Who's in the Avro 504K?

The Air Britain publication ‘The British Civil Registers 1919-1928’, Peter Moss 1969 adds little, but does record that:

G-EBCB Avro 504K, formerly H221, no constructor’s number. Issued with a C of A 2nd May 1922 with Kingwill & Jones Flying Co. Withdrawn prior to C of A expiry on 24th April 1929, as marks were cancelled February 1929.

The same publication also rules out G-EACB as the full registration of the aircraft in the OP, a conclusion already arrived at by others.

G-EACB Avro 504K, formerly E1671, no construction number. Registered 9th May 1919 to A.V.Roe & Co. No C of A issued. Marks cancelled in September 1920.

The EAJ monogram on the plane are the initials of the pilot E A Jones who owned G-EBCB in conjunction with Capt A N Kingwill.

This EAJ? http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-captain-eajones-airman-personality-pilots-56329285.html

Martin

This is a photo from my father’s photo album – he’s the one sitting down in the rear cockpit. I guessed he was about 10 when he flew in G-EBCB so that would date the photo around 1924 (two years after the aircraft was first registered) when the family were living in Sutton, so it could have been taken anywhere near London – not necessarily an airfield. He went on to earn his Aviator’s Certificate No 13627 after learning to fly on DH Gipsy Moths with the Insurance Flying School at Hanworth Air Park a couple of miles south-east of what became Heathrow.

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Hello Quorneng

Thank you so much for adding another titbit to the tale. What a wonderful coincidence. It conjures up a marvellous image of yesteryear that I wish I could step into, just to experience what it must have been like to be one of the very first people aloft.

I have alerted my friend to your musings. Thanks again.

Janie
I have only just come across this thread but I can add a bit of information as I have an almost identical photo!
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The above shows my dad and his sister on the occasion of his seventeenth birthday in 1925. Obviously you got a photo included in the cost of the joy ride.

The EAJ monogram on the plane are the initials of the pilot E A Jones who owned G-EBCB in conjunction with Capt A N Kingwill.

They both flew for Northern Airlines based in Manchester (Capt Kingwill was their chief pilot).
There is even a picture of them having flown some Manchester dignitaries down to Croyden.
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Interestingly my family also lived in North London so I suspect the plane was based at Hendon Airport at the time.

It does not answer “who was in the plane” but it does give a bit of background.

My friend (an ex-flying instructor, as a ‘by-the-way’) discovered his grandfather had a couple of brothers. Ethel was the daughter of one of the brothers. So the inference is that she and Stanley are family and passengers in the aircraft.

I have directed my friend to this thread, but I don’t know if he’ll join in. Let’s see. It’s all very interesting so far and I am very grateful for you enthusiastic responses. I’ll read them all thoroughly when I get out of the office.

EAJ…

A little pure speculation here but…

If these aircraft were owned by Kingwell and Jones (assuming 2 individuals) could the EAJ not actually be the initials of perhaps Ethel? And could she not possibly be a daughter/wife? My thoughts being that the aircraft were ‘named’ and thus emblazoned with the stylized initials of a significant woman in the owner’s family.

We may be looking at the photo assuming that Ethel and Stanley are the 2 in the rear seat – but perhaps Ethel is the aircraft and Stanley is the taller figure seated therein.

James

Janie
Sorry should have said in original post, source is ‘Those Fabulous Flying Years’ an Air Britain Publication, an excellent book.
Does say they operated on the Withernsea/Yorkshire coast.
Have seen similar info in another book I have but unable to find it at the moment,in middle of house move.

Janie –

the 504 is my favourite aeroplane, therefore I spend a great deal of time drooling here http://www.avro504.org/index.shtml the site owner may well be able to assist further, have spoken to him before and he is very helpful…

TT

That aircraft is G-EBCB of Kingwell & Jones Flying services of Alloa and later Turnhouse. Company formed in 1921 with this and one other 504 G-EADH. BCB was destroyed by gales Nov 28.

Pogno: You sound very confident. What is your source?

I understand the family lived in Harrow, North London, so the photo may have been taken on a holiday, unless the aeroplane had gone on tour to England. What do you think the chances of that are?

That aircraft is G-EBCB of Kingwell & Jones Flying services of Alloa and later Turnhouse. Company formed in 1921 with this and one other 504 G-EADH. BCB was destroyed by gales Nov 28.

Steve: I like that possibility, even though the letter does not look like a ‘K’ to me. I don’t know if JJ, our resident calligrapher, can add to that.

I’ll see if the owner can suggest a location.

Melvyn: I’ll give you a bell tonight.

Could the lettering on the badge read KAJ rather than EAJ? According to my Putnams tome G-EBCB was owned by the Kingwill and Jones Flying Co. until it was written off in Feb. 1929. The Jones part of the partnership was O. P. Jones, who later went on to achieve fame as one of BOACs great pilots.

G-EACB does not appear to have had a civilian owner.

The location could be anywhere in the UK. Joyrides were immensly popular during the 1920s.

Best wishes
Steve P

Colin Cruddas did a book on the Cobham circus and the others operating in England at the time. I have it somewhere but no time to look it up at the moment.

Watch this space or call me tonight

Melv

James

Many thanks for doing the research. I’ll ask my buddy for the hi-res pic.

Later …

Hey Janie…

Thats ‘EAJ’ – just have to love the ‘art deco’ period – typography was one of my ‘fun subjects’ in college.

only other info I can offer up comes from G-INFO… they have 2 504Ks that match the partial Registry… G-EACB (E1671) and G-EBCB (H221) – both De-registered, no further info listed.

Any chance of a higher resolution scan of the little bit of type aft of the cockpit?

James