Treffield International Airlines

[Sotonsean]

After spending some time on Google Images, I recently came across a photo of a Vickers Viscount 812 in the livery of Treffield International Airlines.

I had never come across Treffield International Airlines before I saw several photos.

Treffield International Airlines was formed by Lord Treffgarne and Charles Masefield and was based at East Midlands Airport. The name of the airline was derived from the names of the two owners.

The short-lived airline lasted from the 03 January 1965 until it went under on the 24 June 1965.

Treffield International Airlines leased a single Vickers Viscount 812 G-ATVE from Channel Airways. The aircraft was subsequently returned to its lessor.

Treffield International Airlines was set up as a charter airline to operate on behalf of IT operators such as Hourmont Holidays.

The airlines first flight was between Bristol Lulsgate and Paris LBG on the 27 of April, 1965. The airlines final flight was between Perpignan and Liverpool Speke Airport on the 21 June 1965.

G-ATVE was returned to Channel Airways on 24 June 1965.

Does anyone have any further information regarding this very short-lived and relatively unknown former British airline from 1965.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x683/16362694386_b1fd6d8db8_b_e4d71e0f77dbc33837c6412ea3583a8945c 1c0fc.jpg

[bean]

After spending some time on Google Images, I recently came across a photo of a Vickers Viscount 812 in the livery of Treffield International Airlines.

I had never come across Treffield International Airlines before I saw several photos.

Treffield International Airlines was formed by Lord Treffgarne and Charles Masefield and was based at East Midlands Airport. The name of the airline was derived from the names of the two owners.

The short-lived airline lasted from the 03 January 1965 until it went under on the 24 June 1965.

Treffield International Airlines leased a single Vickers Viscount 812 G-ATVE from Channel Airways. The aircraft was subsequently returned to its lessor.

Treffield International Airlines was set up as a charter airline to operate on behalf of IT operators such as Hourmont Holidays.

The airlines first flight was between Bristol Lulsgate and Paris LBG on the 27 of April, 1965. The airlines final flight was between Perpignan and Liverpool Speke Airport on the 21 June 1965.

G-ATVE was returned to Channel Airways on 24 June 1965.

Does anyone have any further information regarding this very short-lived and relatively unknown former British airline from 1965.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x683/16362694386_b1fd6d8db8_b_e4d71e0f77dbc33837c6412ea3583a8945c 1c0fc.jpg
Not 1965; 1967. They leased two Viscounts from Channel and a Britannia from Laker. Lord Trefgarne later ran Sagitair ultimately with Argosys until that went bust circa 1972

[treadigraph]

I'd certainly heard of Treffield, can't remember how. Trefgarne and Masefield were both Tiger Club members as I recall. Someone on here used to fly Beech 18s for Saggitair.

Treffield operated Viscounts G-ATUE, 'TVE and 'TVR, Britannia G-ANBM and also Anson G-AHKX, now flying with Shuttleworth.

[Sotonsean]

Not 1965; 1967. They leased two Viscounts from Channel and a Britannia from Laker. Lord Trefgarne later ran Sagitair ultimately with Argosys until that went bust circa 1972

I had got 1965 from the Viscount history site. After searching online again there is quite a lot of information regarding Treffield International Airlines.

Some of the sites lists 1965 and 1967 but the majority list it as 1967 which you have also pointed out.

The "airline history" website states that Treffield International Airlines was founded in September 1965 as Treffield Aviation. The company changed it's name to Treffield International Airlines in November 1966. The airline ceased operations at the end of June 1967 and was declared bankrupt on 27 July 1967.

I haven't seen or read any further information regarding Treffield International Airlines operating two Vickers Viscount 812s leased from Channel Airways. Only the one Viscount G-ATVE is listed along with the Bristol Britannia you have mentioned. Treffield International Airlines leased a Bristol Britannia G-ANBM from Laker Airways. The Britannia wore the same livery as the leased Channel Airways Viscount.

British Eagle Engineering had the contract to maintain the Viscount. It had just finished a C Check when Treffield International Airlines went bankrupt. British Eagle Engineering we're not paid and the aircraft was subsequently repossessed by Channel Airways.

Sagittair Ltd was founded in 1969 and went bankrupt in 1972. Sagittair operated a small fleet of cargo aircraft which included Beech18 and AW.660 Argosy.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x682/g_aprn_armstrong_whitworth_argosy_sagittair_heathrow_69842bd 4_b10c_4ba2_b9ee_effe204eeab8_1024x1024_jpeg_fa7aef79c9a61ee 3581669b32a109f2ec367ec3d.jpg
Sagittair Ltd AW.660 Argosy at London Heathrow Airport circa 1970-1972.

[Sotonsean]

I'd certainly heard of Treffield, can't remember how. Trefgarne and Masefield were both Tiger Club members as I recall. Someone on here used to fly Beech 18s for Saggitair.

