Not one of Van de Poll's best photos, but it shows Hedon airfield which was a stop on the KLM route to Liverpool in 1934-1935. It then fell into disuse. Military use was avoided because of its proximity to the petrochemical industry at Salt End; is that what we see on the far left? Photo by: Willem van de Poll / Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

The R-6 was larger than the earlier Gee Bee racers, but still seems an uncomfortable choice for the 18,000 km London to Melbourne Air Race. Jacqueline Cochran and Wesley Smith Pratt only got as far as Bucharest where they damaged Q.E.D. as the aircraft was named. It participated in other races but never finished one. In 1938 it was sold to Mexican pilot Francisco Sarabia as XB-AKM and renamed Conquistador del Cielo. After a flight from Mexico City to New York City in 1939, Sarabia crashed at Washington - Bolling Field and drowned in the Potomac. The plane has been restored and is preserved in his home town, Ciudad Lerdo. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum

Delivered to Panagra 27 August 1934. Damaged beyond repair at Arajuno, Ecuador, on 31 July 1944. From Douglas 60 years ago.