Alan Pritchard's Photos from Speke Airport 50s & 60s.

[viscount]

Revised 2018 and again 2021 Thread Introduction:

The Alan Pritchard Collection

Originally in 2013 I posted some 50 odd excellent Speke photos from the 50s and 60s from the Alan Pritchard collection here, with around a further 35 others scattered across a number of themed threads: Hastings/Beverley/Valetta, Meteor/Vampire/Sabre, Cv.340, BEA, Starways, Dublin air route and Knowsley Estate etc. In retrospect it always seemed a pity I had split up what is an excellent collection of Speke b&w prints.

Following Photobucket's "dumping" most members images and substituting a self-advertising box in their place during April 2017, this thread has remained without images. During January 2018, I am replacing the images on a number of 'Nostalgia' threads, so I am taking the opportunity of placing all 87 of the Speke shots in the Alan Pritchard collection together again. To do so I have totally rebuilt the posts on this thread, as a result some comment posts I'm deleting, mainly about an aircraft in the background of one shot. I'll credit those involved in the new caption to that shot.

However around the end of 2018/early 2019 Google/gdurl dumped the majority of images unilaterally and without warning (presumably I had exceed an unstated maximium download). In July 2021 now using the services of Postimage.org as a host I've returned the images to view for a second time, this time hopefully for some years to come.

Further Alan Pritchard Collection photos can be found on threads:

Speke Airport from the Air - late 50s derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/11416/speke-airport-air-50s-60s
Armed Forces Days at Burtonwood (currently wiped-out)
On what is now Asda, Hunts Cross (two of a Sycamore helicopter) derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/11603/asda-hunts-cross-images-restored
RNAS Stretton (single image)
RAuxAF Hooton Park (single image)

I think you can only agree that this is an important and interesting collection, not just of the regular, but also the unusual - indeed a couple of the visitors I cannot recall having ever seen shots of elsewhere. It is a very big thank you to Alan, who was a little cautious at first, for lending me the whole of his prized collection of aviation prints in order to copy them into digital format back in 2013. Some were tiny 2x3" prints, most 4x6" b&w prints, all have been retouched, straightened, re-contrasted whenever necessary and all cropped using Picasa. Generally the cropping has taken out sky and empty foreground, leaving the width untouched - after all the background often presents as much nostalgia as the main subject. They are mostly credited to the 'Alan Pritchard Collection' as at that time there was much swopping and buying/selling of prints between enthusiasts, so are the work of others in addition to Alan himself.

Scroll through and enjoy, then return a few days later and have another look. I'll start with a post containing foreign airlines - there are some surprises here, and what I consider two 'rare' photos, then work through military aircraft, British airlines and then general aviation types.

Just for the record, and show how popular this thread has been in the past, between January 2013 and January 2018, there have been a massive 8,380 'hits' on this thread. With the number of images on this thread now increased, I know that it will continue to be well visited. I will quietly be adding back some of the images from this thread into other threads eg Speke Air Shows, Starways and type review threads where they illustrate the text well in addition to all being viewed together here as a single collection. At the time the images were restored to vision in July 2021 the visit count has reached 12,480.

Overseas Airliner visits



I'll start with the big 'find' in this collection, a delightful shot of the sole visit to Speke, from and to Paris/Le Bourget by a Boeing 307 airliner, on 22nd August 1955 was F-BELV, operated by UAT Aeromaritime. Designed before the USA entered WWII, it is easy to see that the wings, engines and tail design are shared with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.





Douglas DC-6s were rare visitors in the 60s, here is UAT's F-BIAM on 8th June 1960 on a charter, inbound from Tarbes (Lourdes pilgrimage) and out to Le Bourget. Quite why it was necessary to reposition the aircraft onto the West apron has disappeared in the mists of time. This aircraft was flying until wfu and stored at Fairbanks, Alaska 9.97 as N444CE.



Another DC-6 was TF-ISC of Icelandair. This is from a negative that has suffered scratching. While I have seen better condition prints (eg in one of Phil Butler's books), it is a shame not to include this one here. This must be the visit between 12th and 16th September 1964 with a Reykjavik football team for a European competition game in Liverpool.





