Crop Culture Ltd, Bembridge,Isle of Wight

Welcome Norman and thanx for the insight.

Hi All.

I worked for Pan Britannica Industries at Waltham Abbey in the late 50s and we used Crop Culture Moths on phosphate dusting on fields in South East up as far as Lincs, out as far as Oxfordshire.
Was told that 1 moth went in the wash and was never found. We used to live in a caravan and carry a big box of spares with a spare prop, mags etc to do repairs in the field.
I was one of the markers in the field all told we had 2 markers, and 1 driver for the lorry for loading the pellets into the front cockpit hopper and refueling.

Norman.

Met up with Jim McMahon a few years back. Crop Culture also ran a Miles Gemini, G-AKHW, S/No 6524. I am currently restoring this aircraft to flying condition. BTW, Anyone have any Gemini or Maggie parts spare??

I am Chairman of the Britten-Norman Aircraft Preservation Society (restoring Islander C3 G-AVCN) and we are collecting all and any items relating to early B-N/Crop Culture. I am going to show the pictures to B-N’s first and second employees, one of which, I believe, went to the Sudan in the Anson (flown by Desmond). I am fairly sure he is the guy on the left in the last picture. I’ll let you know what the two of them say. In the meantime, any chance of getting scans of the pictures for our collection?

Cheers

Just right click and download. I have more, I think, maybe higher res. Just email me at pinkharrier ….at,,,,, yahoo.com

Planestory,

I can offer this shot of Workmaster G-APMJ. Why I was interested in it at the time (ca. 1960) I have no idea, but you are welcome to it. Drop me a pm and I’ll be happy to send you the original.

brgds
Alan

Glad the photos are of some use.

The first entity was the partnership between John Britten and Desmond Norman that operated as Britten-Norman Aircraft and was the first to use the B-N logo. Two subsequent companies were formed, Britten-Norman Limited and Crop Culture (Aerial) Limited both owned by John, Des and Frank Mann, later Jim McMahon came in as an equal partner. I think B-N was formed first, possibly owned by just John and Des. B-N converted Tiger Moths to use the McMahon Hopper (designed by Jim, prototype built by him at the Herts & Essex club where he was instructing. It replaced the front cockpit although someone could travel in a seat inside the Hopper!).

I am Chairman of the Britten-Norman Aircraft Preservation Society (restoring Islander C3 G-AVCN) and we are collecting all and any items relating to early B-N/Crop Culture. I am going to show the pictures to B-N’s first and second employees, one of which, I believe, went to the Sudan in the Anson (flown by Desmond). I am fairly sure he is the guy on the left in the last picture. I’ll let you know what the two of them say. In the meantime, any chance of getting scans of the pictures for our collection?

Cheers

Des Norman purchased the aircraft as a company hack. The pilot on the fateful flight had either lost or never had his instrument rating and was supposed to be flying VFR and the supposition in the company was that he got into cloud and became disorientated.

Thanks for posting Brian . Were the house colour’s red/silver ?

I would say that’s a good guess, but as I took these around 50 years ago, the memory has faded! – I learnt to fly in a T21 and about 5 years ago went up in one again, wonderfull open cockpit, but useless for spraying!

Cheers Brian:D

Thanks for posting Brian . Were the house colour’s red/silver ?

I know I have a couple of photos, I will try & dig them out this weekend.

Cheers Brian.;)

Yep – found the following 3 off tigers, sorry 4 off I-NONO included to replace an error;:D

My thoughts also, the typical caricature supervisor!

The scene of the Tiger being shoe-horned looks like a Morecombe & Wise sketch . Is that Eric complete with pipe on the far right ? Lovely to see these pictures.

Great pictures from a forgotten era thank you for the information. Apparently the building in Ryde was located in Star Street and the Tiger Moth fuselages were towed to Bembridge with a chap holding onto the tailskid !
Ryde former airport site is now a huge 24 hour Tesco store.

I know I have a couple of photos, I will try & dig them out this weekend.

Cheers Brian.;)

…doff’s forelock to GMS!…Is Arthur writing anymore of his massive volumes?

If so I will warn my bank manager!

Chumpy.

So good to see pictures cribbed from books we produce!
*grins*

..Glad you liked the photos, the attached cribbed from one of the Ord-Hume books as mentioned by ‘low n slow’. Highly recommended reading on the subject.
As you can see rather a tight fit but a Tiger WILL fit if you take the wings and tail off, plus disconect the u/c struts a bit! This the building in Star St as mentioned above, the door had a glass panel through which young lads could peer.
By the time I started looking in, the main production was down at Bembridge..but still those mysterious bits to be seen in the dark interior!

Chumpy.

Great pictures from a forgotten era thank you for the information. Apparently the building in Ryde was located in Star Street and the Tiger Moth fuselages were towed to Bembridge with a chap holding onto the tailskid !
Ryde former airport site is now a huge 24 hour Tesco store.

I’d just like to THANK YOU for putting up such a delightful picture. Those days when, without any pre-warning, we stumbled scenes such as this -made the long cycling trips and YHA worthwhile.
Perhaps someone can add some pictures of Crop Culture in the Cameroons. I know a couple of the Channel Air Bridge pilots used to ferry them down and operate in the winter.