CLARE and CLYDE'S NewYork Flights 1940

[longshot]

And on ebay there are occasionally airmail items from these first BOAC New York services

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Return-BOAC-f ... Swu4BV0Pc-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/82614-GB-UK-B ... Sw4iRWE8ix

[longshot]

The air mail aspect of the transatlantic crossings with Empire boats (esp. Clare and Clyde in 1940) is covered here:
http://www.linns.com/news/world-stamps- ... ans.html...

[longshot]

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=flyin ... BGvVgBM%3A
There's a newsreel clip of Clare arriving at La Guardia courtesy of AP, not noticed it before

[longshot]

There's a few photos of Empire boats on the ALAMY press photo site...this one shows CLARE being overhauled after the Atlantic courier flights of August -October 1940 before transfer to the West Africa route....I don't recall seeing what seems to be a retractable landing or manoeuvring light on the nose before on Empire boats http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-the-tr ... 1%26vd%3d0

[Philthy]

I don't recall seeing what seems to be a retractable landing or manoeuvring light on the nose before on Empire boats

Yes indeed - a retractable, steerable searchlight. Not often seen extended in photos.

[longshot]

Yes, Phil, now my eyes are opened, I'm starting to find them...there are several in Brian Cassidy's Empire Flying Boat Haynes Manual....most commonly they appear in photos of boats being overhauled or constructed and the G-class had similar