An ill-fated aircraft: G-APEE crashed at Heathrow in fog on 27 October 1965, with the loss of all 36 people on board. The aircraft was on its third approach to land and crashed on runway 28R after the pilots became disorientated during an attempted go-around. The two other Vanguards in shot are most likely series 953s, as they have a larger BEA "red square" on the fin, this having become the standard style, while near the hangars, as well as an unidentified DC-8, two British Eagle DC-6As can be seen. (Photographer not known.)

slide taken by Norbert Kröpfl. - G-APEC crashed in Belgium on October 2nd, 1971, after the aircraft disintegrated during flight due to corrosion.

Delivered to BEA in December 1960. Crashed on 27th October 1965 attempting to land at Heathrow in foggy conditions after a flight from Edinburgh, killing all 30 passengers and six crew on board.

First flew as G-APEB in 1959. Delivered to BEA in 1961. Scrapped at Heathrow in 1973.

Ex British European Airways, it had been doing some crew training. Departed to Heathrow and left the following day on its delivery flight to Indonesia as PK-MVJ. Retired and broken up circa Jul 1973.

Delivered in December 1960 and leased to Merpati Nusantara Airlines in 1972 as PK-MVJ. Presumably scrapped at Jakarta. Here it has just landed with the No.4 engine shut down.

Delivered in January 1961 and scrapped at EGLL in May 1973. So common at Heathrow in the early 1960s it was possible to 'clear' the whole BEA fleet in one or two visits. So reviled by teenage spotters that the name Vanguard became a synonym for anything "slack". They were actually quite an impressive sight with the four Tynes driving 14.5 ft. (4.42 m) diameter propellers.

Here almost brand new having first flown in April 1959. In March 1961 it was delivered to British European Airways and lasted until May 1973 when it was scrapped at Heathrow (EGLL).

Sadly, this aircraft crashed just over a month later, on Saturday 2nd October 1971, close to Aarsele, Belgium, killing all 65 passengers and crew on board.

Taking off for it's display at the SBAC show.

Note starboard outer engine stopped, prop feathered. Also note rudder deflection.

Here is the third Vanguard to be built, towards the end of her life but still in the classic BEA red square livery. FF 7.59 at Weybridge and exhibited at that year's Farnborough show before leaving for tropical and high altitude trials in Africa (KRT & JNB) with demonstration flights on the way back at Salisbury, Nairobi, Cairo & Beirut. Delivered to BEA 3.61; wfu 6.73 and b/u at LHR. TT 23,853 hrs

Delivered to BEA in December 1960. Arriving at domestic gate 22 on BE4020 from London Heathrow. Destroyed during an overshoot at Heathrow on 27 October 1965.

Two V951 Vanguards at Ringway's domestic pier when operating UK internal schedules. G-APEA is at the rear and a Dan-Air Ambassador is in the holding bay. From Manchester Airport archive 40 years ago.