MANCHESTER AIRPORT - Images from the 'Fifties.

[viscount]

MANCHESTER AIRPORT, MOSTLY '50s DECADE

INTRODUCTION

Another big batch of original '50s b&w prints scanned to digital from the Don Stephens (DJS) Collection. While some are his own work, he was great friends with Alan Scholefield (RAS) and they regularly swopped prints and could well have worked together developing/printing them in the same dark-room. The original source of many of Don's collection of Manchester prints turns out to be Alan Scholefield, as I found when I started to Google around for information to add to the captions. A fair proportion of these images are already on the internet, posted by Alan Schoefield on Air Britain Images (AB Pic), Air History.net or Wikipedia Commons. I will identify in the caption those posted by RAS on the internet where I have become aware of them. However, to confuse the situation two shots are scanned from negatives in the Don Stephens collection. Often the image used by RAS on the internet has been cropped, here I have always left the original print width, cropping just a little sky or apron concrete/grass - in nostalgia terms, the background can be as interesting as the aircraft. Having known both DJS and RAS in the past, I feel both would far rather their images be shared, brought together to be enjoyed on this Manchester themed thread, than kept hidden away either on my PC memory or as prints in big box in a cupboard.

AIRLINERS:



G-AHEY an Avro York, Skyways of London (2.55 until broken up 8.62) stated to be at Ringway, date not noted. Print cropped with scissors to letter-box format, so likely used in an MSAE/MAS 'Flypast' magazine a long time ago.



G-AHYN an Avro C.19 series 1 of Sivewright Airways, Manchester, with fleet name "Salfordia" and operated between 8.46 and the airline ceasing trading 3.51. Photo undated by Don Stephens, on Air History.net as an Alan Scholefield image, dated as March 1950.



G-AMAC an Airspeed Ambassador of BEA named 'Sir Robert Cecil', at Ringway 17th April 1953, an Alan Scholefield photo, although the image on Air History.Net has the people in slightly different positions, so clearly a near duplicate that has been passed on to Don.



G-AMAG another Airspeed Ambassador, BEA named 'Sir Thomas Gresham', at Ringway on 18th July 1953, an Alan Scholefield photo on AB Pics.



EI-AFP Bristol 170 Freighter, Aer Lingus, thought to be at Ringway, date unknown, but has to be during summer 1952 as it was only operated on lease from Bristol's, March to October. Aer Lingus's own aircraft EI-AFQ/AFR/AFS/AFT operated until winter 56/57. As this is likely a fairly rare image, as the aircraft was EI-AFP for only a few months, I have not located any photo on the internet - which is unusual.



OO-SCM Convair 440 of Sabena (operated 8.56 to 9.67), looks like Ringway. An Alan Scholefield photo on Air History.Net, dated 3rd August 1957.



PH-TEE Convair 240 of KLM (operated 11.48 to 11.53). At Ringway, photo noted by Don Stephens as taken on 29th July 1949.



Convair 240 of KLM thought to be at Ringway, date unknown. Enlarged from a tiny contact print resulting in a very weak image.



G-AEMH DH.89 Dragon Rapide at Ringway, with no airline name applied, on 13th April 1950 according to Don's notes. The Air Britain Dragon Rapide history places the aircraft with Spalding Airways at that time. Alan Scholefield on Air History.Net provides the same details for this photo.



G-AIBB DH.89 Dragon Rapide at Ringway on 13th February 1956 according to Don's notes. Although wearing no operator titles, G-AIBB was at that time operated by Federated Air Transport of Liverpool (12.53 to 7.58). However, the same image turns out to be an Alan Scholefield photo on Air History.net dated June 1952 with Starways (4/51 to 5/53) and is at Manchester on sub-charter to Melba Airways.



G-AKZP DH.89 Dragon Rapide at Ringway stated by Don as on 5th June 1950, no operator name. A-B Dragon Rapide production lists states to Eric Holden of Knutsford 9.49 and operated by Melba Airways of Barton until they ceased trading 2.52. The aircraft subsequently being operated by Ringway Air Charters until 3.56. Aircraft ran out of fuel and w/o in the subsequent forced landing, Tunisia 16.3.57. Is an Alan Scholefield photo on Air History.Net dated March 1950, who notes there that the nose and engine in the foreground is that of an Avro C.19.



