THE FIRST SEAPLANES AT CATFIRTH
The first aircraft to arrive in Shetland were Seaplanes which were stationed in 1918 at the Royal Flying Corps base at Catfirth in the parish of Nesting, these were used in the main on patrols for use in spotting enemy ships or submarines, among these aircraft types were two Porte Baby flying boats.
The one in the picture above had its wings broken in a gale in 1918 whilst sitting on the slip. Parts were delivered to the base for its repair, however this work was never undertaken as the war was drawing to a close. Photo:Shetland Museum.
Naval and Royal Flying Corps personnel at air station at Catfirth; group photo seated on upturned boat. Most Navy men are wearing duffel coats and sea boots. 1918. Photo R.Ramsey. via Shetland Museum.
Above: North Roe: McKinley Cottage,Tag, The Hall,Seaview,Fedaland Cottage & Bayview. The Hall is a first World War hut from Catfirth Air Station in 1922. Photo: L.G.Scott via Shetland Museum.
This old seaplane base has yet to be visited by ARGOS members but it is thought that unlike most land based airfields very little will remain.
US FLYERS VISIT THE SHETLANDS
Above left: United States aviator Parker Cramer re-fuelling at Sletts, Lerwick, 9th August 1931. He was on a Trans Atlantic proving flight. Photo: A.Isbister via Shetland Museum. Above right: Parker Cramer.
Above: US Aviator Parker Cramer leaves Lerwick for Greenland on 9th August 1931, sadly he and his companion are killed when their aircraft crashes in the sea on route. Photo: A.Isbister via Shetland Museum.
NEW TYPE SEAPLANES IN LERWICK HARBOUR 1931
Above: A Royal Air Force Short Singapore seaplane serial S-1231 in Bressay Sound in 1931, with its crew in the dinghy. Photo: Shetland Museum.
FIRST AEROPLANE TO LAND ON SHETLAND 1933.
Above: The caption with this old postcard reads: "The first aeroplane to land on Shetland April 19th 1933". De Havilland Fox Moth G-ACEB of SMT, Crowd watching refuelling by can. Jim Black next to W Laidlaw McDougall Photo R.Williamson Via Shetland Museum.
Above: Another shot of the first aeroplane on Shetland Fox Moth G-ACEB. Photo: R.Williamson Via Shetland Museum.
UPDATE: We received this interesting note in our Guestbook from John Hinton in Australia regarding the above mentioned Fox Moth G-ACEB :
" Your photos of G-ACEB as the first aircraft to land in the Shetlands. This aircraft became VH-USJ in 1935 and served with the Flying Doctor in W Australia for 25 years. It is still flying owned by my friend John Markham".
Thanks John!
More info and some photos have been sent into us by John Hinton and it appears that the DH83 Fox Moth has had quite an interesting service life
Photo: Via John Hinton.
VH-USJ or `Uncle Sugar Jam` as she is affectionately known, was built in 1933 and delivered to the Scottish Motor Tractor Company, who had planned to use her for passenger travel from the Scottish Mainland to the Shetland Isles, and succeeded in doing so for a year after her initial trial landing on Shetland on April 19th of that year, a distance of 65 miles over land and sea, however the government decided that the risk was too great for a single engine aircraft to travel such turbulant waters,so the DH83 was replaced with the twin engine De Haviland Dragon and Dragon Rapide.
The government rule to use twin engine aircraft for the Shetland run sealed the fate of the Fox Moth G-ACEB, she was sold to a company in the South of England and began a service from Southend to Rochester, however due to financial problems the company ceased just a year later.
n 1935 the Moth was sold to an Australian company McRobertson Miller Aviation in Perth, where the registration changed from G-ACEB to VH-USJ and so `Uncle Sugar Jam` (Aus Phonetic alphabet) born. She was leased by the company to Australian Aerial Medical Service at Port Headland but was badly damaged in a Cyclone in 1939 and was stored for a while before being repaired and used with the Flying Doctor Service in 1942, who in 1955 received the Royal assent to Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia .
Above: VH-USJ `Uncle Sugar Jam` restored to her former glory and now owned by John Markham. Photo: Via John Hinton.
She was eventually sold by McRoberston Miller to the RFDSA in in 1945 and flew with them though was involved in a few minor taxy prangs until 1960 when she was sold on to a Private buyer, with whom she was wrecked in another taxiing accident in 1962, she then remained in storage having been bought by Mrs Robyn Stewart, widow to the late Doctor Harold Dicks who had flown her many times with the service.
Her present owner John Markham had been interested in the aircraft for many years and she was finally purchased and restored by Croydon Vintage Aircraft Company in Manderville.NZ to her former glory and a successful test flight was made in November 2002.
Above: landing in Perth. This is actually the site of the original airfield with the river on one side and the CBD about 100 yards from the landing field on the other! Historically it is important since the first airline in Australia, started by Sir Norman Brearley, flew from here. Photo: John Markham Via John Hinton.
More info can be found here:
http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/Flying%20doctor%20c.50s%208.htm
THE LINDBERGH`S VISIT SHETLAND 1933.
Above: Famous transatlantic aviator Col. Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne visit Lerwick on another epic flight while returning from Japan in 1933.
Lindbergh's seaplane, a Lockheed Sirius, in the harbour. Charles Lindbergh tying a rope . Aug 1933 Photograph shows the planes name TINGMISSARTOQ . Photo: C.Stout via Shetland Museum.
US Pilot Charles Lindbergh and wife being brought to the Bressay slip in Harbour Trust launch, August 1933 on arrival. (back) John Masterson - Chief Coastguard, (front) Bob Greig, Bertie Ganson, Charles Lindbergh, George Burgess, Magnie Shearer, Annie Lindbergh, Robbie Ollason, Floorie Willie Sinclair, John Sinclair, Geordie Russell. Photo: C.Stout Via Shetland Museum.
FEEDBACK: We recieved the following in our guestbook tonight, thanks , and if anyone has any info on John Masterson`s career please contact us and we`ll put you in touch with his Son Michael.
"The photograph of Lindbergh with local people. The Chief Coastguard's name was John Masterson with a second S , not a second T. Sorry to be trivial but he was my Grandfather and my father treasured a newspaper cutting of that picture. Would love to hear from anyone who knows anything of John Masterson's career in the Orkneys and Shetland. Thank you. I enjoyed your website. Michael Masterson"
Above: Col. Charles Lindbergh at the `Spirit of St.Louis` aircraft he made the famous transatlantic flight to Paris with from NY in 1927. These signed photos were sent out to fans the world over after his epic flight and this one is owned by ARGOS member Dave Earl. The signature is printed but photo is real asappears to be his handwriting on the envelope these are now vary rare collectors items. The inscription reads: `I am proud to have done it for America - my reward will be your continued use of the "air mail" - Charles A.Lindbergh. Photo: Dave Earl
The Lindbergh envelope post 3.30pm July 1st 1927 appears to be Lindbergh`s handwriting to a lady in Providence Rhode Island. Photo: Dave Earl
RAF SEAPLANES IN LERWICK HARBOUR 1939.
Above: RAF Saro London Seaplane at Lerwick coded `VQ-R` So far these codes have not been traced to a particular squadron. Photo: Shetland Museum.
All these photos are available to purchase online at the Shetland Museum website:
http://photos.shetland-museum.org.uk/
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