Bovingdon. Circa 1948.
A Clue. Portrait by Cartier Bresson.
Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad. The last ruling Maharajah of Baroda. 1908-1968. Deposed by the Indian Government in 1951 for 'irresponsible behaviour'. He returned to Europe and settled in Monaco. He was a successful race-horse owner who purchased Sayajirao for 28,000 Guineas at the 1945 Newmarket Sales. In those days an enormous sum of money. His wife was a style icon of her time.
The connection comes about in that the Handley Page Halton ZS-BTA had previously been 'owned' by the Maharajah. Here is an extract from The Aeroplane Magazine of 1946: 'His Highness The Maharajah Gaekwad of Baroda flew to England recently in his own H.P.70 Halton transport G-AGZP. Thomas Cook and Sons Ltd, the travel agents, arranged for the purchase of the aircraft which was flown to India and back by Squadron Leader E.A. Hood and a specially chosen crew of British American Air Services Ltd. '
A rare image of G-AGZP in the Maharajah's Light Blue Livery. Photo-credit Joseph Testagrose. The aircraft was subsequently sold abroad in 1947.
In the late forties The Maharajah owned Headley Hall near Leatherhead in Surrey where he kept his racehorses. A keen sportsman, he endeared himself to the locals by rebuilding the Cricket Pavilion which had been burnt down by Canadian Troops during the war. From 1948 until 1950 he owned the DC3 G-AKJH.
The Maharajah's Dak Croydon March 1949. Photo credit George Trussell Collection with thanks.
G-AGZP was restored to the British register in late 1949 and was operated by The Lancashire Aircaft Corporation at Bovingdon. On 10th April 1951 she lost part of the number one engine after take-off from Bovingdon (see #73 and #85 this thread). She was scrapped at Bovingdon in 1953.
Stansted Battle of Britain Day 1952. Photo-credit The late Gerald Lawrence.