75th Anniversary of Royal Family Visit to South Africa Day 10

 Day 10: 9th February 1947

Captain's Diary

Rendezvous was made with the Brown Ranger (an oil tanker) at 12.00pm, one hour later due to her being 30 miles too far east. Oiling commenced immediately but there a delay in Brown Ranger with coupling up the second length of the second hose. Having started pumping through the second hose it was found there was a leaky joint in the first hose, so this had to be disconnected and repaired. However by 17.30pm 653 tons of fuel had been embarked and the hoses were cast off.

Then the squadron reduce to 4 knots and the motor cutter transferred mails to Brown Ranger.

At 21.00pm Dolphins, The clerk to the Court of King Neptune came on board. (Important for the next day).

At 23.00pm Nigeria had finished the fuelling and Brown Ranger  parted company for Gibraltar.

Last mode of Transport -Aircraft 

The King's Flight  was made up of 4 aircraft - Vickers Viking Plane number VL 245/246/247/248

The Planes were "Vickers Viking 2" planes with Two Hercules 634 Engines. The Commanding Officer was Air Commordore Sir Edward Fielden, with Wing Commander Bill Tacon. Also on the team was Flight Lieutenant Brian Trubshaw who went on to great distinction as Chief Test pilot at Filton and went on to fly the British Concorde. 

VL 245 was for use of the support staff   -VL 246 was the King's Plane

VL 247 was the Queen's Plane  -VL 248 carried all the spares, workshop  etc.

The planes flew to South Arica and were based at Brooklyn Air Base near Cape Town

Illustrated London News had a supplement showing artist impression of the interior of the plane.

The Plane was used in adverts as shown below.

 The Pilot's Notes were very detailed but copied below are the instrument panels.