This Douglas DC-4 of Sabena, OO-CBQ, was a Grand National Day charter on 26th March 1955, clearly a rather wet day! The wrinkles are on the print, not stress marks on the aeroplane.





Continentale of Germany brought in their Douglas C-54s on a couple of occasions in the early 60s. These both appear to be C-54B D-ABEB/02 (on nose wheel door) on 4th October 1959 with a ship's crew from Hong Kong. Operated by Continentale 4.59 until destroyed by fire following a crash while on approach to Kano, Nigeria 17.6.61. Their other C-54 was D-ADAM and visited on 30th September 1961.



Another Douglas C-54A Skymaster, this time LX-IAL of Interocean Airways, likely on 2nd December 1960 from Luxembourg to Athens.



Seven Seas Airlines made several visits into Speke during the early '60s with their Douglas C-54 Skymasters. N5519V is known to have visited twice, 23rd April 1960 from Amsterdam and out to Oslo Fornebu, and again 29th September in from Valley and out to Luxembourg.



A far from pristine print due to negative damage, the thumb-print has proved difficult to clean off. However the subject is a delight, the 3rd ever L-749A Constellation to call at Liverpool. N4901C of Capitol Airways was a diverted flight away from Burtonwood and arrived with US Forces families from the USA via Dublin on Saturday 29th October 1958. Not too many photos of early Constellation visits around, so I consider this another 'rare' photo in the collection.





PH-CGI Convair Cv-240 of KLM "Vincent van Gogh" on 29th March 1960.









LOT - Polskie Linie Lotnicze, appeared twice at Liverpool in the early 60s. First came one of their Convair 240s, SP-LPD on Saturday 15th October 1960 via Amsterdam on both arrival and departure. Of much greater interest was a rare visit to British shores of an Ilyushin IL-14 airliner. Looking rather like a Dakota on a nose wheel, SP-LNB arrived from Brussels on Tuesday 10th July 1962, departing the next day for Heathrow.



LN-FOP Curtiss C-46 Commando of Fred Olsen Lines, likely on a ship's crew change charter. This aircraft made multiple visits 1958, 1959 and 1960. The other two in the fleet also visited frequently in the same time frame.



The Viscount only became relatively regular at Speke from 1960. Fred Olsen aircraft visited relatively frequently on ship's crew charters, with C-47 Dakota, C-46 Commando and Viscount aircraft. Here is LN-FOI a Viscount 779D at Speke on one of 6 visits during 1960.



Braathens S.A.F.E. Airtransport A/S C-47A Dakota 3, LN-PAS and was operated by them 7.47 to 1.64. The use of the whole airline name on the cabin roof suggests that this is an earlier, rather than later shot. This and other Braathens Dakotas were regulars on ship crew change charters. In the Logs LN-PAS is recorded visiting 7 times in the 1950s (earliest July 1951) and a further 11 in the 1960s (last time 8.63) and visited 1.64 in Wideroe titles.

[viscount]

A mix of military aircraft



I've seen this rather pale and damaged shot before in the 1983 edition of Phil Butler's Liverpool Airport history book, although this is not from the print that Phil used then.

The date is 1939, the scene is outside Nos.1, 3 and 4 Hangars, seen from Bank's Road. On the compass swing circle is a Blenheim Mk.1 (very likely L8714) fresh from the Rootes factory across the airfield. Behind are Lockheed Hudson aircraft for the R.A.F., fresh from the U.S.A., without gun turrets fitted.



Spitfire PR.19 PM631 with the THum Flt based at Woodvale, but making daily visits to Speke to drop-off their observations to the Liverpool Met. Office at the Airport. No date possible for this photo, other than it is likely to be the later period of service July 1951 to June 1957.



The last operational R.A.F. unit (albeit under contract to Airwork) flying the Spitfire was the THum Flight (Temperature and Humidity Flight), based at Woodvale but making daily visits to Speke. Many of their Spitfire XIX's are now with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. One such Spitfire PR.19 is PS915, here seen in rather snowy conditions outside the east wing of the terminal. Pity there is no date to this rare photo, likely winter 1955/56 - although certainly before 10th June 1957, the last THum Flt Spitfire sortie. All their other Spitfire PR.19s were in 'PR blue' overall, however PS915 was in silver o/a, repainted for service in the Far East. In the mid 2010s, the BBMF repainted this aircraft in her Far East silver scheme. This is known to be a Don Stephens original photo.



