Photo Reconnaisance Spitfire & Lockheed 12

Fighter Aviation Engineering's Lockheed model 12A Electra Junior, G-AFTL, displaying at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford together with the Aircraft Restoration Company's Supermarine Spitfire PR XI, PL983, in a 'Photo Reconnaissance' pairing.

This Lockheed 12A is one of the most historic remaining photo-reconnaissance aircraft. It returned to the UK in May 2022, to be restored for its new owner by Air Leasing at Sywell. It completed its first post restoration flight on 27 March 2023.

The aircraft was produced by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation at Burbank, California in 1936 and went on to the US register as NC16077 with Continental Oil Co, Ponca City, Oklahoma. On 24 April 1939 it was sold to experienced Australian pilot, inventor and business entrepreneur, Frederick Sidney Cotton, who had served with the British Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) during WW1.

In September 1938 during the Sudetenland crisis, Cotton was approached by agents of the French 'Deuxième Bureau' to do spy flights over Germany. On 25 March 1939, using the cover of a newly founded dummy corporation, the 'Aeronautical Research and Sales Corporation' of London, Cotton started spy flights, using another Lockheed 12A, G-AFKR, over Germany, Italy and Libya. After this he stopped working for the 'Deuxième Bureau' and left G-AFKR with them.

This aircraft, G-AFTL, was his second Lockheed 12A. It was partially dismantled and shipped from the USA to England on board the SS 'Aquitania'. Upon arrival it was assembled at Eastleigh, Southampton and painted in a light green colour, for camouflage against the sky. It was flown by Sidney Cotton and R.H. Niven from Eastleigh to Heston on 11 May1939. On 15 May it was registered to British Airways Ltd as a cover for its real ownership and purpose.
It had two extra 70 gallon fuel tanks fitted in the cabin, increasing its range from 700 to 1600 miles.
For downward visibility, Cotton invented the teardrop window which he fitted in place of the Lockheed's side cockpit window. The Triplex company later manufactured about 100,000 of these windows during the war, but Cotton claimed no royalties as they were fitted only to military aircraft. One day at Heston, Cotton was watching the departure of the Maharajah of Jodhpur in his private aircraft, another Lockheed 12A G-AFXP, when he noticed that the aircraft disappeared from view shortly after take-off. The aircraft was painted a pale duck egg green colour and Cotton concluded that it had blended with the sky. Cotton requested the Titanine Dope Company to make up a similar paint, slightly lighter in hue, and registered it as 'Camotint'. This paint was then applied to the aircraft.

In July 1939, Cotton flew the aircraft to Germany at the invitation of a business associate, Herr Schoene, who was involved with Cotton in the marketing of 'Dufaycolor' film. Schoene had influential friends, one of whom was Hermann Goering. In order to photograph German industrial installations, Cotton had two German Leica cameras fitted behind close-fitting sliding panels under the wings. The panels were powered by an electric motor controlled by a switch hidden under the pilot's seat and could take 250 exposures each. He also carried two other cameras hidden in the cabin. He flew back to Heston with the photos and returned to Germany for a flying rally at Frankfurt, at the invitation of the Commandant of Tempelhof Airport. Cotton's 'Kolossal Lockheed' drew great interest and the Commandant requested a flight. Cotton had been asked to get photos of Mannheim, so he said that a favourite aunt of his had enthused about the beautiful scenery along the Rhine at Mannheim. The flight was authorised and Cotton got the photos.

With preparations for war proceeding, associates of Goering reported that he believed Britain would not go to war over the invasion of Poland. Cotton believed that war could be averted if Goering could be persuaded of Britain's willingness to fight. So he offered to fly Goering to England for discussions. Preparations were well under way but Cotton was forced to leave Germany as war was too close. G-AFTL was the last British civilian aircraft to leave Germany before war was declared.

Supermarine Spitfire PL983 is a Photo Reconnaissance (PR) variant of Reginald Mitchell's famous World War 2 fighter design. Photo Reconnaissance Spitfires carried no weaponry, relying for protection upon their speed, height, surprise and the pilots flying skills.

More about this Spitfire is included in the description to the following film -

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[Simon_Nonymous]

That baby Electra is just beautiful. The colour of the main paint and the detail painting. I would love to see her for real when we can.

[gregmctevia]

Don’t recall seeing a baby Ventura before but if it’s rare and unusual High Flight will sniff it out and put it on the Tube. Another great catch.