Three 1950s Collections of Photos at Speke Airport

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Three collections on this thread, presented together as there is an overlap in coverage. Plus as an extra a few further shots from the same period from a variety of sources. Possibly around half these images have been used before to illustrate other threads, however I feel it only right to share them all on a single thread with '50s Speke as the theme. Enjoy scenes of a bygone era for both airport and aviation.

THE LES JONES COLLECTION

These photos were loaned to FoLA and passed onto me to copy some 10 years ago. The subject matter is such, despite varying image quality, to share these b&ws in full is overdue, with many thanks to Les Jones and family for loaning out the prints.

I've had these images for a while, indeed a number have appeared on a thread relating to the various 1950s aero clubs based at Liverpool. For more on the various clubs, see thread: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/6920 . The first series feature photos loaned to FoLA by the family of Capt Les Jones, formerly a BEA pilot at Liverpool. As most of the photos were captioned, I display here in approximate date sequence. As is inevitable with 70 year old photographs, the quality varies greatly. I've done some cleaning, cropping, re-contrasting etc where necessary, but some defy the ability of my relatively basic photo cleaning experience.

The BEA 'flying key' or 'winged helmet and key' logo scheme, with no cheat line dates between 1947 and 1950. It was progressively slowly replaced by the triple thin maroon cheat line with Union Jack flag on tail colours. In 1960 the black through-the-windows cheat with the white BEA in a red square tail logo was introduced and swept through the fleet relatively quickly, except for the outgoing Dakota and Dragon Rapide fleets. The next change of scheme was announced August 1968 with the half Union Flag on a dark blue tail, which was the last BEA scheme before the progressive merger with BOAC to form British Airways in the early '70s.



Dated 1947 this Miles M.38 Messenger 2A G-AKBL outside the east wing of the terminal. This aircraft was registered from new July 1947 and operated for just 5 months by Tyne Taxis Ltd of Newcastle on Tyne, before return to Miles Aircraft. Luckily the marks on the photo only disrupt the sky section of the picture.



Hunting Air Transport DH.104 Dove G-AJBI, also sometime 1947.



BEA Dakota G-AJIA with passengers disembarking and clearly taken from the Airport balcony. Note all the suits and ties, if you could afford to fly, you dressed formally. The print inscribed '1947, from Dublin'. G-AJIA joined the BEA fleet in April 1947 and served with them until March 1961. Note the rather narrow apron, more about which later in these captions.



G-AGSJ DH.89A Dragon Rapide of BEA. This aircraft was inherited from IoM Air Services April 1947 and sold to Island Air Services in May 1948. The aircraft beyond is an Airspeed AS.65 Consul G-AJLP (5.47 to 9.50). The taxiway/runway pattern does not not match Speke, so where is this shot?





These two May 1948 photos could well be taken on the same day, although the apron appears wider on the second one. BEA Dakota G-AHCJ parked alongside the west end of the terminal, with a Percival Proctor and a Douglas Dakota further along towards the east wing.



Another 1948 photo, this one of BEA Dakota G-AGJZ loading passengers. Note the placard above the steps confirming the destination as the Isle of Man.





Scottish Aviation Pioneer G-31-1, the use of the 'B' class manufacturer's serial dates the photo to between January and August 1948. Note the inline Gipsy Queen engine, rather than the radial Leonides of the production aircraft. The upper shot illustrates the serious water damage stain on this and another shot. I could not clean it away totally, what is left looks like gathering rain clouds rather than a nasty stain though. The Auster G-AGVN in 1948 belonged to a private owner with a Staffordshire address.



Also note the large civil engineering project in evidence under the wing. This is taken to be a 1947/1948 project to resurface parts of the aerodrome to be suitable for civilian operation, inparticular widening the terminal apron, which previously only permitted aircraft to park, but not to safely pass while on the hardstanding. Phil Butler discovered this aerial photograph that shows this construction work in progress. Note the Dakotas parked on the grass while parts of the apron were unavailable due to work in progress. Also note the several wagons that formed a mobile 'talk down' radar unit (GCA) on a track between the terminal and the runways. This was moved to Ringway around 1950.



There are two near identical shots of Auster G-AIBZ in the collection, both taken on 11th July 1948, one captioned "our taxi to Hooton", the other "flying classroom". The engine cowling states: Wright Aviation, School of Flying, Hooton. They opened as Wright Aviation, Liverpool Flying Club at Speke November 1949.



Dated 1949 Auster G-AIBR of BEA Flying Club/Brooklands Aviation is the backdrop for Capt Greenhalgh, BEA.



Undated shot of Douglas C-47 Dakota G-AGHS, with the 'winged helmet and key' logo on the tail.

Dated August 1950 an 'arty' shot of a BEA Dakota (caption states (G-ALXM) and Westland Dragonfly (G-AJOV) during the period of the experimental, world's first, scheduled helicopter link between Liverpool and Cardiff.







These three shots are all dated August 1950 and the show the Wright Airways/Liverpool Flying Club/Liverpool School of Flying clubroom at Liverpool. This was derelict by 1983 and demolished shortly after, and stood on the River side of Hangar 39 and 50, along with the Aero Club hangar No.54 and with the former Civil Air Guard building as the final one at the River end of the row of airfield facing premises.









