Withdrawn from use 1946 and scrapped at Essendon in 1948

The sole Avro 642/2m twin. There was also a four-engine version but again only one was built. VH-UXD was destroyed in a Japanese air raid at Salamaua on January 21, 1942.

This 12-passenger amphibian was owned by William K. Vanderbilt of New York City. George Vanderbilt had a Douglas Dolphin 12, and Harold Vanderbilt had a Lockheed 14-N. It is in dark blue and silver. I would say it was no coincidence that this was the special color scheme for Navy aircraft of that period used by an Admiral.

Battle 1 being prepared for delivery by Fairey employees in late November 1938. First served 63 Squadron at RAF Upwood, then 52 Squadron, crashing at Pewsey (Wilts) on 23 August 1940 whilst with No.12 Operational Training Unit. Ringways 1938-built terminal and hangar is in the background. Obtained from Faireys 60 years ago.

Newly-built Battle I light bomber at Fairey's factory at Manchester Ringway in December 1938 before delivery to No.63 Squadron at RAF Upwood. Later shipped to the Royal Canadian Air Force as No.2063 in August 1941. Obtained from Faireys 60 years ago.

KLM's Super Electra "Lepelaar" is operating the Schiphol-Doncaster-Ringway-Speke scheduled service on 12 August, shortly after delivery on 30 June 1938, replacing the usual DC-2. Sold to the first British Airways in August 1939 as G-AFYU and crashed off Malta on 21 December 1939.

The experimental Batwing was designed by Walter F. McGinty and built by his Batwing Aircraft Corp of Alameda. The aircraft did not gain enough altitude during the first flight and the project was eventually abandoned.

Some of the 1,165 Battle light bombers which were built at Fairey's Stockport factory between June 1937 and November 1940. They were taken in sections to Ringway for final assembly and air testing. From Fairey Aviation 60 years ago.

KLM's scheduled DC-2 inside Ringway's 1938 hangar when operating KLM's schedule from Schiphol. Ringway's new Austin ambulance poses alongside. From the airport archive 40 years ago.

Swissair's first DC-3 and flagship of the fleet. Fitted with right hand door. Delivered from the Fokker DC-2/3 assembly line at Schiphol on 10 June 1937. Has the prewar style of titling below the cabin windows when operating to Croydon in 1938. Sold to Ozark in 1955 as N2815D. Image obtained over 50 years ago.