According to G-INFO it wasn’t registered to Silver City until 1954, but at the time of your pictures was still owned by Bristol – I don’t know if this was a lease or a manufacturer-sponsored trial. Wikipedia tells me that Silver City’s first flight with a Bristol Freighter actually carrying a car was on 14 July 1948, from Lympne to Le Touquet.
I can’t quite make out the reggie on the other Freighter, but it might be AGVC, which was the first Freighter actually built with the opening doors. If so, it would also have been still owned by Bristol at that time, not being registered to Silver City until 1953.

I have spoken to my dad again and he says that his brother, Alan, went to Holland on the plane when in 1949, this was when my dad was doing his national service (1948 to 1950). Also, he said in the front of the photo album are some fuel coupons from Holland and they are dated 1949. So I am sure this ties it down to that date. I have added photos of the coupons (I didn’t realise what they were until tonight).

2014-01-17 21.01.41 by tonylewismostlyme, on Flickr

2014-01-17 21.01.54 by tonylewismostlyme, on Flickr

Tony.

A few more.

Pic 021 by tonylewismostlyme, on Flickr

Pic 013 by tonylewismostlyme, on Flickr

Pic 011 by tonylewismostlyme, on Flickr

Pic 010 by tonylewismostlyme, on Flickr

Tony.

Thanks J Boyle. I’ve looked at Google and cannot see anything like I’m looking for, All looks more recent buildings. Thanks for your comments though.

Can’t remember but the RAF Henlow ones may be similar?

They do look very similar from the air, and there are LOADS of them. Good find, well done Rob. Have to try and find a ground level view now.

First editions of any book are normally identified by the lack of the phrase ‘Re-printed ****’ or ‘Second edition ****’ etc. on the publishing info page at the front.

Ah that’s good. Mine are first then, 2000 and 2001 respectively.

It would probably be 6A/726, Type P8 (Luminous). (Luminous = radium painted = radio active – you can see the biscuit coloured markings under the glass). Can you see one?

I’ve heard two suggestions for the P8M:

Do you mean on the frame around the underside of the glass of inside the compass intself? There isn’t anything obvious that i can see. Perhaps someone could post a picture showing this and where. I realised that there should have been some sort of plate on the side of the body as the 2 holes (well, indentations really, they have never been drilled) are there.

Tony.