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In conjunction with a Frenchman,
a Mons. Le Gallais, in 1953 Whittemore's bought 198 Tiger Moths
and some Proctor 4s and Rapides surplus from the R.A.F. 130 were
flyable, the rest were transported by road (by Frank Gosling
senior). They were located at the R.A.F. MU at Carlisle. They
had to be removed quickly, this co-incided with the onset of
winter. There were plenty of volunteers to fly the aircraft to
Croydon, usually stopping 2 or three times on the way for depending
on fuel, also weather. The aircraft were de-militarised by crossing
out the roundels with creosote and painting civil registrations
in same. Some aircraft travelled the length decorated with quite
rude inscriptions. It was not uncommon for the arrival at Croydon
to be accompanied by silence; as the tail was lowered during
the landing run there was a lack of fuel. The aircraft were dismantled,
distributed around various hangars, or in the open, on the airfield
sitting on their noses. When sold, some of the aircraft were
refurbished by Whittemores, more by Jack Fletcher and Don Horton
in D Hangar, Rollasons also lent a hand. Purchase price was £20.00,
the early sales with a quick inspection and spray were £150.
A lot went to France. Some are still flying in various countries.
They now change hands for around £80.000. By the time that
Croydon closed in 1959, not all had been sold and Rollasons bought
some of the remainder. |
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(below) is a selection of pictures of
some of the 198 Tiger Moth's that Whittemore bought including
one of the groups stored under cover in a hanger. Notice in the
background several 'C47's', prepared by the BOAC engineers for
their new airline. |
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(above)
Tiger Moths of Whittemores dismantled for storage. Note some
have the civilian registrations still on them written in creosote
for their flight down from Carlisle.(below)
the remains of the last of the Tiger Moth parts which ended up
with Rollasons after Whittemores moved to Biggin Hill. |
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(below) rebuilt and newly registered on the French register
where many of Whittemore's Tiger Moth's ended up |
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(below) a copy of the original purchase
receipt from the 'Ministry of Defence' for a 'Tiger Moth' at
'RAF MU Carlisle', by A.J.Whittemore in March 1952. Then a picture
of it after restoration in front of the hangar already marked
with the new French customer's registration F-BHIN. And finally
a copy of the sales receipt dated July 1955. |
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(below) typical of many of the Tiger Moths
that went to France that were often used either for training
or by flying and glider clubs. In the picture below one is being
used as a glider tug. A 'Grasshopper' is running up on the
grass in the foreground. |
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