[Huib Ottens]

Hi,

This photo intrigued me. In my opinion it shows a long name and that might give a clue regarding its identity.
I checked the excellent Air-Britain DH.84 production log and found only one DH.84 with a long name that resembles the name on the image:

"The Leicestershire Vixen" (also known as the "The Leicestershire Vixen II")

The information from the log reads:

"6019
(Gipsy Major #5168/5169) Regd G-ACEK[CofR 4216] 2.5.33 to William Lindsay Everard MP, Ratcliffe Hall, Leicester; known as"The Leicestershire Vixen II" [but painted simply as “The Leicestershire Vixen”].CofA 3890 issued 11.5.33.Regd [CofR 7143] 23.6.36 to Olley Air Service Ltd, Croydon; probably operated by associate Channel Air Ferries, Shoreham.Sold 8.36 and regd [CofR 7316] 3.9.36 to Cecil Herbert Stave [believed pseudonym for Leonard H Stace of Air Commerce], Croydon. Regn cld 3Q.36 as sold abroad.Sold 9.36 to Union Founders Trust Ltd and on to Federation Populaire des Sports Aeronautiques, Paris (for Spanish Republicans). Sold 19.10.36 to M Joseph Hermann, Paris on behalf of Compagnie Air Taxi, Vienna (a fictitious company). Detained at Croydon to prevent export to Spain. RegdG-ACEK[CofR 7549] 15.12.36 to Union Founders Trust Ltd, Croydon. Sold 26.1.37 to Air Dispatch Ltd, Croydon and regd [CofR 7733] 5.3.37 to (finance company) Mutual Finance Ltd; operated by Air Dispatch/Commercial Air Hire, Croydon. Regd [CofR 8410] 23.3.38 to [associate] Advance Air Lines Ltd, roydon.Regd [CofR8470] 23.4.38 to [associate] Anglo-European Airways Ltd, Croydon.Cld 1.5.39; delivered 8.39 & regd 22.1.40 to [associate]Commercial Air Hire Ltd, Cardiff.Regn cld 21.7.40 as sold.Impressed 21.7.40 asAX867and delivered same day to RAF Ringway.To 7 AACU, Castle Bromwich 23.8.40 and on to DH Witney same day for repair.Returned to Ringway 8.9.40 and although allotted to 110 (AAC) Wing, Ringway, it returned to 7 AACU.To DH Witney for major inspection 15.7.41 and soc for spares 21.7.41.

As you can see there is an Austrian connection in the log, but that doesn't explain the scene on the photo.

I couldn't find a photo of this specific aircraft, but there is a photo of an old model of the aircraft which shows the name in the same curly letters, in the same place and also shows the broad tailband. The models shows the name as "The Leicestershire Vixen II" so perhaps the name was carried as well. The photo doesn't seem to show the additional "II"?


Just my two eurocents...