Old sightings

I have been clearing some old boxes from the garage and found dozens of photographs from some 50 years ago (or more). I’m still sorting them but came across a small batch (none of those listed below were taken by me)with a lot of details written on the back:

28 May 58: Croydon: I-BKET Heron 2D (owned by Fiat)
31 May 58: Shoreham (Rally): OY- DSU, OY-DTA, both a S.A.I. KZ-III, and OO-ODR Miles Gemini 1A
21 July 58: Croydon: 63708 Beech L-23D Seminole (U.S.Army)
26 Oct 58: Southend: G-AOBZ Dove 1B (Channel Airways)
30 June 1959: Shoreham: G-ANRF Tiger Moth (darkish shot, unfortunately)

I have no idea if this information is of interest to anyone but thought I’d post it anyway, just in case.

I also found a postcard from a school chum on holiday in the West Country. It is dated Friday 18 August 1961 and the postmark says Ilfracombe. He writes that “on the way down” (I guess the previous Saturday), he saw:

Thruxton: (G-A)OIX Jackaroo
Boscombe Down: WP205 Valiant
Yeovilton: AL246 Martlet, WM242 Meteor T7, XG775 Sea Vampire and the following Sea Vixens: XJ514, XJ528 and XJ568

Also, at Chivenor (I guess during the week), he had noted: XJ726 Whirlwind, WL360 Meteor T7, VZ657 Meteor TT8, Chipmunks WP872, WK576, WP976, WK590, Hunter F6s XE561, XF443, XE644, XE235, XF387, XG198 and Hunter T7S XL569, XL579, XL572 and XL583.

Again, maybe this will be of interest to someone out there.

In some ways, the above has some personal interest. My first flight was from Southend to Jersey by Channel Airways Viking and, having missed our flight back (courtesy of a late taxi), we were put on the next flight, in a Bristol Wayfarer of Channel Airways. Also, my third ever flight was a joy-ride quickie in a Jackaroo at Thruxton.