K3163 visited Nigeria together with K3611. The trees on the far left are strikingly similar to those in photo 634066, confirming this is Apapa airport in Lagos, then being reclaimed from a swamp. The serial is painted as KR3163, which seems to indicate that this is a rebuilt Victoria. This airframe also appears in photo 633832, in which it looks much the same. Photo by: Edward Duckworth / Northwestern University Libraries, Illinois

'In May [1937]', a Royal Air Force flight visited Nigeria, consisting of 2 Valentia and 5 Vincent type aircraft.' The seven planes are seen flying in formation in other photos by Mr Duckworth. The airport at Kano had opened in 1936 and Apapa aerodrome was being reclaimed from a swamp. The second Valentia is K3163 / N. Photo by: Edward Duckworth / Northwestern University Libraries, Illinois

This is RAF Heliopolis in Cairo - not the same airfield as Almaza (HEAZ). Some of the buildings look more modern than the aircraft, but then the Valentia looked outdated from the outset. Nevertheless, the type served well into WWII, sometimes still uncamouflaged. The second machine, K3605, even flew a bombing sortie against Italian troops at Sidi Barrani, Egypt in November 1940. The third, K3163, has its serial painted as KR3163, being a rebuilt Victoria. These are No 216 Sqn aircraft.

The Valentia prototype, probably when new in 1934. 28 new Valentias were produced and another 54 converted from Victorias. K3599 was one of the last survivors, still in service at RAF Habbaniya, Iraq in early 1942. Photo from: Vickers

The Vickers 264 Valentia Mk.I was a transport aircraft for the RAF and flew for the first time in 1934. Vickers (Aviation) Limited photo

'Practising for RAF Empire Day pageant near RAF Martlesham Heath,' but the year is not clear. The Valentia transport, an updated Victoria, did not fly until 1934. K3603 crashed in Lincolnshire in 1941. The other aircraft is said to be S1715, a Vildebeest which was converted as a Vincent and wears a night bomber paint job.