What aircraft is in this picture

[MarianA]

Hi,

Can someone help in identifying the type of aeroplane in this picture? The location is propably Malta, other than that I know nothing.




Thank you very much.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

This appears to be one of the earlier models of the de Havilland D.H.60 Moth. In November-December 1926 two of these aircraft G-EBMO and G-EBKU were flown together to India by T.Neville Stack And B.S. Leete. Perhaps this photograph is connected with that occasion?

[Self loading bear]

Seems to be Malta indeed 1931
2:30 in this shell video
Shell Malta

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Further to above it looks very much like a publicity photograph for Shell. With regards to the date it looks as though my 1926 time line does not match up with the date roughly promulgated as 1931 in the video. However I have just turned up this fragment for 1927. So far I have been unable to ascertain what type of aeroplane 'Shell Spirit' was but perhaps those of you better informed than me can throw some light on the matter?

[FlightlessParrot]

Originally Posted by OUAQUKGF Ops

SNIP So far I have been unable to ascertain what type of aeroplane 'Shell Spirit' was but perhaps those of you better informed than me can throw some light on the matter?

I wonder if "on Shell Spirit" means "using Shell fuel"; IIRC "spirit" was used in the early 20th Century to mean "petrol" (or petrol + additives).

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Thanks Flightless Parrot that does make sense. I guess we will never know the circumstances of the above image. Chap in the suit could perhaps be Shell's local manager.......

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Well a bit more digging before Breakfast:



Leete's Moth at Bushire, Persia late December 1926. The Moths stopped at Bushire for six days to overhaul their engines. Stack is pictured second left between Sir Samuel and Lady Hoare. Looking at his hair cut he is probably the suited gent in the mystery photograph. Others in the image include Captain Leete and AVM Salmond. Obviously this is not the Moth in the mystery photograph.. Photo and info credit Aviation Postcard Club.





This is Stack's DH Moth unusual at the time as it was painted white to reflect the heat of the Indian Subcontinent - almost certainly the 'Mystery Moth' thus dating the first image to 1926.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by OUAQUKGF Ops

This is Captain Leete's DH Moth unusual at the time as it was painted white to reflect the heat of the Indian Subcontinent - almost certainly the 'Mystery Moth' thus dating the first image to 1926.

And written off after a wire strike in Assam, July 1927.



Credit: Air-Britain

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Very interesting Dave thank you.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Both Moths at Delhi January 1927. Photo credit Air History.

[Kemble Pitts]

Looking at the picture in the original post, what you can see of the registration on the fuselage doesn't match that of any of the others posted. It looks like it ends in something like 'KB.

Edit. Looking again maybe it is 'MO so might be G-EBMO as in the other picture from OUAQUKGF Ops!

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

I did wonder about this but in those days the O of the registration was often painted on in the manner seen in #7. I'm fairly confident of my attribution particularly as DH Moths painted white were very rare at that time. The Moths arrived at Malta (Hal Far Aerodrome) on November 30th 1926. Their departure from Malta to Tripoli was delayed by bad weather until December 8th. Source: Stuart McKay ' The de Havilland DH.60 Moth' published 2016. Interestingly the author states that G-EBMO was painted Scarlet and White.