G-ALET DH.89 Dragon Rapide at Ringway. Don's notes state 11th September 1950, however Alan Scholefield on A-B Pic states the photo date as 6th April 1950. It was operated by Mannin Airways and registered to them 10.48, but when its civilian CofA was issued it was to North West Airlines (IoM) Ltd a subsidiary company - note the 'NWA' on the fin. At the time NWA operated a Manchester-Isle of Man scheduled service. British registration cancelled 9.51 and it subsequently became F-OALD and ended its days as XW-TAJ when it suffered a nose-over on landing in Laos 9.60.



G-ALGE DH.89 Dragon Rapide at Ringway on 11th July 1950 according to Don's notes. With Melba Airways of Manchester 9.49 until they ceasing trading during 2.52. The logo on the tail states 'Melba Airways', with 'Melba Airways, Manchester' on the nose. Later became EI-AMN 7.62, F-BLXX and N8053 and destroyed on the ground in a US hurricane 9.79. While likely an Alan Scholefield photo, despite being a fine image, I cannot locate this one elsewhere on the internet.



G-ALPK DH.89 Dragon Rapide at Ringway, no date provided by Don Stephens. If the not too clear name on the nose is Air Taxi Cumbernauld, then the photo dates in the period 10.57 to 4.61 (from British Independent Airlines, Tony Merton Jones). However confusingly Alan Scholefield dates this shot as 28th November 1954 and correctly as the sole aircraft flown by the company. The aircraft was eventually used for spares by the British Parachute Association at Netheravon in the late '60s.



OY-FAL DH.104 Dove 5 very likely at Ringway. Operated by Falcks 10.54 until 10.62 when it became G-ASDD. A somewhat damaged print. I'm presuming that the building construction work over on the left is Terminal and Tower block, but before the domestic pier was constructed outwards. Time frame is right as the Terminal was opened in 1962, so a photo around 1961 would fit nicely.



G-AJBI DH.104 Dove 1B with Olley Air Service titles, although a Morton Air Services Aircraft (5.49-4.67). An Alan Scholefield credited print on A-B Pic, dated 9th July 1954 at Manchester. Don Stephens provided no details with the print and it was initially identified as 'possibly Speke'. I can see why with the wooded background and a Viscount landing on 08 - only when examined closely the front door of the Viscount is open!



G-AGHM a Douglas C-47A Dakota of BEA, looks like Ringway. Operated by BEA 2.51 to 4.61, then to Cambrian. An Alan Scholefield photo on Air History.Net and dated as 25th September 1954



G-AGHS a Douglas C-47A Dakota of BEA, looks like Ringway. Operated by BEA 8.46 to 3.61, then to Cambrian.



G-AGJZ a Douglas C-47A Dakota of BEA, looks like Ringway. Operated by BEA 8.46 to 3.60.



G-AHCT Douglas C-47A Dakota with BEA in their late'40s/'50s "key" scheme and operated by BEA 8.46 to 3.54 when sold to Eagle Aviation. At Ringway on 13.10.52, a known Alan Scholefield photo on AB Pic.



G-ALXL Douglas C-47A Dakota of Cambrian and certainly looks like Ringway. Operated by Cambrian 2.60 to 7.69 which fits in with the BEA Viscount behind in the early/mid '60s 'red square' scheme. An Alan Scholefield photo on Air History.Net, dated 1st January 1961.



G-AMVL Douglas C-47B Dakota was operated by Transair between 1.53 to 3.55. An Alan Scholefield photo dated 7th February 1953 with the aircraft arriving from Croydon to collect newspapers and fly on to Ireland.



EI-ACI Douglas C-47 Dakota in an early Aer Lingus scheme, operated by them 12.45 to 1.61. An Alan Scholefield shot on 26th October 1952.



