The Bombay prototype first flew on 23 June 1935. 'Within a few days, it was proudly on display at the annual RAF Hendon air display, wearing a large number 9 painted on the side so that visitors could identify it from the list of new types in the official printed programme.' Photo from: Smithsonian Institution

The Bombay was a bomber-transport designed for use in the Middle East and India. This is the prototype, first flown in 1935. The original caption claims the plane was taking British observers from Hendon to Germany on 22 September 1937 to see German military manoeuvres. The background does look like Hendon we think. Fifty production aircraft were only delivered from 1939. The type formed the basis for the 1945 Bristol 170 Freighter.