XB283 Blackburn Beverley at the May 1956 SSAFA Air Display at Speke. Just in service this aircraft attracted much attention, and was a first visit by type to Speke.



WF778/5 a Gloster Meteor T.7 of the R.Aux.A.F., f&t Ringway on 20th May 1956 - the day before the 1956 Air Display (note the marquees over by the Speke Hall woods), but did not take part in the air display.



When I first looked at this photo, I thought of the May 1956 Speke Air Display, however the Westland WS-51 Dragonfly there was a Royal Navy example, this is a RAF one. Near certainly it is XF261 a WS-51 Dragonfly HC.4 which visited twice: 11th August 1956 Elmdon-Prestwick, and again 8 days later, 19th August returning, this time from Prestwick to Benson.



The main subject is Avro T.21 VV300/46, presumably a training rather than communications flight. Notice that No.2 hangar is still drab camouflage - it was not until 1961 that the window frames above the doors had been picked out in white. The only visit in the logs for this aircraft is on 22nd April 1954. The 'C.A.S.' titles on Cambrian Air Services Dove G-AJOT behind confirm an early-mid '50s date.







This Valetta has featured before on a thread of Ian Foster photos. These then are further images of WJ904 of RAF Coastal Command. Known visits were on 19th September 1959, 1st May 1960, 17th September 1960 and 6th May 1961. The upper photo original was badly 'burnt out', overexposure blending fuselage and sky, the digital restoration wizardry was performed by Eddie Quinn.





While Hastings MET.1 aircraft of 202 Sqdn visited over a number of years, earlier visits were by aircraft with individual codes. The registration is tiny and likely in red on the dark grey fuselage and unreadable, so it is not possible to confirm that this is most likely TG621 on 4th May 1963, Battle of the Atlantic Sunday. If so, then the BKS Bristol 170 Freighter is G-AMLJ on a charter Dublin to Teversham (Cambridge), likely with race horses. Unusual for a RAF Coastal Command flight to park outside No.2 hangar, as can be seen from the Valetta photos, close to No.1 hangar was the usual practice.



A DH.114 Heron of the Queen's Flight. One of several Heron's operated from the mid 50s, well into the 60's until replaced by HS.748 aircraft. The bright red overall scheme made the aircraft immediately recognisable. The date of this visit on a rather dismal wet day is unknown.



The usual version of this photo shows the doors of No.1 hangar half shut. Here though is a great shot of Airwork's F-86 Sabre activity at Speke, thought to be on 27th March 1954. Around 15 Sabres can be seen, all in Royal Canadian Air Force markings, plus a Starways Dakota in No.3 hangar beyond the side door of No.1.



While the focal point of the picture may be small, it is quite a 'catch', the only visit to Airwork by a Lockheed T-33A in Turkish Air Force markings, 14679 on 18th June 1955, f&t Ringway. Airwork did work at Speke on a number of Royal Canadian Air Force T-33ANs though.



Five DH.113 Venom NF.10s awaiting attention by Airwork Ltd, parked by the Banks Road fencing. The nearest appears to be WP239 (although this is not in the logs), however WP236 (arr 11.54) with the next along being WM704 (arr. 12.54) both fit with a 12.54 date given for this photo on Wikipedia, where it is it credited to Alan Schoefield - who was the likely source for this print.



Beech SNB-5 (Beech 18) aircraft were a rare, but irregular visitor during the late '50s/early '60s. Two together was most unusual though. Here, on 18th May 1960 are 39899/FT and 23760/FT, recorded as oerating from & to Blackbushe. The visit was probably in connection with the diversion into Speke by USN 17211, a R4D-8 (in 1962 redesignated as C-117D Super Dakota) with engine trouble the same day while on a flight from Blackbushe.



In somewhat different weather, it is assumed this visit by 39899/FT is on 18th July 1959, from & to Blackbushe - unless there is a further visit I've not located in the logs. When originally posted in 2013, there was much discussion and speculation as to what the tail and wheels behind belonged to! This debate was entered into by 'mb', 'ste-t', 'Dave Graham' and 'Viscount' who was in touch with Phil Butler. The answer was that it was simply a Dove. To concentrate the flow of images, I've deleted this discussion 2018, but left one post below as it has not only the answer, but an interesting link which some may still want to follow.



