First flown in September 1938, the V-12 attack bomber was a development of the V-11, and this prototype was registered as a Vultee AB-2. The type was sold to China for local assembly by CAMCO. NX18985 ended up with Pratt and Whitney as a testbed. Photo by: Ralph Johnston / Glendale Public Library

Formation of three near Perth. A1-60 operated in a gunnery and bombing training role until 1943 when it was scrapped. RAAF Photo.

Italian DC-3 lookalike, of mixed construction. Only this prototype was built, converted from a trimotor SM.73 and first flown in 1936. Militarised as MM446 in December 1941. Not to be confused with the SM.84. Photo from: ETH-Bibliothek Zürich

Operated by the Australasian Petroleum Co. Donated to the Australian government in 1940 and taken in charge by the RAAF. Used for seaplane training as A35-1. Scrapped 1943.

Swordfish torpedo-bombers of No 820 Sqn over the carrier Ark Royal. Aircraft 649 is K8449. Photo from: Royal Navy

Ringway's 1938-built hangar, control tower and terminal seen from the SE in 1939. The public viewing area is on the terminal's roof. Obtained from the airport archive 50 years ago.

Looking south. Known as Mascot airport at the time of this John Harrison photo. After WW2, Cooks River was diverted to enter Botany Bay at the far left of photo and channel filled. Three existing runways replaced by 07/25 and 16/34. In 1960s, 70s and 90s, large areas of the bay were filled to first lengthen 16/34 and then add third runway. Hangar marked Mascot and those immediately behind are site of today's Terminal 3. Third row of hangars now site of Terminal 2. Qantas base occupies much of the foreground and the hangars at left.

This is a hard one to identify. I have always called it the Humphreys MG-2 because he has the emblem "Humphreys Special" on the tail. It was registered to the Humphreys Aircraft Corporation of LaCrescenta, CA, as the Falcon MG-2, however it was built as the Melberg-Greenemeyer MG-2, thus the "MG". See the story in Sport Flying for Feb 1970. This photo was taken when it was operating as part of the "Tex Rankin's Hollywood Aces" airshow team.

Built by Hills & Son at Barton in 1938 and used by their NAS&C subsidiary for training pilots of the Civil Air Guard. Obtained from a CAG trainee over 50 years ago.

Two Pragas built at Barton in 1938 and used by F. Hills & Son's subsidiary NAS&C to train volunteer pilots for the Civil Air Guard. CAG members and new recruits are on parade in the foreground during May 1939. G-AEUO is at right.

One of many 83 Squadron Hampden I's which were detached to RAF Ringway from their RAF Scampton base between 6 and 16 September 1939. Obtained from an RAF member of ground crew over 50 years ago.

Three Blenheim IV medium bombers of 53 Squadron, RAF Coastal Command, based at RAF Odiham, Hampshire. L4864 is nearest, L4851 is centre and L4839 is at the top of the image. From Bristols 60 years ago.

The fifth and last F-5 Sea Bird to be built in 1936. This rare five-seat amphibian had a stainless steel fuselage. Taken by Captain J.L. Bailey and submitted with permission of his son. Wrecked when it crashed during a test flight on 27 October 1949.