Afternoon all…
This is by way of saying hello as a first post to this forum.
The picture attached is from the final days of G-APEZ, a C-54 once familar in Liverpool in Starways colours. According to my notes, it was taken on July 31 1967 at Baginton, and I can’t image she lasted more than a few days or weeks longer.
She’s without engines, and although ballasted was rather tail-heavy. You can almost guess the rest – a few minutes later the weight of the onlookers swarming all over her got too much, and ‘PEZ slowly sat on her tail. Those on top of the fuselage fell off, those in the rear cabin found the door had descended to ground level and simply walked off.
Those at the sharp end in in the cockpit – me included – just hung on grimly. At least the nose oleos were working, and she tipped back very gently. Shortly afterwards Warwickshire police arrived and chased everyone away…
Ah yes…summer 1967. Sergeant Pepper and O-levels. Seems like another world.
William
By: David Burke - 10th March 2006 at 19:45
I would love to know if any former U.K operated DC-4’s are out in Africa.
By: ALBERT ROSS - 10th March 2006 at 19:29
I remember G-APEZ and the Ace Freighters Connies used to be regulars at RAF Lyneham in 1965. Went inside ‘PEZ to find fungus growing on the foam lining the roof and used to drip oil on the pan! Here she is in happier times with Starways at Heathrow in 1963.
By: RPSmith - 10th March 2006 at 14:40
“Ahhhh yes (the ACE Connies and DC4s) I remember them well”
Are you sure about the date though? The presence of so many people (and the tents at the rear) suggest the photo was taken during the Coventry Air Pageant. That was held, in 1967, on 12th August.
This was only a few weeks after the formation of the Midland A.P.S. (now MAM) in Coventry and we could only afford the £10 to exhibit at the air pageant by sharing a stand with the Northern A.P.S. The MAPS were loaned one of Tony Tipper’s Ansons to have on static display and we raised funds with both a “Guess the hours flown” (by the Anson) competition (prize for the nearest was a free flight – probably in John Coggin’s Prentice?) and by charging to go in the Anson.
It was very sad to be around and see the ACE fleet languishing – one of the Connies was destroyed by an arson attack – and, mostly, cut up by the scrapman.
Roger Smith.
By: Gooney Bird - 10th March 2006 at 13:27
Indeed a very sad end without any dignity!
By: Arm Waver - 10th March 2006 at 13:26
Welcome Scouse.
Interesting tale that (sorry pun not intended) – never get away with such things these days….
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March 10, 2006 at 1:21 pm