ROLL OUT OF AVRO YORK – TANGO KILO

Sunday, 25th June 2006 was a very special day at Duxford.

About 100 people including representatives from the Duxford Aviation Society, the Dan Air Services Association and various other interested parties gathered to celebrate the culmination of over 20 years of volunteer restoration work on Dan Air’s Avro York ‘Tango Kilo’.

Mr John Roberts co-ordinated the event and refreshments had been arranged for the guests.

Then, in bright sunshine, Mr Roberts gave a brief history of the York, outlining the fact that Dan Air had passed this particular aircraft to the Duxford Aviation Society in 1986.

Dan Air acquired Tango Kilo in 1956 following its withdrawal from the RAF in 1954. The York gave stalwart service as a freighter in Dan Air colours operating first from Blackbushe and then from Gatwick over the next ten years, mainly on long-distance charter flights, mainly to Africa and the Far East.

Following the last Dan Air flight in April 1964, the aircraft remained at Lasham (Dan Air’s Engineering and Servicing Base) for some years where, for a time, the Scouts used it as their Headquarters! As neglect began to take its toll, however, rather than allow such a vital piece of British aviation history to completely disintegrate, it was decided to place the Avro York at Duxford for a ‘Peppercorn’ rent, to be restored and later displayed in the then developing Aviation Museum.

Amongst those present, with their wives were Capt. Robert Atkins and Capt. Jerry Hu - the last retired Pilots who actually flew Tango Kilo. Mrs Joy Larkman also attended - representing Capt. Arthur Larkman who sadly passed away last year but who also flew this aeroplane.

Those who serviced and worked on TK at Lasham were represented by Phil Hosie, Pete Trimmer, Roy Frankham and Pete Carter.

In reply to John Roberts, Keith Moody, Chairman of DASA, expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to all those invited. He presented John Roberts with two copies of ‘The Spirit of Dan Air’ by Graham Simons and promised to forward a copy of the book by Arthur Larkman, published posthumously by Graham Simons entitled ‘Chance Encounters’.

Everyone then walked to the hangar to see the York ‘roll out’, where the result of long hours of detailed restoration work were much admired and applauded by all those present.

Also, it was noted with great regret that the Duxford Crew Chief, Ken Hoddy had passed away only a matter of weeks prior to the completion of work on the York and as a mark of respect and in recognition of his invaluable contribution, his name and that of his predecessor, John Kidby, had been painted onto the side of the nose of the York.

Everyone then dispersed, some going on board the York to inspect the interior whilst others visited ‘work in progress’ on the Dan Air Comet (still in Dan Air colours, it was good to see) and the Airspeed A.S.57 Ambassador, Zulu Oscar.

Finally, thanks to the good auspices of Bryn Wayt, the owner of the last B.17 Flying Fortress in the UK, Elly Sallingboe, invited a very small group of people to board the famous ‘Sally B’. It was sobering to think that this type of aircraft, which played a major part in the American war effort and which now seems so small, was so instrumental in the successful conclusion to the WW11 conflict.

Late in the afternoon, tired but having had a most enjoyable day, we said our ‘Goodbye’s’ and set off for home.

Definitely a very special day!

Barbara Moody

08 July 2006