I recently posted these photographs in another thread, and a couple of kind people have suggested they should have a thread of their own. They are part of a collection of around 100 photographs rescued from a dustbin in Luton about three years ago, and formerly the property of the late WO Jim Fenn, who served in the RAF from 1918 up to at least 1943.
There are a few official photos, but the vast majority are private shots. The five shown here are:
Vickers Vernon over Hinaidi
AWA Atlas I of 208 Squadron Heliopolis detachment at Ramleh in 1930/31
Fairey Gordon of 6 Squadron after a forced landing at Kolundia on 17 August 1935
Spad 56 at either Heliopolis or Hinaidi
Vickers Viking at hinaidi in 1924
I hope some of you like them.
By: ALBERT ROSS - 5th August 2005 at 23:01
Albert, in answer to your question… a Caribou..Aussie ?
PS..er, no, noticed the large spinner and wider prop blades, plus not so many external hinges , so, probably a Buffalo…….?
PPS..the 20Sdn Pioneer seems to be a lot further North than Singers, as I don`t recall any mountains around there !
First thoughts are right! It is a RAAF Caribou! As for the 20 Sqn. Pioneer, I just guessed that as 20 Sqn. had their Hunters at Tengah, that’s where it should have been based.
By: sycamore - 5th August 2005 at 22:10
Albert, in answer to your question… a Caribou..Aussie ?
PS..er, no, noticed the large spinner and wider prop blades, plus not so many external hinges , so, probably a Buffalo…….?
PPS..the 20Sdn Pioneer seems to be a lot further North than Singers, as I don`t recall any mountains around there !
By: ALBERT ROSS - 5th August 2005 at 20:26
It’s called ‘cross-matching’ I think – just rebrand both threads ‘the RAF overseas’?
By: JDK - 5th August 2005 at 08:23
Yeah, we get exposed to other pics we might not have looked at otherwise… 😀
By: Steve Bond - 5th August 2005 at 08:20
Just noticed that the two similar theads have got confused here, oh well, I am sure the interested folk will find there way around them.
By: Steve Bond - 5th August 2005 at 08:18
Can’t offer more Pioneers just yet (I haven’t scanned them so far), but thanks for those lovely examples Albert.
How about these instead?:
Shackleton MR.1As of 220 Squadron St.Eval during a goodwill tour to Ceylon in February 1952 (2 shots)
Brigand cockpit, 84 Squadron Seletar 1951
Brigand RH823 84 Squadron, Seletar 1951 (2 shots)
Brigand RH828 84 Squadron, Seletar 9 November 1950 (3 shots)
Spitfire 24 PK683 “gate guarding” at Changi (2 shots). I know this aircraft has figured elsewhere recently, but not in colour (credit to Geoff Mann)
By: Alex Crawford - 4th August 2005 at 15:42
Excellent photos, more Pioneers please. 😀
Alex
By: JDK - 4th August 2005 at 13:02
Lurking in the left background, you can just make out Lysander prototype K6128, which was there on tropical trials.
AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Stop finding more Lysander shots! Gah. I’m trying to finish this book! (Mutters ‘thank you.’)
Anyway, yes, it was on Tropical trials, and never came back. Incidentally, talking of tropical trials, the cockpit heaters, which used the oil coolers as their heat source, probably worked fine here. In Canada, when you really needed the heater, the oil didn’t need cooling, so the heater din’t work. Brilliant. The Indian Air Force found the tailwheel was very vulnerable on rough fields, and invented a bamboo / wood version in service.
Cheers!
By: GASML - 4th August 2005 at 12:51
One more shot for now, just in case anyone is still viewing this thread:
Stil viewing this thread? You bet. This and the one showing the Seletar shots have been the highlight of the week!
By: ALBERT ROSS - 3rd August 2005 at 22:19
One more shot for now, just in case anyone is still viewing this thread:
….still viewing this thread :confused: I’m having a hard job to compete with this and beats sitting in front of the ‘box’ each evening! 😮
Let’s keep the FEAF theme going with a little pioneering spirit :rolleyes: …
Here are another four from me:
20 Squadron’s Forward Air Control Pioneer CC.1, XK370, over the Singapore jungle in 1966.
Another Pioneer CC.1, XL702, of 209 Sqn. up from Kuching in 1966.
