Morton Air Services

In 1945, former Royal Air Force pilot Captain T.W. "Sammy" Morton founded Morton Air Services. Prior to Morton's inception, "Sammy" Morton had flown scheduled services from London's old Croydon Airport to Paris Le Bourget with Amy Johnson in the 1930s. Capt. Morton had built up a fleet of Airspeed Consul (see heading image) and De Havilland Dragon Rapide aircraft and these were supplemented by more modern de Havilland Dove piston airliners to operate regular charter flights. These included general charter work, air ambulance services and racecourse charters. The latter's regularity was such that it amounted to a "quasi-scheduled" operation. Morton subsequently won traffic rights to operate fully fledged scheduled services from Croydon to the Channel Islands, Deauville, Le Touquet and Rotterdam. Morton sold a minority stake of about 20% to rival independent airline Skyways. When that airline was taken over by the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation (LAC), another contemporary independent airline, LAC acquired ownership of Skyways's minority holding in Morton Air Services as well. In 1953, Morton Air Services gained control of its independent rival Olley Air Service. Following the takeover of Olley Air Service, that airline's operations were wholly integrated into Morton's but the Olley name would survive for certain services until 1963. In 1958, Morton sold out to Airwork. The same year, Airwork started the process of merging with Hunting-Clan to form BUA. Morton DH 89 Dragon Rapide at Manchester Airport in 1950. Morton DH 114 Heron 1B in 1965. Douglas C-47B Dakota freighter of Morton Air Service at London Gatwick Airport in 1968. On the 30th of September 1959, a Morton Air Services de Havilland Heron (G-AOXL) operated the last scheduled passenger flight to depart Croydon. The aircraft was headed for Rotterdam. Another Heron, repainted to represent that aircraft currently (2011) guards the entrance to Croydon's Aerodrome Hotel. By the following morning, the airline's entire operation including its headquarters had been relocated to Gatwick. Although Morton's scheduled services were integrated into BUA's regional operations following the creation of that airline in July 1960, the Morton name survived until the completion of the BUA group's 1967/8 reorganisation. It finally disappeared on the 1st of November 1968. This was the day Morton was absorbed into BUIA, BUA's new regional affiliate.

In April 1958, the combined fleet of Morton Air Services and Olley Air Service comprised 14 aircraft. Morton Air Services fleet (including Olley Air Service) in April 1958 Aircraft Number de Havilland DH 114 Heron 1 de Havilland DH 104 Dove 8 de Havilland DH 89 Dragon Rapide 3 Airspeed Consul 2

(below) Airspeed Consul

(above) 'Airspeed Consul. (below) 'DH Dragon Rapide'.

(above) 1945 Luggage label

(above) a QSL card sent by the Chief Radio Officer Frank King, on the 11th of May 1947.

(above and below) 'DH Dove's' of Morton Air Services at Croydon in the mid 1950's.

(below) 7th of September 1954. Dove G-ANAN of Morton Air Service.

(above) a 1957 advertisement

(above) 'C47'. (below) 'DH Heron'.

(above and below) Morton's Dove's. September 1955.

(below) 1958 Timetable.

(below) Morton Channel Services.

(above) 'DH Heron' of 'Morton Air Services', preparing for the last commercial flight out of 'Croydon Airport' on the 30th of September 1959. (below) a similar aircraft painted in the markings of G-AOXL, is currently mounted on display as a monument in front of the restored Terminal building.