I’ve an old photo album of my Dad’s containing 50+ b&w prints of photos he took as a boy in the south of England in 1952 and 1953.
Most are average quality and of the usual suspects in and around Hurn although there are a few more interesting examples – a Javalin prototype, Comet 1 landing sequence, various airliners diverted due to fog. Main catagories would be UK military, commercial airliners and private light aircraft (I haven’t much clue what most of the latter are).
I can (and will anyway) scan them. Can anyone recommend a good site to post the better ones to?
Attached is a typical example. It is captioned ” Meteor 8 WK647 54 Squadron Hullavington July 1952″
By: Skybert - 23rd December 2007 at 18:33
The other thing that caught my eye are the two aircraft in the background right (and perhaps one left of the Viscount’s port main gear).
Of the two on the right, the left most is probably an Avro York from the high wing and three fins. What’s the other one? Its four engined, low winged, single finned and has a tail wheel. My immeadiate reaction was Fw200… which seems pretty improbable. Could it be an Avro Tudor?
Here’s about the best blow up / ‘enhance’ I can manage:
Hi Ray Jade; I saw these pic’s now for the first time, what a fascinating time machine these pictures are! As for this blowup, i flipped through all the pages but may have missed anyones reply. If no one did; my guess is your ” four engined, low winged, single finned and has a tail wheel” object is a HP Hastings
By: avion ancien - 23rd December 2007 at 17:48
Back again folks, dirty brown from Cyprus…is this the wrong forum to rant about the WRC Rally?
Oh, well. Back to Dad’s old pics then… The next few are not very good quality often blurry and needing a lot of enlargement of the aircraft. Never-the-less…
Auster G-AJAC
Caption “Autocrat Brig RL Hutchins” and “Hurn 12/03/52”. The second caption is probably a first seen date; the airfield looks more like Hamble than Hurn.
UK civil register has this aircraft as Auster J/1N, c/n 2236, built in 1946. Its CoA expired in 1979, but the aircraft was evidently re-registered in 1992 before being de-registered in 1999. The owners were two private individuals near Exeter.
There are two photos of this aircraft listed at http://www.transportphotos.com/ac_lists/auster.doc, one of which dates from 1980. Five pictures are listed in the AJ Jackson Collection.
Does anyone know the fate of this aircraft?
Forgive me. I have been delving into the past! In the late 1970s G-AJAC was owned and flown by Rupert Hibberd, a Somerset vet and sometime secretary of the (then) IAPC. He based the Alpha in a farm field on the top of Creech Hill. If my memory serves me correctly, it was an interesting place to fly into and out of – I recollect the ground falling away alarmingly, on the west side, as the field boundary was cleared (perhaps better for bungee launching a glider and ridge soaring!) and a maggot farm on the east (downwind!) side. G-AJAC changed hands when Rupert Hibberd acquired an Aiglet Trainer, G-BGKZ, from France. I last saw G-AJAC picketed in a field on the south side of the A35 between, I think, Axminster and Honiton. Probably that would have been in the early 1980s. I seem to think that it suffered an accident subsequently. I am sure that research on the web would confirm or deny this and probably tell more of its fate and, if it is extant, its current status.
By: BlueRobin - 30th May 2007 at 16:57
I think it is a blanket rule, Ray. Try PMing Webbie if you are really desperate. It though may be quicker to upload them to a photo-sharing site e.g. photobucket.com and display them here. Let me know if you need a hand.
By: Ray Jade - 30th May 2007 at 16:53
Quota’d Out
Well, I had an idea that I’d finally post the last few piccies to finish this thread. Seems that whilst I’ve been away the servers have had to have limits on attachments. Are these stretchable…?
By: Ray Jade - 22nd June 2006 at 17:18
94 Airspeed AS57 Ambassador G-ALZN “Elizabethan”
Another blurry one
Caption “Ambassador LZN Hurn 11th October 1952”.
Potted history from Air Britain Spring 2003. c/n 5212, flew first commercial ‘Elizabethan’ flight with BEA (and was flagship), but returned to Airspeed until April 1953 for trials.