A Royal Malaysian Air Force Twin Pioneer at Tengah, Singapore on 11 Oct.1971. (Can anyone guess what aircraft’s wing this was taken under?)
Belvederes of 66 Sqn. at Singapore in 1962, shortly after they arrived.
By: Steve Bond - 3rd August 2005 at 08:38
One more shot for now, just in case anyone is still viewing this thread:
A hangar at Drigh Road in India. The two obvious aircraft are Wapitis K1288 and J9496. Lurking in the left background, you can just make out Lysander prototype K6128, which was there on tropical trials.
By: JDK - 2nd August 2005 at 09:27
Wel, it’s a Fokker Trimotor, as you say, but beyond that I can’t guess.
KLM certainly ventured long distances, and the Trimotor was used all over the world, in Australia and the UK. My vague stab would be a civil one ‘passing through’ going further south east.
By: Steve Bond - 2nd August 2005 at 08:15
Any clues on the Fokker? trimotor in the background anybody?
By: JDK - 1st August 2005 at 10:28
I love the Spad 56, as I do all of those early ‘airliners’ contrived from bits of WWI-era millitary aircraft. Do any survive today?
There’s a Farman fuselage (looks like a Pullman carrage) at Le Bourget:
FARMAN F-60 GOLIATH
Henry FARMAN (1874-1958)
1919 Dim : 28 m x L 15.10 m, poids : 4.500 kg INV : 45
Le Goliath est le premier avion de transport civil français. Dérivé du bombardier F.50 devenu inutile avec la fin des hostilités, le F-60 inaugure dès 1919, la première ligne aérienne en reliant Paris à Londres, puis Bruxelles et à Casablanca sans escale. L’année suivante, il est utilisé par de nombreuses compagnies aériennes. Le musée de l’Air et de l’Espace possède le seul fuselage encore existant.
From their overdesigned website
here
Great shots, thanks a lot for sharing.
By: Steve Bond - 1st August 2005 at 09:24
Perhaps you might like to see some more?
Fairey Gordons including JR9642 and JR9806 of 6 Squadron and K2620 of 35 Squadron
Fairey IIIF KR1704 of Aircraft Depot Aboukir, come a cropper in February 1937
Short Scylla G-ACJK of Imperial Airways
Vickers Vimy F9190 of 216 Squafron Heliopolis, over Hinaidi in 1924
No, the chap in the Atlas photograph is not James Fenn, and I am afraid there is no clue on the original photo as to who it might be.
By: Will J - 23rd July 2005 at 20:30
Brilliant, it is these kind of random historical gems that make the forum that bit extra special, as well as the ‘hot off the press’ modern warbird stuff.
I love the Spad 56, as I do all of those early ‘airliners’ contrived from bits of WWI-era millitary aircraft. Do any survive today?
By: ALBERT ROSS - 23rd July 2005 at 20:00
What a bit of luck! It makes you wonder how many photos and slides get thrown away by families who have no idea of their value after they have been lovingly cherished by the deceased for years! Well done Steve!
By: RPSmith - 23rd July 2005 at 15:05
WOW fabulous stuff.
In the shot of the two AW Atlases – is the person standing in the forground the gent you said who’s photos they were?
Roger Smith.
By: Mark12 - 22nd July 2005 at 20:02
Perhaps a moderator would be kind enough to move my additional information on these photos over from the original thread too?
From Papa Lima,
The Vernon in post #1 is a Mk I model, J6867. These aircraft cost GBP 6000 each!
__________________
“Aviation is a useless and expensive fad advocated by a few individuals whose ideas are unworthy of attention.”
Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Sir W. G. Nicholson
By: Mark12 - 22nd July 2005 at 20:01
Perhaps a moderator would be kind enough to move my additional information on these photos over from the original thread too?
From Papa Lima.
Regarding post #1, an identical photo of Vickers Viking Mk V serial N157 with uncowled Lion engine is on page 123 of my Putnam “Vickers Aircraft since 1908” by C.F. Andrews. This was one of two attached to 70 Sqn in Iraq to explore the feasibility of using amphibian aircraft in such areas as the Middle East.
__________________
“Aviation is a useless and expensive fad advocated by a few individuals whose ideas are unworthy of attention.”
Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Sir W. G. Nicholson
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July 22, 2005 at 3:34 pm