Entered Imperial Airways service in mid-1939. Opened a Shoreham - Bordeaux - Marseille - Tunis - Malta - Sollum - Alexandria service after the outbreak of war. British postcard.

This de Havilland D.H. 91 Albatross was registered G-AEVW. It was impressed into Royal Air Force service with the serial number AX904 / BJ-W and used by 271 squadron. Crown copyright.

At BOAC's wartime Bristol base. Fortuna crashed near Shannon on 16 July 1943. Photo by: F W Crouch / Imperial War Museums

Built of wood like the Mosquito, the beautiful Albatross was designed to carry mail across the Atlantic or up to 22 passengers on European routes. Due to the outbreak of WWII it was really only used as an airliner during the 1939 summer season. Photo from: ETH-Bibliothek Zürich

The prototype of the beautiful Albatross was used by Imperial Airways from August 1939 as a mail carrier. Transferred to BOAC in 1940 and impressed in September 1940 as AX903 for use by 271 Squadron RAF. Damaged beyond repair whilst landing at Reykjavik on 11 August 1941. Obtained from DH 60 years ago.

Seven Albatrosses were built. Many regard the slim tapering design as one of the most beautiful aircraft built. This example was the first of five 22-passenger examples delivered to Imperial Airways, becoming G-AFDI. E.2 was a "B Conditions" test reg. Named "Frobisher" with IAL, it was destroyed on the ground at Whitchurch, Bristol, in a German air raid on 20 December 1940. Obtained from DH Aircraft over 60 years ago.

"Fiona" was the last of seven Albatrosses to be delivered to Imperial Airways in June 1939. Used as a 22 passenger aircraft on European routes from Croydon. To BOAC in Autumn 1940 based at Whitchurch. Camouflaged and used on routes to neutral Lisbon and Shannon. Scrapped in September 1943. No DH.91's survive. From BOAC 60 years ago.