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ADF Serials Message Board > Early Australian Military Aviation AFC, CFS, AAC & AAF > Dh6 Photos


Posted by: Martin Edwards Feb 13 2012, 04:50 PM
I recieved these photos and have posted them here to see if anyone has anything to add

Please find attached the 2 photos that were found in the archive of my
deceased Uncle (Augustus Titter). They were found among approximately
400 glass plate negatives taken between 1910 &1925 mostly of the
Williamstown (Vic) and Footscray (Vic) areas and also some of Melbourne.
Because the other photos in the collection are of this area I believe
these 2 also have been taken here. The photos have been taken on a 1/2
plate camera (6 1/2" x 5" glass negative) which was a format mostly used
by professional photographers at the time.
I have tried to find out more about the pictures and the circumstances
surrounding the aircraft being in a paddock next to a house, but I have
only established that it is a de Havilland DH6 which I believe was used
for training by the AFC at Point Cook and this ties in with all the
other photos being news events and portraits taken near this area.
I hope this is of some help,

regards Glenn

Posted by: Martin Edwards Feb 13 2012, 04:52 PM
I wonder what it was doing in the paddock?
It is securely tied down with the engine covered.
The house visible in the background may give a hint to it's location

Kieth Isaacs has 8 D.H.6s listed as serving with the Central Flying School in 1918/19 but only records 4 known RAF serials so perhaps this is one of the other unidentified 4

Posted by: mikemirk Feb 23 2012, 06:12 PM
Martin,

D.H.6 C7625, the guy in first photo is Charles Pratt of Geelong and he started Geelong Air Services at Belmont Common in Geelong during 1920/21 period and had a couple of DH 6s, G-AUDO and G-AUEA, probably taken at his house in Geelong. Hope this helps.
Mike. biggrin.gif

Posted by: Martin Edwards Feb 23 2012, 06:36 PM
Thanks Mike
Do you know any more about G-AUDO and G-AUEA (which one was C6725) and did they ever serve with CFS or RAAF
Regards
Martin

Posted by: Rod Farquhar Feb 23 2012, 09:58 PM
Notice the clarity and depth of field in the pics, those old cameras were really great for this type of photography, just a bit heavy to lug around.
Rod

Posted by: mikemirk Feb 24 2012, 06:31 PM
Martin,
More info on civilian D.H.6s :

G-AUBH c/n3204
Registered to William Robinson (Aeroplanes) Ltd., Grafton, NSW on 28 June, 1921.
CofR lapsed on 27 June, 1922 and struck off register.
Hired by T.H. Barkell, Sydney, for joy flights around Cronulla during Christmas Holidays on Aug., 1922.
Crashed into a fence and badly damaged on 31 Dec., 1922.

G-AUBO ex-B2803.
Registered to F.T. O'Dea of Bathurst on 28 June, 1921.
Sold to S.L. Tyler of North Sydney on 2 March, 1923.
Sold to Eagle Aviation Services , Brisbane on 15 Nov., 1926.
Crashed on take-off from beach at Maroochydore, 27 Jan., 1927.
struck off register on 22 Jan., 1928.

G-AUBU ex-CFS aircraft but no details known.
Sold to Potts ? of Neutral Bay, crashed before registered.

G-AUBW ex-C9374.
Registered to Shaw-Ross Engineering and Aviation Co., Port Melbourne on 28 June, 1921.
Crashed at Metung, Vic. on 11 Jan, 1927.
struck off register on 27 June, 1931.
Destroyed in hangar fire on 7 Aug., 1931.

G-AUDO ex-C1972.
Registered to C.D. Pratt, Geelong on 28 Dec., 1921.
CofR re-issued to L.F. Pratt, Geelong on 22 June, 1927.
Sold to K.R. Farmer Malvern on 13 Jan., 1928.
Sold to S.H. Jenkins, Cauldfield, Vic. on 5 March, 1928.
Struck off register on 29 Sept., 1928.

G-AUDS ex-B3858.
Registered to T. Linn, East Orange, NSW on 27 July, 1922.
Crashed at Orange and destroyed by fire on 29 April, 1925.

G-AUDW c/n 3202.
Registered to Air Transport Ltd., Perth on 22 Feb., 1922.
Sold to Air Taxi Ltd., Guildford, WA on 16 Nov., 1925.
Crashed at Maylands aerodrome and struck off register on 19 Nov., 1925.

G-AUEA ex-C7625,
Registered to Geelong Air Services on 5 April, 1923.
Sold to K.A. Brown of Bendigo on 3 April, 1929.
Sold to T.B. Sissons, Bendigo on 11 June, 1930.
Registration changed to VH-UEA on 31 Aug., 1930.
Crashed at Mooroopna, Vic. on 25 Oct., 1930.
Struck off register on 2 Dec., 1930.


