Re: Missing Southern Rhodesia Air Force serials SR14-SR21?
 

Hi edwest2,

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately there are no AE130s for sale at present.

I have put in a "want" though, for the AEs I am still missing.

Cheers,

Sid.

Re: Missing Southern Rhodesia Air Force serials SR14-SR21?
 

Helo,

I made an overview of the SR-serials that I could find. Any suggestions are very welcome!!

Ruud

Re: Missing Southern Rhodesia Air Force serials SR14-SR21?
 

Ruud

Away from my home right now, but you can immediately correct the misprint given before of the two Ansons sold and registered SP-Yxx.
None went to Poland and the country prefix is VP (just like the last one)

Cheers
Stig

Re: Missing Southern Rhodesia Air Force serials SR14-SR21?
 

Hi Ruud,

Looks good in the areas I am interested in, as it leaves open the possibility that SR15-17 were the initial serials of the three Gauntlets, before they became 150-152.

Also, if the Harts had 101-106, it presumably means that the Audaxes were in the 110+, 120+, 130+ or 140+ series and it is even theoretically possible that the Hardys that were delivered to the SRAF in Kenya may have been included in the same series as they arrived before No.1 Squadron was taken into the RAF.

Cheers,

Sid

Re: Missing Southern Rhodesia Air Force serials SR14-SR21?
 

An added complication. In Pride of Eagles, there is a photo of two Tiger Moths presented to the SRAF by private donation on 28 March and 10 June 1940.

One wonders how many more were privately subscribed for?

Sid

Re: Missing Southern Rhodesia Air Force serials SR14-SR21?
 

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...=audax&f=false

Operations Records 11th June (1940)

Dawn sorties as under were carried out

Hardy K4055 Pilot Fg Off Spence - A/C Stowe
Audax K7548 Pilot Fg Off Miles Johnson - A/C Burl
Audax K7540 Pilot Fg Off Holdengarde - A/C Bell
Audax K7546 Pilot Fg Off Christie - A/C Marshal
Audax K7545 Pilot Fg Off White - Sergeant Murrell
Audax K7534 Pilot Fg Off Olver - A/C Horobin

Areas patrolled X1, Y1, Y3, Y4, Z1, Z2, Z5 No Movement seen

Hardy K4319 Pilot Fg Off Spence - A/C Hall
Audax K7546 Pilot Fg Off John Walmisley - A/C Strickland
Hardy K4055 Pilot F/Lt Smith - LAC Morton


Areas patrolled X1, Y1, Y3, Y4, Z2, Z2, Z5 No Movement seen


This is interesting on 2 points - Firstly the serials are the RAF ones - Rather than SR11 (K7534) SR13 (K7546) SR12 (K7540 ) SR14 (K7548 )

Audax K7545 is a new one ! - Has anyone got a history of this ??

First on same page is mentioned "Audax 7531" - I assume K7531 - Has anyone got a history of this as well

I will come back to Audax in Pride of Eagles

Re: Missing Southern Rhodesia Air Force serials SR14-SR21?
 

Why I think at least 7 Audax..

You can read the book here

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...0audax&f=false


Pride of Eagles

Page 51

Second Ferry

"Four Audaxes had flown to Rhodesia in March (1939) but two were still with the RAF in Heliopolis"

This flight was scheduled to bring three aircraft: two from Cairo, and the Audax that had been left at Malakal on the previous trip"

However, only two reached Salisbury because Graham Smith's machine had to be left in Lusaka

Thus Total = 7 Audax

Frist Trip (5 left 4 Arrived 1 in Malakal) = 4 in Rhodesia
Second Trip (2 left Cairo, plus 1 from Malakal 2 arrived (one from Cario, 1 from Malakal , 1 Left at Luska) = 4 + 2 in Rhodesia plus 1 in Lusaka = 7

I can't read the book any other way

Note: A photo of these last 2 with escorting Rapide SR8 is in the book

Re: Missing Southern Rhodesia Air Force serials SR14-SR21?
 

On Saturday, I get the book The K-File. This book is about all UK Aircraft with serials starting with a K. I hope to find more information in there.

Best regards,

Ruud

Re: Missing Southern Rhodesia Air Force serials SR14-SR21?
 

Hi PaulMacMillan,

p.44 of Pride of Eagles states, ".....the Air Ministry agreed to sell Rhodesia six Hawker Audaxes and three Gloster Gauntlets at a nominal cost."

p.51 states "Four Audaxes had been flown to Rhodesia in March but two were still with the RAF in Heliopolis."

One from the first flight was left damaged at Malakal in the Sudan (see p.48).

p.51 again: "This (the second) flight was scheduled to bring back three aircraft: two from Cairo, and the Audax that had been left at Malakal."

"However, only two reached Salisbury because Graham Smith's machine had to be left in Lusaka."

Thus, as I read it, there were only six Audaxes in total. They were despatched in two flights, one of four aircraft and one of two, but both flights had one machine delayed by damage en route.

Cheers,

Sid.

P.S. By June 1940 No.1 Squadron, SRAF, had already become 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron, RAF, so the use of RAF serials at that time need not be a surprise.

Re: Missing Southern Rhodesia Air Force serials SR14-SR21?
 

Here are some updates, also from the book The K File.

Best regards,

Ruud