From the colour scheme on these Austers, I strongly suspect they are not so much 1950 as 1954-55 after Dragon Airways had taken-over the Wright Aviation run Flying Club. The final two appear to be outside Hangar No.39, which Dragon used briefly in 1954, or it may just have been convenient and sheltered spot. They are pleasing shots of aircraft which formed the mainstay of the flying clubs at Liverpool through much of the 1950s. When first posted on the Flying Clubs thread (link in first paragraph), Cedric Flood (see later on this thread for photos from the '50s that he has provided) quickly got in touch to say "hey, that's me!". He, being the teenage wearing bicycle clips helping out the engineer tinker with G-AIPH.

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INTERLUDE

Between the 1950s shots from Les Jones and the next much longer post on this thread with shots taken by Bernie MacKenzie and provided by Cedric Flood, a few shots from various places, but mostly Don Stephens shots donated by him to the Liverpool City Records Library many years ago. The only way I could copy the prints held by the library in a box along with other memorabilia was by taking a photo of the flat print without flash. Worked better on some than others.



This first one is a photo of a curling print in an antique shop! It shows the pre-WWII Liverpool and District Aero Club apron with at least a Puss Moth and 3 Avro Avians present. The location is the River Side of Hangar 50 and the farmhouse.



G-ALLI BEA Dakota in the early 'winged helmet and key' logo scheme of 1947 to 1950+ (until repainted).



Despite the 'weak' original print, this is a VIP RAF Dakota KN628 of 30 Squadron, either on 25th October or 25th November 1953 parked outside No.2 hangar at the east end of the terminal. The highly polished skin is likely part responsible for the over-exposed look of the print.





Swiss Air Lines (note presentation, pre dating the adoption of the Swissair name) Dakota HB-IRN on the apron at Speke, having brought in passengers to watch the Grand National race at Aintree on 26th March 1954. It night stopped before departing. The second shot is directly from Don Stephens collection via Graham Ward.



G-AMSN Dakota of Starways in the their initial colour scheme, mid 1950s



Found this and the next two, in a box of photos that years before had graced the MAS clubroom as a 'swop box'. This shot is the Royal Artillery Flying Club Auster G-AJAE which was kept at Speke under the care of the local Flying Schools in the period July 1954 until mid 1958. Actually now known to be a Phil Butler photo and is very likely of a similar date to the KZ-III, next photo down.



This one is a KZ.III OY-DVY seen parked outside no.2 hangar. Just the one visit on record, 22.4.56 until 27.4.56 and is actually a Phil Butler photograph. A tiny print on a strip with the G-AJAE photo, so likely taken on the same day.



G-AHED DH.89A Dragon Rapide, Marshall Cambridge, known to have called at Liverpool on: 25.3.50 GND, 8.11.50, 7.4.51 GND, 27.3.54 GND, 28.3.57 GN Meet Thurs, 26.7.58, 25.3.60 GN Meet Fri, and likely other dates too.



No, this is not another example of how to 'clean up' a damaged photo. There was a great deal of swopping prints and producing extra prints to hand around your friends. In the '50s 'intellectual copyright' would have seemed a strange and quite alien concept. Today it is why I call these collections, collections, as while the collector certainly had many of his own photos, also included many exchanged with others. It is great that some of these collections have managed to survive marriages, kids, multiple house moves, leaks and finally house clearance on inheritance, as they present a superb window into the past. There will be many more from the Don Stephens Collection, but not immediately (apart from the next post on this thread).



After all the earlier shots of the BEA 'flying key' scheme, this is a BEA Dakota in the later, triple maroon cheat-line and Union flag scheme of 1950 to 1961. G-AKNB was operated by BEA from November 1950 until December 1959.



Three better quality shots provided by Bob O'Brien taken late 50's and maybe just into the early '60s. B.E.A. C-47B Dakota 4 G-AGNK on the apron at Speke. BEA operated this aircraft between March 1951 and May 1961



Three Dakotas of Aer Lingus crowded together infront of No.2 hangar, most likely on a Grand National Day. Two EI-ACH and EI-ACK are in the older scheme, while the other is fresh in the 'green top' scheme. The photo has to be at the latest May 1959 as EI-ACH left the fleet then. Bob O'Brien collection.



A decent shot of an Aer Lingus Dakota in the scheme adopted on the Friendships and Viscounts to modernise the image of Aer Lingus into the early '60s. EI-AHG did not leave the fleet until February 1964. Note the runway control caravan parked at the 17 threshold. The main duty was to watch every landing, ready to fire a red flare if the pilot had not lowered the undercarriage or two aircraft were approaching together. This was at a time when aircraft radios were still rather rudimentary and prone to failure, if the aircraft even had one fitted. Bob O'Brien Collection.



The tail of Dakota G-AHCZ (left the BEA fleet January 1961) and Viscount 701 G-AMOL (left the BEA fleet December 1962, so was not in the 'red square' scheme for long). G-AMOL was the Cambrian Airways Viscount that ended its days crashing near inverted into the Mothaks factory, just short of the 26 threshold at Speke in 1965. I'm usually careful with recording the origins of photos, but this one is of unknown pedigree, but too nice a shot to overlook using. I've now realised that this is a Barry Lloyd photo.

