The workshops of Frederick Sage & Co of Johannesburg, photographed on October 4, 1944. Two pairs of repaired Airspeed Oxford mainplanes are about to be returned to the SAAF.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Oxford / AS.10 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

Wingtips and fuselage formers being built in jigs in the Sage factory in September 1944. Sage repaired Avro Anson and Airspeed Oxford airframes - quite a change from its usual shopfitting and general metalwork.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Oxford / AS.10 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

Oxford mainplanes stripped and under repair in the Sage factory in September 1944.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Oxford / AS.10 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

Another view of the Sage works, with construction of wing and fuselage components proceeding.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Oxford / AS.10 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

Oxford and Anson mainplanes under repair in the Sage workshops. The wings of the all-wood Oxford had box spars. Although the Anson's fabric-covered fuselage had a tubular metal framework, its wings were of wood, covered with ply. Both types had an empty weight of about 5,380lb. The Oxford was powered by the 370 h.p. Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah X (some Canadian and Rhodesian Oxfords substituted Pratt & Whitney Wasp-Juniors), and the Anson I was powered by the slightly less powerful Cheetah IX of 350 h.p. but carried 400lb more load.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Oxford / AS.10 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937Avro Anson / Type 652 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

Completed Oxford mainplanes receiving final checking at the Sage factory in September 1944. While Sage concentrated on wooden structures, other Johannesburg companies tackled metal airframes - for example, domestic appliance manufacturer C.J. Fuchs repaired Harvard wings.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Oxford / AS.10 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

Two pairs of completed Oxford mainplanes outside the Sage factory in Johannesburg on September 13, 1944. The Oxford had a wingspan of 53ft 4in, while that of the Anson I was 56ft 6in. Around 500 Oxfords served in the Union during the war, but by April 1945 the Anson prevailed.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Oxford / AS.10 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

A SAAF Anson’s refurbished Cheetah engine is started. Steel Engineering of Roodepoort manufactured Cheetah cylinders. Although both the Oxford and the Anson were powered by Cheetah radials, they sounded different in the air. The Oxford had a purring beat, while the Anson had an uneven throb. Later, some SAAF Ansons were fitted with smooth Oxford-type engine cowlings and Mikes filters in order to cope with the High Veldt dust.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Avro Anson / Type 652 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935