Treffield operated Viscounts G-ATUE, 'TVE and 'TVR, Britannia G-ANBM and also Anson G-AHKX, now flying with Shuttleworth.

Thanks for the further information regarding the leased Viscounts. So Treffield operated upto three Viscounts during it's short lived history.

[treadigraph]

According to RZ Jets site! Not had time to look in me references at home...

Here's the Britannia:

https://www.airteamimages.com/bristol-britannia_G-ANBM_treffield-international-airways_180420_large.html

[SpringHeeledJack]

Should have named it Treffield United Airlines.....A nice livery, almost looks like part of the early BMA livery.

[thnarg]

David Trefgarne was an F/O at BIA until called to higher things by Maggie T.

[DaveReidUK]

I had got 1965 from the Viscount history site. After searching online again there is quite a lot of information regarding Treffield International Airlines.

Some of the sites lists 1965 and 1967 but the majority list it as 1967 which you have also pointed out.

The "airline history" website states that Treffield International Airlines was founded in September 1965 as Treffield Aviation. The company changed it's name to Treffield International Airlines in November 1966. The airline ceased operations at the end of June 1967 and was declared bankrupt on 27 July 1967.

I haven't seen or read any further information regarding Treffield International Airlines operating two Vickers Viscount 812s leased from Channel Airways. Only the one Viscount G-ATVE is listed along with the Bristol Britannia you have mentioned. Treffield International Airlines leased a Bristol Britannia G-ANBM from Laker Airways. The Britannia wore the same livery as the leased Channel Airways Viscount.

British Eagle Engineering had the contract to maintain the Viscount. It had just finished a C Check when Treffield International Airlines went bankrupt. British Eagle Engineering we're not paid and the aircraft was subsequently repossessed by Channel Airways.

Sagittair Ltd was founded in 1969 and went bankrupt in 1972. Sagittair operated a small fleet of cargo aircraft which included Beech18 and AW.660 Argosy.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x682/g_aprn_armstrong_whitworth_argosy_sagittair_heathrow_69842bd 4_b10c_4ba2_b9ee_effe204eeab8_1024x1024_jpeg_fa7aef79c9a61ee 3581669b32a109f2ec367ec3d.jpg
Sagittair Ltd AW.660 Argosy at London Heathrow Airport circa 1970-1972.

Nice photo - looks freshly painted after its spell in the USA with Universal (ex-BEA originally, of course). I'm pretty sure the civil Argosies were AW650; the AW660 was the RAF version with the beaver tail.

[Sotonsean]

According to RZ Jets site! Not had time to look in me references at home...

Here's the Britannia:

https://www.airteamimages.com/bristol-britannia_G-ANBM_treffield-international-airways_180420_large.html

Great photo and thanks for the link 👍

As has already been pointed out, it's a rather nice livery actually especially in that excellent nostalgic image taken at Manchester Airport.

[Planemike]

Great photo and thanks for the link 👍<br /><br />As has already been pointed out, it's a rather nice livery actually especially in that excellent nostalgic image taken at Manchester Airport.<br /> Nay, 'tis not Ringway.....but a wet Gatwick, it rains there too !!!! BTW Greetings from a fellow Sotonian...!!!

[treadigraph]

With Dan-Air's DC-7 lurking behind!

It is a nice scheme, that pale blue reminds me a little of Rolls Royce's Spitfire XIV before it donned camouflage. If ever they did resurrect it...

[Midland 331]

Treffield Trivia: A Viscount doing training circuits burst all it's tyres and shut Castle Don. for a day.in 1967.

I'm not sure what this adds to the request, but I share it anyway,

[Pypard]

What's with all the superfluous apostrophes in this thread?!!!! IT'S "ITS", not "IT'S"!!!!!

[treadigraph]

Just looked at A J Jackson British Civil Aircraft Vol III '72, G-ATUE not mentioned with Treffield, perhaps an error on RZ for G-ATVE?

[Mooncrest]

My twopenn'orth. Treffield once operated a Viscount cargo charter into Leeds Bradford during a dockyard strike - probably Hull or Immingham. I believe the cargo was cigarettes.

If the Trefgarne chap we're discussing is the one I'm thinking of, he used to pilot his own De Havilland Dove. He brought it into LBA a couple of times about 20- 25 years ago. I've seen the same Dove much more recently but I think with different owners.

[Sotonsean]

<br /> Nay, 'tis not Ringway.....but a wet Gatwick !!!! BTW Greetings from a fellow Sotonian...!!!

I absolutely one hundred percent can't believe that I got that photo mixed up with Manchester Ringway😳

It's so obvious that it's London Gatwick I can't believe that I made such a ridiculous mistake. I feel absolutely ashamed of myself 😅

And greetings to you too fellow Sotonian 😊

[Sotonsean]

Treffield Trivia: A Viscount doing training circuits burst all it's tyres and shut Castle Don. for a day.in 1967.

