KLM 15.Mai 1929

[christian]

Hi

A Fokker F.VII from the KLM open the line between Rotterdam and Berlin on the 15.mai 1929. The pilot was Ivan Smirnoff, a famos flyer in this time. It was a great story for the berlin newespapers, but is not known which plane it was.

Greetings and a happy new year, Christian

[Leendert]

Christian,

This was with PH-AEZ according pictures in Dutch newspapers of that time.
Second pilot was Izaak (Fons) Aler.

All the best for 2022,
Leendert

[christian]

Hi Leendert

Thank you very much for this informations, this is great. A new part my Tempelhof-Puzzle.

Thanks a lot Christian

[christian]

Hallo Leendert

On the 4.(?)Oktober1934 land the new Douglas-Flugzeug from the KLM in Tempelhof. A shot in an newspaper shows a DC-2b but i dont knew what a plane ist was, some KLM-DC2 and 3 have a name from a bird. Have you better informations about this plane in Tempelhof.

With best wishes, Christian

[Leendert]

Christian,
Although not a military topic: visit was on 3 October 1934. KLM presented their new DC-2 at Tempelhof. Among the viewers was aviatrix and journalist Thea Rasche who would fly as a passenger in DC-2 PH-AJU "Uiver" (= a Dutch regional dialect name for stork) in the successful London-Melboune Air Race later that month.
Pictures in Dutch newspapers only show nose section of the airplane and no registration or bird name is visible, but strongly hint that it is the DC-2 that is going to take part in the race. Corresponding pictures of PH-AJU also do not show the name of 'Uiver'. Moreover, the PH-AJU was the only DC-2 KLM had taken delivery of so far.
The 'Uiver' was lost on 20 Dec 1934 in Iraq, with all 7 people on board killed.

Regards,
Leendert

[christian]

Hi Leendert

Thank you very much for the information about the Uiver. This is a tragic plane in the KLM-History, it is sad.

Regards Christian