
4.IX Lockheed L-14H Super Electra SP-LMK 1425 Satel Leonard Helsinki-Copenhagen-Perth to G-AGAV

Of course this doesn’t prove the 3 in the photo at Copenhagen were being evacuated, but I have another text which suggests the red&white bands were applied around the 10th September 1939 in Helsinki to keep the Finns happy…the Lockheeds were apparently suspected of doing marine reconnaissance and embarrassing the Nordic countries hosting them until the move to England around 20-22 September

Have to be careful of literal translations from Polish e.g., drunken sunburnt stains = random patches of tan. I think the title’s meaning is something like Polish Aviation/Aircraft Designs in Romania. This one lives up to the hype as there is a lot that has genuinely not been published before. There are photos of the none Polish aircraft evacuated to Romania but none of the DC-2 with a British reg. Several pages of the L10s, all in Romanian service. One of SP-BNH after it its accident, the rest in Romanian service. Also a Potez 62 with a French reg. One photo of the Ju 52.

You can see the whole book here but very fuzzy (publisher’s publicity, no copyright issues).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrSU1OlY_KI

I can only find one publication that mentions Copenhagen, none of my Polish ones does. I concede that it is possible that the Lockheeds may have passed through if for some reason it was better go that way rather than directly from Stockholm to Stavanger. It is easy to tell if a photo was taken during the evacuation as they were painted with red and white stripes on the wings and fins. Polish Air Force 1939 through German eyes vol.2 has a photo of SP-BPM at Stavangar-Sola airfield and one of G-AGBG ex SP-BNF.

LOT evacuation WWII

I’ve edited the earlier posts as I have no evidence the 3xL-14 photo at Copenhagen was connected with the evacuation.

Re the Polish book which seems to translate as ‘Aircraft of Polish Construction in Rumania 1933-1946’ does it include info and particularly photos of LOT’s Lockheeds, Ju-52 and DC-2? The latter was photographed re-marked YR-GAD suggesting it had been painted as G-AGAD before it’s delivery to Imperial/BOAC in Egypt was frustrated.

https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=relevance&text=YR-GAD YR-GAD at Marseilles

L-14s YR-BNH and YR-BPL were recorded visiting Croydon in 1945/1946 , in the period G-AGAV (SP-LMK) was on the airport dump due to corrosion.

SP-BNF, SP-BNK, SP-BPM got to England via Copenhagen, SP-BPM destroyed in France.

Do you know if the promised book on Polish Aircraft seized/impounded in Rumania has been published?

And apologies to Jon Petersen for extending his thread

The route was Helsinki, Stockholm, Stavanger, Perth. Poland was at war with Germany, no one in their right mind would head for Denmark.

The book is available. Three times I have ordered books from the publishers and three times I have had problems so I avoid them now. I got my copy from:

http://www.jadarhobby.pl/stratus-polskie-konstrukcje-lotnicze-rumunii-1933-1946-tom-iv-cz-p-42636.html

SP-BNF, SP-BNK, SP-BPM got to England via Scandinavia/Finland (EDIT), SP-BPM destroyed in France.

Do you know if the promised book on Polish Aircraft seized/impounded in Rumania has been published?

And apologies to Jon Petersen for extending his thread

Thank you all!

Jon

Romanian Aircraft Register
Lockheed L10
YR-AYC c/n 1047 ex SP-AYC escaped to Romania
YR-BGE c/n 1085 ex SF-BGE escaped to Romania
YR-BGF c/n 1086 ex SP-BGF escaped to Romania
YR-BGG c/n 1087 ex SP-BGG escaped to Romania
YR-BGH c/n 1088 ex SP-BGH escaped to Romania
YR-LEA c/n 1089 ex SP-BGJ
YR-LEB c/n 1090 ex SP-BGK
YR-LEC c/n 1093
YR-LED c/n 1094
YR-LEE c/n 1119
YR-LEF c/n 1120
YR-LEG c/n 1121

Lockheed L14
YR-BNH c/n 1423 ex SP-BNH escaped to Romania
YR-BPL c/n 1493 ex SP-BPL escaped to Romania
YR-LIB c/n 1463
YR-LID c/n 1464
YR-LIR c/n 1465
YR-LIS c/n 1466

Can’t find Romanian registrations for SP-BNE, SP-BPK

Lockheed L14
SP-BNG c/n 1422 crashed Romania 22.7.39
SP-BNJ c/n 1424 destroyed Romania 18.8.39
SP-BPK c/n 1492 seized Romania 2.9.39
SP-BPM c/n 1494 escaped to France
SP-BPN c/n 1495 escaped to Estonia

Martin

But the LOT Lockheeds (and DC-2) which routed through Rumania( heading for Egypt and Imperial/BOAC use) all got impounded by the Rumanians so never reached the Allies.
SP-BGK was the 100th Electra built possibly the reason for the 100 on the nose of the Copenhagen dock example

Lockheed 10As SP-AYC, SP-BGE, SP-BGF, SP-BGG,SPBGH and 14Hs SP-BNE, SP-BPK, SP-BPL, SP-BNH evacuated to Rumania.

A very late reply, but:

I think I finally solved the mystery of what happened Amelia Earhart’s airplane. She evidently went off course and ended up in Coopenhagen.

The only LOT Lockheeds to escape to the UK (SP-BNF, -BNK, -BPM) in 1939 flew out through Scandinavia and Finland .
I thought this photo at Copenhagen might be connected but it seems not (EDIT)
…http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?103463-Old-photos-from-Denmark-1935-1950

excerpt from SMS88 post [QUOTE=SMS88;1639409]2 old photo albums in a collectables shop in Copenhagen contain about 30 aviation 10×15 prints taken on a box brownie by a trainee pilot between 1935 and 1950
Polish Hudsons ??? at Kastrup