I'm not sure what this adds to the request, but I share it anyway,

No it's all part of the trivia about this very short-lived as well as relatively unknown British airline from the mid sixties.

To be honest I'm rather pleased that I started this thread as I've found the input by others including yourself very interesting.

[treadigraph]

Lord Trefgarne certainly did have a light twin of some sort 30 or 40 years ago, my memory says a Twin Com or an Aztec, maybe a Baron but I really don't recall a registration! Could have been a Dove...

He owned Dragonfly G-AEDT in the 1960s, recovered from Australia with Charles Masefield.

Edit: in 1963 he also acquired the ex-RAN Sea Fury that eventually became Ormond Haydon-Baillie's G-AGHB but never recovered from Australia.

[SWBKCB]

No it's all part of the trivia about this very short-lived as well as relatively unknown British airline from the mid sixties.

To be honest I'm rather pleased that I started this thread as I've found the input by others including yourself very interesting.

Try getting hold of "Britsh Independent Airlines since 1946" by Tony Merton-Jones - as well as Treffield there is a wealth of other ailines (it's 4 volumes).

It gives the fleet as Rapide G-AHKU, Anson's G-AGWE and G-AHKX, Viscounts G-ATVE and G-ATVR (no G-ATUE) and Britannia G-ANBM (with Airedale G-AROJ as a company hack). It states that they were due to get three Viscounts but the Britannia was taken instead of the third.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/kh748/5104491493/

[Sotonsean]

Try getting hold of "Britsh Independent Airlines since 1946" by Tony Merton-Jones - as well as Treffield there is a wealth of other ailines (it's 4 volumes).

It gives the fleet as Rapide G-AHKU, Anson's G-AGWE and G-AHKX, Viscounts G-ATVE and G-ATVR (no G-ATUE) and Britannia G-ANBM (with Airedale G-AROJ as a company hack). It states that they were due to get three Viscounts, but the Britannia was taken instead of the third.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/kh748/5104491493/

Many thanks for that invaluable information, especially regarding Treffield International Airlines fleet makeup as well as the aircraft registrations.

[Planemike]

I absolutely one hundred percent can't believe that I got that photo mixed up with Manchester Ringway😳<br /><br />It's so obvious that it's London Gatwick I can't believe that I made such a ridiculous mistake. I feel absolutely ashamed of myself 😅<br /><br />And greetings to you too fellow Sotonian 😊<br />Hey, even we Southampton ""lads"" can get things wrong, sometimes......!!! 😉😉

PS Try getting hold of "British Independent Airlines since 1946" by Tony Merton-Jones - as well as Treffield there is a wealth of other airlines (it's 4 volumes). Yes, comes highly recommended.... Script a bit hard to read but the information is all there.... PM

[Planemike]

Edit: in 1963 he also acquired the ex-RAN Sea Fury that eventually became Ormond Haydon-Baillie's G-AGHB but never recovered from Australia.
treadi...... Is that right, G-AGHB never made it back to these shores?? No wonder I never logged it as a registration !!! ☺☺ PM

[treadigraph]

Trefgarne never bought it to the UK but OHB certainly did, via Canada and some racing at Reno. I saw it on a trailer at Elstree in 1979 after its accident in Germany. Spencer Flack had acquired the aircraft from OHB's estate and the crash was during the ferry.

[Planemike]

Trefgarne never bought it to the UK but OHB certainly did, via Canada and some racing at Reno. I saw it on a trailer at Elstree in 1979 after its accident in Germany. Spencer Flack had acquired the aircraft from OHB's estate and the crash was during the ferry.
treadi...... Thanks for clearing that up !!! I obviously "missed it"....!! PM

[treadigraph]

Sorry, it wasn't a particularly clear comment! Can't even blame the grog...

[bean]

Trefgarne aged 82 is the longest serving peer in the Lords having succeded to his hereditary peerage in 1962 and elected a life peer open Lords reform

[Jhieminga]

If the Trefgarne chap we're discussing is the one I'm thinking of, he used to pilot his own De Havilland Dove. He brought it into LBA a couple of times about 20- 25 years ago. I've seen the same Dove much more recently but I think with different owners.
No doubt the same Dove that he flew into at least one Brooklands Museum fly-in in 1999:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x814/neg0010_resize_dcb1546dfa4b6310c05914451c54676b0db9f745.jpg
I briefly got to chat to him a few years ago and mentioned this occasion to him, his reply: "oh yes, we were younger then...". 😉

[Jn14:6]

G-ARHW was the BAe Woodford based Dove....I used to fly it!

