Good spot there - and the whole back row are his juniors I believe.

Thanks, I'm none the wiser !

Asturias: While I still have no idea where the aerodrome is / was, I've thoroughly enjoyed wandering around the internet learning (more than I'll ever need to know) about the Imperial Russian Air Service! All the young men in that photo would have had such interesting tales to tell. Thanks!

The airfield was owned by a nearby factory. Many thought it could lead to a rather sticky end to those using it. I think it was only in use for 2-3 years

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b3a96936b3.jpg

Coley Park Airfield,Reading,Berkshire. RFC/RAF 1916-1919.

Yup - that's it - I came across it when I was reading about Cpt Johns of "Biggles" fame - he trained there apparently. The site was owned by the Co-Op Stores jam factory

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....488dd02b01.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d92e0a2320.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d98d2cce1a.jpg

Thank you.
Open House

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....148cb608cd.jpg
1934 - Imperial Echoes

Ceylon? I recall the local boys dressing like that...

Sadly not.... tho' on the right track. I'll Post this clue:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....7f87ff231c.png

Well we are on def on the Equator LOL

Part of the British Empire?

Yes indeed (tho of course no longer)

Rog, The Constellation is seen South of the Equator and the Aerodrome is North of The Equator.

Well Gan was originally South of the Equator, but after Frank Easto (supernav on 205 Sqn) found he was 2 miles north of track on arrival after a 10 hour sortie from Changi., he spent the rest of our SAR detachment taking star and sun shots and proved Gan was not where it was supposed to be, but just North of the Equator.

Just a little snippet of info, 'cos it don't look like Gan.

Perhaps someone can identify the Constellation ? I mean the stars not Indian Navy.......

ISTR Gan is 73.10E 00.31S. 31nm south of the Equator. However, most of my time on Gan the ground was moving, thanks to "Tiger" and "Southern Comfort!"

Southern What ? It ain't Gan.

So we know there is a peculiar tree at the south of the airfield.
With a hill to the south-south east.
somewhat above te equator.
Already existing 1920/30s
Not Ceylon Sri Lanka

I stab at Andaman& Nicobar?

Bear the Constellation was not photographed in the Northern Hemisphere. I do need somebody to name the Constellation which will then allow me to post the relevant clue. I'm hoping some of our night owls who live south of The Equator will be able to name it..... Incidentally I'm sure the pilot in the next image would be very familiar with both the Constellation and the Bay of Bengal. (Oh yes and the airfield too.) I believe the waters immediately around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are Quite Warm but are beyond swimming distance to that part of The Empire we are trying to discover. Nevertheless a good call.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b0c3d1e617.png

Dated 1925.

I'm putting myself and the dog out now. More tomorrow with luck.

Possibly Jean Batten in Singapore...May 1934...?

Slight extrapolation of Sycamore's excellent steer, from the night shift here in sunny SYD.

The constellation is of course the Southern Cross, well known in these parts, so that suggests a Kingsford Smith connection.
The pilot, however, in the DH 50 photo is Alan Cobham on his proving flight to Burma, with pax Sefton Brancker. Kingsford Smith was lost off the coast of Burma. So in view of these clues, Akyab perhaps, as Jean Batten also stopped over there?
In addition to her flight, 1934 was also the year of the air race to Oz for which Akyab was an en-route stop for some, but I don't think it included any bi-planes? OH if correct!

Well done Max Tow Akyab Burma it is. Sycamore good stab at Jean Batten. I thought it might be her Gypsy Moth in the first photo but the snap was taken in October 1934 and Batten was there in May. Frank Stewart took the photo. He was travelling in this Dragon Rapide with S/L Hewitt and F/O C.E. Kay, pictured at Akyab. They came 9th and last in The MacRobertson Melbourne Trophy Air Race.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....76306a5910.jpg


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....9ed8dbb988.jpg
Photo credit Geoff Goodall.

Kingsford-Smith's 'Miss Southern Cross' seen above in Western Australia in 1933 following his record breaking flight from Lympne. He night-stopped at Akyab 8/9 October 1933.
He carried the mails in Southern Cross from Darwin to Akyab and back in April/May 1931 on behalf of Imperial Airways following the loss of their DH66 City of Cairo.
As you say he disappeared over The Andaman Sea in 'Lady Southern Cross' 8th November 1935.
Akyab was well used as a staging post by a host of potential record breakers and race competitors, to name but a few: Poulet 1919, The Smith Brothers 1919, Parer and McIntosh 1920, Cobham 1925-6, Kingsford Smith 1933, Batten 1934 and 1936 and Earhart in 1937. Amy Johnson diverted from Akyab to Rangoon due wx and bent her aeroplane on landing 13 May 1930.

Some snaps from 1945 after the Japs were kicked out.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c9ee83026e.jpg
Photo credit Australian War Memorial Museum
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....944af9520d.jpg
Photo credit Australian War Memorial Museum


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f5cac1d614.jpg
Akyab March 11th 1945. Beaufighter of 177 Squadron (based Chiringa) Crew: Bill Wilson and Edward Cheshire.


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....da419e497b.jpg

Thanks - your wrap-up was a mine of information, as ever! OH.

Let's try something seasonal!!!


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....07f2527c43.jpg

Neither Asturias nor Ferrara, but somewhere a bit cold in Japan? Kushiro?

Well there's a player from the past! Long time no see!!!

Yes Japan but no Kushiro - new pic in summer

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6b82b41c2a.jpg

Haha, thanks Asturias. I drop in here occasionally these days, and the 'JAL' logo on the vehicle prompted me to have a long-distance effort. The snow made me think of Hokkaido, so I'll have a final (for the moment) try at Chitose?

It seems that after the big earthquake, much control towers have received an external steel beam reinforcement cage. I assume your photo is of pre quake date?

It changes the silhouettes considerably.

Memanbetsu

OH if correct

Here it is when I visited in 2017.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....9d8e8c474e.jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0fcae1a574.jpg

Memanbetsu/Abashiri Hokkaido it is (note I never said it wasn't Hokkaido!!) - nice spot but a gets BIG SNOW in winter

Clue has the con


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4036e7348d.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a84c592b03.jpg

As HaC has declares OH, try this.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0226a4a597.jpg

That looks like Royal Air Maroc old colours to me - and the terrain could be N Africa???

Yes to N Africa. No to Royal Air Maroc.

For whom it may help:
Probably Swissair Convair Metropolitan.
Or transferred to Belair or Telair.
(Athough I doubt if the belly would then still be polished aluminum)

It is an Iberia Airlines of Spain Convair 440 and I reckon this could be Spanish Morocco somewhere?

Apart from Northern Spanish Morocco, Spain in the late 1800's, also acquired the Western Sahara,
parts of it later known under the name Spanish Sahara, so is it somewhere served on of those Iberia flights done from the Canaries?

I was initially going to say Gando Las Palmas but not with those big hills... Lovely photo BTW

Edit to add Sahara Ref...

Thanks Rog747 - once again the N.Hemisphere does 99% the hard work in narrowing down to the aircraft, airline & country! So as a final tap into goal - Sidi Ifni?
OH if correct.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e515d7b3ff.jpg

Obstacle on approach.

Well that's the 24hrs. Max Tow has it with Sidi Ifni. The Cable car ran from close to the southern threshold out to a deep(er) water anchorage and was used to get cargo ashore.
The outline of the runway and taxiways can still be seen but I don't think it has seen an aircraft in many years.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8b5fc83994.png