Also inserted some more details via John Hopkins.
John and Ted Fletcher in WA are currently researching these aircraft for an article to be published in AHSA's Aviation Heritage magazine in the near future and the above info his via Colin Owers.

Have added photos of G-AUDO and AUBH to the image gallery.

Mike. biggrin.gif

Posted by: Martin Edwards Feb 24 2012, 07:05 PM
Thanks Mike, we will have to work out what information to add to our DH6 page
While we are involved mainly in aircraft of the Australia military I feel that these civilian registered military types should probably be added if only for reference purposes

Posted by: batman Feb 25 2012, 01:20 PM
Martin

The list posted by mikemirk above generally agrees from with the DH6 list I sent you, which is sourced from "The Imperial Gift" book.

Basically, the 8 sent from UK for CFS were B2801/B2804, and C9372/C9375.

B2801 and C9375 were lost at sea, the remaining 6 were delivered to CFS, and finally disposed of in 1919. Matching all 6 to civilian owners and reg'ns has been the problem.

Posted by: Brendan Cowan Feb 27 2012, 11:51 AM
Thanks Mike,

I agree with Batman, getting the civilian tie-ups has been an enduring conundrum.

Batman & I have been collaborating on many of the pages of these early types.

John Bennett's book the "Imperial Gift" is a great resource and I finally got hold of a copy over Christmas and read it cover to cover in record time!

I have been working on a redraft of the DH.6 page which includes most of this information and this will by repeated on the CFS page.

Also, thanks for the images which I will also include into the redraft.

Cheers

BC

Posted by: Martin Edwards Jul 16 2012, 08:18 PM
Another enquiry
Dear People
A picture has come into the possession of the Goldfields Historical and
Arts Society at Dunolly in Central Victoria. A little research reveals
it to be, I believe, an Airco DH6. The photograph rear side has MacLYN
STUDIO BROADWAY DUNOLLY. We were unaware of this studio so a series of
mysteries is upon us. There is another picture of exactly the same style
showing a school class room scene and on the blackboard the date given
is June 22 1917. Although this proves nothing, the time period and
matching physical nature of the pictures seems more than coincidental.
Of great interest is the lack of an apparent civil registration. Also,
to the right of the tail is a mining mullock dump in the background.
Over time we shall endeavour to match up the site but general opinion,
for want of field research as yet, is that the site could be in the
Bromley- Bet Bet area south east of Dunolly or the Timor area south west
of Dunolly. I hope the picture is of interest and I am happy to provide
a much better tif file if you wish. As it is I apologise for the rather
large file size but I thought you would like to have some degree of
quality to start from.
We would be very grateful if we could have any specific information or
theory about this aircraft or a summary of these these aircraft in
general for our records as it appears they were not very common.
I need to confirm the donor of the picture to try and find any more
information, plus I would like to make sure they get the credit for
making the effort to hand the picture in rather than throw it in the bin
as too often happens.
I am jumping the gun somewhat sending you the picture, but I can't
resist after looking at your website. I will be in contact again as soon
as I confirm the donor details. When that is done, and provided the
picture is of interest to you, the society would welcome circulation of
the picture to any interested persons to use as they saw fit.
Stephen Barnham
Goldfields Historical and Arts Society (Dunolly Museum)


I have suggested that the "97" visible on the tail may indicate that it is D.H.6 C1972

Posted by: batman Jul 16 2012, 08:32 PM
QUOTE (Martin Edwards @ Jul 16 2012, 08:18 PM)
I have suggested that the "97" visible on the tail may indicate that it is D.H.6 C1972

Martin, you have better eyes than me.

'97' on the tail -it is not clear enough, and could be '37', ie from C9372/C9375.


Posted by: Martin Edwards Jul 17 2012, 01:53 PM
I think it is 97

Posted by: batman Jul 17 2012, 08:03 PM
Yes, agree that blow-up looks '97'.

Posted by: Brendan Cowan Aug 5 2012, 01:19 PM
What a great photo.

This takes us back to some earlier discussions of Airco D.H.6 aircraft in Australia:

http://www.adf-messageboard.com.au/invboard/index.php?showtopic=1779

http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/Airco-DH6/Geelong_Air_Services_D_H_6_G_AUDO_C1972_Belmont_Common_Geelong_Dec_1921

http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austu/G-AUDO.html

http://www.goldenyears.ukf.net/reg_G-AU.htm


If she is C1972, then some of the info we have on her includes:

- C1972 (later G-AUDO) was built by Grahame White and possibly imported direct to Australia for civilian use.

- C of A issued to CD Pratt, Geelong, Victoria.

- Struck off register 29 September 1928

BC

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