October 15, 2013 at 9:29 pm
I am researching on behalf of the friends of our local park elements of its history in order to update our website http://www.marburyhall.com/.
The owner of the park from 1927 to 1932 was Colonel Robert Smith Barry who had a remarkable aviation career and to whom thousands of pilots owe their thanks for his development of systematised flying training at RFC Gosport from 1917 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Smith-Barry. (In passing, for those who like larger than life characters and wonderful flying stories, I can recommend his biography, Pioneer Pilot: The Great Smith Barry who taught the world how to fly F.D. Tredrey. Published Peter Davies London 1976.)
Colonel Smith Barry allowed his flying career to lapse from just after WW1 until 1931 when he re-qualified as a pilot and purchased De Havilland Puss Moth G-ABLP. With great thanks to http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/dh80.pdf , the following was discovered about the aircraft:-
Regd G-ABLP[CofR 3145] 7.5.31 to The Hampshire Aeroplane Club, Hamble (Eastleigh wef 11.32); nominee for
Lt-Col Robert Smith Barry and based on strip at Devizes. CofA 3014 issued 16.5.31. Regd (on change of name)
1.2.39 to Hampshire School of Flying Ltd; confirmed by club as still owned by Col Smith Barry 7.40. Regn cld 31.5.41.
To 3 FPP Hawarden 4.12.40. To Gravesend Station Flight 6.5.41. Impressed as EM99531.5.41. To 23 Group, South
Cerney 29.10.41. To 37 Wing, Hawarden 13.6.42 and Swinderby Station Flight 29.6.42. To 5 MU Kemble 13.9.43.
Flown 23.10.43 to Witney for scrapping but used [unofficially] by Philip Gordon-Marshall [DH Witney General Manager].
Soc for spares 15.2.44, but in fact sold to DH for £5 and flown to Hatfield 20.3.44 for use as museum piece. Actual fate unknown.
On closer analysis EM995’s positioning often seems suspiciously to mirror the Colonel’s postings in Britain when he re-enlisted in the RAFVR in May 1940 and rose from a pilot officer to squadron leader in 1943, when he resigned his commission in India, probably due to his war wounds from WW!.
My requests to those on the forum, is help with the following if you can:
1. Does anyone have photographs of G-ABLP / EM995 that we could put on our website?
2. Does anyone have access to any papers or photographs relating to Colonel Smith Barry from 1927 to 1949, when he died?
(Most of his own papers were burned on the death of his wife in 1969).
Thank you
WZ862
By: WZ862 - 24th March 2015 at 20:49
Now found!!!!
Thanks to David Jackson of the The A J Jackson Collection at Brooklands Museum, I have wonderful photographs of Robert Smith Barry’s beloved Annabelle G-ABLP in both civilian and military guises. Your missing photograph is out there if you keep looking.
WZ862
By: Moggy C - 17th October 2013 at 09:47
Retitled
Moggy
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