Tempest V JN766 of No. 486 Squadron RNZAF

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51 Mustang - СШАUSA - 1940

N.A. Mustang 1

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51 Mustang - СШАUSA - 1940

Back in AM.1/76, before we were able to use photographs in Aeromilitaria, there was an article on RAF Weybourne, a Queen Bee launching and recovery base on the north coast of Norfolk to the west of Cromer. The four photographs show the activities of X Flight of No.1 AACU. They show N1846 on the catapult before launching...

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Queen Bee / D.H.82B - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

Back in AM.1/76, before we were able to use photographs in Aeromilitaria, there was an article on RAF Weybourne, a Queen Bee launching and recovery base on the north coast of Norfolk to the west of Cromer. The four photographs show the activities of X Flight of No.1 AACU. They show N1846 being recovered from the sea off Norfolk after the flight...

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Queen Bee / D.H.82B - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

Back in AM.1/76, before we were able to use photographs in Aeromilitaria, there was an article on RAF Weybourne, a Queen Bee launching and recovery base on the north coast of Norfolk to the west of Cromer. The four photographs show the activities of X Flight of No.1 AACU. They show N1846 snug aboard the recovery vessel. All were taken in June 1939.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Queen Bee / D.H.82B - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

N1844 after it had spun into the sea off Weybourne on 27 June 1939. It was not repaired. N1846 has '118' on the cowling.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Queen Bee / D.H.82B - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

The photograph was taken by Charles E. Brown and show the Ospreys of No.800 Squadron during working-up trials in March 1939.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Osprey - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1930

The photograph was taken by Charles E. Brown and show the Ospreys of No.800 Squadron during working-up trials in March 1939. The details of the bridge shown give scale to the photos in the article. The Ark's bridge was by no means the massive affair one thinks of as being typical of a wartime carrier. Compared to the Illustrious class carriers, it is quite small, as shown by the people on the signal bridge. Aft of the funnel is the landing signal shutter which indicated the state of the deck to approaching aircraft. Below it is the 'Chicago Piano', or multiple pompom which was intended to make the fleet secure from aircraft for all time. K5742 has a camera gun in the lower wing and, pessimistically, all the Osprey IVs have hoisting-in strops on the centre sections. They may be there in case the aircraft is mounted on floats but in view of the number of carrier aircraft which had to be recovered from the sea, perhaps it is just to make salvage easier! On top of the mast is the dustbin, provided as a radio homing device to guide aircraft back to the carrier at night and in bad weather.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Osprey - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1930

S1845 is another illustration of S-series aircraft listed in AM.4/80. This Fairey IIIF dual control trainer was No.9 at the main FAA training base at Leuchars in 1932. Main difference between the IIIF DC and the standard FAA aircraft was the two forward-facing cockpits, the rear replacing the bathtub which normally housed the observer and gunner.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Fairey IIIF - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1926

S1514 was another Fairey IIIF which had a varied career, ending up at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough before becoming a catapult dummy. There are no details as to when this photograph was taken but the unarmed state of the rear cockpit suggests that it was in its final days when the shutter clicked.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Fairey IIIF - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1926

A photograph of S1250 appeared in AM.4/80 without details of how it got into the state depicted. Peter Green has dug up the activities shortly before it was taken and the date seems to tie No.46 in with the No.46 mentioned in AM.3/80 page 59, column 2 para 2! The location is given as Dragomesti Bay and the pilot Lt.Ede but the log of 'Courageous' says off Skiathos on 17 July 1929.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Fairey IIIF - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1926