The Baghdad Air Mail

[olympus]

I've just finished reading this book (The Baghdad Air Mail by W/Cdr Roderic Hill ISBN 9781845880095) a contemporary account of the service which operated between Cairo and Baghdad in the mid-twenties. It seems from reading the book that the aircraft used by 45 Squadron were Vickers Vimy and (mainly) Vickers Vernon aircraft (which I understand was a variant of the Vimy). The cover of the book however shows an aircraft which is clearly not a biplane (so not a Vimy or a Vernon) and I wondered if any of the experts here could identify it?

Apart from the interesting story recounted by the then W/Cdr Hill (later ACM Sir Roderic Hill KCB, MC, AFC*), the book also contains references to a number of RAF officers who achieved fame and honours in later life - Flt Lt Basil Embry, Sqd Ldr Arthur Harris, Sqd Ldr John D'Albiac, Sqd Ldr James Robb, Sqd Ldr Robert Saundby and others.

http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t651/olympus14627/Baghdad%20Air%20Mail_zpsrnfkrufj.jpg (http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/olympus14627/media/Baghdad%20Air%20Mail_zpsrnfkrufj.jpg.html)

[India Four Two]

It's a civil AW-15 Atalanta, all of which were named after goddesses with names starting with A (including one called Artemis ;) )

I suspect this photo must be of this occasion:
On 1 July 1933, an Atalanta flew the first direct air mail service between London and Karachi.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armstrong_Whitworth_Atalanta

[olympus]

Thanks for that prompt reply I42. I suspect the publishers asked the picture library to do a search for a photo of 'old aeroplane Baghdad'.

[India Four Two]

It's quite ironic that there is not a Vimy or Vernon on the cover.

[DaveReidUK]

I suspect this photo must be of this occasion:
On 1 July 1933, an Atalanta flew the first direct air mail service between London and Karachi.

Indeed it is, photographed at Karachi:

http://aviadejavu.ru/Images6/MY/MY86-6/23-5.jpg

Armstrong Whitworth Atalanta / A.W.15 (http://aviadejavu.ru/Site/Crafts/Craft31196.htm)

[DaveReidUK]

For the numerically challenged :O

http://aviadejavu.ru/Images6/FT/FT1934/06/635-2.jpg

[India Four Two]

Dave,

It looks a bit bigger than 297 × 420 millimetres to me. ;)

[Prangster]

Never sure if its true but read somewher that in the early 1920's the RAF ploughed a furrow across the desert between the two cities as nav aid. Any verification most welcome

[DaveReidUK]

Never sure if its true but read somewher that in the early 1920's the RAF ploughed a furrow across the desert between the two cities as nav aid. Any verification most welcome

Yes. There's a reference to it in Roderic Hill's book, which I'm sure the OP will be able to confirm.

[FlightlessParrot]

For the numerically challenged :O

http://aviadejavu.ru/Images6/FT/FT1934/06/635-2.jpg
I'm sorry: I've tried, but I don't get this. Is it a private joke, or might it be explained?

[India Four Two]

FP,

Sorry. I was referring to the size of A3 paper. ;)


Prangster,

See this article:

http://archive.aramcoworld.com/issue/200102/flying.the.furrow.htm

[DaveReidUK]

And the photo, in case anyone is still wondering, was to accompany I42's original reference to the AW-19. :O

The "A3" is from the 1929-1947 B-class test registration sequence, where an individual letter prefix was allocated to each UK aircraft manufacturer for test flying purposes. Armstrong Whitworth got "A", beating Avro (who got "K").

Full list of prefixes here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_aircraft_test_serials