G-AGTL "Caprice"
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Type: L-12A Electra Junior
Msn: 1287
Previous Identities:
- NC33615
- Bu Aer 02947
- D2947(sic)
- Bu Aer 02947
- F-BJJY
- F-AZLL
History:
| Although it is policy to include on this site only aeroplanes which took up an Australian identity, an exception has been made in the case of this aeroplane as it was owned and made famous by an Australian identity, Sidney Cotton. |
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This
history was researched and written by Vic Smith except where shown
otherwise.
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09JUN41
| Completed by Lockheed | |
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26AUG41
| Delivered to Sky Kraft Corp., Mobile, Alabama as NC33615 | |
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23AUG41
| To the U.S. Navy as type R3O-2 Bu Aer 02947. Used by NAS Quonset Point until NOV43. | |
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NOV43
| To U.S. Naval Attache, London. Later used by a UK based USN patrol bomber unit. | |
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30NOV44
| Stricken by USN | |
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early
45
| At Dunkeswell with HQ Sqn, Fleet Air Wing 7 | |
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29JUL45
| Possibly the Lockheed damaged in a forced-landing at Rehins, County Mayo, Eire | |
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AUG45
| Leased to RAF as "D2947" (this serial is suspect) | |
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19SEP45
| Registered G-AGTL to F. Sidney Cotton | |
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15FEB46
| Contract C/acft/5678 issued by Shorts Bros, Belfast for rebuild at a cost of £13,000. Flying time to date 1,030 hours. | |
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19NOV46
| Validated U.S. Export CofA E.10601 issued | |
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26NOV46
| Delivered to F.S. Cotton (Source: "The Lockheed Twins" by P.J. Marson) | |
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05DEC46
| CofV No. V.245 issued to Aeronautical & Industrial Research Corp. The aircraft was named "Caprice". It was used for radio aid development and was fitted with long-range tanks in the cabin. | |
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06SEP50
| CofV expired | |
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20AUG53
| Noted at Croydon | |
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20SEP55
| Noted at Croydon | |
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c.JUN56
| Tested by Bristol Aircraft Ltd as a possible replacement for Airspeed Oxford G-AHGU but deemed unsuitable | |
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07SEP56
| Arrived at Rochester, reportedly bought by Short Bros for use by the Chairman, Sir Matthew Slattery. Left for Belfast and later returned to Rochester for disposal. | |
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24APR57
| To K. McAlpine, Fairoaks | |
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byAPR58
| Based at Luton with Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons Ltd. | |
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27AUG60
| Noted at Luton, apparently retired | |
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22DEC60
| UK registration cancelled | |
| Registered F-BJJY to Jean Chapeau | ||
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21JAN61
| Noted at Luton marked as F-BJJY | |
| Flown via Le Bourget to Nice for rebuild | ||
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15MAR63
| To Escadrille Mercure S.A. (a J. Chapeau company). CofA issued same month. | |
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28APR64
| At 11.58GMT damaged while taxying at Bierset, Liege on arrival from Paris. Pilot Tanguy plus 2 crew and 2 passengers were not seriously injured. | |
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68
| Operational at Nice | |
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10AUG75
| Landing accident at Ajaccio, Corsica | |
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76
| To Jean-Marie Chapeau, t/a Riviera A/S, Nice | |
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08JUN81
| Last flight by J. Chapeau. Aircraft stored at Nice. | |
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JUN81
| French CofA expired | |
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APR82
| To Paul Boucher and Phillipe Denis, Romans. Ferried to St. Tropez/La Mole for overhaul. | |
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13JUN82
| Noted at La Castellet | |
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87
| At Valance, grounded for major inspection | |
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JUL89
| CofA expired | |
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90
| Registered to P. Denis | |
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93
| Registered to P. Denis | |
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26AUG96
| Registration cancelled by Bureau Veritas | |
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MAR97
| Phillippe Denis died | |
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31JAN99
| Ferried to Caen | |
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02APR99
| Re-registered F-AZLL to Jean-Luc Langeard, Caen. | |
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11AUG99
| To Le Gros Biplan Rouge Sarl (Ste Lyonnaise de Credit Bail Slibail), Bordeaux/Merignac | |
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by
DEC00
| Airworthy | |
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27JUN02
| Noted at Le Bourget for Lindbergh 75th Anniversary celebrations | |
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10JUL04
| Noted at "Flying Legends" display at Duxford, UK | |
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Sources:
"Aviator Extraordinary" by Ralph Barker Federal Aviation Authority (USA) archives Civil Aviation Authority (UK) archives RAF Museum archives Public Record Office files |
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Sidney
Cotton owned several Lockheed 12As and one his lesser-known aircraft
did come to Australia. See VH-FMS.
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See
also Sidney Cotton's Kolossal Lockheeds
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| Issue | Date | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21JAN05 |
Original
issue. Researched and written by Vic Smith. Thanks Vic! Thanks
also to Dean Barnes for the image of F-AZLL.
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