Crashed at Doubtful Sound on April 21, 1983. Bob Kerr photo

After donation to the NMNA in 1976, the surviving VS-44 was later transferred for an extensive restoration at Sikorsky's Stratford CT airfield, where it was built in 1942. First operated by American Export Airlines with beds, dressing rooms, galley, snack bar, lounge and full ventilation, it was impressed for war service by the USN as JR2S-1 12391, carrying passengers and freight between New York and Foynes, Ireland. In 1949 Tampico Airlines attempted to start freight runs in the Amazon but abandoned the VS-44 in Peru. In the late 1950s it was recovered to California for Avalon Air Transport.

Before the Battle of Britain flight got the Lancaster and Dakota a Devon of 207 Squadron often provided the ground crew transport. On this occasion my late father Barry Taylor was the pilot and borrowed my camera to take these pictures at the Roanne Air show in France.

Roanne Airshow 1978. Taken by my late father Barry Taylor with my camera while supporting the Battle of Britain Flight. He had flown the ground crew over in a 207 Squadron Devon. This aircraft had been at the Bassingbourn airshow earlier that year. Marked in the pre war US Navy fighter colours of VF-3 'Shooting Star's with the Felix the cat emblem. This was also used by VF-6 which caused a big dispute and is currently the emblem of VFA-31 'The Tomcatters'