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Bernie Mackenzie's 1950s Photos, passed on by Cedric Flood

These shots were passed onto me by Cedric Flood, who learned to fly at Liverpool in the 50s and went on for a successful career flying for Cambrian, BEA and BA. He wrote a book detailing some of his exploits: "A Pilot's Perspective" A former airline captain's reflections on a lifetime of flying 1950-2012. Woodfield Publishing 2012. The photographs were collected and kept mounted in an album by Bernie Mackenzie. They mostly came to me as a photograph of a page of 12 photos mounted close together, without captions. By the time each print was cropped to separate the pixel size is low, so once loaded onto NWAN some don't come out full screen.

To some they may seem to be 35 images of the same light aircraft, with just a few other types at the end as a reward for anyone scrolling all the way through. To me they are a fascinating trip through the aircraft operated by 3 flying clubs at Liverpool Airport 1949 to 1962. The three Club evolved from the one before, with 3 Auster and Taylorcraft aircraft being operated nearly right through the 1950s decade.

The Flying Clubs and their fleets are described in detail on NWAN thread: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/6920 and illustrated with just a selection of these photos.
In Summary:

WRIGHT AVIATION'S, LIVERPOOL FLYING CLUB Commenced operations at Hooton Park 10/46. Moved to Liverpool 11/49. Ceased operations 1/53. Also known as Liverpool School of Flying.
Fleet: Auster & Taylorcraft: G-AGVI, G-AHAK, G-AIBZ, G-AIGP, G-AIGV, G-AIKB, G-AIPH; Hawk Trainers: G-AIZL, G-AKRM, G-ALOG;
Miles Gemini G-AKEM and Dragon Rapide G-AHPT. Associated aircraft Proctor G-AIAA, Auster G'AJUZ, Tiger Moth G-AHDD
Fleet colours: cream overall with red details.
Hangars used: No.54, the Aero Club hangar

DRAGON AIRWAYS, Liverpool Flying Club took over from Wright's early in 1954, moved out to Newcastle late 1955 following take-over by Hunting Clan.
Fleet: Austers & Taylorcraft: G-AGVI, G-AHAK, G-AIBZ, G-AIGP; Hawk Trainers: G-AIZL and G-ALOG. Associated aircraft: Auster G-AJAE
Also as an airline operated the Gemini G-AKEM, Dragon Rapides G-AHPT, G-AKOB, also DH Herons G-ANCI, G-ANYJ, G-AODY and Viking G-AOCH (but not Liverpool based).
Fleet colours: dark blue fuselage, white registration, cabin top and upper wings.
Hangars used: very briefly No.39 hangar, then No.54, the Aero Club hangar.

MERSEYSIDE & NORTH WALES FLYING GROUP was formed early 1956 initially using some of the Taylorcraft and Auster aircraft no longer required by Dragon Airways. Ceased operations May 1962.
Fleet: Auster & Taylorcraft G-AGVI, G-AHAK, G-AIPH; Tiger Moths G-ANEE, G-ANSX, G-AOHC; Proctor G-ANPP. Associated aircraft Auster G-AJAE
Fleet colours: Auster and Taylorcraft only, red fuselage, white registrations, cabin top. Other aircraft kept previous owner's scheme.
Hangar used: shared No.50 hangar with Federated Fruit, then No.39 hangar after the demise of Federated Fruit.


Three ways of presenting these photos, in random sequence, by aircraft type and registration, or in an approximation of date sequence. I'm going to see how date sequence works, grouping the photos together by the operating flying club. A complication to this simple idea, is that on the Austers the blue scheme of Dragon Airways and the red scheme of Merseyside and North Wales Flying Group look very similar on b&w photos!

The oldest shot appear to originate in August 1951 when the Wright's Liverpool Flying Club took part in a major Air Display based on Otterspool Prom for the "Liverpool Festival". The Tiger Moth flew a solo demonstration and 6 aircraft flew as a formation. The event description seems to match 3 of Bernie's photos so well it is a fairly safe assumption that these first shots are taken at the event. Using a fairly basic camera with a fixed focal length lens produced these distant shots of dots in the sky. A bold attempt at recording an event that has largely faded from memory.

PART 1 - WRIGHT'S SCHOOL OF FLYING/LIVERPOOL FLYING CLUB, at Speke November 1949 to November 1953.

The formation looks as though the first vic are headed by a Tiger Moth with a pair of Austers and the following vic headed by a Hawk Trainer with a pair of Austers. The railings look right for the low pass by a Tiger Moth and the barges moored off-shore were for a fireworks display later that evening.



G-AIPH Auster J/4 with the cowling providing the information 'Wright Aviation, School of Flying, Speke-Hooton', so the shot dates from around 1950 before the Club moved out of Hooton Park as the activities of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force there increased.



Auster J/1 Autocrat G-AIBZ, clearly not at Liverpool and it is not too clear if silver dope or cream. The fuselage stripe is the same as G-AIPH above and G-AGVI below, so it maybe cream, but without any inscription on the cowling. This aircraft was sold February 1956.



G-AGVI Auster, a photo taken more for the fashionable ladies than for the aircraft behind. Not clear if the aircraft is silver dope or Wright's cream.



Cream Auster J/1 Autcrat G-AIGP with a dark coloured Hawk Trainer beyond.



All cream Hawk Trainer 3 G-ALOG.