Involved in a mid-air collision with Air France DC-4 F-BBDP at 7000 feet over Paris. Although a large part of G-ALZN’s wing tip was lost, Capt Gilman landed the aircraft safely. He, the Air France pilot and the responsible ATC had a post-flight discussion of some vigour, by Gilman’s account.
iirc, this was also the aircraft that suffered locked elevators in flight due to ice on the control cables. The ice was formed from condensation of water vapour vented from the pressure cabin.
Never very lucky, it suffered collapsed undercarriage at Le Bourget in 1955, and dispensed with its front wheel somewhere over Rome in 1958.
Passed to Dan-Air in the 1960’s and used for ‘slush on runway’ trials to investigate the true cause of the Munich Air Disaster. Served until 1967 then broken up at Lasham. The colour photo is from somewhere on the net.
As flagship, G-ALZN featured in some of BEA’s best PR photos, post cards etc.
Next few are better quality…
By: Ray Jade - 22nd June 2006 at 12:43
93 Douglas B26 Invader
Another pretty rotten shot, but at least an unusual type.
Caption “B26 Invader 435857 Hurn 3rd September 1952”.
No match to USAAF serial found. Most 1943 A26 Invaders had serials in the range 43-22252 to 22751; most likely match from http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html is:
Douglas A-26C-50-DT Invader 44-35857 (c/n 29136), to civil registry as N9300R, to Airspray (67) of Canada as C-FCTZ [CF-CTZ] Oct 9, 1979, Air Spray #13. No longer on Canadian register, although Airspray did operate Invaders until at least 2004. Pictures and detailed history to 2002 at http://www.warbirdregistry.org/a26registry/a26-4435857.html. Any idea what happen to her subsequently?
Conceivable is Douglas A-26C-30-DT Invader is 44-35357 (B-26C) loaned to France Mar 1952 for service in Indochina. Crashed on landing at Haiphong Apr 10, 1954. Just possible that this is the aircraft on its ferry flight, although the dates aren’t a great match.
Was it normal for B26’s to be so black and so devoid of markings (as far as this photo allows?)
By: Ray Jade - 22nd June 2006 at 12:21
92 DH82A Tiger Moth G-ADWO
Seems to have been a year, so in an effort to finish this dusty thread, here’s the next in sequence:
92 DH82A Tiger Moth G-ADWO
Caption “Tiger Moth DWO Christchurch 6th September 1952”; first spotted 24th August 1952.
G-INFO gives it c/n 3455. Listed (http://daveg4otu.tripod.com/airfields/xchres.html) as belonging to Christchurch Aero Club 1951-1958, and in http://www.dehavilland.ukf.net/Amend%2022Oct03.rtf as served BB807 before returning to the civil register; crashed Whitchurch 31-Jul-58 rebuilt as G-ADXT with parts from c/n 3436 (G-ADXT, BB860, G-ADXT). Both originally built in 1935
http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/Aircraft/Preserved/TigerMoth.html lists it as still airworthy as G-ADXT. (G-INFO as has this information, together with a nice piccy http://www.caa.co.uk/applicationmodules/ginfo/ginfo_photo.aspx?regmark=G-ADXT&imgname=G-ADXT001&imgtype=jpg)
On 22nd June 2001 (http://www.aaib.gov.uk/sites/aaib/cms_resources/dft_avsafety_pdf_500228.pdf) the aircraft was suffered extensive fuselage damage in a forced landing following engine failure. Pilot and trainee not injured.
Anyone know if the aircraft is flying again?
By: Tillerman - 25th September 2005 at 13:48
after all I believe the picture I put up was from official sources.
How’s that with the copyright?
I “rescued” a load of old official publicity shots of various -now classic- aircraft when, during the 80’s, the handling company I worked for cleared out the archives and threw it into the garbage. I took a box full of really mouthwatering photos home. On some (not all) of them, there are at the back some stamps and notes of photo agencies wich no longer exist. I tried to find out who owns the copyrights now, but I can’t find any references…
I would love to share the pictures here, but I’m not sure about the consequences.
To give you an idea of the kind of pictures: roll-out of prototype Bac 1-11, in-flight photos of Bac 1-11’s and VC-10’s (Britsh United livery), VC-10’s at Nairobi and Gatwick, a wonderful Britannia at Newcastle, loads of early Carvairs and Bristol 170’s (including the Mk.32, which are quite rare). One picture I consider really rare is a photo of a mock-up, scaled down model of the proposed Carvair-7, a Dart-engined version which was never built -as all of you know.
