More on an aviation theme i have been given the name of Nigel Ponsford who we think may be (or have been) connected with the Midland Aircraft Museum, I am keen to get in contact with him.

I am currently looking into the prototype Luton Minor (G-AEPD), all the records so far confirm that it was sold to AJ Cook of Anstruther, I can find nothing on AJ Cook? Also looking at a map of the area round Anstruther and a search for airfields nothing comes up so is it likely that this was a home address on the CAA record and not airfield?

Also connected with G-AEPD I have been told that at some time AJ Cook may have kept the aircraft at Dumbarton before it was destroyed (by a car!)…. again no references to an airfield at Dumbarton, was there any other military/civil site that could explain why it was kept here???

Nigel Ponsford purchased a pair of Luton Minor wings off the Midland Air Museum (which evolved out of the Midland Aircraft Preservation Society) some years ago.
I had been on a “wrecks and relics” trip with Bob Ogden (camping, travelling in his Mini Cooper S) around North England/South-Mid Scotland (c. 1970)when we found a pair of Luton Minor wings in the roof of a barn on a farm in the Edinburgh area (working from memory here). Not a million miles from Anstruther we thought they could be from G-AEPD. We negotiated acquisition for the MAPS and, a few weeks later, I drove the Society’s J4 van up from Coventry to get them down and transport (on the roof). They had many years of dust/cr*p on them. Painted dark blue there was no evidence of any markings on them (photos of G-AEPD I think show the registration under the wings) but we still thought they could be from the prototype. We were told that the aeroplane had been run into by a car and only the wings saved and stored in the roof. The MAPS registered them as a rebuild project and acquired the registration G-BAPC (BAPC = British Aviation Preservation Council) but nothing towards a rebuild was actually done.

As I said they were eventually disposed of to Nigel Ponsford who has/had quite an interest in Luton Minors. I don’t know Nigel myself – but I know a man who does 🙂 Will try and get contact details (unless anyone else comes up with them).

Roger Smith.

……Luton Aircraft Ltd was registered as limited liability company on the 1st Jan 1935 with a registered office at 240 Luton Road, Dunstable, Beds… what’s interesting this is the same address/date as the Dunstable Sailplane Company also ‘owned’ by CH Latimer-Needham, thats not interesting enough well how about its also the registered office of Grice and Young, and Zander & Weyl at the same time? …..

Jenna, this may not be as mysterious as it appears. A Limited Company had (has) to have an address as it’s “registered office” (which, I believe, had to have a letterbox for receipt of mail). In reality many companies used ‘convenience’ addresses – often a Solicitor’s offices – particularly a company like an aeroplane company or flying club whose only building might be a remotely located hangar. The 1920’s/30s private flying community had it’s share of Lawyers and Solicitors who, presumably, were happy for their offices to be used in such a way.

So, my guess is that 240 Luton Road might have been a Solictor’s office who, through his ‘hobby’ of flying, knew Latimer-Needham and the other principals involved in those companies?

Very interesting thread – am enjoying it.

Roger Smith.

Thanks for those.

Pic 3 looks like a Napier Lion – I have seen it noted they have a Lion series V recovered from a crashed Fairey IIIF.

Roger Smith.

Am I right in thinking that the exchange rate is about 2.7 NZ$ to 1 GBPound??

At 18 NZ$ (15 + 3 p&p) that makes it £6.67 ??? – I must have that wrong.:confused:

Roger Smith.

Has anyone created and maintained a full list of ATC airframes over the life of the Corps?

It was Roy Bonser who had the two-part article in FlyPast on this subject. Part 2 was in the February, 2003 issue (so assume part 1 was in the January issue). Haven’t found my copies out yet and can’t remember what level of detail Roy went into, but I’m sure it was more than ‘just’ a list/photos of airframes that went to ATC Squadrons.

Roger Smith.

Strange markings?

Roger Smith.