Two visiting USAF C-47A Dakotas. First is 0-293181 (42-93181), likely 8th September 1959 a Bovingdon based aircraft, or maybe a visit made on 24th March 1961, from & to Bovingdon. Both times likely in connection with the closed Burtonwood base rundown.



Finally Douglas C-47B 0-48403 (44-8403), although from the Command badge, likely a VC-47B. One of two visits, either 23rd July 1959 (in which case the nose is that of Silver City Dakota G-AMJU), or 24th March 1961 and the Dakota is a Starways machine.

[Deleted]

Jan 22, 2013 10:19:44 GMT 1 viscount said:

Phil Butler confirms from his own logs that the aircraft parked by the SNB-5 was a Dove, G-AKYS. A mystery no longer.

Excellent! And, thanks to Phil, I have just googled the reg and found a couple of superb Flickr photo streams.

G-AKYS pic here....

www.flickr.com/photos/dwhitworth/5521647105/

Then see the photo stream options on the right, including British propliners. Lots of nice old b/w photos.

Cheers,

Dave

[viscount]

THE EVERYDAY, REGULAR AIRLINES

Where best to start but with Starways when considering the regular operators to be seen at Speke through the 1950s and into the early '60s.



Dakota G-AMPO in the earlier, mid 50s, Starways scheme. Note the two Airwork F-86s parked on the outer edge of the apron, which place the photo in a 1953 to 1957 time frame. The Dakota behind is likely a BEA (or Cambrian?) machine. Starways operated G-AMPO mid 1952 until sale to Eagle 5.54, then again later in the 50s. So a 1953/first half of 1954 date is likely. Note the name "Cynthia" on the nose.



This shot is taken during the May 1956 Air Display. Very likely G-AMPY which was involved in the air show, carrying 'Birdman' Leo Valentin' aloft, although G-AMJU was on scheduled services that day too.



G-AMSN Douglas C-47B Dakota 4 of Starways, sometime in the period May '52 to December 1963 - although here is in the scheme worn in the second half of that time period, but prior to the 1961 resurfacing of the apron.



Almost certainly from the small size of registration on the tail, G-APYK, which was operated by Starways 3.60 to 1.63.



Douglas DC-4 Skymaster G-APEZ of Starways, sometime in the period Sept 1957 to Dec 1962.



While the C-54/DC-4 Skymaster was a regular with Starways and an irregular charter visitor in the early 60s, the aircaft spotters wanted to see was the Vickers Viscount. Although not until 1960 did the type appear on daily scheduled services, the first visit of type had been made back 25th March 1955 by BEA Viscount 701 G-AMOC, possibly on diversion and operated from & to Heathrow. A rare photo of the first visit by a Viscount, the original is a tiny 'thumbnail' print that has clearly seen better days and has not taken too well to being blown up in size. Note how the aircraft seems to be parked well out onto the apron - maybe there was concern about the turbine engines damaging the Terminal structure or windows? I wonder what the crew and ground staff then would have made of size and power of a BA Boeing 747 on the apron in 1979!!



G-AMJX a Douglas C-47B Dakota 4 Pionair. Operated by BEA June 1951 through to March 1959 when transferred to Cambrian Airways. Nothing on this photo helps fix a date, or even a year!



G-ALWF Viscount 701 of BEA in the second half of the '50s maroon lines scheme. First mention of G-ALWF in the Logs is during May 1960, by which time the fleet was being repainted in the 'red square' scheme.



G-AMOO Viscount 701 of BEA in the early '60s 'red square' scheme between Irish Sea scheduled flights, with departing Westland Widgeon G-APVD behind, dating this photo to 30th April 1960.



Another airline that served Liverpool right through the 1950s and 1960s was Aer Lingus. No Dakota photos in this collection, but this one of two Aer Lingus Bristol 170 Freighters at Liverpool together. Could be anytime 1952-1954 but only on Grand National Day, 28th May 1953, are two (EI-AFR and EI-AFS) recorded on the same day in the Logs.