All cream Hawk Trainer G-ALOG and dark overall G-AKRM. The building behind is at the river end of the row which appear as a background to many of these shots. It was the 1939 Civil Air Guard rooms of 1939, in the'50s as building 55 was occupied by CAA wireless technicans.







One of the Hawk Trainer aircraft was flown in The King's Cup Air Races 1953 at Coventry, probably in a maroon overall scheme (again a confusing colour in b&w!) Phil Butler reckons it was G-AKRM, Cedric in his book G-ALOG. This is clearly G-AKRM in a dark scheme overall. Research shows that the 1953 King's Cup was held at Southend, it was in 1954 that the event was held at Coventry.







Evolution of colour schemes on the Miles Gemini G-AKEM. Top appears to be silver dope, the middle one is cream, the inscriptions read The Liverpool Flying Club and Wright Aviation Ltd, Liverpool. The final, nose on shot is in Dragon Airways dark fuselage scheme with white upper wings, there is also a Dragon Airways logo and name on the nose (not very clear).



A view of the Wright's apron in front of hangar 54 with an Auster, Hawk Trainer G-ALOG, another Auster G-AIGV(?),a dark Hawk Trainer (G-AKRM) and Dragon Rapide G-AHPT. From right to left, the buildings are: No.39 hangar, the former Chapel House Farm (building 48) had housed ATC and passenger handling 1933-1938)', No.50 hangar, the pre War Aero Club building is next (building 53) and not easily spotted (the one in Les Jones's photos earlier), then just the corner of No.54 hangar, known as the Aero Club hangar and behind the photographer would be the Civil Air Guard accommodation of 1939 (building 59). The farmhouse was demolished circa 1959/1960, the others derelict by the mid 80s.

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PART 2 - DRAGON AIRWAYS, LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF FLYING, early 1954 to late 1955

Two views of a great deal of maintenance activity in Hangar 54. A cream Hawk Trainer and Auster G-AIGP in one shot, and Austers G-AIPH and G-AGVI in the other. I'm assuming this was likely on the change over from Wright's to Dragon's ownership, with deep maintenance followed by respray into the new fleet colours, so during 1954.





Two near identical shots of the aircraft parked on the grass outside Hangar 54, the Aero Club hangar, all the training aircraft now in dark fuselage scheme with Auster G-AIPH, Hawk Trainer G-ALOG, Auster G-AIBZ together with Dragon Rapide G-AKOB and behind them another Dragon Rapide, presumed to be G-AHPT.

Auster T/1 Autocrat G-AIBZ with clear Liverpool School of Flying titles.







Auster J/4 G-AIPH, on these shots on the engine cowls the additional Dragon Airways logo and wording is clearer. Also clear is that 3 of these photos were taken on the same day. It would be interesting to know who the people are.





In the previous post Hawk Trainer 3 G-ALOG was shown in a cream overall scheme, with Dragon Airways/Liverpool School of Flying it was painted with a dark fuselage and white top to the wings. It came to grief in a heavy landing down at the river end of (likely) 26/08 on 29th July 1955. This photo is already elsewhere on NWAN, illustrating the Liverpool aircraft accidents thread.



Dragon Airways Dragon Rapide G-AKOB "Oboe Baker" with very small Dragon Airways logo on the fin.

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PART 3 - MERSEYSIDE & NORTH WALES FLYING GROUP, early 1956 to May 1962.

Taylorcraft Plus D G-AHAK, upper photo taken outside hangar 50 is the only one that is dated, taken on 12th January 1957. It is impossible to tell if the fuselage colour is red or blue, but with no Dragon logo or Liverpool School of Flying inscription, both shots are after the formation of the new Club.







Proctor 3 G-ANPP inside No.50 hangar and in flight, I've been trying to decide if seen on take-off or on landing.



G-ANSX DH.82A Tiger Moth



G-ANSA DH.82A Tiger Moth coupé. It was in this aircraft that Jack Green, the club owner, tragically drowned in a landing accident 30th May 1958.


At the very start of this thread I promised a few interesting photos for those patient enough to scroll right through to the end.




Now this shot started out as a puzzler. When doing research into Flying Clubs a fair few years ago Phil Butler warned me that in the Dragon Airways period several Hawk Trainers and likely a Tiger Moth too, had been acquired for spares recovery. With concerted research now, I find that the Tiger Moth, although appearing to be W-6418 is actually W6419, a pre War aircraft impressed into RAF service. Thanks to the Air Britain Impressment Log Vol.2 Peter Moss 1962, I can now relate the background that led up to this photo and that I was actually already familiar with the ultimate fate of the aircraft in May 1956.

