August 5, 2024 at 11:30 pm
Good afternoon, everyone! I’m hoping someone here can help steer my research in the right direction. Beginning in the mid-1950s, a woman named “Olive Joyce Marmol” of Southend-on-Sea purchased at least six Tiger Moths (G-ANIX [currently at the Historische Flugzeuge Josef Koch as D-EFTN] as well as G-ANGD, ANTL, ANTT, ANTU, and ANRK) from various civil sources. I’ve tried to uncover more about Ms. Marmol, but the Internet only produced news of her passing on 1 January 2021, aged 95.
But I learned of an aviator previously unknown to me: Ladislav “Ladi” Marmol, a Czech pilot who by any measure lead an astounding life, much of which was spent establishing glider endurance records in the south of England. I’m certain the common surname and locations are more than a coincidence! Apparently, Aeroplane Monthly ran an article about Ladi in April 1998.
Ladi was born in 1920 and Olive in 1926, so my assumption is they were husband and wife. Does anyone know for certain if they were related, for what venture she was purchasing Tiger Moths (and probably other airplanes), or any morsels that may help? Thank you in advance!
By: Mothminor - 8th August 2024 at 19:07
AA, there is a very brief mention in an Air Britain Archive from 1991 which would seem to indicate that the Marmols operated a few of the Tiger Moths in West Germany. No further details given unfortunately.
By: avion ancien - 8th August 2024 at 15:50
Curiously, five out of the six Tiger Moths acquired by Olive Marmol went to West Germany:
G-ANGD (05.11.55) > D-EKAL (01.57)(extant today as D-EQXM)
G-ANTL (06.07.55) > D-EHAG (18.08.56)(destroyed 27.08.60)
G-ANTU (27.07.55) > D-ENYG (15.05.59)(destroyed 13.08.61)
G-ANRK (31.05.56) > D-ENOX (16.07.57)(destroyed 20.04.68)
G-ANIX (14.04.55) > D-ELOM (13.11.55)(extant today as D-EFTN – apparently a composite rebuild)
Only G-ANTT (14.09.55) did not appear on the German Register, having been destroyed on 24.05.56.
By: Mothminor - 8th August 2024 at 15:24
Glad to have helped, nagpaw 🙂
By: nagpaw - 8th August 2024 at 13:48
Mothminor,
Thanks for the excellent info, and the nudge in the right direction!
By: Mothminor - 6th August 2024 at 20:13
Hello Nagpaw,
The Marmols (husband and wife as you thought) traded as a company called Air Ads Ltd or ADS (Aerial) Ltd. They did crop spraying and had contracts as far away as Sudan.
A couple of links which may be of interest to you including an earlier thread on this forum –
https://www.key.aero/forum/historic-aviation/89306-ads-aerial-sprayers