Any ideas or tips?
Tillerman.
By: Ray Jade - 22nd June 2005 at 13:09
I was wondering about Mossies at Hurn (what / why etc) and did some digging. From http://daveg4otu.tripod.com/fru.html, its most likely that these are Fleet Requirements Unit aircraft operated by Airwork Services. The following are listed as FRU aircraft:
MOSQUITO PR.16
Serial:code: Arrived Departed / Fate
MM342 17-10-52 30-9-53 to Lossiemouth
RF985 10-8-52(approx) after 7-53 SOC at Lossiemouth by 6-54
SEA MOSQUITO TR.33
RG175 10-8-52 12-52+
TW227 14-8-52 27-1-53+
TW236 24-10-52* 3-9-53+
TW239 unconfirmed
TW243 15-8-52 13-4-53+
TW245 Unconfirmed
TW246 Unconfirmed
TW249 14-8-52 1-7-53+
TW252 15-8-52 3-2-53+
TW253 26-8-52 Crash landed Hurn 18-02-53
TW255 1-9-53* 1-7-53+
TW256 26-1-53* Crash landed Hurn April 53
TW278 Unconfirmed
TW292 16-9-52* 27-2-53+
TW294 15-8-52 15-4-53+
By: Ray Jade - 21st June 2005 at 21:12
87 – 91 DH 106 Comet 1 G-ALYV
Captioned “Hurn 5th September 1952”. Probably not a sequence, but several different take-off and landing by BOAC crews familiarising with the type. The last shot is an accidental double exposure.
G-ALYV was c/n 6008. There is very little info on this particular airframe beyond its demise.
On 3rd May 1953, the aircraft departed Dum Dum Airport, Calcutta en route to Delhi and climbed away into heavy, thundery rain. About six minutes later at 10000 feet, the aircraft broke up in flight, killing all 43 on board. The cause was not satisfactory established but in general was found at the time to have been structural failure caused either by the weather or the pilot’s control in the weather (early Comets poor feeling in their flight controls). The loss of this aircraft was never officially linked with the pressure cabin fatigue failures of other Comet’s that also occurred during the climb phase of their flights, probably because not much wreckage was recovered at the time.
In the background – some Mossies. What’s the bulge on the left-most one?
By: Ray Jade - 21st June 2005 at 20:33
86 Auster J5G Cirrus Autocar G-AMPA
Caption “Autocar MPA Farnborough 7th September 1952”. Evidently equipped for crop spraying and the livery of Pest Control Ltd. Not featured in Pathe’s report on the 1952 airshow – well worth a look at (www.BritishPathe.com; use advanced search and film ID26.65)
According to G-INFO, this was c/n 2987, built 1952 and CoA expired 1956. AJ Jackson photographed it (http://www.ajjcollection.co.uk/amaa.htm). He also recorded it as being transferred to Sudan as SN-ABE (http://www.ajjcollection.co.uk/misc2.htm). There is no further record, so presumably it became a cropper there :rollyeyes: .
There are parts of at least three other aircraft in the photo; today’s bonus for naming the make and type of all three with smart-alec points awarded for registration numbers.
By: Ray Jade - 21st June 2005 at 20:30
85 Bristol 173 G-ALBN
No caption; Farnborough 7th September 1952
Another fairly poor picture, I’m afraid. G-ALBN was the first prototype of the Bristol 173, which eventually lead to the Bristol 192 Belvedere. It also carried the military serial XF785 at various times including carrier trials on HMS Eagle in 1953. It took the maintenance serial 7648M and was deep stored in Cosford. http://www.filton.flyer.co.uk/bristol/prod173.html.
Since 2002, it has been at Kemble.
Plenty of good piccies at http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/table.php?searchitem=%25G-albn%25&mtv=G1&pnum=1; AJ Jackson fired off just one http://www.ajjcollection.co.uk/b17.htm .
By: adrian_gray - 21st June 2005 at 19:52
Anybody identify the aircraft in the background (which are sharper than the consul…)?
