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pomme homme
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« on: January 31, 2012, 16:52:07 PM » |
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G-ADOE, the sole Percival Gull Four Mk. III, ditched in the English Channel off Ferring, West Sussex, on 7 October 1947. It was then registered to G.Chappelle-Knight of Jersey. It was not 'just your usual Gull'. It was sole Gull Four Mk. III, starting life with North Sea Aerial & General Transport in 1935 before being impressed in 1940. However unusually, on doing so it did not assume a military serial but continued to fly with its civilian registration for Blackburn, serving as a flying test bed for its Cirrus Major marks I and II engines. It returned to civilian life in 1945 and was registered to Mr Chappelle-Knight in June 1947. And so, as you'll see, he did not enjoy this aeroplane for long!
Search as I might, albeit employing the limited resources available to one on the other side of the Channel, I've been able to find almost nothing about the circumstances of its final (?) accident. Does anyone have details of the circumstances in which it ditched; and how far off the coast it was when it did so; and what was its destination on this flight; and whether there were any fatalities; and whether the hull was recovered from the sea? The answer to the final question would seem to be in the affirmative as someone has told me that they saw a photograph of G-ADOE, dated -10-47, showing the front and cockpit glass area missing, fuselage crumpled and rudder damage, which suggests that it was taken after being salvaged. If so, one assumes that it did not ditch far off the Sussex coast and maybe the pilot and any passengers escaped this unfortunate incident with their lives. But can anyone confirm or add to this?
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pomme homme
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« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2012, 21:06:52 PM » |
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John, your diffidence does you credit but seems unnecessary. It appears that Basil Hurle-Hobbs was piloting this Gull when it ditched off Ferring, for the following information has been provided to me from another source......
D.53 Built at Gravesend ss type D.2 Gull Four IIIB (Cirrus Major). Registered G-ADOE to North Sea Aerial and General Transport Co Ltd, Brough 24.8.35. CofA No.5044(TM) issued 30.8.35, effective 29.8.35, and renewed 18.7.36. Flown
in King's Cup 6/7.9.35 by Fl Lt E.C.T.Edwsrds as "26", retired at Belfast. Used as test bed for Cirrus Majors and raced by C. S. Napier. Registered to Blackburn Aircraft Ltd, Brough 11.12.36 (Cert.7530). CofA renewed 25.8.37.
Placed 17th in King's Cup 2.7.38 flown by Fl Lt Edwards as "6". CofA renewed 8.9.38 and 24.7.39. Surveyed for Impressment, Bristol, 1.9.39; allocated NAC.l but remained with owners as wartime communications sircrsft. CofA
extended to 27.3.41 (from 28.3.40?), noted 31.12.42 as "still on British Civil Aircraft Register". CofA renewed 28.3.41, 15.5.42 and 3.3.44. Registered to Air Couriers Ltd, Bristol 5.3.45. Converted to Gull Four III (Gipsy Major), CofA renewed 22.3.46, 11.4.47. Registered to George Chappelle-Knight, Jersey 12.4.47 and ditched in the English Channel off Ferring, Sussex 7.10.47; pilot W.Basil Hurle-Hobbs and passenger rescued unhurt. Registration cancelled 27.11.47 as wfu.
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pomme homme
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« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2012, 09:54:17 AM » |
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Beyond the information that has been posted here and that which I've quoted from threads on this subject on other fora, there seems to be nothing more available. What I haven't done - and can't do before my next visit to the UK - is to see if there is an AIB report on the crash at Kew. So if anyone is going there in the near future and would care to take a look for me, I'd be most grateful to them.
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John
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« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2012, 09:59:09 AM » |
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I did have a look yesterday, but various search terms didn't throw up anything..
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pomme homme
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« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2012, 10:10:29 AM » |
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Thank you, John. Were you reading my mind or was I reading yours?  |
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John
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« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2012, 10:12:03 AM » |
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 When these queries crop up on here, they all get added to a list. If I can't find a mention in the online catalogue, I go and pick the brains of the helpful staff when I'm there.
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