EP-ACK Douglas C-47B Dakota of Iranian Airways at Ringway 24th April 1954. Called for inbound Customs clearance en route to maintenance with Fields at Tollerton. Is a Alan Scholefield photo that appears on both AB Pic and Air History.Net.



OO-AWG a Douglas DC-3C Dakota of Sabena at Ringway, an Alan Scholefield shot so similar it has to be out of the same camera is on Air History.Net dated 15th August 1948. Operated 3.47 to 4.60 when sold to Spantax.



This may look out of sequence, being a military Dakota, however at the time this photo was taken during 1957, the aircraft was in the ownership of Eagle Aviation at Manchester. KG745 a Douglas C-47A was ready for delivery 30.07.44, then operated by 147 Sqdn at Croydon from 9.44 (they operated an airline style service connecting London and liberated Cities in Europe for 'official' passengers), transferred to 1381 T(CU) (Transport Conversion Unit) 9.46, who applied the side code '7Z-M'. Then 9.48 to Morton-in-the-Marsh for ground instruction and allocated serial 6596M. Sold, and delivered to Eagle Avn at Manchester 2.57 by road. Broken up for spares by Eagle at Ringway during 1957.



PH-TDL Douglas C-54B Skymaster at Ringway in 'KLM The Flying Dutchman' titles in June 1953. Operated by KLM 12.48, then as PH-DBL until 3.54. An Alan Scholefield photo on Air History.Net.



F-BAZX Lockheed L-749A Constellation, operated by Air France 8.50 until crashed on approach to Schwechat Airport, Vienna near midnight 24th December 1958. An Alan Scholefield photo, dated 10th June 1955 on Air History.Net. Of note is the mobile Blind Landing System GCA radar in the background.



G-AISF Miles M.57 Aerovan 4. An Alan Scholefield photo on AB Pic at Ringway, 29th May 1955. Later while with Meridian Air Maps departed Ringway on an aerial survey flight, lost power and crashed back on to the runway and slid through a boundary fence. Killed two persons aboard, 29th April 1957.



G-AJOI Miles M.57 Aerovan 4. Another Alan Scholefield Aerovan photo on Air History.Net at Ringway, 11th April 1949, although Don Stephens records the date as Ringway 29th July 1949. The sole Aerovan to be operated by Sivewright, Manchester (7.47 to 10.50) and named "Oldhamia" on the nose. Scanned from a tiny 'contact' print, so quality is not great.



G-ALWE Vickers V.701 Viscount was the first to be delivered to BEA in January 1953. This Alan Scholefield photo is dated Ringway, 20th March 1953. Appear on both Air History.Net and Aviation Safety Network sites.



Wreckage of G-ALWE V.701 Viscount near Ringway having crashed on approach 14th March 1957 all 22 aboard perished. An Alan Scholefield shot also on Air History.Net.



G-ANRR V.732 Viscount of Hunting Clan, most likely at Ringway. Undated, however G-ANRR operated by Hunting Clan 5.55 until written-off 2.12.58.



PH-VIB V.813 Viscount of KLM at Ringway on 21st April 1958. A known Alan Scholefield photo on Air History.Net - the version on the 'net is much tighter cropped than this print.

GENERAL AVIATION TYPES AT RINGWAY



G-AOUT Airspeed AS.40 Oxford 1 at Ringway, owned by Eagle Aircraft Services from ex military as MP301 8.56 until declared permanently withdrawn from use June 1959. No wings, the fuselage only which was eventually burnt. This scanned from a negative, rather than a print.



G-AGXN Auster J/1N Alpha of Airviews Manchester Ltd and G Brady & Sons Ltd, with both names appearing on the engine cowling. However G-INFO shows first registered to one, then later to the other across the time period 1.46 to 5.61. In 2024 this Auster is a flying survivor. Image is not dated.



G-ALBD DH.82A Tiger Moth registered to Airviews Ltd 11.53 to 7.59. Known to be an Alan Scholefield on Air History.net image dated 12th January 1954



G-AIYO Fairchild F-24W Argus II, noted by Don Stephens at Ringway 25.11.50. Registration cancelled as 'destroyed', March 1963.



