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Where was this photograph taken?

This is one of the first photographs taken of the Channel Airways DC4 in the new colour scheme. It was taken during the Summer of 1962 – can you guess where it was taken?

To give you a clue – it was a UK airfield.

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By: Gooney Bird - 31st March 2006 at 23:01

Excuse my ignorance, but I didn’t realise Argonauts had Merlins, why were they so equipt compared to DC-4’s.

Yes indeed, the Argonaut was basically a “super” DC4 with a number of modifications including the Merlin engines, pressurisation, longer range fuel tanks etc. It was also known as the “North Star” by the Canadian operators?RCAF.

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By: Pete Truman - 31st March 2006 at 22:56

Excuse my ignorance, but I didn’t realise Argonauts had Merlins, why were they so equipt compared to DC-4’s.

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By: Gooney Bird - 31st March 2006 at 18:30

What is the reg of that Aden Airways Argonaut? – I can’t quite make it out.

VR-AAS

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By: Old Git - 31st March 2006 at 17:28

Consul/Steve,

Yes indeed you were both correct.

She was delivered to Southend from Riddle Airlines of Miami on the 19th April, 1962 after a 21 hour flight via Gander. She was then flown to Wymeswold on the 25th April for a Check 4 by Field Aircraft Services. Unfortunately there was a huge dispute over the bill which meant she was unable to enter service that year and did not actually enter service with Channel until Easter 1963.

Also at Wymeswold on the dayt the photo was taken (sometime in the Summer of that year) was an Aden Airways Argonaut (see photo) and apart from some visiting Jet Provosts on a training exercise that was it, so pretty sparse!

Pete – Thanks for sending in the Derby Airways Dakotas. I assume by DC4’s you mean Argonauts.

What is the reg of that Aden Airways Argonaut? – I can’t quite make it out.

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By: Gooney Bird - 31st March 2006 at 14:44

Thanks for the posting. It brings back happy memories as I spent quite a lot of time at Jersey airport from 1960 – 62 in the days of Channel Vikings/Dakotas, BEA Viscounts, Jersey Airlines Herons/Heralds, Derby Airways Dakotas/Marathons, Transair Viscounts, British Eagle Vikings/DC-6’s, Dan Air Dakotas/Freighters, Silver City Dakotas etc, etc.

I liked the one of the BM Dakota as well.

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By: Pete Truman - 31st March 2006 at 14:15

It was a British Midland Herald, the tail of which you can see in the distance as pictured at Jersey Airport 1966, also found a clearer picture of a Derby Airways DC-3 at Derby, early 60’s.

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By: Gooney Bird - 31st March 2006 at 13:28

Correct, in 1966 we were waiting to fly home from Jersey when it was found that the Trumans had been omitted from the schedule, it looked as if we were on to go back on an Argonaut, which I thought was pretty amazing at the time, but my mother had remembered the Stockport aircrash and wasn’t too keen, we ended up flying home in a Herald with just 2 other passengers during a violent thunderstorm which upset her even more. Best rollercoaster ride I ever had.

Yes I remember the Stockport aircrash well, although it was a shame that you missed out on flying in an Argonaut. Those lovely Merlin engines would have been music to the ears!~

By the way, whose Herald was it?

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By: Pete Truman - 31st March 2006 at 13:09

Consul/Steve,

Yes indeed you were both correct.

She was delivered to Southend from Riddle Airlines of Miami on the 19th April, 1962 after a 21 hour flight via Gander. She was then flown to Wymeswold on the 25th April for a Check 4 by Field Aircraft Services. Unfortunately there was a huge dispute over the bill which meant she was unable to enter service that year and did not actually enter service with Channel until Easter 1963.

Also at Wymeswold on the dayt the photo was taken (sometime in the Summer of that year) was an Aden Airways Argonaut (see photo) and apart from some visiting Jet Provosts on a training exercise that was it, so pretty sparse!

Pete – Thanks for sending in the Derby Airways Dakotas. I assume by DC4’s you mean Argonauts.

Correct, in 1966 we were waiting to fly home from Jersey when it was found that the Trumans had been omitted from the schedule, it looked as if we were on to go back on an Argonaut, which I thought was pretty amazing at the time, but my mother had remembered the Stockport aircrash and wasn’t too keen, we ended up flying home in a Herald with just 2 other passengers during a violent thunderstorm which upset her even more. Best rollercoaster ride I ever had.

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By: Consul - 31st March 2006 at 10:04

Glad I was correct – I took a shot of an Air Congo DC-4 in almost the same spot in the 60s! Happy days.

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By: Gooney Bird - 31st March 2006 at 09:33

Consul/Steve,

Yes indeed you were both correct.

She was delivered to Southend from Riddle Airlines of Miami on the 19th April, 1962 after a 21 hour flight via Gander. She was then flown to Wymeswold on the 25th April for a Check 4 by Field Aircraft Services. Unfortunately there was a huge dispute over the bill which meant she was unable to enter service that year and did not actually enter service with Channel until Easter 1963.

Also at Wymeswold on the dayt the photo was taken (sometime in the Summer of that year) was an Aden Airways Argonaut (see photo) and apart from some visiting Jet Provosts on a training exercise that was it, so pretty sparse!

Pete – Thanks for sending in the Derby Airways Dakotas. I assume by DC4’s you mean Argonauts.

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By: Pete Truman - 31st March 2006 at 09:14

How about Derby, Derby Aviation, later British Midland operated DC-4’s from there.
This is a picture of DC-3’s at Derby in the early 60’s

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By: Steve Bond - 31st March 2006 at 08:33

I agree with Wymeswold

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By: hunterxf382 - 31st March 2006 at 00:24

Coventry?????

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By: Consul - 31st March 2006 at 00:19

Was the original shot at Wymeswold?

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By: Gooney Bird - 30th March 2006 at 23:29

This one was taken at Southend with Yankee Yankee turning around ready to take-off from runway 06……….

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By: Gooney Bird - 30th March 2006 at 23:13

I thought i had a pic of it somewhere on my PC, Dont know where this is either !

Nice shot – I don’t know where it is either.

The main destination was Ostend, although it did the occasional Spanish night flight when there wasn’t a Viscount available!

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By: Gooney Bird - 30th March 2006 at 23:11

Head south from Newcastle!

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By: Jamie-Southend - 30th March 2006 at 23:10

I thought i had a pic of it somewhere on my PC, Dont know where this is either !

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By: ALBERT ROSS - 30th March 2006 at 23:10

Further north than Norwich.

Jamie-Southend – indeed the airfield was very sparse!

That means it could be almost anywhere in the UK…Newcastle?

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By: Gooney Bird - 30th March 2006 at 23:07

Norwich?

Further north than Norwich.

Jamie-Southend – indeed the airfield was very sparse!

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