Two former Imperial Airways W.10s, G-EBMM and G-EBMR, were employed by Sir Alan Cobham's Flying Circus from 1932, and in 1934 both were used as tankers for Airspeed Courier G-ABXN which Cobham intended to fly to India non-stop. The 22 September attempt ended with the Courier belly-landing at Hal Far, Malta, with a malfunctioning throttle after successful refuellings by G-EBMM after take-off and by G-EBMR over Malta. G-EBMM fatally crashed that same day in England due to a failing bolt in the tailplane. Oddly G-EBMR is also reported to have crashed on 22 September 1934 at Hal Far, or on 2 September which makes no sense. Can anyone shed any light on this? Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

Alan Cobham and William Helmore in the AS.5 Courier prototype G-ABXN refuelling from one of Cobham's Handley Page W.10s. This was a test. A non-stop flight to India with in-flight refuelling failed as the Courier suffered a throttle malfunction. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)