Aeroplane - June 2009

Page 63

The Photographic Archive

Photographic Archive The Photographic Archive The Photographic Archive

Picture of the Month

THOMAS LOVEGROVE selects this month’s picture for readers to acquire from Aeroplane’s huge archive of original glass-plate negatives

AS FEATURED ON pages 26–27 of this issue, 2009 sees the 100th anniversary of British naval aviation, hence this month’s nautical selection. The Grumman G-36A was the fi rst of the Wildcat variants to be adopted for service by the Fleet Air Arm, and was named the Martlet Mk I in FAA service. Built to meet a French requirement, the entire G-36A order was diverted to the Admiralty after the fall of France, the type featuring non-folding wings, four 0·50in machine-guns and a 1,200 h.p. Wright Cyclone radial engine.

This example, AL257, was issued to 804 Sqn, the FAA’s fi rst Martlet unit, which replaced its obsolete Sea Gladiators with the new fi ghter from October 1940. In March 1941 AL257 went to 787 Sqn, the Fleet Fighter Development Unit at Yeovilton, and remained in use at the Somerset base until May 1943, latterly operating with the FAA’s Advanced Flying School.

To order your own copy of this superb portrait of a classic Second World War naval fi ghter in British service, simply fi ll in and return the adjacent coupon.

AEROPLANE JUNE 2009

AEROPLANE PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVE ORDER Send to: Picture of the Month (June 2009), Aeroplane Photographic Archive, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark St, London SE1 0SU. Offer closes: June 30, 2009

Size Qty Price VAT @ 15% Total £ 7in x 5in £9.75 £1.46 £11.21 10in x 8in £10.90 £1.64 £12.54 16in x 12in £20.90 £3.14 £24.04 £

Please send me the Martlet print(s) specified at right. Prices include UK p&p. I enclose a cheque/postal order for the amount of £ made payable to IPC Media Limited OR please debit my credit card; the details are as follows:

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