From my archive: correspondent in the past

From my archive: correspondents from Back in the Day..

In Feb.2025 I came across an envellope containg a letter (undated, but probably from 1977 reading the content) plus B&W photos (including where & when taken. A further search led to more letters I kept.. Moving house does bring nice surprises!

In the letter enclosed Per Nielsen wrote he was in preparation of a spotting trip to Holland, he intended to visit Leeuwarden AB, Soesterberg AB and Twenthe AB. He enclosed photos, most scanned and represented below.
His most recent photo of this batch was logged '1977', hence I presume he wrote the above in 1977... Alas, we never met up. We'd been exchanging B&W military prints regularly, perhaps this was the last exchange?

Photographs by Per Nielsen (1970s)
S-61A U-240 722 Esk. @Blokhus 26-6-1977
S-61A U-280 722 Esk. @Alborg 1975
Canberra WH667 85 Sqdn @Alborg AB 1976
CF-104D (conv. to F-104G) R-704 726 Esk. @Alborg 1976

Photographs by Per Nielsen (1970s)
Bell UH-1D 70+78 HTG 64 (Alhorn) @Leck AB 07-09-76
T-33A DT-516 Training Sqdn @Alborg AB 1976
T-17 T-408 Flying School @Billund 06-1976
CF-104D (conv. to TF-104G) RT-660 726 Esk. @Alborg AB 1976
www.916-starfighter.de/F-104_RDAF_serial

Per Nielsen, correspondent

Adalsvej 35, 9210 Alborg SØ (EMAIL) Contact with a lawyer of that name in Alborg brought no recognition.

With Dave Brown from Iowa (first from Waterloo, later from Cedar Falls) I exchanged slides. My 'bookkeeping' of what I sent him started in 26Jun86 (16 slides). We kept up the correspondence 1986-2001: 15 years! But never met.

Dave Brown from Iowa
Dave was a teacher and besides slides of military aircraft he also collected patches and worked in his
'man cave' on models of ships and aircraft. He is wearing a Soviet Air Force cap!
Although I collected parches/badges too, it was nowhere near his amazing collection. Sold mine in 2025.

Dave Brown from Iowa
About the top photo Dave wrote: "here I am pobably emailing to you!"
I have no date to these photos. I broke off the exchange in nov. 2001, tired of the military planes.

Obviously I sent him mostly what I photographed in The Netherlands and
in Europe (England!), this page shows how I focussed on military aviation
in the 1990s while travelling in the US.
Dave Brown from Iowa
A page from my records: which I had sent to prevent sending duplicates and
the number in reply (plus perhaps a remark of the quality, here "2 too small").

Propliners from my archive, copyright Ruud Leeuw
377MG Mini Guppy, N422AU (c/n 15937/39), preserved at Tillamook air museum. By Dave Brown, 2001.

My most distant correspondent with whom I traded B&W negatives and colour slides was BRUCE LINWOOD: he hailed
from Australia. My letters were adressed 'c/- Sgts Mess, RAAF Base Fairbairn, ACT 2600'.
My first shipment 01Nov75 were 3 slides (?) I'd taken in England (July 1975). The two photos (4-2025 scanned
from negatives) were part of Bruce's shipment (04Jan76) which included neg's, slides & photos.
Our correspondence ceased, after 8 years, in Jan. 1983.
Saab Viggen by Photos by Bruce Linwood, 1970s

Saab Viggen by Photos by Bruce Linwood, 1970s

SAAB Viggen '21', 15 Wg, Royal Swedish Air Force.

From Wikipedia: "Formerly RAAF Base Fairbairn, a former Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military air base, located in Australia's national capital, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.
Over the years the name of the establishment, and the use of the land, has changed. The base was in use by the RAAF between 1940 and 2007, when the land occupied north and east of the Canberra Airport runways was sold to Capital Airport Pty Limited for the purposes of advancing civil aviation and the development of a business park.
A speedway, motorbike and go kart track are present in the Canberra Motorsport Precinct located 2 km from Canberra Airport."

C-130 by Bruce Linwood (RAAF)
Lockheed C-130E Hercules, 310311 of the Royal Canadian Air Force / Armed Forces (RCAF). No date/location.

Photos by Bruce Linwood, 1970s
B-25 Mitchell - A.VU H0368 (RAAF). No further information.

These were included in Linwood's batch but probably not sent by him. Provenance unknown.

