I’ve had this photo in my collection for ages and I’ve never been able to discover whether the markings were some sort of practical joke or genuine. The markings on the rear fuselage and fin appear to have been painted, freehand, onto fabric which then has been taped to the airframe. Those on the engine cowling appear to have been painted directly onto the metal. I’m also going to demonstrate my ignorance by saying that I do not recognise the script of the language in which the markings are. So can anyone identify the aircraft; and tell me whether the markings are genuine; and, if so, identify the language of the markings and the state to which they relate. To confuse me further, the photo appears to have been taken in the UK in the 1960s or thereabouts – judging from the cars in the background – and possibly at an airshow or services’ open day. Can anyone say where and when it was taken?
By: Resmoroh - 3rd February 2009 at 17:27
I’m not trying to hi-jack this thread, but does anyone know what happened to the Auster AOP 9 that the AOC 38 Grp (then AVM “Mickey” Martin – of Dambusters fame) had, reputedly, won from Gen Sir Frank King (then GOC 3 Div) in a card game!! I know it was at Odiham because I (as a Met Man!) was the navigator when this a/c flew to Manby for one of the 38 Gp Execs to give a lecture at the College Of Air Warfare.
HTH
Resmoroh
By: avion ancien - 3rd February 2009 at 17:15
Thank you, edskarf and rochford, for what, when & where information. Do you, or anyone else, know the story behind the picture? If it helps, I’ve scanned a close up of the superimposed markings. Looking at this, it appears that the fuselage and tail markings may have been painted onto paper which was then taped onto the airframe. If so, one has to assume that it was a non flying exhibit at the air day in question!
By: Arabella-Cox - 3rd February 2009 at 08:52
Correction
I believe the photo is of AOP9 XP242 but I’m not sure of the location or occasion.
Sorry for the misinformation but the AOP9 is NOT XP242 but XR243 at MW.
I should read my notes more carefully in future!
By: Arabella-Cox - 3rd February 2009 at 08:23
Middlee Wallop air day in the 1960s -pics in A-B Digest at the time
By: avion ancien - 2nd February 2009 at 23:21
I believe the photo is of AOP9 XP242 but I’m not sure of the location or occasion.
Can you tell me why you believe that to be so?
By: Arabella-Cox - 2nd February 2009 at 23:17
I believe the photo is of AOP9 XP242 but I’m not sure of the location or occasion.
By: avion ancien - 2nd February 2009 at 23:15
What’s the serial below the horizontal stab?
That was one of my early thoughts. However with a magnifying glass, what first looks like a serial appears to be two or three lines of inscribed text – which confused me further still! Maybe tomorrow I’ll rescan the photo at a higher resolution and then post that – in the hope that others might find clues where I have failed to do so.
By: BlueRobin - 2nd February 2009 at 21:49
What’s the serial below the horizontal stab?
By: sycamore - 2nd February 2009 at 21:03
Possibly Middle Wallop-give the Museum a bell and see if they might know; as it`s also got an LS carrier it might be for dropping `bombs` or flares in a staged `demo`..
By: zoot horn rollo - 2nd February 2009 at 19:01
looks like arabic. Iraqi or iran machine captured by Israel?
Give the cars in the background, more likely to be an apprentices joke at an open day somewhere in the UK.
By: Fouga23 - 2nd February 2009 at 18:57
looks like arabic. Iraqi or iran machine captured by Israel?
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February 2, 2009 at 6:41 pm