Hmmm. Reminds me of a Hastings, but I’m not sure that they sit high enough. Anyone got a piccy of a Tudor to hand? That’s got to be a good bet.
Adrian
By: Ray Jade - 21st June 2005 at 17:01
83 Bristol 175 Britannia G-ALBO
No caption. Farnborough 7th September 1952
G-ALBO was the Britannia prototype, which first flew 16th August 1952.
It was used for the bulk of the Britannia test programme, especially after the loss of the second prototype. It was used for trials of the Bristol Orion turboprop (http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/getobject.php?rnum=G1984&searchitem=Bristol&mtv=G1&pnum=13) and thus the Britannia 400 twin deck airliner.
AJ Jackson took 21 shots of this aircraft including air-to-air (http://www.ajjcollection.co.uk/alaa.htm)
The RAF Museum apparently has one or more engines preserved (http://www.mda.org.uk/aircraft/3341.htm)
By: Ray Jade - 21st June 2005 at 16:21
84 Gloster Javelin Second Prototype WD808
Caption “Javelin WD808 Farnborough 7th Spetember 1952”
After the John Derry crash, the weather on 7th must have seemed suitably gloomy.
WD808 flew for the first time in August 1952 and put on an impressive performance at the SBAC show (the Pathe archive has some good flying footage). It was destroyed in June 1953 after encontering superstall, killing Peter Lawrence.
Better pics and write-up at http://www.btinternet.com/~javelin/p02_development/p02_development.htm
Aircraft in background? Ganet
By: Ray Jade - 17th June 2005 at 15:11
82 Vickers Wellington NA916
Caption “Wellington NA916 Hullavington July 1952”
No hits on the web for this aircraft, not even AJ Jackson.
Previously on this thread, folks have guessed at Mk X and 201AFS. Is there enough to confirm that here?
My father recalls that he was due to fly in these aircraft (ATC Cadet Camp) but they were grounded due to a recent fatal accident. Anyone know anyhing about the circumstances?
By: Ray Jade - 17th June 2005 at 14:57
80 DH89A Domine (Dragon Rapide) G-AIDL / 81 Airspeed Consul
A few poor ones and a few good ones left.
80 DH89A Domine (Dragon Rapide) G-AIDL
No caption. Hurn, on or after 9th April 1952.
Possibly one of the least good photos ever published of “The Wander”, Googling on this aircraft’s registration gives well over 100 good hits.
C/n 6968 built 1946 and registered as TX310 but immediately declared surplus, it was brought by Allied Airways Ltd (as G-AIDL) and used as the personal aircraft of Eric Gandar Dower. By the early 1950’s, it was owned by Goodhew Aviation Limited. Did they operate it in 1952?
After a very long service history (most of which is here: http://www.cct.u-net.com/c:%5CHACHomepage/DH89G-AIDL.html) , its now operated by Air Atlantique and frequently seen out and about.
81 Airspeed Consul
No caption. Any body recognize the livery?
Anybody identify the aircraft in the background (which are sharper than the consul…)?
By: Bruce - 16th June 2005 at 14:57
It ‘looks’ like a T3
By: Ray Jade - 16th June 2005 at 13:53
79 DH98 Mosquito
No caption
Clearly at Hurn, possibly August 1952.
Sadly, the picture is too blurred for a serial number (or indeed anything very identifying).
Anyone care to identify the mark and guess the unit?
By: Ray Jade - 16th June 2005 at 13:46
78 Vickers Viscount 700 G-A???
No caption.
By comparison with 77 (VT-DEO) this photo was taken on 29th August 1952 at London Heathrow. My father did not note any ‘first seen’ Viscounts that day, but in the middle of a selection of numbers for the 29th at Heathrow is G-ALWE, Hurn 28th August 1952 which may mean that he saw this aircraft again next day (or maybe something else reminded him?)
It is not a 600 series prototype from the fuselage length and number of windows. In any case, the first prototype was in bits in Kartoum having suffered a collapsed undercarridge on the 27th.
It might be either 700 series G-AMAV (see http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showpost.php?p=335949&postcount=19) or 701 series G-ALWE or G-ALWF. The latter were built in 1952 but I can’t determine when or if the might have been in BEA colours at Heathrow in late August 1952.
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