G-ALBE Miles M.38 Messenger 4A. Great wide vista, with the black sheds and the brick works in the background. Operated by a Burnley based company 11.54 to 1.58. Image undated.



G-AMTJ Percival Proctor 5 at Ringway on 20th March 1953. Must have been a visitor as all owners listed on G-INFO have London region addresses. An Alan Scholefield photo, a cropped version of the print is found on Air History.net

[acklington]

Wonderful set of images, and many thanks for posting them.

I'm particularly pleased to see DH 89A Rapide G-ALGE, in which I had my first ever (pleasure) flight, at Newcastle Airport one summer evening 1960. It was with MacSmith Air Charter. This is not a photo of this aircraft that I have seen before.

[viscount]

BRITISH MILITARY AIRCRAFT AT RINGWAY IN THE 'FIFTIES

In the mid '50s there were two companies involved with the construction and repair of military aircraft at Ringway. Airwork used a number of large hangars on the south side for maintenance of F-86 Sabres and Lockheed T-33s. Many of which were USAF or RCAF aircraft prepared for onward use by Greece and Turkey. Airwork moved out when work dried out in the latter half of the '50s. In the early '60's there was a spectator's area at the west end, beside the hangar that faced the airfield and held civilian light aircraft and maintenance, known locally as the 'black sheds' or 'southside'. They are clear in the background on a number of the photos on the previous post that look across the airfield. This last big hangar was demolished to make way for the construction of the 2nd runway which commenced 1997 (opened 2001).

Across to the west of the airfield from the original Terminal (the current terminal being constructed beside it in 1962) were a collection of various shaped hangars used by Fairey Aviation, at one time for aircraft construction, then maintenance and modification. In the late '60s I can recall seeing a Jindivik, jet powered target being towed around between hangars. This site today is still the location of the hangars at Manchester, known as the 'Western Maintenance Area', although many have been rebuilt. In the '50s there was a small lane, truncated when the new terminal was built, that provided various views across the Fairey aprons. Another section of the road that looped around these hangars, is that used today to access the AVP past the Romper Public House.

The other group of hangars in the '50s was immediately to the east of the group of small buildings that comprised the airport terminal in the 50's. The last of the 3 hangars, one of which had the control tower built into one of end, which are in the near-ground behind a number of shots in the post above of aircraft on the civil apron, lasted for many years adjacent to the Domestic flights Pier of the 1962 terminal. It served as a freight shed, until finally being demolished to make way for Domestic Terminal 1A, now Terminal 3 completed in 1989.



VG962 a Fairey Firefly FR.4 with Fairey's at Ringway on 14th September 1952, with wings folded. An Alan Scholefield photo on Air History.net



Fairey Firefly AS.7 at Ringway, undated.



Fairey Firefly AS.7 at Ringway in 1952.



Firefly U.8, a pilotless, drone conversion from an AS.7, with Fairey's at Ringway - undated. Colours were bright red with cream top sides. Although scanned from a negative, rather than a print, no matter how I try with contrast and inverting the black and white I cannot locate, let alone read a serial off this, despite it likely being applied larger than was usual on FAA aircraft.



KF470/Q3-2 T-6 Harvard IIB. Don Stephens's notes incorrectly states Syerston 22nd July 1954. On AB Pic, this photo Alan Scholefield image, at Ringway, is dated June 1950. The 'Q3' 613 (City of Manchester) Squadron side code being applied May 1950 and worn until retired 10.53 and subsequently sold for scrap.



MM790/RAL-F DH.98 Mosquito NF.30. Identified by Don Stephens as at Ringway 21.04.48 clearly at an air show. However, the Alan Scholefield photo on Air History.net dates this as 24.04.48 - which being a Saturday is more likely correct! Squadron code 'RAL' denotes 605 (County of Warwick) Sqdn, at that time based at RAF Honiley.



NR946 a Swordfish II at Ringway on 29th August 1954. For many years stored by Faireys, it was donated to the Airport fire service and quickly reduced to not much more than a frame. Lingered on with the fire brigade for some years until buried in building foundations work. Alan Scholefield, image also on AB Pic.



