Stumbled on this site recently. My father was also an air gunner/photographer on Fairey Gordons, in the Sudan in the 30s. 47 Squadron.
Regards Adrian
Sam Cadigan, e-mail, 26.08.2014 07:27
For anyone interested my Grandad, Walter G. Raphael was pilot to the only surviving Gordon left. NZ629.
Crashing due to wind in the Southern Alps of New Zealand the plane was then recovered by Charles Darby who found the plane with Wally's assistance.
The plane is still in New Zealand and is waiting to undergo restoration. I am now endeavouring to raise the funds to get the plane restored to flying condition.
Please contact me on cadiganspc@gmail.com if you want any further info on the plane or if you can help with fund raising. Thanks.
austin Stewart., e-mail, 30.05.2012 21:10
My Dad was an air gunner on this aircraft with 40b sqdn. in kohat india,I have his flying log book & dated flying in K1736 as pictured on 10/08/1932. his pilot was f/lt.Bilney. My Dad was a sgt. at the time in India, he was there for 5 years, 1929-34 I think, N.West frontier? I cant believe I found this info.its 80 years ago!. He was also with 60b sqdn. fling in w.wapatis.similar era of the 5 year stint. Nyone was similar history, maybe of your Da,/grandad, please e-mail. Regards, A.Stewart. [lincs]
Nige Paine, e-mail, 24.01.2010 00:21
One of these aircraft was fitted with a Napier Culverin (Junkers Jumo 204) 720HP opposed piston diesel engine. Can anyone shed any futher light on this experiment?
P J Binns, e-mail, 14.10.2009 14:31
See A G Dudgeon's 'The War That Never Was' Airlife Publishing 1991, for a record of the Gordon's use in combat by No 4 Flying Training School, Habbaniya, Iraq 1941. Other than this combat missions seem to have been restricted to NW Frontier and ?Sudan?