From late 1958 Aer Lingus introduced their new Fokker F-27 Friendships to the Dublin-Liverpool route, introducing regular flights by turbine powered aircraft to Liverpool passengers. EI-AKC was delivered December 1958, so I suspect 1959 as a likely year for this image.



Viscount 808 EI-AJJ was in service with Aer Lingus Jan 1958 until Dec 1969. This photo has to be in the early part of this period as it is in the initial scheme worn, with 'Viscount' on the cabin roof titles.



A not untypical apron scene from the late '50s into the mid 1960s. With Viscount and Dakota at Speke together, quite likely a Grand National Day, and on 21st March 1959 both aircraft types are recorded present. Unlikely to be much later as EI-AJJ is in the initial Aer Lingus Viscount scheme.



Douglas C-47B Dakota 4 G-AMSW of Cambrian Air Services (C.A.S.), acquired 12.54. Re-named Cambrian Airways just 5 months later, 5.55 and new cabin titles applied. This makes this damaged and torn 1955 photo a rare one, indeed the Cambrian web historians quickly requested permission to use this photo to fill a gap in their coverage, when first posted in 2013. G-AMSW served with Cambrian until sold to Derby Aviation 12.58.



G-AOGO a DH.114 Heron 2 with Cambrian Airways March 1956 to January 1959 and used by them on their scheduled service from Speke to Cardiff and onwards to Jersey.



DH.89A Dragon Rapide G-AKOB "Oboe Baker" with Liverpool based operator, Dragon Airways. Served with them April 1953 until November 1955.



D.H.114 Heron 2 G-ANYJ was delivered to Liverpool based Dragon Airways at Speke on 5th May 1955. The airline moved to Newcastle November 1955 following take-over, although flights through Liverpool continued until Autumn 1956.



With no operator titles, it is very difficult to date this photo of DH.89A Dragon Rapide G-AIBB. The print quality matches others around the 1954 period. G-AIBB was operated by Starways from March 1950, loaned to Federated Fruit 1953 before sale to them, and used by Feds' December 1953 to July 1958. Even then after leaving Speke for new owners Luton Airways, in was used on a charter to Speke April 1959, but by then had had a repaint.



G-AMLJ Bristol 170 Freighter 31 of BKS, most likely during the summers of 1960 and 1961 when they operated a car-ferry service between Speke and Dublin.



Dan Air AS.57 Ambassador G-AMAH. This aircraft was acquired 11/59, and at the time of this visit on 6th April 1960 on a football charter from Belfast/Nutts Corner had not acquired full Dan Air scheme. While including this in the section on 'regular airlines' it was only a few years later that Dan Air Ambassadors were used on Liverpool scheuduled flights. Indeed this photo records the first visit by type to Speke.



Another difficult to date C-47 photo, this time Dan Air's G-AMSU a regular on their scheduled services for many years. They operated the aircraft 6.53 to 3.68, although the first recorded visit to Speke was in 1960. A regular in the mid '60s on Dan-Air's scheduled services between Bristol and Newcastle.

[viscount]

SOME BRITISH VISITING AIRLINERS



Another shot I would state as 'rare' is this one of the sole visit by a HP Hermes 4 to Speke, by Britavia's G-ALDI on 18th July 1959 with 61 passengers to attend the British F1 Grand Prix at Aintree.



Airwork Viking G-AKTU on the apron at Speke during the May 1956 Air Display.



Another rare shot, this time of an Eagle Airways Vickers Viking at Speke, probably 1960. The original is not quite sharp enough to work out the registration as several of their aircraft appeared at Speke that year.



Same day as the UAT DC-6 on the previous post, this is Vickers Viking G-AMNR of Continental on 8th June 1960, operating from and to Southend. The airline only operated this particular aircraft from 1.60 until collapse 10.60



An 'iconic', delightful terminal shot of an Orion Viking G-AHOS at Speke in the late 50s, with visits on 24.12.57, 7.9.58, 25.9.58, 20.6.59 and 30.8.59 Orion operated three Vikings, G-AHOS serving for the whole lifetime of the airline from 8.57 until 11.60. Note the scaffolding around the control tower, which from a dateable photo in the collection (of a Prentice) the scaffolding was there in early August 1959 - which narrows the visit down to one of two in 1959, more likely the one of 30th August 1959.



