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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: British Aircraft Swallow
    Latest Model:Swallow II
    Last Military Serial:BK897 RAF
    Construction Number:469
    Last Civil Registration:G-AFGD
    Compressed ID:British Klemm Swallow II sn BK897 R...
    Latest Owner or Location:David Allan Edwards, Trustee of:, South Wales Swallow Group, Hazelnut Cottage, Almeley, Hereford

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    Dates

    Event

    1937

    Constructed as a Swallow II by British Klemm.

    To Cardiff Aero Club, Pengham Moor Airfield with new c/r G-AFGD.

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Air Force with s/n BK897.
    Impressed into RAF service.

    Transferred to Farnborough.

    At Farnborough the propeller wsa removed and it was towed behind retired Whitley Bombers to learn how to tow troop carrying gliders. This was under direct orders from Winston Churchill.

    1941

    Transferred to Central Parachute School, Ringway.
    Used to train glider instructors due to a shortage of two seat gliders, her 42 ft 8 in wingspan suiting this purpose.

    Circa 1943

    Struck off Strength/Charge from the Royal Air Force.

    To Bertram Arden, Exeter Airfield with new c/r G-AFGD.

    1975

    To South Wales Swallow Group keeping c/r G-AFGD.
    Acquired by the Swallow Group still in wartime camouflage and Air Force markings.

    Restored.
    The work was carried out by the Swallow Group.

    1981

    To Shobdon Aerodrome, Shobdon, Hertfordshire/Herts, England.
    Moved here by the Swallow Group. Shobdon was the home of No.5 Glider Training School and main Glider Instructor School,so a very apt place for an aircraft that played such a big role in Troop Carrying Glider development.
    View the Location Dossier

    Circa 1982


    Photographer: Peter M. Law
    Notes: 1982 photo at Old Warden

    15 April 2013

    To David Allan Edwards, Trustee of:, South Wales Swallow Group, Hazelnut Cottage, Almeley, Hereford keeping c/r G-AFGD.

    July 2013


    Photographer: Geoff Jones
    Notes: GD returns from a successful test flight at Shobdon Airfield.

    August 2014


    Photographer: David Edwards
    Notes: GD with two of her stable mates,Swallow L25c G-ADMF and DH94 Moth Minor G-AFPN,in the wartime T2 hangar at Shobdon,Herefordshire,England.

    September 2014


    Photographer: Dave Edwards
    Notes: L25c BA Swallow G-AFGD being weighed at Shobdon Airfield,Herefordshire
    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Internet Sources
     Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom
    Individual Contributors
     David Edwards
    Terry Fletcher
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