EAW011931 ENGLAND (1947). A Sikorsky S-51 Helicopter (G-AJOR), Yeovil, 1947

Thanks for the location! We'll update the catalogue and post the new data here in due course.



Yours, Katy

Britain from Above Cataloguing Team Leader

FAO Class 31...Is it possible the original file of this photo includes the whole of the Welkin P17?....Your Yeovil-Westlands bridge photo is a very good match to the BfA image

I'll ask the FAA expert,Class31....can't make it to the mince pie bash....are you going?

FAO Class 31.....

An expert on the Fleet Air Arm has suggested the airfield is Merryfield (a satellite of Yeovilton)...I don't know how that checks with the ID of the rail bridge and the Odcombe church....any ideas?

Here's an online map for Merryfield

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/place/Spekes_Hill_in_Somerset_444611_229611.htm

Apparently Merryfield was served by Ilton halt on the Chard Railway Line but I don't have maps for it....I'm sure Class 31 can resolve it

P.S.....a longshot :-) does the original negative catch the complete nose of the Westland Welkin?

Hello there, Britain from Above would like to thank you for your informed input.

The railway bridge is still here today. Seen today looking west.

View looking west today from outside the perimeter fence.

Yes Yeovil-Westland Airfield code EGHG seems right. G-INFO gives G-AJOV as a Sikorsky built S-51 though Westlands did licence-build some so a possible connection. Normalair a Westland associate operated Welkin P17 in the 1940s probably on pressure-cabin work. It has neen suggested that the lettering ?RY in the other views is on the wing of Percival Proctor G-AHRY (info from Air-Britain abix forum) G-AHRY was registered to Hunting Aerosurveys 1946-1950 so possibly the aircraft the photographer arrived in?

Could this be Westland Aircraft's own airfield at Yeovil due the prototype Westland Welkin aircraft and the Westland Sikorsky helicopter G-AJOV ?

View looking west.