47 Sqn Khartoum
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47 Sqn Khartoum
My neighbour has just shown me a photo album with images taken by her father just before and during WW11.
Looking at this particular image it appears to show a Walrus and behind it three or four Fairy Gordons equipped with floats. I take it the 47 marking is 47Sqn as all the Gordons are marked thus.
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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.
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
Looking at G-earth shows that is the White Nile Bridge is still there. The riverbank on the right has a sand edge nearer the bridge and the land around it gives the impression that it used to be an airfield.
