Load Gone

Blackburn Beverley

The crew of a 34 Squadron Beverley transport aircraft air drop a 1 tonne load to the Army outpost at Pensiangan in Borneo circa 1963. The drops consisting mainly of defensive barbed wire were made one at a time due to the confined location of the camp and the small DZ across the river.

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In its day, the Beverley was the largest aircraft ever operated by the Royal Air Force, and saw service across the globe. The scene above depicts a Beverley operating over the Malaysian jungles from bases in Labuan. Others saw operational service in Aden and Kenya, with its ability to operate from poorly prepared surfaces proving it to be a most capable asset.

Sadly, nowadays only one example of this unique aircraft is left in existence. Even the future of this sole survivor at the National Army Museum at Beverley, Yorkshire has at times been less then optimistic. Frankly all the stops should be pulled to ensure that the generations to come are able to see at first hand the equipment used in the adolescence of aviation to maintain the peace in the 20th Century.

This painting is in the private collection of Mr Geoff Gladstone

Visit Peter Stubbs` website to find out more about the Beverley including XB259 the first & last (See my links page)

© Chas McHugh 1999

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