Dutch B-25s in Australia (WW2?)

Dutch B-25s in Australia (WW2?)
B-25 Mitchell bomber, N5-132

Dutch B-25s in Australia (WW2?)

Propliners from my archive, copyright Ruud Leeuw
A-W Argosy, VH-IPA (c/n 6803) of IPEC. By Bruce Linwood, @Essendon (April or May 1980).
AW Argosy VH-IPA history
From aussieairliners.org/argosy/vh-ipa

Propliners from my archive, copyright Ruud Leeuw
Fokker F.27-100, VH-EWJ (c/n 10287) of East-West. By Bruce Linwood probably, 05Oct1980 at Mascot.

Propliners from my archive, copyright Ruud Leeuw
Fokker F.27, VH-MMO (c/n 10146) of Ansett. By Bruce Linwood, 09Dec1980.

Propliners from my archive, copyright Ruud Leeuw
Fairchild FH-227, F-ODMP (c/n 532) of Air Polynesia. By Bruce Linwood, June 1980. No location.
ATDB history on FH227 msn 532
More of his photos on SCANS-ARCHIVE-COLOR-P2

I entertained two correspondents in Japan, if I remeber correctly. The first one was Toyokazu (Toyakazu?) Matsuzaki who visited Soesterberg AB on his European tour for his TM Photoservice (which also included the Paris Air Salon).
He handed me his visitor card, I wrote him and supplied some sample slides and things took off from there.

Grumman EA-6A Intruder, 156988/622-CY (VMAQ-2, USMC). No date nor location.
It seems I did not keep a record of TM's postal adress. (EMAIL)

F-4J 155749/11-NG by T.Matsuzaki (1970s)
McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II, 155749/111-NG (VF-96, 'USS Constellation'), by T.Matsuzaki (1970s)

During the early-1970s I traded B&W negatives with MSgt (Ret.) Benjamin Knowles who resided in Arizona. Most of his military planes were photographed at the Arizona Air Base and the storage yard, MASDC (as it was named then). He wanted to trade in larger quantities then I could produce so after a few years he ceased it with the rather gruff remark ".. let's stop sponsoring the postal service", which frankly hurt a bit. Unequal partners so to speak, fortunately there were others who had more patience with this schoolboy ☺
His IN MEMORIAM page on my website and more photos by him.

MSgt. (Ret.) Benjamin Knowles, trading military aeroplanes on B&W negatives
Boeing RB-47E, 53-2104 of the US Navy, G.E. Engine Test Bed. MASDC, Nov.'74.

MSgt. (Ret.) Benjamin Knowles
Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk, 153663/SC-22 of VMAT-102 (USMC, MCAS Yuma,AZ). Davis-Monthan AFB, Sep.'74.

MSgt. (Ret.) Benjamin Knowles, trading military aeroplanes on B&W negatives
Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk, 154631/SC-16 of VMAT-102 (MCAS Yuma, AZ). Davis-Monthan AFB, Sep.'74.

MSgt. (Ret.) Benjamin Knowles, trading military aeroplanes on B&W negatives
Grumman F-14A Tomcat, 158980/NK-202 of VF-2 (FAIR Miramar). NAS Miramar, Oct.'74.

MSgt. (Ret.) Benjamin Knowles, trading military aeroplanes on B&W negatives
Grumman F-14A Tomcat, 158995/204-NK of VF-2 (FAIR Miramar). NAS Miramar, Oct.'74.

MSgt. (Ret.) Benjamin Knowles, trading military aeroplanes on B&W negatives
Grumman F-14A Tomcat, 159461/115-NK of VF-1 (FAIR Miramar,CA). NAS Miramar, Oct.'74.

MSgt. (Ret.) Benjamin Knowles, trading military aeroplanes on B&W negatives
Northrop YF-17A prototype #02, 72-01570. Edwards AFB, Aug.'74

MSgt. (Ret.) Benjamin Knowles, trading military aeroplanes on B&W negatives
Douglas TA-3B Skywarrior, 144866/23-TR of VAQ-130 (NAS Alameda, CA). Davis-Monthan, May '74.

MSgt. (Ret.) Benjamin Knowles, trading military aeroplanes on B&W negatives
LTV A-7E Corsair II, 156807/403-NE 'USS Ranger' (USN). FAIR Lemoore,CA. NAS Miramar, Oct.'75.

