Turbinlight airborne searchlight

[A30yoyo]

Photobucket photo Turbinlite Havoc

brook creek, I've sent a Private Message (top right this page)....

[brook creek]

Hello India Four Two,

I am away from home right now with family for Christmas.
The "boffins" include my father, the young one on the extreme left. Assuming this was 1943/44, he would have been 24ish at the time.
I have the names of the other gentlemen in the photo at home and do not recall a Cunningham. I will check.

A30yoyo: to confirm the location, Heston indeed as we lived in Heston before emigrating to Canada in 1947.

As mentioned previously I have a few pages of documentation on the Turbinlite project. ???

[Atcham Tower]

Thanks for confirming it is Heston, A30. I am pretty sure that is not Cunningham.

[brook creek]

Photobucket photo Turbinlite Havoc

The Photobucket photo of the Turbinlite Havoc was in my father's files, which my mother retained after his death and subsequently passed to me. It has been in my files for several years.

The photo was on display in our home when I grew up but I never knew who the other gentlemen were until I asked my Mum a couple of years ago. She had a great memory right up until her death last August and she rattled the names off without hesitation. I expect that Mum had met some or all them as she and Dad got married in 1942. From other web info regarding the Turbinlite Havoc, the photo may have been taken in 1941.

The "boffins" are, from left to right: R.W. "Dick" Becker (my father), David Roberts, "Baron" Baynes (the real boffin) and Bruce Benson.

My apologies, the Turbinlite overview that I have appears to be part of a larger document that included the Mosquito Turbinlite. I can scan and post if anyone would care to read it.

I request that appropriate attribution be given if you use these items. Thank you.

Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year.

[lawrence hole]

This picture was taken at Heston Aerodrome with the Southall Gasometer in the background. The aircraft to the left of the Boston is most likely a Beech Traveller as shown in Airfield Focus (no. 24 Heston).
There is a very good web site for Heston Airport/Aerodrome with associated pre-war/war time history, which you can reach by sending an e.mail to [email protected]

Lawrence

[brook creek]

Turbinlite article from the Aeroplane Spotter, 31st May 1947

With my thanks to John Smith and his son Peter of the UK. John was a wartime colleague of my father, R.W. Becker at Alan Muntz.

Recently, John came across the attached Turbinlite article from the Aeroplane Spotter, 31st May 1947, and the subsequent correspondence, which Peter forwarded with the note that "We believe this was written by a Mr R W Becker."

Peter also notes that "the correspondence is from the July 12th issue where a Mr Owen Thetford supplies further information. However it is the editors' comments about the credentials of the original writer that point to your father (RW Becker) being the author."

The editor also noted that "Mr. R.W. Becker, late of Heston Aircraft, Ltd."

Mr. Becker and family (wife and two young children - my sister and I) emigrated to Canada in early June of 1947.

I have posted these documents to Photobucket. Please note that I have edited my initial posting of 12/21/2009 to reflect the new link.

Paul R Becker

Douglas A-20 Havoc pictures by brookcreek - Photobucket

[stepwilk]

"I notice there are some slots in the cowling around the edge, presumably an attempt to reduce the turbulence."

I wonder if the slots weren't to exhaust the huge heat produce by a 1,400-watt (amp?) bulb.

[603DX]

However, after looking at it again, is that John Cunningham, second from the right?

I think not, John Cunningham was a serving RAF officer during WW2. The caption below the picture identifies the civilian as Leslie Baynes, who had no perceptible resemblance to JC.

[brook creek]

Helmore Turbinlite

For a technical summary written by design team member R.W. Becker, see

http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/a...article200.jpg