The second Brussels Aero Show took place just a few weeks before the outbreak of WWII. Britain displayed this 'Speed Spitfire', the heavily modified 48th Spitfire I. It had demonstrated a top speed of 657 km/h (408 mph) but this was not good enough for a world speed record attempt. Its radiator was then replaced with an evaporative cooling system. Meanwhile though the He 100 V8 and the Me 209 brought the world speed record to 746 km/h and 755 km/h (469 mph) which the Type 323 could never touch. K9834 was converted to a photo recce Spitfire but it range was too short to be of use. In the background is the Reid and Sigrist RS.1 Snargasher trainer, G-AEOD.

The Fleet 50 Freighter with its inverted gull lower wing. CF-BJW, one of five examples built, was registered on 6 July 1939 as a seaplane and leased for one month to Dominion Skyways. The company had its base on Osisko Lake at Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, behind the current post office, and it looks like the photo may well have been taken there. Photo from: Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec

Rare glimpse of this KLM DC-3, a few months old at this time and destroyed by German bombs here on 10 May 1940. The airport sightseeing bus is on the left. Detail of photo 123841 with Fokker G.I fighters in the foreground. Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection

Undelivered G.I 'fighter cruisers' at Schiphol, now Schiphol East. The Fokker factory was actually in North Amsterdam but aircraft were moved to Schiphol by barge. A KLM DC-3, PH-AST, and an L-14, PH-ASL, are also seen, as well as the Schiphol sightseeing bus behind the DC-3. Photo from: Bodo Sandberg collection

The prototype Avro Manchester twin-engined bomber, powered by two Rolls Royce Vulture engines, shortly after completion at Ringway. It first flew on 24 July 1939 with test pilot H.A. "Sam" Brown at the controls. From Avro 50 years ago.

Delivered to Western Airways in May 1939. Operated on their scheduled service from Weston-super-Mare via Birmingham to Ringway. Destroyed in France on 31 May 1940. Obtained over 50 years ago.

Hawker Hind Trainer of No. 50 Elementary & Reserve Flying Training School which was based at Ringway from May to August 1939. Image obtained 40 years ago.