Airspeed AS.10 Oxford & AS.65 Consul

It is interesting to note that a number of these aircraft routed through Athens, Greece. Did they have better relations back then?

Support Aircraft?

Later in the century, BAC Jaguars for the Oman AF flew in with a BAC 1-11 support aircraft. Sea Harriers for the India on two occasions came in with a BAe 125, whilst Hawks, also for India, once came with a Falcon 10. Typhoons for Saudi Arabia sometimes had a BAe 146 following them.

With this in mind, were the arrival of two British Aviation Services aircraft from Izmir, Turkey related to the Oxfords and Consuls being ferried? One was Consul G-AHRK which arrived on 24.11.46, the other being Lancastrian G-AHBW on 11.01.47.

British Aviation Services provided crews to deliver aircraft to their destination. Could these have been support flights of some sort or just a coincidence?

Oxford

Consul

Beagle/B-N

F. Firefly

Unlike other aircraft on this page, these deliveries remained the property of their original owner, the Royal Navy.
Some would be based at the airfield, whilst others had been converted into drones, to be shot down by either missile or anti-aircraft guns.

Unless otherwise stated, the aircraft listed below are Firefly variants, based at the former airfield of Hal-Far, known by the British services as HMS Falcon, and operated by No. 728B squadron.

Information on this page courtesy of the Aviation Safety Network.

AIRCRAFT	SERIAL	SQUADRON	ARRIVED	NOTES
U.9	VT413/597/HF	728B	17.10.60	c/n F.8313. Delivered to Fairey Aircraft Ltd., Ringway Airport, Manchester on 09.12.55 for conversion from Firefly FR.5 to U.9 drone. First flown as a Firefly U.9 on 22.10.56 at Ringway Airport, Manchester. Delivered to the RAE at Llanbedr in July 1957. Returned to Fairey Aircraft at Ringway 14.08.57, and display by them at the SBAC Show at Farnborough early September 1957. Delivered to Short Brothers & Harland Ltd at RAE Llanbedr on 16.12.57. Presumably damaged at RAE Llanbedr at some point in early in 1958, as Cat.4 damaged, and returned to Fairey Aircraft at Ringway for repairs 09.06.58. Upon completion of repairs, ferried to HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset 13.10.60 for the forthcoming delivery flight to Malta.
U.9	VT430/596/HF	728B	27.08.60 *	c/n F.8330. Delivered to Fairey Aircraft Ltd., Ringway Airport, Manchester on 27.04.56 for conversion from Firefly FR.5 to U.9 drone. First flown as a Firefly U.9 on 10.01.57 at Ringway Airport, Manchester. Delivered on 16.06.57 to Short Brothers & Harland Ltd at RAE Llanbedr coded "V". Returned to Fairey Aircraft at Ringway Airport, Manchester on 09.01.59 for refurbishment. To 728B Squadron at Hal Far. *This is the date when it was issued to 728B squadron, which is not necessarily the date when it arrived at Malta.
U.9	VT463	728B		F. Firefly: c/n F.8347. By July 1955 in storage at HMS Nutcharch, RNAS Anthorn ADU. On 29.09.55 Transferred to permanent C(A) (Controller (Air) charge and delivered 02.03.56 Fairey Aircraft, at Hamble, Hampshire for reconditioning. Upon completion of work, it was again flown on 03.01.57 to Fairey Aircraft, at Ringway Airport, Manchester for conversion to U.9 drone. First flight as Firefly U.9 drone was on 22.10.57 at Ringway Airport, Manchester. Stored at Ringway Airport, Manchester until delivered on 11.02.58 HMS Blackcap, RNAS Stretton AHU, in Cheshire. By May 1958 it was in service with 728B squadron at RNAS Hal Far, Malta.
U.9	VT470/591/HF	728B	04.07.59	c/n F.8354. Delivered on 29.09.55 to Fairey aircraft, Hamble, Hampshire for reconditioning. Upon completion of this work, it was delivered on 08.02.57 to Fairey Aircraft, Ringway Airport, Manchester for conversion to Firefly U.9 drone. On 04.03.57 it was transferred back to Fairey Aircraft, Hamble (transferred to C(A)MoS (Controller Aircraft) Ministry of Supply charge in exchange for Firefly VT480). Returned on 31.05.57 to Fairey Aircraft, Ringway Airport, Manchester for completion of conversion to Firefly U.9 drone. First flight as Firefly U.9 drone 09.01.59 at Ringway Airport, Manchester. Delivered to the RNAS Yeovilton Ferry Flight on 03.07.59 at HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset for delivery to Hal Far.
U.9	VT497/591/HF	728B	__.03.58	c/n F.8381. In January 1954 the aircraft was stored at HMS Nuthatch, RNAS Anthorn RDU until 29.09.55 when it was then transferred to permanent C(A) MoS (Controller (Aircraft) Ministry of Supply) charge. Delivered on 26.03.56 Fairey Aircraft, at Hamble, Hampshire for reconditioning. Upon completion of work, it was flown on 27.11.56 to Fairey Aircraft, Ringway Airport, Manchester, for conversion to Firefly U.9 drone. First flight as Firefly U.9 drone 15.10.57. After completion of test flying and short term storage, it was delivered on 14.01.58 to the FAA at HMS Blackcap, RNAS Stretton AHU. Returned on 27.01.58 Fairey Aircraft, Ringway Airport, Manchester for modifications. Upon completion of work, it was returned on 03.02.58 to HMS Blackcap, RNAS Stretton AHU, Cheshire for short term storage. Delivered by HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset Ferry Flight in March 1958 to 728B Squadron, RNAS Hal Far. Aircraft would be lost later in the year, see 1950s accident page.
AS.5	WB287	812	26.09.49	c/n F.8505. First delivered to the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy at RNAS Culham on 31.05.49. First issued for service to 812 Squadron at RNAS Hal Far, Malta. This aircraft would be lost three months later, see 1950 accidents page.
U.9	WB374/595/HF	728B	29.07.60	c/n F.8579. Delivered to Fairey Aircraft Ltd., Ringway Airport, Manchester on 22.06.56 for conversion from Firefly FR.5 to U.9 drone. First flown as a Firefly U.9 on 28.03.57 at Ringway Airport, Manchester. Delivered to Short Brothers & Harland Ltd at RAE Llanbedr in 26.07.57 coded "H". Returned to Fairey Aircraft at Ringway 31.12.58, for overhaul. Upon completion of overhaul, it was ferried to HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset 22.07.60 for ferry/delivery flight to Malta.
U.9	WB391/598/HF	728B	28.09.60	c/n F.8588. Delivered to Fairey Aircraft Ltd., Ringway Airport, Manchester 17.05.56 for conversion from Firefly FR.5 to U.9 drone. First flown as a Firefly U.9 on 01.02.57 at Ringway Airport, Manchester. Delivered to Short Brothers & Harland Ltd at RAE Llanbedr 26.07.57. Damaged when ground-looped on landing at RAE Llanbedr 17.02.58. Damaged assessed as Cat.4(R), and returned to Fairey Aircraft at Ringway for repairs 12.06.58. Upon completion of repairs, ferried to HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset 27.09.60 for its delivery flight to Malta.
U.9	WB410/596/HF	728B	05.10.59	c/n F.8607. Built as Firefly FR.Mk.5, and delivered 01.03.50. Delivered to Fairey Aircraft at Hamble, Hampshire on 23.05.55 for overhaul and recommissioning. Upon completion of this work, it was selected for conversion to Firefly U.9 drone, and ferried to Fairey Aircraft at Ringway Airport, Manchester 16.04.56. First flown as a Firefly U.9 drone on 13.12.56 at Ringway. Delivered to RAE Llanbedr, Harlech, Gwynedd 09.07.57 coded "K". Returned to Fairey Aircraft at Ringway Airport, Manchester 31.12.58 for overhaul. Upon completion, delivered to HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset to be ferried by the (Short Brothers & Harland Ltd-operated) Yeovilton Ferry Flight to Hal Far. This aircraft would be lost the following year in an accident, see 1960 accidents page.
AS.5	WB418		02.06.50	c/n F.8615. Delivered to the Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy at RNAS Culham on 27.03.50. It was delivered to RNAS Hal Far, then embarking aboard HMS Glory with 812 Squadron early in July 1950. This aircraft would be lost three months later in a collision with another Firefly. See 1950s accidents page.
AS.6	WB438	826		c/n F.8635. Delivered to Fairey Aircraft, Ringway Airport, Manchester on 17.07.50 as a Firefly AS.5, to be converted to AS.6 standard. It was then delivered to the Fleet Air Arm Royal Navy at HMS Nuthatch, RNAS Anthorn RFU, Cumberland 05.02.51 for short term storage. Test flown on several occasions between 18 - 23.04.51, and then delivered in May 1951 to 826 Squadron FAA RN as "274/A". Suffered damage in a coolant leak, causing black smoke to emit from engine on a sortie from HMS Glory on 10.12.53. Withdrawn from service to HMS Falcon, RNAS Hal Far, Malta shortly afterwards for repairs and storage. Shipped back to the UK aboard HMS Eagle on 01.06.54, and delivered to RNARY (Royal Naval Aircraft Repair Yard) Fleetlands, Hampshire in early July 1954.