Viscount 804 G-AOXU of Transair visited Liverpool twice in 1959, to operate a day-return charter to Aberdeen on August 18th and f&t Gatwick for John Moores December 2nd. G-AOXU returned three times during 1961, on 10th April, 12th April and 1st June, each time from & to Gatwick - but by then Transair had become part of the new British United Airlines. From the strength of the shadow, must be the August 1959 visit.







This set of photographs chronicles the arrival of G-APTC Viscount 833 on diversion, 25th September 1960 in the titles of the recently formed British United Airways (July 1960). The aircraft appears to be in a transitional colour scheme. Parked neatly slotted in, between Skymaster G-APYK and Dakota G-AMPO.

[Samba]

Great nostalgia,please keep them coming.
Bob.

[johnoakes]

Saw the CV240 but sadly missed the IL14--and still havn't seen one--must get to one of the East German museums one of these days.

Mind you I did see a Stratoliner in France--along with a B17 French geographical survey on a purge withj PHB and co.__about 1961
Still waiting for any photos from that trip--perhaps this will nudge a few grey cells and get a photographic response.LOL

[viscount]

BUSINESS & GENERAL AVIATION TYPES

Final batch of the Alan Pritchard collection photos features General Aviation aircraft types, although I'll start with an early executive helicopter.



Westland WS-51 Widgeon, G-APVD either in 1960 or 1963. This is likely the same day as a photo on the 'Regular Airliners' thread, which would make it the visit on 30th April 1960 from Arrow Park to Westland Heliport, London.



One of the earlier images in the collection is this shot of two ex RAF Tiger Moths on delivery to Ireland, 14th August 1954. EI-AGR is formerly T7932 and ended its days in a crash at Maynooth 7.8.61, while EI-AGT was N6940 and crashed 16.6.57.



Another shot of a pair of DH.82A Tiger Moths, these though only visiting from Chester where they belonged to the DH Social and Athletic Club, G-AMGC and (likely) G-ANTE. The logs shows them at Liverpool together on 8th and 16th August 1959 at least.



Although there were hundreds of Percival P.40 Prentice aircraft placed on the civil register, not that many flew in civilian hands. Here is Prentice G-AOPW on 8th August 1959, then crashed at Barton and written-off the following day.



A familiar weekend scene outside no.2 hangar close to the entrance steps to the balcony of DH.83 Fox Moth G-AOJH which plied the pleasure flight trade at Liverpool from November 1958 to sometime during 1961 and again 1968 to 1970. This photo is sometime 1959-1961 while with Harry Paterson.



Two different Swiss registered Beech 35 Bonanzas. Always a recognition cert with the butterfly tail, this one is HB-EGB which certainly visited Speke 6th May 1960, from & to Gatwick.



While HB-ECG is noted as calling on around 5 different occasions during 1960.



A Miles M.65 Gemini 3c EI-ALM, on the Irish register 11.59 to 11.61 when it became G-AKGE. Very likely this is on delivery 19th November 1959 or on 2nd June 1960 from Dublin to Southend. The weather looks more November than June to me!



Yes, there was a time when Piper products were rare in the UK and even a lowly PA-22 Tri-Pacer 160 fair game to the enthusiast's camera. Here EI-AKY passes through Speke sometime between 22nd September 1959 and 15th October 1961, during which time it was a regular visitor.



A type that has always intreged me is the Aero 145 - looking like a mini Heinkel He.111. Czech OK-NHF is known to hve called on 3rd June 1960 from Glasgow, leaving for Birmingham on the 5th.



An infrequent visitor was an early business transport operated by Philips Electrical, Beech 18 PH-LPS. The records show visits on 4th July 1957, 14th July 1959 and 19th July 1960 at least.



A type that remained in low-rate production for very many years is the Piaggio P.166, which dates back to the late 1950s and was around before Pipers, Cessnas and Beechcraft invaded European skies. G-APVE was based at Speke May 1959 until June 1963, but also flew from a strip at Knowsley Park, owned by the Stanley Estate and Stud.



Morton Air Services were regular visitors to Liverpool with their Dove aircraft. Here is regular visitor G-ANAN sometime in the period 7.53 to 6.69.



