John Aeroclub is nearest to the mark. Being absolutely pedantic the French made Ju52/3m was called the Amiot AAC 1 Toucan. The Pakistani fighters were built as Sea Furies but were “denavalised” on their sale to Pakistan.
Interestingly the French aircraft industry was induced to build most of the transport and trainer types for the Luftwaffe. I believe one or more of the leaders were executed or imprisoned after the war for collaboration with the Germans.
The prize unfortuneately is more photos, most with me in them. First my pathetic claim to my miniscule place in aviation history. RL 141, Mosquito NF36 delivered to Benson 24th July 1953, which AFAIK was the last time a Mossie NF was flown by an RAF crew.
Now hauling my kit out of a Meteor NF13. The parachute pack lies under the dingy pack, on top of which is the rubber emergency water bottle. Anyone tried drinking out of their old rubber hot water bottle. (If you can remember such a beast in this central heated era) This taken by one of our grouncrew and shows the protective mats on the wing to preserve the finish. These didn’t last long, they must have been a right pain in the rear for the groundcrew. Incidentally when the inevitable little scratches appeared and we experienced St Elmo’s fire, these little scratches appeared first as a little blue line. St Elmo’s fire was an interesting phenonomen on the Mossie when first the prop tips would trace a fine blue circle and then the stuff grew down the prop until there were two discs.
Another history shot. A new Meteor NF13 beside a Mossie 36 where a ferry pilot had just delivered to us in March 1953
And finally a broken down Meteor NF13 at Benina Libya, in 1953. Me with the sergeants stripes and the non parade ground hairdo. This one taken by another navigator.
Thanks very much for posting these, Ray Hanna could not be bettered at displaying a warbird. Great to be reminded of the Mossie, I have dug deep in my album for this, if you want to get up close.
Those were different days
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