The aircraft started life as G-AFWE September 1939 registered to the Cardiff Aeroplane Club. It was impressed on 9th January 1940 and delivered to 20 MU on 10th January and became W6419. To RAF Mildenhall 15th April 1941. Transferred to 43 OTU at Andover 6th September 1945. The unit became 227 OCU and later moved to Middle Wallop January 1948. There is was coded BD:Z. In May 1950 the unit was renamed the AOP School and on 13th September 1950 it moved to RAF Odiham for the Station Flight. It served there until 20th November 1953 when moved to 9 MU for disposal. W6419 was sold to J.M.Jones on 27th July 1954 and ferried to Speke with marks G-AFWE crudely painted on the fuselage. The next time the aircraft crops up in official records it was being registered to Mr J.Jones of Holywell as G-AOHC (an in-sequence registration, so someone clearly omitted to tell the CAA the original civil serial) on 15th March 1956. It would appear that the aircraft had been transported to Thruxton by road, as a C of A was issued there on 13th April 1956 and the aircraft collected from Thruxton and flown to Liverpool on 1st May 1956. In under 4 weeks later on 26th May 1956 the aircraft was written off 'in an argument with a hedge' close to the owner's Holywell home at the end of a flight from Liverpool. The wreck was sent to Croydon and subsequently donated to an ATC Squadron in Surbiton. As the photo shows shows the wing-less aircraft undergoing engine runs outside No.54 hangar, the shot likely dates from the latter part of 1955 before being taken by road to Tiger Moth specialists at Thruxton for C of A inspection.



Although from another source (the Don Stephens Collection), I've slotted this image in here to illustrate G-AOHC during the 29 days of May 1956 it was at Liverpool between delivery and demise at Holywell.



This is the same Scottish Aviation Pioneer that featured in the top post in the Les Jones collection, but now registered G-AKBF and with a radial engine, it is tucked partly inside Hangar 54. This aircraft is recorded as landing at Speke at least on 10th May 1951, 18th September 1951 and 10th November 1952, so must be receiving the attention of Wright's engineers to fix an engine issue.



The aircraft is a Percival Q-Six and the brick work looks good to be the apron side of No.1 hangar. Now I have known for a long time that Starways had a Q-Six G-AFIX in the '50s which did not serve long, but components survived in their hangar into the late 50s. There is certainly large lettering on the fuselage side, but is vague and does not look to end with an X. The only Q-Six recorded in the 1950s Airport Logs is G-AHOM on 18th and 26th September 1951.

This has been a marathon posting session, mainly due to constantly altering the sequence of photos as I spotted new clues as to the period of the shot and a need to constantly cross-check that the caption comments were correct.

I've now finished posting on this thread. Likely a fascinating thread for some, but 'grey old black and whites' for others - who just need to skip onwards and find another thread. The next photo collection thread I'll post will be in colour, promise - well that was until I discovered a number of Don Stephens photos as attachments on a half-forgotten e-mail.

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Fascinating stuff and a big thanks for your efforts, Brian.

I see that,(noting the logo on the tail) 'GSJ was with BEA between '47 and '48 , and based at Northolt. The fueller looks very military, so could be there?

G-AKNB was on of the first aircraft I ever saw at Speke and very much a regular visitor. I still remember that it was called Sir Sefton Brancker after the aviation pioneer who was killed in the R101 disaster, but I can't remember where I left my iPhone! Incidentally, that aircraft has now been fitted with the Basler turboprops and is still alive (afaik) in Oshawa, Toronto. It is now 78 years old!

Can't offer any help re the Dragon Airways personnel - just a bit before my time - but I'm sure Cedric could identify them. Where the six are standing by G-ALOG, Bernie is second from the right, but I don't recognise any of the others.

For G-ALOG there is a change of ownership detailed, but no new owner is shown after 9.9.55, so that might have been about the time of the accident. It certainly looks like a write-off. Now the memory may be playing tricks, but I think I remember seeing its remains, perhaps in 39 hangar. which would place it at about 1959/60.

I never knew there was a fuel pump outside No 54 hangar! It was certainly gone by 1960.

For those who are not aware, Bernie Mc Kenzie began his life with Dragon Airways and was often to be found tinkering with various other of the light aircraft in hangars 39 and 50 in those days. He later joined Starways and was with Eagle for a while before joining Cambrian. He was what Roger Bacon of 'Flight' fame would call a 'total aviation person.' A first class engineer and also one of the nicest people you could wish to meet. He was on duty in Kamina, Democratic Republic of the Congo, when Starways were supplying their DC-4s to the UN relief force there, when G-APIN was shot up and destroyed. I believe I posted the photos on here a while ago.

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FURTHER 1950s IMAGES, THESE FROM THE DON STEPHENS COLLECTION.

From the Don Stephens collection via Graham Ward are a number of images sat in my e-mail in-tray for some months, amongst them a number of images that fit well here as they feature the same aircraft as in the post above, but with yet further variations of markings.





Same aircraft, Miles Hawk Trainer 3 G-ALOG. In the top image, early 1950s in cream, inscribed both "School of Flying, Wright Aviation Ltd, Liverpool Airport" on the nose and "Liverpool Flying Club" below the rear cockpit, just to make sure we know who the operator is. The lower shot is later, with "Liverpool School of Flying" wording and the Dragon Airways Logo on a colour fuselage, so dating the image to sometime 1954-1955. While this same aircraft features in a number of shots in the next post, during the same periods of time, it does not bear the owners name as it does here on these shots. It is impossible to tell if the upper surface of the outer wings are white or not (see the post crash photo of G-ALOG in the previous post.



Auster Autocraft G-AGVI in Wright Aviation cream with engine cowling inscriptions similar to those on G-ALOG above.



Yet another shot of Auster J/4 G-AIPH with the Dragon Airways logo and 'Liverpool School of Flying' inscription. The tail though has marking not evident on any other photos of this aircraft.



