DH-9 F1258 Le Musee de l'air information sought
 

Can anyone shed any light on the combat history of DH-9 F1258 as displayed in Le Musee de L'air at Le Bourget,Paris , and how it came to be displayed there please?

Sadly there is no information at the museum.

Any leads or information would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

Scottie

Built by Waring & Gillow at Cambridge and taken on charge by the RAF in November 1918, it was surplus to requirements and was apparently a gift to the French Government in January 1920.

Graeme

Hi Graeme,

I helped to restore F 1278, which surely would have been a part of the same batch. I thought that the Waring and Gillow factory was at Hammersmith. I grew up in England, but I don't remember where Cambridge is exactly, except that from memory it is in the country and Hammersmith is in or near London. Were there two factories, or is Hammersmith in or near Cambridge (which I don't think it is).

I nearly replied to the other thread about the D.H.9. Although the Siddely Puma had its' problems it was capable of achieving much more than many people might realise. F 1278 was the first single engined aeroplane to fly from England to Australia, which it did in the 1919 air race. The engine caught fire at least once and probably failed on more than one occasion, but the Puma ran all the way from England to Australia! There is a book written about it, called "Flight and Adventures" from memory. I haven't read it for quite some time, so I don't remember every account of engine problems. From memory, the main issue with the Puma was that it had a very early cast aluminium alloy engine block, and the British were not able to achieve the same quality achieved by the Germans.

Regards,

David.

Cambridge to Hammersmith is about 100 km by road.

Hi Doc

Curse these PCs that think for themselves!

I didn't notice that I'd missed the all-important word "Grove" - Waring and Gillow's main factory was at Cambridge Grove (Hammersmith).

F1258 seems to have been a presentation aircraft since I have a note that it was named "A Battery 2nd Siege Artillery Reserve Brigade".

Graeme

Hi Doc and Graeme,

Thanks for letting me know. I was quite sure that Cambridge is some distance out of London. Cambridge Grove makes perfect sense. We did quite a lot of research on F 1278, and F 1258, having been made at the same factory, surely as a part of the same batch was a very important source of reference. It has had some restoration work carried out, but most of the paint, including all of the National markings, the inscription "A Battery 2nd Siege Artillery Reserve Brigade", the "French grey" on the plywood panels, all the PC10 and clear doped linen are 100% original! We were sent a large number of prints of photos taken in the Waring and Gillows factory of DH9's being constructed at Hammersmith. I re photographed all of these photos, but I have not had the film developed yet. I have heard that negatives stay preserved for decades, if not centuries or longer in this state.

Does anyone know if the factory, or any part of it still exists? I have often wondered.

Regards,

David.