Gl. Meteor

As early as August 1948, the Royal Egyptian AF had ordered two Meteor FA fighters and one Meteor T.7 two-¬seat conversion trainer.

Owing to arms sales restrictions following the war with Israel, the aircraft had to wait until October 1949, when the embargo was temporarily lifted, for them to be delivered to the REAF, a repeat order for ten F.4s and two T.7s having in the meantime been made and delivered in early 1950.

SERIAL	VARIANT	COUNTRY	ARRIVED	DEPARTED	NOTES
1400	7	Egypt	28.10.49	29.10.49	Landed at 13:42, via Moreton Vallance, Farnborough & Nice. Departed at 12:04.
1401	F.4	Egypt	28.10.49	29.10.49	Landed at 13:40, via Moreton Vallance & Nice. No other refuelling stops listed. Departed at 12:05.
1405	F.4	Egypt	26.01.50	29.01.50	Departed Moreton Valance airfield on 16th, (typo?) Rome and Malta, landing at 16:12. Left Luqa at 10:46.
1402	F.4	Egypt	26.01.50	29.01.50	Departed Moreton Valance airfield on 16th, (typo?) Rome and Malta, landing at 16:15. Left Luqa at 10:45.
1403		Egypt	18.02.50	22.02.50	Departed the UK on the 17th, Paris, Rome, landing at Malta at 18:00. Departed Malta at 09:17.
1404		Egypt	18.02.50	22.02.50	Departed the UK on the 17th, Paris, Rome, landing at Malta at 18:02. departed Luqa at 09:16.
1413		Egypt	18.02.50	22.02.50	Departed the UK on the 17th, Paris, Rome, landing at Malta at 18:05. Departed Luqa at 09:15.
1441	7	Egypt	21.02.56	21.02.56	Refuelling stop 12:15-13:30. Originally WG994 with the RAF. Became G-7-145, prior to delivery to Egyptian AF.

HP Halifax

The following Halifaxes were overhauled by Aviation Traders Ltd at Southend UK. The date in parenthesis is the date of cancellation.

Short

Supermarine