Airspeed Courier G-ACLS

Courier

Can anyone confirm that this aircraft crashed around Grenoble in 1934

moxy

This aeroplane was owned by Air Taxis Ltd and crashed in Grenoble on the 17th October 1934 whilst routing Brindisi - Croydon. Fortunately the pilot. a Mr. Crundall was unhurt.

Courier

Moxy

Thank you - I also have Crundall listed as the pilot but believe this might be an error. Any idea where the pilot's name can be verified?

moxy

I got the information from the Air Britain archive which I assume to be correct, though you never know. I have found various references to Air Taxis Ltd in 1934 and they all refer to Captain Crundall as being their pilot on various escapades. No other names have been mentioned.

I believe in 1934 they only had the one Airspeed Courier, the other one they operated G-ACLT is only shown as being delivered to them in 1939 and sold shortly afterwards when war broke out. I wonder how many pilots they employed.

It would be interesting to know if this chap is Edward Duncan Crundall DFC, AFC, the WW1 ace who had a career in civil aviation between the wars. There was also another pilot Eric Randolph Crundall but I doubt it was him.

Regards

Rob

Courier

Rob

I'm trying to trace an accident my father had in the late 1930s when he crashed between Valence & Orange or close to Avignon in the Rhone valley I think now in a g-registered Percival Gull. Any idea where I might look?

moxy

I think the aircraft you are looking for is G-ACPA, a Percival D2 Gull 6, c/n D44 which crashed 2/10/1935 near Avignon on route to Abyssinia.

The owner at the time was Brian Allen Aviation Ltd., formally owned

by Commander E.W.B. Leake and SL. Turner.

I have no more details but hopefully this info will help.

Best regards

Rob

Courier

Rob

My father had been engaged by a newspaper and was on his way from Croydon to Abyssinia to collect skin samples to prove that the Italians were using mustard gas on the Abyssinians. He crashed when the long range fuel tank switching proved to have been incorrectly installed and he could not transfer fuel.

Can you terll me where did you found this information?

moxy

I went on the 'Golden Years of Aviation' web site which is excellent. I trawled through the UK register between 1933 and 1939 looking at all the Percival Gulls. Only 1 D1 Gull, 28 D2 Gulls AND 19 D3 Gulls were manufactured so it was

fairly easily to spot them amongst the myriad of DH, Miles and other types.

The register shows ultimate disposal from the live register of the time and it didn't take too long to find G-ACPA as having crashed near Avignon, with the date and registered owners at the time.

Best regards

Rob

Courier

Rob

Thanks alot - I had in fact found the same website by googleing the registration you provided.

Definitely my father's aircraft/accident - I also see it was in the Kings Cup in September just before it had the long range tanks fitted.

Richard