Post WW2 impressed aircraft sales

Developments

Well, I managed to acquire a full set (except, unfortunately, the index) from the USA. Curiously the bookplates suggest that volumes I to III originate from Owen Thetford’s library! Volume III, appendix I lists all of the aircraft offered for sale at the 5 MU sale in December 1945. However, unsurprisingly, the detail is not as extensive as I am seeking. By chance, I found that I have a copy of Air Britain Archive No. 1 for 1980, which suggests a number of Air Ministry files that might take my research further. So it looks as if Kew will be my next point of call – when next I go back to the UK. Unless anyone has a better idea!

Well, it looks as if I will have to call it a day and turn elsewhere for leads to enable me to pursue this line of enquiry. But thanks to all who have input to this thread! A bientôt à tous!

Thanks to all for the input. However if there is anyone else out there who has additional information on this subject, do please post it!

Just found them on bookfinder! A minute ago!

Many thanks. I have now found them. Looking at the prices sought for the set indicates that the surmise, contained in my post of 5 August, was not far off the mark. But then, they are being sold from the US!

Just found them on bookfinder! A minute ago!

“Impressments Log” 😉

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I also tried searching against Impressments Log – but again without any result!

I got a complete set a few years ago from here

http://www.bookfinder.com/

There are 2 Indexes and 1 copy of Volume 2 on it now (average price £20)

So hurry!!!

Put “Impressment Log” in title

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Many thanks for the lead but it appears that they have gone. A search under that title reveals nothing. C’est la vie!

I’m grateful, Tim. I will try to obtain a copy of the Aeroplane article.

Many thanks Tim!

If at some time you can be more specific as to the Aeroplane Spotter, Aeroplane and Flight articles, I will be very grateful. Until then I will wait in the hope of receiving other leads that might take me further down this particular road!

I’ve found the article published in Aeroplane. It was in the issue of 14 Dec 1945 on pages 687/8

Tim

Merci à tous!

I will approach the CAA to see if it has archives. However I fear that, even if it does, that will provide only the “wrong end” information. What I am seeking relates to the sale of the aircraft out of military impressment. As to the Air Britain Impressments Log, can somebody – who has a set of this work – please tell me if it incorporates the information which, in my original post, I indicated that I am seeking! Beyond that, I seem to have progressed no further. So is there any one out there with an idea that might enable me to progress – j’attends votre réponse!

A très bientôt, j’espère!

Put “Impressment Log” in title

“Impressments Log” 😉

I got a complete set a few years ago from here

http://www.bookfinder.com/

There are 2 Indexes and 1 copy of Volume 2 on it now (average price £20)

So hurry!!!

Put “Impressment Log” in title

Do the CAA have an archive department ? The G-INFO web search does not help but I would guess the data will be available in paper form. As a lot of the impressed types were DeHaviland does information exist within there records, sorry I do not have any contact details.

DOUGHNUT

Many thanks Tim!

If at some time you can be more specific as to the Aeroplane Spotter, Aeroplane and Flight articles, I will be very grateful. Until then I will wait in the hope of receiving other leads that might take me further down this particular road!

The revised volumes (comprising 204 pages plus detailed index) were published over a number of years. I have the full 4 volume set + separate index and the dates of issue were 1962 Vol 1, !963 Vol 2, 1964 Vol 3, 1966 Vol 4 and (undated) Log Index. They have no ISBN printed on them.

I built my set up by obtaining individual volumes and trading spares – full sets rarely come on the market but you can be lucky! The type of detail such as price and condition of individual aircraft at the Kemble sale aircraft isn’t covered as the logs relate more to origins of each airframe, their use and disposal . Mention is made of disposals not only from Kemble but later from Cosford and Aston Down. The listings include foreign registered impressed aircraft.

Aeroplane Spotter did an article on the major Kemble sale at the time (sorry my full set is inaccessible right now so can’t tell you the issue number). I’ve also seen an article in Aeroplane or Flight of the era.

Tim

Many thanks, Alertken and Doughnut.

I suspect that ‘Impressments Log’ will prove to be, like certain other old and small print run monographs, impossible to obtain on the secondhand market! The sort of publication that is jealosly guarded by those who have it and, on the rare occasion that one appears on the market, is fought over by potential purchasers and eventually changes hands for a tidy sum! That being said, does it go beyond just identifying those aircraft impressed – type, civil registration, military serial, impressment date and date of restoration to a civil register – and extend to all or any of the particular information I am seeking? If, Alertken, you can let me know by reference to your 1959 edition, I shall be grateful.

I have, I think, identified all aircraft that were impressed and returned to the UK civil register. However, Doughnut, where do I go from there? The RAF Museum tells me that it has no information relating to this particular area of interest to me. Using all the keywords of which I could think for the purpose of an online search, I also drew a blank with the National Archives at Kew. So have you or anyone else out there got any ideas that might help me!

Not sure if this helps but ‘British Military Serials’ by Bruse Robertson gives many impressed civil aircraft mostly in the AV to AX range. We might be able to back track from there?

Peter W Moss, Impressments Log, Air-Britain. I have the 1959 slim first run; in 1962 came a 4-volume version (none today on abebooks).