WG531/ - Shackleton MR.2, second production MR.2 at Ringway on 30th June 1953. After a long endurance Avro test flight from Woodford the aircraft landed back at Ringway during the night. Here seen preparing for the short hop to return to Woodford. The aircraft served with 42 Squadron until lost in a collision near Ireland on 11th January 1955. An Alan Scholefield photo on Air History.Net.



WJ339/339:CAS Handley Pages Hastings C.2 on finals at Ringway 27th August 1955. An Alan Scholefield photo on Air History.net.



WR540 DH.112 Venom FB.4 at Ringway on 25th March 1956. Note the USAF 7 x B-26 Invaders beyond awaiting attention with Fairey's. An Alan Scholefield photo also on Wikipedia Commons. Transport for spotting and moving around between Ringway, Stretton, Burtonwood and Speke by '50s enthusiasts was generally by bicycle - I don't fancy going too far on that 'bum-splitter' racing saddle though!

FURTHER MILITARY AIRCRAFT AT RINGWAY IN THE 'FIFTIES



322477/BC-477 (43-22477) a B-26C Invader (built as an A-26C Invader, type designation changed in 1948). At Ringway, 26th May 1956.



Registration either removed or very faded (was applied in red on black). A Douglas B-26 Invader in USAF markings at Ringway, undated.



Registration either removed or very faded - at first thought this to be the same Douglas B-26 Invader aircraft as above from a different angle, but the more I look, it is a different aircraft parked in a similar position! At Ringway, undated.



434124/BC-124 (44-34124) a B-26B Invader in USAF markings at Ringway, undated.



348908 (43-48908) Douglas C-47B Dakota, at Ringway on 18th October 1952. The aircraft was in Europe 3.52 to 6.71 when it was retired to Davis Monthan AFB. An Alan Scholefield photo also found on AirHistory.net.



ZU-16 Royal Netherlands Air Force Douglas C-47B Dakota. Ringway 9th May 1958. ZU-16 flew with 334 Squadron 8.52 to 3.61 before return to the USAF and later with the Fuerza Aérea de Chile and then US civil before scrapped c.1985. Alan Scholefield photo, a more tightly cropped version on AirHistory.net.



26040/46-25 Fairchild C-119G at Ringway on 17th July 1954 (Don Stephens's notes). Italian Air Force. An Alan Scholefield photo on Wikipedia Commons, although dated 07th August 1954.



26019/46-21 Fairchild C-119G of the Italian Air Force, loading - but what is it on the trailer? Assumed to be Manchester as the angle is rather similar to that of the Constellation photo F-BAZK earlier, but could be Heathrow?



19104 a F-86 Sabre at Ringway, Don's notes highlighting 'not Hooton'. In Greek Air Force markings. The same shot is dated 30th March 1955 by Alan Scholefield photo on AB Pic, he confirms Manchester as being the location.



19450 a F-86 Sabre landing at Ringway in Royal Canadian Air Force markings. After attention by Airwork this aircraft passed on to the Turkish Air Force. An Alan Scholefield photo, dated 26th February 1955 on AirHistory.net.



Long lines of F-86 Sabres and Lockheed T-33As at Ringway sometime 1954/55.



Many Lockheed T-33's and a single F-86 Sabres at Ringway. The T-33 is in Turkish Air Force markings, while the silver F-86 Sabre is marked in Hellenic (Greek) Air Force markings.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Enjoyed scrolling through these? Then you may be interested in a thread featuring the work of several photographers, featuring Manchester between the 50's through to the '80s.

derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/10416/manchester-50s-80s-images-restored

There are others too, if you search through the Nostalia, Manchester and Woodford index accessed via the front-page sections index.

[sabre]

And many thanks for all the hard work researching and posting these from me...

[ian531]

Great Images

[ronturner]

I have only just discovered this thread, and jolly glad I did too.

A lot of hard work, I am sure, to have researched it all and pasted all the images. There are many memories jogged but perhaps my favourite is the mention of Fields at Tollerton.

Thanks.