DH.104 Dove 1B (later Dove 6) G-ANAP was delivered to the Minister of Civil Aviation during August 1953 and served with successive Government Departments (MCA, MTCA, BoT and DTI) throughout its flying career. First appearance in the Logs is in May 1954 and it was a regular caller.
The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation had offices at Liverpool, their Dove and Prince aircraft being regular visitors. What will puzzle those who knew the area of the terminal is the location of the photograph - by the 1960s this was a car park, if memory serves me well, occupied by hire cars. The three-wheel aircraft refueller is also of note.



A rare photo of the Bellanca 14-13-12 Crusair Senior, N9962F, while based at Speke. Formerly OO-DVL, N9962F flew into Liverpool via Le Touquet 3rd September 1956, owned by an American with connections to Burtonwood Air Base, but also a M&NWFC member. It is thought that it never flew from Liverpool, although the owner always intended restoring it to flight. When the owner returned to the USA, it departed by road 1961 and registered G-AREY with new owners in Berkshire. Eventually destroyed by fire at Blackbushe 8th August 1969.









Four images of Liverpool Airport in the early 60s taken from a 'jolly' in Fox Moth G-AOJH. Note the 'LIVERPOOL' on the roof of No.1 hangar - it is not thought to have lasted long and comes as a surprise to many that it was indeed there ever!





More about this BEA Helicopters Bristol Sycamore on the ground at Hunts Cross, can be found on a thread: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/11603/asda-hunts-cross-images-restored

[vanguard]

With regards to the last photo of 'AP,the area did indeed become a car park.To the left of 'AP became,if i remember rightly, British Eagle's crew quarters and offices,after their demise Cambrian Airways took over. The hanger to the right became a cargo hanger for Cambrian from witch news papers for IOM,BFS and DUB,well done for showing us all the photo's.

[viscount]

ANOTHER NOSTALGIA 'BUMP-UP'

Another important nostalgia thread has had the images replaced. This one though has been totally 're-worked' with additional images and new information added to the captions due to research since first posted in 2013.

Presented on nwan together as a single thread for the first time, these 85 or so photographs are a very fine collection, collected by enthusiast Alan Pritchard at the time and carefully kept together in a plastic bag, occasionally brought out to impress youngsters like me who had missed the halcyon years of the mid and late 1950s! This is an exceptional record of the period. While aircraft movements were few and far between, what was to be seen was varied, unpredictable and sometime quite exceptional.

Scroll through and enjoy these photos, made impossible to view for the past 8 months due to the unilateral action of Photobucket. Then come back a few days later and look through these gems again.

I'm working on restoring Burtonwood AFDs next, but have a few good new Speke Nostalgia threads up my sleeve for the coming weeks too.

If anyone looking at these threads thinks "I've got a shot of that in a bundle of photos", do please get in touch, as we have an insatiable appetite on nwan for 'new' pictures of Speke (and Ringway, Squires Gate, Burtonwood etc) in the past.

[vanguard]

Hello Brian,

I would like to thank you for all the work that went into the restored images and giving one and all the
pleasure of them once again,it's a real pleasure looking at them again.

Frank.

[viscount]

"Bump Up" of an old thread which has been restored to life (again) after the images were deleted by a 'third party' image host for the second time. This is the collection of Alan Pritchard's Speke photos.

Following on from the enthusiasm that greeted a collection of shots of Speke in the early '60s provided by Keith Barke, I've looked back through other collections that have been posted on NWAN over the years. Shocked at how many are no longer displaying images, some posts having already been reposted once before, I am going to work hard at restoring several threads where I have the original images held within my PC. Alan Pritchard's collection is the first to be brought back to life. The images and captions are as posted in 2013, with the images initially restored in 2018 now viewable again in 2021.

Many may well have looked through these images in 2013 and again in 2018, they are well worth a scroll through in 2021 too. The 1960s were a period when there were a great variety of aircraft types to be seen, and the Speke terminal balcony an ideal place to see them from.

Enjoy.

[ronturner]

This remains one of the best collections I have seen. Thank you so much for the work done.

[Deleted]

Jul 22, 2021 7:04:28 GMT 1 ronturner said:

This remains one of the best collections I have seen. Thank you so much for the work done.

+1. I confess that I still have some which haven't seen the light of day yet, but I'm busy with other things at the moment.