The last of twenty-one S-39s built. Small Shell logo on rear fuselage but large title and logo on wing. Aircraft is reported to be a restoration project in California. Photo from: SFO Museum

Shell's attractive Lockheed Orion, flown by Jimmy Doolittle. It was built in Detroit in 1931 as a DL-2A Altair with a metal fuselage. Used as a mailplane by TWA. Following an accident, it was rebuilt as an L-9C in 1932 and sold to Shell. Damaged in 1936, then sold to Paul Mantz for air racing in 1938. The only surviving Orion, it was eventually preserved in Lucerne, Switzerland as "CH-167". Does anyone recognize this airport? On the right is probably a 'Visiting Ships' hangar. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum

Aircraft reportedly given in 1930 by roller bearing manufactuer Henry Tinken to his son, who was trained to fly it by Lt Ralph Wickford. Apparently this Tri-Motor won a race for 'transport ships' at the National Air Races in 1931. By July 1933, it was the largest plane owned by Shell and flown on a tour around New England that summer by Maj Ervin and Wickford again, taking Shell distributors, dealers and friends on pleasure flights. It was furnished with six leather and wicker chairs and a large green leather divan. Sold to Colombian air force in 1935. To AN-AAD in Nicaragua, XH-TAI in Honduras. Photo by: Leslie Jones / Boston Public Library

Previously: EP-AHK, G-5-11

Registration cancelled in 1936. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

Photographer unknown.

Registered to Hawker Siddeley as G-AVRG in 1967. To Court Line in 1971, Shell in 1975 and Rogers Aviation in 1982. Reregistered as G-OHEA in 1986. To Cranfield Institute of Technology as a ground instructional airframe in 1994. Marked with fake reg G-DHEA by 2000. Used as a fire trainer by 2010. Still there in 2020.

Built in 1950 and here carrying the Shell Aviation crest. It was sold on in 1960 and later became VQ-ZJC, 3D-AAI then VP-YKF with one Mr. McGlinchey in Ireland. On 9 August 1982 it was wrecked in a wheels-up landing at Cork (EICK).

Jimmy Doolittle, centre, was manager of Shell's aviation department in the 1930s and convinced the company to invest in 100-octane fuel. He had retired from air racing, saying 'I have yet to hear of anyone engaged in this work dying of old age.' Photo by: Charles Trefts / State Historical Society of Missouri

Flown by Jimmy Doolittle on a trans-USA speed record flight in January 1935 while on lease to Shell. It took up the restricted NR registration again in August 1936 for a double crossing of the Atlantic. Later sold in Spain, ending in the hands of the Nationalists. Photo from: Civil Aviation Historical Society, Melbourne, Australia

Wrecked in a storm at Maldon, Ontario, August 30, 1970. Photo from: Civil Aviation Historical Society, Melbourne, Australia

Painted orange-yellow with red trim, Shell's NC926Y was built in 1930, when Lockheed was a Detroit Aircraft company. It is seen here at the opening of Vancouver's airport on Sea Island with, left to right, Mayor Taylor, Shell chief pilot John Macready and BC Premier Tolmie. The Vega ended up in Lithuania. Photo by: Stuart Thomson / City of Vancouver Archives

G-ANUO was withdrawn from use in 1996. Shell logo on forward fuselage.

Shell Petroleum's executive Ambassador prepares to depart on the regular run to Amsterdam. In the background are Cunard Eagle Boeing 707 VR-BBW, Aer Lingus Boeing 720 EI-ALC and two Lufthansa Vickers Viscount 814s. Taken from the roof-top spectators viewing balcony on the central area Queens Building.