Where and when?

Can you read the serials on the original. It looks to be a coastal location with a railway in the foreground.

John

I think Leuchars. Railway fits and despite modern growth four of the belfast truss hangars are still there with the two middle ones missing. Avro 504N, 1932-35 time
John

You can see the airfield behind the aircraft and the coast to the right.

I think Leuchars. Railway fits and despite modern growth four of the belfast truss hangars are still there with the two middle ones missing. Avro 504N, 1932-35 time
John

I think that fits in with my colleagues thinking although he also thought that it might possibly be Montrose.

thanks

John

I’ve had a look on Multimap and the railway line does indeed look right, as does the shape of the coast. I’d check the history of the hangars, as I’m not convinced that any of those visible are there now, or if they are they seem to have been reduced in span.

Incidentally, has anyone ever been to the Leuchars war memorial? It’s tucked away on its own in a field behind the cemetery over the estuary in Edenside – most peculiar!

Adrian

Take a look at Google Maps. Note the curved rail line in the foreground of the picture. Note also the straight line which traverses the picture. Note also the pointed spit of land in the top right of the picture. On Google the curved line is still in use but the now dismantled straight line is now faintly visible (sometimes as roads). The pointed spit is almost due south of the camp. Zoom in on the group of buildings where Fraser road and Gordon road meet on the camp (adjacent to the woodland) and notice that there are four modified BT type hangars bisected by a large low building (Electronics Centre?) which probably sits on the foundations of the two missing BT hangars. Three Avro 504N’s indicate reasonable usage of the type and not just a station flight. Of the main users of the Avro and a station in a coastal setting, Leuchars comes to the fore.

This is my thinking. One serial off that picture would settle it.

John

I’ll see if I can get my colleague to enhance the original. Thanks for all the input thus far, very interesting

John

Thanks John, I couldn’t see how the current hangar layout fitted the picture, but thanks to your directions I can see that the modern hangars are just to the South of the Belfast Truss ones. I’m convinced.

Now for a serial…

Adrian

I had a play with my MemoryMap software and its 3D mode and got the 50 thou OS map in the correct orientation. It is indeed Leuchars even the woods behind the hangars are still the same shape.

Following the success with the original photo, here’s another to whet the appetite for fun. Again; where, when and what. We have our suspicions but confirmation appreciated:)

cheers

John

Overstrand/Sidestrand, the partial serial is useful but is that a 3 on the rudder? I think it might be J9185 or 9. 85 crashed at North Coates

John

101 Sqn as per number painted on wreck. The attached was taken near Leuchars – possible connection although different serial?

I just noticed the colouring of the lower fuselage and tail stripes, of course it’s a Sidestrand, not an Overstrand.

John

This aeroplane looks as though it was a complete write off so as a Sidestrand not rebuilt as an Overstrand it narrows the field a little. J1978 overshot the field and crashed in Jan 1936 presumably at Bicester and I notice that the tree visible has no leaves, Sooo…

John

Thanks for all your replies so far.

My colleague has cleaned and blown up the images and has teh folloiwng serial nos:

Avro 504N: N236, N826 and ?

Sidestrand: The rudder appears to show J9180 which he believes crashed at Catfoss 5/5/30? whilst on Annual Bombing Camp

Hoep that helps

John

J9180 would appear to fit. I overlooked it as the discription I have is (Catfoss) “hit tree landing, U/c collapsed”. An understatement if this is J9180 🙂 I can’t find my N serials at present but the airfield is Leuchers IMO.

John

You gents are way ahead of me on the serials etc, but I doubt very much that that is May. The tree to the left is, I think, an Ash, which would be bare late, but the hedge behind is bare and the trees on the horizon are too. I doubt it’s later than late March – even at Leuchars, I’d expect it to be a bit more lush by May 5.

If the serial is definitely right I won’t argue, but at the mo I have serious doubts.

Adrian

I doubted the date too, but my colleague has done his research and the aircraft was definitely listed as crashing in May. Those trees do look bare though……………

The cottage in the background of the Sidestrand accident also doesn’t seem in keeping with the architecture which was/is the norm around Bicester.

J9180 Hit tree landing in bad weather etc,5/5/30. Catfoss

J9178, Overshot landing, 7/1/36 Location? may be Bicester.

J9179, was rebuilt as an Overstrand (so I don’t think it’s this one) braked hard to avoid a colision and turned on nose. 30/3/36.

J9185 converted to Overstrand crashed North Coates 24/1/35.

J9187 C Overstrand, blown over in gale Warmwell 4/12/39 (camo by then?)

The colours in the picture are Sidestrand (Tail stripes and green top and belly)
The only part of the wing serial visible is the starboard lower and is probably 91. What is on the rudder can’t be read on screen.

There were 4 more in the J97– bracket, of which 67 “bounced, hit hedge and ground looped” at Andover in19/12/32.

As to the 504N’s The serials quoted are odd, N236 was a Blackburn Beagle?

John