PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - 47 Sqn Khartoum
Thread: 47 Sqn Khartoum
View Single Post
Old 4th Mar 2019, 19:36
  #2 (permalink)  
DonClark
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: The Bush Capital
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, 47 Squadron had a Flight of float-equipped Fairey Gordons based at Khartoum for some years from c1934 to 1939, for much of that time with Squadron no on the front fuselage panel as shown: another aircraft so marked was a rebuilt Fairey IIIF, JR9161.

The scene is the Nile R at Khartoum with the Omdurman Bridge behind. The smallish airfield at Khartoum then was immediately to the East of the town (Sudan 1:250,000 Sheet 55B Khartoum, July 1940), today the site of the much larger modern airport. The seaplane mooring is for some reason unmarked on the map of the time.

Although the serial of the nearest Gordon is not clearly legible in the image, the aircraft letter 'S' may indicate that it is KR2624 'S'. Rebuilt after a fatal crash in 1934, then collapsed an undercarriage leg taxying at Khartoum in Feb 1937 to be repaired on site, finally being struck off 47 Sqn charge in Oct 1939 (Halley The K File: The RAF of the 1930s). Moyes records that C Flight aircraft of the Squadron were converted from landplane to floatplane and back, according to season (Moyes Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their aircraft p71).

Notably, the Supermarine Walrus I L2214 was also on 47 Squadron charge, later passing to 14 Squadron (Halley RAF Aircraft L1000-N9999). This, together with (possibly) KR2624 as marked, approximately dates the photograph to the period mid 1937 to mid 1938 or maybe early 1939.

Last edited by DonClark; 6th Mar 2019 at 20:52. Reason: Addnl
DonClark is offline