The Dragon Airways dark fuselage and white outer wing tops is clear on this photo, but with no titles or logo evident. The bright shiny paint makes me wonder if this was just fresh out of the paint shop before the sign writer added wording and logo.



DH.114 Heron G-ANYJ in Dragon Airways colours along with Hunting Clan above the cabin door. Although this is at Liverpool, the application of the Hunting Clan name means that it is after November 1955 when the operations base had moved to Newcastle and operation of the Liverpool School of Flying ceased.



Dragon Rapide G-AHPT was at Liverpool with different operators for a few years. Without being able to see the inscription below the cockpit windows, it is not possible to say more about this this image other than it is quite certainly at Liverpool Speke, despite the hazy conditions.

I've got some more Don Stephens images of (mostly) airliners at Speke in the 50s to post as a separate post on this thread, with to finish, a long forgotten visit by a military rarity from 70 years ago.

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SOME DON STEPHENS 1950s AIRLINER PHOTOS

Don Stephen's family have kindly passed onto me his albums of photos at Liverpool and elsewhere, mainly taken/collected in the period 1950-1965 and I thank them for their generosity and foresight. Due to Covid travel restrictions they are currently stuck in the UK, and could be for a while yet. However Graham Ward did some scans and e-mailed me examples of what is in the collection, these I am using now - once I have the collection to scan myself there will no doubt be some more dedicated threads to follow as there are a considerable number of 'wow' shots that deserve sharing.

Plenty of Dakotas, Vikings and Bristol Freighters in this post, so I'll start with a non-airliner!:



There have never been that many Scottish Aviation Pioneers visiting Liverpool, 2 SAL machines, one RAF one for the 1962 Air Display and 2 pairs on delivery through to the Royal Malaysian Air Force. I've posted pictures of three in the past few days. XL703 on the Air Displays thread, G-35-1/G-ANRF twice on posts above and now G-ANRG here. Known visits occurred in 6/54, 7/54, 9/54 and 6/55.



G-AKIF DH89A Dragon Rapide from 12/47 was operated by Manx Air Charters, they became Manx Airlines (the '50s version, not the '80s version) and this pair of Dragon Rapides outside No.2 Hangar is taken sometime before early 1958 when Manx was absorbed into Silver City. G-AKIF appears in the Airport Logs on 7 occasions, but only on Thursday 2nd June 1955 is it shown that 2 Manx Airlines Rapides called on the same day, the other being G-AKSC.



G-AFEZ DH.89A Dragon Rapide served with B.E.A between 2/47 and 6/56. Phil Butler's 1950s Visiting Aircraft Logs don't record many BEA Dragon Rapide visits in the mid 50s, but G-AFEZ is noted as visiting Speke on 15th March 1954.



I fancy that this a photo that Don 'collected' as the superior quality is evident. Starways operated this Anson 1, G-AIRN in the period 5/49 to 2/52. The shot is clearly not at Liverpool, the sign behind declaring that it is outside the Newcastle Aviation Centre. How very convenient of the photographer to have included the answer to the question as was asking myself as I cropped and cleaned this image (not that it required much).

To follow that very smart Avro Anson, two further Ansons, these are both just ex military and delivered to, or seen routing through Speke, in the mid '50s - would you buy an aircraft in this condition even from a shady second-hand dealer?



Of the various combinations W6860, WG860, MG860, only MG860 is an Anson I. MG860 Visited Liverpool 2.11.55 on diversion while en route on delivery from RNAS Anthorn to Burnaston for Derby Aviation. It appears never to have made it onto the British Register, much like the next one.



N3828 ex Royal Navy Avro Anson I. While I immediately, from prior research, recognised the registration as an aircraft acquired by Federated Fruit at Liverpool and was flown in from RNAS Anthorn via Hawarden on 25th February 1956. Just where the aircraft was when photographed at first was a puzzle. Before I go into that, at around the same time as this Anson 1 was purchased by Federated Fruit, the C.A.A. decided that the Anson I was unsuitable for civilian conversion and they would not be accepting any further aircraft onto the civil register. As a result the aircraft was slowly reduced to spares, then the aircraft was donated to the Fire Service, who quickly reduced it to a bare frame (see photo in the Ian Foster 50s thread).

I for some time puzzled over which airport it could be at. Then it twigged, it was indeed at Liverpool - but in a place not normally associated with parked aircraft as by the 1960s it was an employees car park. The clue is the building on the right, ahead of the engine. It is the round fronted annex to the right of the doors of No.1 hangar, throughout my time early 60s to 1986 occupied by the Airport Police/Security. That makes the tall square wall with a light on the corner the back of the west wing of the terminal building, the balcony level being behind the white building, which I don't recognise. Could have been freight forwarder offices or the car ferry offices in the early 60s? The white and red two-bar fence just visible over the painted out roundel is between the access roadway and the apron and features on a fair few of these 50s photos.



Cambrian Air Services (C.A.S.) only used just the initials of the airline name for around a year as far as I can make out. G-AJOT a DH.104 Dove 1 was used by Cambrian for the period 2/53 until 11/56.



In the later Cambrian scheme a DH.114 Heron 2D G-AOGU used by them in the period 3/56 to 12/60.



