Description
Set 42. Two seat open cockpit monoplane, with uniformed pilot standing next to it, hangar in background. Registration partly visible: G-ADDC? Using the CAA website and also www.airhistory.org.uk, this registration is for a Miles M.2H Hawk Major, typically used as a touring/racing aircraft.
- Date of original photo: 1930s
- Related material: www.airhistory.org.uk
- Copyright: Copyright unclear
- Photo Categories:
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David Wyatt - Thursday 5th Mar 2020 at 2:04pm
Having helped with the original research on this image, I was given some more information by Marilyn Smith, one of the original Selsey Society members. Marilyn gave me an article that describes the history of the RAF airfield at Church Norton. The article includes this picture, with the caption "Ted Willsman - Major Holden's pilot/chauffeur with two seater [aircraft]". The registration of this aircraft is partially hidden, so I did some detective work on its possible identity. British owned and/or operated commercial/ private aircraft are identified by a registration starting with the prefix G- followed by four alpha characters. The first character on this aircraft (after the G-) looked like an A, followed by DDC...an internet search led me to http://www.airhistory.org.uk where G-ADDC is identified as a Miles M.2H Hawk Major. I double-checked these details on the CAA's website through their G-INFO search page. From a "spotter's" point of view, the aircraft in this image has some distinctive features: the open cockpit profiles, under-carriage fairing and tail plane. Looking at other images of this aircraft type on the internet confirmed my identification of the aircraft type in this image.
Reply to this commentBenjamin Hargreaves - Wednesday 19th Jan 2022 at 12:28pm
That is very interesting. I am the son of Capt (later Major) J C Hargreaves (b. 1900) and have been researching his Pilot's Log Books and the related aircraft. This looks undoubtedly like his Miles Hawk Major G-ADDC which he owned from April 1935 until it was sold abroad in October 1936, and Selsey is an extremely likely location, especially in 1935 when he flew there often (apparently sometimes landing on the beach), as his first family had a house there. The colour scheme and details of the plane match photos in my possession. However it does not look like him in the photo, so I have no reason to dispute the attribution given (though it is interesting as to why that gentleman should have been photographed with the plane, albeit there is no reason why he should not)..
Reply to this commentThe Project Team - Wednesday 19th Jan 2022 at 2:59pm
Thanks very much for this information. It would be great to find out more about your father's flights to Selsey.
Reply to this commentPavel Senk - Thursday 28th Apr 2022 at 1:23pm
Hello Benjamin. What exactly are the colours of the aircraft scheme - if You know it? Black and Silver or Black and White? Do You have some more photos of this aircraft? Another one can be seen here: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1741455
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