[treadigraph]

It was owned by Pacelink Ltd between 1995 and 2007, a Lord Trefgarne company!

[Jn14:6]

.......and Charles Masefield was a senior Director at BAe Woodford at the time I flew it.

[Gordomac]

Nostalgic thread and I too wonder if we are talking about the same chap.

Same name appears linked to a number of failed aviation projects. There was a link to James Hunt (UK F1 Champ) and they were both involved in what looked like a highly attractive N Atlantic Op outa Luton. I didn't apply once I found out who was behind it only because all other efforts by Lord T had gone belly up !

If we are talking about the same bod, F/O in BIA (don't think so) to Lord based on Hereditary connection and a call from a serving PM brings all the other chat about boys clubs, Lodges, links, old schools into the 'nudge, nudge, wink wink'.- scenario.

Just tried for a post as Xmas GPO delivery Guy (handful of jobs) but ir really does depend on who you know..

Hereditary Peerage. Wow................I know my place.................

[treadigraph]

Trefgarne succeded his father, a Liberal then Labour Peer in 1960 and took his seat in the Lords in 1962 when he was 21, opting to sit on the Conservative benches. He was appointed as a Whip by Thatcher in 1979.

Hope I might be forgiven a link to elsewhere but this is an article (https://www.key.aero/article/one-man-and-his-mustang) about Masefield, Trefgarne and the Mustang...

[billyg]

https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.giTFoluaaTNF6J8xMDKX0gAAAA?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain

[bean]

Nostalgic thread and I too wonder if we are talking about the same chap.

Same name appears linked to a number of failed aviation projects. There was a link to James Hunt (UK F1 Champ) and they were both involved in what looked like a highly attractive N Atlantic Op outa Luton. I didn't apply once I found out who was behind it only because all other efforts by Lord T had gone belly up !

If we are talking about the same bod, F/O in BIA (don't think so) to Lord based on Hereditary connection and a call from a serving PM brings all the other chat about boys clubs, Lodges, links, old schools into the 'nudge, nudge, wink wink'.- scenario.

Just tried for a post as Xmas GPO delivery Guy (handful of jobs) but ir really does depend on who you know..

Hereditary Peerage. Wow................I know my place.................
James Hunt was connected to Lord Hesketh.
Trefgarne was definitely a BIA FO at one point

[Gordomac]

bean; Thanks. Hesketh was the chap. Before I got into the pointy end , I was a Moretons, BUIA, BIA Duty Officer at Gatters, off & on. !968-1971.. Don't recall a Trefgarne. The Blackpool Base tended to look after itself though, if he was there in the same time frame.

[barry lloyd]

I was at BIA/Air UK BLK (ops) 1979-1981, but there was no Trefgarne there at that time. I did a brief spell at LGW (early 1981), but likewise don't remember him there, either

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

I was in BIA Ops at LGW 1973-78 and don't recall Trefgarne. If he did work for BIA that leaves a time frame of possibly 1972 or thereabouts..........BUIA changed its name to BIA in July 1970.

[thnarg]

David Trefgarne was LGW-based 1978-79. Nice bloke.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Ah Good ..... I left BIA in May 1978 so he probably joined at about that time.

[Gordomac]

Sorry for curving this round from Trefield to Mortons but fun & nostalgic . Barry & Oua, I must've kept the D/O chair warm for you. Marve days eh ?

Someone referred to Tref being with BIA but ,I think, meant British Independent Airlines which would go back, well out of his time frame to Companies like Cally, BUA, Eagle, Dan etc. Anyway, nailed him. Damn.we are a good investigative team eh ? We should be appointed to the Board of "Where Are They Now " !

[thnarg]

Someone referred to Tref being with BIA but ,I think, meant British Independent Airlines which would go back, well out of his time frame to Companies like Cally, BUA, Eagle, Dan etc. Anyway, nailed him. Damn.we are a good investigative team eh ? We should be appointed to the Board of "Where Are They Now " !

Definitely BritIsland, Gordo, although possibly Ukay by then? He was on the HP7, otherwise known as “Dah Heral’… tough as ol’ boot” in a Chinese-Hawaii accent.

[treadigraph]

Try getting hold of "Britsh Independent Airlines since 1946" by Tony Merton-Jones - as well as Treffield there is a wealth of other ailines (it's 4 volumes).

I just acquired a 1972 edition of T M-J's tome which from a quick flick through seems to be a single volume A - Z in the early LAAS manner of reproduced typed pages. Were other volumes updates/expansions of his original work split into separate alphabetical groups? (Some of the later LAAS books I bought over the years clearly took advantage of easier quality publishing methods!)

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Definitely BritIsland, Gordo, although possibly Ukay by then? He was on the HP7, otherwise known as “Dah Heral’… tough as ol’ boot” in a Chinese-Hawaii accent.
Ah Gerry Hu.......