The photo from Godfrey Ball via Dave Birch, shows Heinkel He 111 D-ACLQ and Savoia Marchetti SM.79 I-DOUL at Maison Blanche, Algeria in November 1942. During Operation Torch the Hurricanes of 43 Squadron flew in and took the airfield without opposition, finding these two aircraft which apparently belonged to the German Armistice Commission. Dave thinks that they might have been used for liaison with Vichy France but would like to know what happened to them after they fell into Allied hands. Were they captured, destroyed, or considered neutral and allowed to fly away? Can anybody help please?
The He 111 D-ACLQ and SM.73 I-DOUL raised a number of points and eyebrows! Maison Blanche airfield was taken on 8.11.42, though the date the aircraft were captured is given as the 9th in a report by the Technical Intelligence Section attached to Eastern Air Command (Algeria). This report gives D-ACLQ as a Jumo-powered He 111 H-3 of the German Armistice Commission (Wastiker), armed with four machine guns and carrying ammunition. It was not fully civilianised as the bomb arming and release mechanisms were also retained, though the interior contained nothing more dangerous than two tables and four chairs. I-DOUL was a SM.73 (not SM.79) in standard 18-passenger and mail configuration but it also carried the military serial MM60348. It is possible that it could even be one of the ex-Sabena aircraft OO-AGL/O which were interned in Algeria and handed over to the Italians in 1940. It was being used by the Delegazione Aeronautica per l'Algeria, the members of which, including two generals, were captured. The fates of the aircraft are still unknown.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Heinkel He-111P/H - ГерманияGermany - 1938Savoia-Marchetti / SIAI S.73 - ИталияItaly - 1934

Oxford V4+DT masquerading as a Luftwaffe machine. We have no other details except that it was photographed by T.Martin, possibly during the fifties and is from Peter Keating's collection. We know that G-AOUT was used for filming in 1956 and G-AIOS later in 1961, while another candidate might be G-AJNE which was owned for a time in 1956 by Capt John Crewdson of Film Aviation Services fame. We would like to know the identity, date and location to add to our Oxford/Consul story, but no marks awarded for spotting that it was winter!
V4+DT "Luftwaffe". Photo was taken at Panshangar on 4.1.59 by Terry Martin and is actually of Film Aviation Services G-AHGU c/n 3277. It was seen at a few other locations about this time and an almost identical view appeared in BCAN of 28.3.59. The commentary there refers to a film called "Girls in Arms" which must have been retitled, one of our correspondents suggests "Operation Bullshine" but the BCAN reference to Brigitte Bardot favours "Babette goes to war" which commenced in 1.59. Several other sources refer to its use in the "Inn of the Sixth Happiness" in 1958. Doesn't anybody take their log-books to the cinema?

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

The long-range Moth with Capt Geoffrey de Havilland in trilby and heavy-duty flying suit. The upper wing fuel tank filled the centre section completely, small wheels were fitted and the fuselage forward of the cockpit was modified and irregularly painted. Part of the registration G-EBWV can be seen.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Moth / D.H.60 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1925

The same aircraft as shown in the centre of p.85/84, photo no. is DH.110A so the date must be 1.10.37. It clearly shows the raised tailplane and bulbous fairing ahead of it. The cockpit sides are high as previously noted and the strange baffle on top of the cowl is clearly visible.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Moth Minor / D.H.94 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

The coupe version with the same style of raised tailplane. This is the aircraft shown on p.85/119 and is photo DH.115B of 13.10.37. Were the two types being test flown simultaneously or was the open cockpit version converted to coupe and repainted within twelve days?

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Moth Minor / D.H.94 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

Yet another variant! This time we have a faired canopy over the rear cockpit only, a style which was to be developed later into the tricycle undercarriage version of 4.40. This version looks very similar to the E-6 shown on p.85/119 and is photo no. DH.253A indicating a later model than the others, possibly late 1938 or early 1939. None of these examples appear to have production Gipsy Minor engines. Has anyone any comments to add?

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Moth Minor / D.H.94 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

C/n 4934, which is clearly marked on the cowling, wearing the US serial 310886 on the tail and standard star and bar insignia together with RAF serial FZ-438 (sic) on the rear fuselage.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing - СШАUSA - 1932

We have FZ434 c/n 4924 flying over rugged Hadnamont country in Aden on 10.2.44. This probably indicates that the aircraft served, with others already identified, in the Aden Communications Flight. (David Bennett, who flew it in the area!)

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing - СШАUSA - 1932

Another view of G-AAAA, the cabin conversion, now thought not to be the high altitude record machine.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Moth Coupe - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1928

American-built Gipsy Moth NC811E, a DH.60G c/n 1-D, with its owner Mr. A. Felix Dupont Jr of Wilmington, Delaware, photographed on 25th May 1929. As was often the case the registration prefix letters were omitted from the aircraft markings. Again the left hand tractor propeller indicates that a British manufactured Gipsy engine was fitted.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Gipsy Moth / Moth X - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1928

British-built Gipsy Moth NC9731 c/n 341 was one of the earliest to be supplied to the Moth Aircraft Corporation of the USA.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Gipsy Moth / Moth X - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1928

American-built Moth NC302H c/n 5-A showing the left hand exhaust pipe on this early production DH.60GM.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Gipsy Moth / Moth X - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1928

DH.60GM N939M c/n 138 in the UK when owned, according to a note on the back of the print, by C. Flaglor (presumably during 1985?). Compare with photo of the same machine from the opposite side on page 87/70. Exhaust is on left side, stubs only. The left hand tractor propeller indicates a British-built engine.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Gipsy Moth / Moth X - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1928