Hawker Hurricane IIC KZ883 was delivered first to 26 Anti-aircraft Co-operation Unit before allocation to the Royal Egyptian Air Force in November 1945. It is pictured here at Almaza airport, Cairo, in May 1946 while serving as a meteorological aircraft.

Spitfire Mk VC JK835 was part of a batch of aircraft delivered to the RAF between December 1942 and April 1943. It is seen here at Almaza airport, Cairo, in 1946 while in service with the Royal Egyptian Air Force Weather Flight. This aircraft was struck off charge in April 1947.

Also at Almaza airport, Cairo, in May 1946 is this unidentified Gloster Gladiator. Like the Hurricane, it too was used on the Royal Egyptian Air Force Weather Flight.

Vickers Wellington Mk 10 NC565 at RAF Fayid in early 1947. The last of the bomber variant post-war Mk Xs were reconditioned for use as crew trainers; known as the T.10, it had a faired nose and no turret.

Taylorcraft Auster AOP. V TJ477, one of 400 delivered to the RAF between October 1944 and December 1945, at Fayid, Egypt in November 1946. It served with 216 Sqn Communications Flight during the time that the squadron’s fleet of Douglas Dakotas was maintaining regular transport services around the Middle East. The Auster was sold as surplus in January 1948.

BOAC’s Short S.25 Sunderland G-AGJO Hythe on the step at Augusta en route for Cairo in 1945. Named Honduras, 'JO was lost at its moorings at Hyde on February 21, 1949.

Fairchild Argus II FZ722 of 216 Sqn Communications Flight at RAF Fayid, Egypt in November 1946. This aircraft was returned to the USA in January 1947.

A First Officer’s view of Solent 3 G-AKNU’s starboard inner Bristol Hercules 637 radial engine, taken over Central France on the last Aquila round trip of the Southampton-Genoa service.

Short S.45 Solent 3 G-AKNU, formerly NJ207, at Southampton on October 16, 1955, before departing on the last round trip on Aquila Airways’ Southampton-Genoa service. On the night of Friday, November 15,1957, the ’boat hit sloping ground near Shalcombe Hill, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, killing outright 45 of the 58 people aboard.

Aquila Airways’ Short S.45 Solent 3 G-ANAJ al Southampton in 1955. It began life as N1201, took up the temporary registration G-AGWU as a Seaford 1 in December 1945 until February 1946, and was later registered to Aquila in April 1954. Named City of Funchal, the Solent was destroyed in a gale at Santa Margherita, Italy, on September 26, 1956.

Short S.26 G-AFCI Golden Hind taken at Augusta, Sicily on July 10, 1945 enroute for the UK for the last time after overseas service. Golden Hind survived until March 1954, when it was damaged beyond repair at Harty Ferry on the River Swale.

Short S.26 G-AFCI Golden Hind taken at Augusta, Sicily on July 10, 1945 enroute for the UK for the last time after overseas service. Golden Hind survived until March 1954, when it was damaged beyond repair at Harty Ferry on the River Swale.