Avro Anson I (N4877) [@ RAF Duxford]
In 1939 RAF Coastal Command's standard reconnaissance aircraft was the Avro Anson. The Avro 652 monoplane airliner entered Imperial Airways service in 1934 and it was from this design that the long-serving Anson was derived. Originally intended to be a light transport, the Avro Anson was adapted to the coastal reconnaissance role to meet an Air Ministry requirement of May 1934. The prototype flew on 24th March 1935 and the aircraft entered service as the Anson I a year later. It was the RAF's first monoplane and its first aircraft with a retractable undercarriage. A trainer version had been developed in parallel and 1500 of these were ordered into production in 1939. The type was selected for production in Canada and to conserve vital materials, a Mk V version was built using a moulded plywood fuselage and 1051 of this type were produced in Canada.
Avro Anson I (N4877) [@ RAF Duxford]
On 5th September 1939 an Anson of 500 Squadron made the first RAF attack of the war on a German submarine. In June 1940, three Ansons attacked over the English Channel by nine Messerschmitt 109s succeeded in shooting down two and damaging another of the fighters.
N4877 is painted to represent one of the Ansons that, while serving with 500 Squadron in 1940, engaged the group of Messerschmitt BF109s. Amongst other tasks, this particular aircraft was used as a crew ferry by the RAF during World War 2. Civilian operators later flew it as G-AMDA, serving with the Air Navigation and Trading Company, Derby Aviation and the London School of Flying. It was part of the Skyfame collection at Staverton and flew for a number of years in 206 markings before a landing accident at Staverton late in 1972.
Avro Anson C.19 (TX214) [@ RAF Cosford]
TX214 was built in 1945.
By the outbreak of war the RAF had 760 serviceable Anson Mk Is, equipping 10 squadrons of Coastal Command and 16 of Bomber Command (in which it served as an interim aircraft until types such as the Whitley became available). In Coastal Command the Lockheed Hudson soon replaced it, although some continued to serve in the air-sea rescue role until 1942. For most of its long service, however, the Anson was used in light transport and training roles and most RAF and Commonwealth navigators, wireless operators and air gunners trained on 'Annies'. They remained in service until 28th June 1968 when the six surviving RAF aircraft were withdrawn.
Avro Anson C.19 (VL348) [@ Newark Air Museum]
Development after the war culminated in the adaptation of the civilian Avro XIX for RAF use as the Anson C.19. With a completely re-designed fuselage, and metal wings and tail plane, this second generation Anson continued in RAF service until officially retired from RAF service in June 1968. By the time production ended in 1952 8138 Ansons (including 6704 Mk Is) had been built in Britain, with a further 2882 built in Canada.
VL348, after serving with the Communication Flights of a variety of Groups of RAF Home Command, was retired from RAF service in 1968. In the early 1970's, this aircraft was used to replace a previous Anson at Newark that had been destroyed by fire, with the wings of the previous Anson were used to replace the wings of VL348.
Avro Anson XIX (G-AHKX) [@ Shuttleworth Collection]
British European Airways (BEA) inherited thirteen Avro XIXs during 1947 and used them on some of their Northern Ireland routes. It was not considered a good passenger aircraft due to its excessive noise and vibration and it was phased out the following year. Four were retained for training purposes at RAF Cranfield and eventually they were moved to Northolt where they were withdrawn in 1950.
Built in 1946, G-AHKX is airworthy and is owned by BAE Systems.
