Mike is correct on the details. Fairways operated regular ‘charter’ flights between jersey and Blackbushe at the time. This incident was initially the pilot was hailed as a hero for a successful ditching . In the subsequent enquiry the full details of taking off with insufficient fuel came out. Apparently the engines just quit so he was unable to make land.
There were several companies operating in the 50’s with questionable maintenance and operational practices operating ‘charter’ flights in the loosest possible terms.
What use did this airframe have in ‘civil defence training’ anyway? Cracking photo BTW. I remember reading in a early post war ‘Aeroplane Spotter’ magazine of a IIRC Westland Wallace being with a ATC? unit near Portsmouth station, unless this was the Martlets predecessor?
Although maybe nothing to do with this particular mossie Transport command did use Mossies in 1945-47. They were used for high speed courier runs to supply the European occupation forces .
From my own research on 162 sqn it became part of Transport Command in December 1944 at Bourn. In June 45 they moved to Blackbushe to work on the ADLS (Air Despatch Letter Service) the service also supplied daily British newspapers. Initial route flown was to Brussels and Wiesbaden and then a second route to Oslo via East Fortune. Some flights required a landing but others( mainly to German bases) involved dropping of panniers from the bomb bay via parachute. The squadron ranged as far as Athens, Prague, Vienna and Berlin, but no mention of Iceland. The squadron disbanded in July 1946.
Trying not to go too off thread, the Berlin Museum also had some allied aircraft on display during the war. IIRC there was a Wellington, a Hurricane, Battle, and a couple of French types (bomber Bloch? and a fighter MS406?), and details of which aircraft? Shame the Dornier DoX did not make it out, now that would have been some train:eek:! It was just a shame the UK lagged so far behind Europe in pre-war museums.
The M17 is better known as the Monarch. A 3 seat cabin monoplane, only a small number built in 1938/9 due to work on the Magister. Survivors are G-AFLW long stored at White Waltham and G-AFRZ also stored somewhere.
Going slightly off track I have always wondered why the museum’s Fokker DR1 (the last original one left) was not part of the Berlin shipment, or had it already been damaged?
This is the machine from the Krakow museum.Part of the former Berlin museum collection that fell into Polish hands at the end of WW2 http://mlp.h2.pl/zbiory_sz.php?ido=19&w=a
The FIDO at Blackbushe was used post War on six operational occasions. Five of these were in 1945/46 for transport command flights. After the airport was transferred to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in January 1947 the whole system was overhauled at great expense. It was used just once on 30th November 1948 to allow Airwork Viking, G-AJFS to depart on a government charter will currency for West Africa. There were a couple of ‘demonstration’ burns in which a BOAC York and BEA Viscount and and Ambassador did circuits. The problem was that on average it cost almost £10,000 for a successful 30 minute burn, which was then the price of a DC-3! By the mid 50’s it had become disused due to the cost.The cost of the burn would be charged to the airline, most of which were operating a ‘hand to mouth existence’.
This is something that has puzzled me for some time. I have had published both photos from the original photographer that have given their permission but plenty by unknown photographers. I occasionally buy original photos from ebay, generally from dealers, that I may wish to publish in the future? Who own the copyright for these? I also have several from a deceased photographer, does the copyright pass onto his family for a period?
it was a one off conversion for the Hudson Bay Company of canada. One of the early production airframes, 15th in fact as CF-DJH . IIRC it was only on floats for a short time before being converted to conventional under carriage? It was sold to the US in the 60’s but is no longer current.
Stunning photos of one of the all time great air races. Certainly not seen many photos from the MacRobertson before. Is the trophy(or a replica) still in the galleries at RAFM Hendon?
I have to say the Viking actually served the British airline industry very well. It was actually superior to the Dakota in some ways. It had a higher gross weight, and slightly superior range. That range meant the Viking could make several Spanish desternations direct unlike the Dakota. Although the Viking was more difficult to fly, especially on one engine.
For the independent airlines the Viking was a real workhorse. They cost less than the Dak to buy (i am talking mid 50’s) as Dak’s were in great demand in the US. Spares obviously cost less and were easier to obtain. I think it is a type that is often over looked but it allowed the likes of Eagle, Airwork, Hunting Clan and many others offer cheap flights to Africa and the Mediterranean thus launching the inclusive tour industry.
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