G-AMSW Douglas C-47A Dakota 4 seen here in the short lived C.A.S. scheme was operated by Cambrian between 1/55 and 4/59 - the aircraft was shortly after destroyed in a crash at Mt. Canigou, near Perpignan 7th October 1961. Note the navigator's astrodome, the round bubble window in the cockpit roof, a feature rarely kept on civilianisation of Dakotas. The only record in the Visiting Aircraft Logs is a visit on 1st May 1957, but being flown by an airline with scheduled services into Liverpool, it would not be included, as it wasn't a visitor but a potential regular.



The Lancashire Aircraft Corporation operate C-47B Dakota 4 G-AMWV for a period between 11/52 and 1958 when they merged into Silver City. There are known visits to Liverpool recorded in July 1953 and on 25th June 1954.



Two of the former RAF C-47B Dakotas delivered to Speke for Starways in 1952. Delivered in May 1952 this appears to be G-AMSM (although the hand written registration could be G-AMSN) and another. If G-AMSM it would not be that long before she was overhauled, provided with a civilian C of A, new paint and in service - as the next shot shows.



Photos of C-47B Dakota 4 G-AMSM are something of a rarity in Starways colours as the aircraft did not serve long with them. She arrived at Speke in 5/52 on purchase from the RAF and was then civilianised, but then only flew with Starways until sale in 5/54.



JY-ABE Douglas C-47B Dakota 4 in full 'Air Jordan - the Holy Land Route' colours. This is Starways' G-AMPY in disguise. Departed on lease Wednesday 18th December 1957, but this is much more likley on her return Wednesday, 30th April 1958.



In the 50s colour scheme, Aer Lingus Dakota EI-ACI served with Aer Lingus 12/45 until 1/61.



In the Aer Lingus 'green top' scheme adopted from 1958 is EI-ACE which they flew between 8/46 and 5/63. While it is recorded that Starways used No.3 hangar through the 1950s (in the 70s used by Vernair), they would appear to have used No.4 too (in the 70s to 90s used by Jim Keen and the Liverpool Flying School/Keenair). It would appear that EI-ACE is being fixed by Starways engineers, having earlier gone 'tech' at Speke. The Auster J/5V Autocrat is almost certainly G-APUW, resident 4/60 to 9/62.



A B.E.A. Dakota 4 G-AGHS in the maroon scheme and flown by BEA 8/47 through to 5/63.



It was not only the Dakotas of British Airlines that served Speke, there were charters from Europe too. LN-NAB a Dakota of Fred Olsen Air Transport Ltd. Called 25 times between 14.04.51 and 01.10.57.



This particular Fred Oslen Dakota, LN-IAS appeared at Liverpool in a later Fred Olsen scheme with a cheat-line, some 46 times between January 1956 and July 1961.



LN-SUK Dakota Braathens S·A·F·E Airtransport A/s with a cheat-line also points to a later date. Braathens operated LN-SUK 3.57 to 9.62. It would appear that this particular aircraft did not call at Liverpool until October 1960 and made 9 visits, the final one in June 1962.

Tired of Dakota images yet? They were the mainstay of airlines services through the 50s decade. So for a change is the less common C-46 Commando.



Curtiss C-46 Commando LN-FOR first called on 15th June 1958 and made its 8th visit on 19th April 1959. Fred Oslen operated 3 Commandos on freight and ship's crew charters into Liverpool, the final visit being not until 1970.





There were British built airliners too, although Vikings were very rarely used into Speke by either Aer Lingus or B.E.A. For just one summer season, in 1954, BEA operated a regular Viking service on Saturdays only from & to the Isle of Man, as a W on a flight that commenced and ended at Heathrow. Being a Saturday there were enthusiasts with cameras up on the balcony. The 1950s Visiting Aircraft Logs record that G-AIVD appeared for the first time that year on 17th July 1954, but from the parking position clearly visited on at least one other occasion too.



Viking G-AMGI flew with BEA only between 5/51 and 6/55, and is known to have operated the Saturday Isle of Man flight on 7th August 1954 at least. The problems of using a fixed focal length camera with a view finder (not TTL) from the balcony are shown by the nose being cropped as the Viking is parked close in to the terminal.

So now you fussy lot are tired of Vikings, so let's try some passenger carrying Bristol Freighters.



EI-AFR a Bristol 170 Freighter 31E operated by Aer Lingus 7/52 to 11/55. Recorded at Liverpool at least twice at the end of 7/52, and on Grand National Day 28th March 1953. Note the open hatch in the cockpit roof to give access to the wings and fuel tanks, given the height off the ground compared to other aircraft of the period.



EI-AFT was operated between 1/53 and 10/56. No visits are recorded in the Visiting Aircraft Logs by EI-AFT, yet it clearly did! Likely on a charter so parked on the West Apron while awaiting its returning passengers. Also on the West apron is a Starways Dakota as Starways used Hangar 3 (in the '70s and '80s Vernair's hangar) at the time.



EI-AFQ is recorded in the logs four times in July 1952, with Saturday 19th July 1952 as perhaps favourite for this late finals shot. At first simply assumed this was landing over Speke Hall Avenue onto runway 26 (seen from around between the Garden Centre and Hotel are now) - then looked closer and realised the angle of approach was all wrong and there was no cycle path on Speke Hall Avenue. This is actually taken as the aircraft crossed Speke Boulevard, landing on runway 22, which was last used in 1958, so the photographer would be stood roughly where the roundabout entrance to the business and retail parks is today.



