Avro 504 in the North Bay, Scarborough.
G-EBKB photographed at an unknown location (Photograph taken by Fredrick J. Parkinson, of Blackburn,
and copied for me by his grandson Mr Bill Parkinson).
On Thursday, 12th September 1929 this aircraft was flying in the Scarborough area, operating a pleasure flight buisiness.
Whilst there was no paying passenger on the flight it carried its mechanic. Shortly before 11.00hrs the aircraft was seen to fly low
over the North Bay, its engine began to fail so the pilot considered a landing on the beach but as it was too crowded opted to ditch the
aircraft in the sea just off the North Bay. Both the men on board were able to climb out of the cockpits onto the tail which was left out of the water.
A number of boats came to assist and the aircraft was towed to the 2-300 yards to the shore where holiday makers assisted in dragging it up onto the beach.
It was later dismantled with the aim of rebuilding it elsewhere.
Pilot - Mr Albert V Heaton, ok.
Mechanic - Mr James Exleby, ok.
Albert Heaton worked for Berkshire Aviation Tours Ltd for 4 months during the summer of 1929.
The aircraft being towed ashore.
The aircraft was built to contract 35a/49/C29 by the Morgan Motor Co. Ltd at Malvern. It was delivered to the RAF as E2926 in November
1918 and was immediately put into long term storage. It was purchased in September 1924 by Fred J.V. Holmes, and registered as G-EBKB who
was operating under the name Berkshire Aviation Co. at East Hanney. The C of A was issued on 13th September 1924. The registration was
transferred to the company name Berkshire Aviation Tours Ltd in August 1926 and the C of A lapsed on 12th May 1928. Berkshire Aviation
Tours Ltd were taken over by Northern Air Transport Ltd, initially based at Wythenshawe but later Barton on 18th April 1929.
The aircraft's C of A was renewed on 10th May 1929 and it commenced operating pleasure flights once again. It sustained its
Cat.R/FA at Scarborough on 12th September 1929 and was salvaged but probably not repaired. Its C of A lapsed 23rd February 1932 and its
registration cancelled as withdrawn from use in December 1932.
I found the original of the above photograph in an old photo album of my grandfathers and I assume the photo to have been taken on the beach
at Scarborough's South Bay. After some touching up it appears more clear.
Another photograph of the aircraft (Photo via Mr J Rudland).