Likely taken from a spot very close to the previous shot, as after runway 04/22 was closed, Starways built a new hangar parallel to Speke Boulevard (then called Speke Road) close to the 22 threshold, which this Bristol Freighter and Douglas C-54 are parked outside. G-AGPV of Trans European Airways was operated by them 10/60 until late 1962, so another image just outside the remit of this thread. I am sure I've hit those electric cable inspection lids many times through the '60s whilst cycling to the Airport!

The Lancaster image has been moved to a later post, on page 2 of this thread.

[ronturner]

Re EI-AFQ. Right. Certainly 22 and not too many photos of approaches there. Grey cells are working because I spotted the location straight away. Thanks for posting.

[Samba]

Great thread Brian, well done, it's nice to see no negative comments as we do in other threads lately.
Bob.

[viscount]

No negative comments as these were scanned from prints! (groan).

Sorry.

[Deleted]

Aug 14, 2021 8:03:33 GMT 1 Samba said:

Great thread Brian, well done, it's nice to see no negative comments as we do in other threads lately.
Bob.

+1

[Deleted]

Aug 14, 2021 7:38:51 GMT 1 ronturner said:

Re EI-AFQ. Right. Certainly 22 and not too many photos of approaches there. Grey cells are working because I spotted the location straight away. Thanks for posting.

Yes, you may also remember Ron, that the railings were painted white at that point, with red discs attached to them. Although I lived just up the road and used to walk the dogs to the roundabout almost every day, I rarely saw anything use 22. Note also the mini street lights, deliberately designed to cast a minimum sodium lamp glow onto the road. If I remember correctly, the stretch of road from the fire station to Speke Hall was originally laid as concrete, but with the war on, a thin coating of tarmac was applied to make the road less obvious. The tarmac coating remained on the roundabout to Speke Hall section of Speke Hall Road well into the 1960s.

[viscount]

Now for some more of the Don Stephens pictures that I have available. I've swopped a few in and out of the photo post above to keep the theme to '50s airliners, so I've added some more (including a Jordanian Dakota!) and removed a couple of 1960s shots for use later.

GENERAL & BUSINESS AVIATION

I've placed 6 images in the 'Air Display - 1961' thread as they mostly illustrate the modern American all metal types being introduced by sales agencies at the very start of the '60s, while around the same number of images are already posted earlier on this thread, but illustrate the Liverpool based flying schools of the 1950s. Most of this selection are British products from Auster, Miles and Airspeed. The numbers and variety of types was well down on today, the opposite of airliners as the variety of types was well up on todays limited range from a few manufacturers.



NC798420 Lockheed 12A Electra visited Saturday 07.04.51, clearly in rather wet conditions. The original print is far from perfect, the subject though is worth displaying no matter what the print quality. Have a feeling this was a slightly famous aircraft, but no idea why.





G-AJXE AS.65 Consul, is known to have called on Wednesday 13th May 1959 and again on Monday 1st June 1959. The nose declares it to be operated by 'The Minister of Aviation'. The Consuls were in the process of being replaced by a fleet of DH.Doves.



G-AIAH AS.65 Consul, G-AKHP Gemini, G-ANAN Dove and more - all on the same day make this Grand National Day, 2th March 1954.



EI-AGF M.65 Gemini 1A, visited on Sunday 19th July 1953.



Irish aircraft passed through Speke far more often than they today. EI-AFH Miles M.38 Messenger 2A, recorded a number of visits in the period 13.01.51 to 05.04.52.



G-AILL M.38 Messenger 2A visited on Wednesday 19th May 1954 and Sunday 12th May 1957.



G-AGOH Auster J/1 Autocrat (actually the prototype) called on 17.07.59 and 20.11.61, but Morton's Dove G-AOYC isn't recorded on either of those dates!



G-AJRC Auster J/1 Autocrat, regular visitor from 7/55 through into the early '60s, initially with Mr Westoby (Westair) at Squires Gate, then flown by the Lancashire Aero Club at Barton.



G-AIJR Auster J/4, visited 01.04.54 and then 5 occasions in 1957 and 1958 when operated by the Blackpool and Fylde Aero Club at Squires Gate.



G-APUW Auster J/5V Autocar was based at Speke April 4/60 until 9/62. Likely in No.4 hangar as the nose can be seen on a shot of EI-ACE Dakota earlier on the thread.



G-ARCS Auster D.6/180, based at Speke 11/60 until 6/62. Probably outside No.4 hangar



EI-AJN PA-22 Tri-Pacer 150. First visit was on 08.05.57 and the first visit by the new PA-22 aircraft. A regular visitor, with some 16 visits until 21.01.59, after which it became G-APTP.



G-ARAK PA-22 Tri-Pacer 160, known visits on Sunday 18.09.60 and Friday 01.09.61

Finally for this post, two somewhat obscure types, even then:



EI-BGH BA Swallow. Visited 08.09.55, but this is much more likely after a landing 'incident' on 03.05.56 leaving three weeks later on 25.05.56. Presumably in either the Aero Club hangar or No.50 hangar.



G-AKJD Slingsby T.29B Motor Tutor, arrived from Southend Wednesday 21st March 1951 and stayed until departing Sunday 25th March.

[ronturner]

I learned a few things from those recent posts. Great stuff. Thanks.