MSgt. (Ret.) Benjamin Knowles, trading military aeroplanes on B&W negatives
LTV A-7D Corsair II, 72-179/EL of 23 TFW (England AFB, LA). Davis-Monthan, Feb.'74.

MSgt. (Ret.) Benjamin Knowles, trading military aeroplanes on B&W negatives
McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II, 158359/205-NE of VF-21 'USS Ranger' (USN). NAS Miramar, Oct.'74.

MSgt. (Ret.) Benjamin Knowles, trading military aeroplanes on B&W negatives
Republic F-105B Thunderchief, 57-793 - 108th TFGp (New Jersey ANG; McGuire AFB,NJ). Davis-Monthan, Nov'74.

MSgt. (Ret.) Benjamin Knowles, trading military aeroplanes on B&W negatives
Republic F-105B Thunderchief, 58-789 - 108TFGp (New Jersey ANG, McGuire AFB,NL). Davis-Monthan AFB, Nov.'74.

MSgt. (Ret.) Benjamin Knowles, trading military aeroplanes on B&W negatives
Douglas C-47, 0-15700 of the Golden Knights Army Para Team (US Army). MASDC, April 1975.

From www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier-
VC-47A Last Military Serial: 43-15700 + US C/Nbr: 20166 + Last Civil Registration: N839M
Latest Owner or Location: Dodson International Parts Inc, Rantoul, KS (by this post 4-2025)
Constructed as a C-47A-90-DL by Douglas at Long Beach, California, USA.
Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 43-15700. Converted to a VC-47A.
September 1947: Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 43-15700.
Circa 1965: Taken on Strength with the US Army with s/n 43-15700 and oper'd w/ these markings: 0-315700.
By 31 January 1972: Transferred to U. S. Army Parachute Team, Fort Bragg, NC.
28 July 1975: To Lee County Mosquito Control District, Fort Myers, FL with new c/r N839M.
Based at Lee County Mosquito Control District, Buckingham Field, Cape Coral, FL.
21 April 2011: To unknown owner. Registration pending to a new owner in Rantoul, KS.
23 May 2011: To Dodson International Parts Inc, Rantoul, KS keeping c/r N839M.
4 September 2020: Civil registration, N839M, cancelled.
4 April 2022: In USAF-finish with European Air Transport Service titles and tail number 315221 as gate guard in front of the Florida Air Museum, Lakeland, FL.

Update from my (RL) files: Donated to the Florida Air Museum at Lakeland, FL - ferried 28Jan2011 + Ln 15aug13 still wfu @Lakeland after damage suffered by tornado 31mar11. Pic 2016 John Gambione @Guestphotos #63.

-+|+-

Austin J. Brown made money from his aeroplane photography and we had a nice correspondence going. He got tired
of flying B.O.A.C. jets and spent years in the Caribbean flying a Douglas DC-3! He returned with his family, he got cleaned out in a messy divorce, moved to Malaga in Spain and kept on selling images of various subjects.
We met at the airport at some point and while in Malaga talked a few times over the phone.
I have dedicated an IN MEMORIAM PAGE to this kind man, fondly remembered!

Austin J. Brown, aviation photographer remembered
Dassault Mirage 5BA, BA-57 (Belgian Air Force). No date / location.
Useful link: www.belgian-wings.be/dasault-mirage-5ba-part-ii

en.wikipedia.org:_List_of_aircraft_used_by_Italian_Air_Force
Austin J. Brown, aviation photographer remembered
Douglas DC-9-30, SM.13 (Italian Air Force). No date nor location.
Lucio Alfieri, also a former correspondent, added this (04-2025): "this DC 9 was broken up at Moscow airport in
the 1990s, after a ground accident wich broke one wing; the picture shows the first livery, belonging to RVSM,
Air Staff Unit, then becoming 31st Stormo based at Rome Ciampino." GRAZIE!

Austin J. Brown, aviation photographer remembered
deHavilland DH.110 Sea Vixen , XS590 /E-131 (Royal Navy). Yeovilton, Feb.'74.

Austin J. Brown, aviation photographer remembered
Lockheed S-3A Viking (prototype), 158873 (US Navy). Farnborough 1974.

Austin J. Brown, aviation photographer remembered
Boeing VC-137 (Presidential Aircraft), 86970 (USAF). 1974.

Austin J. Brown, aviation photographer remembered
Lockheed T-33A, 9500 (Luftwaffe). 1974.

Austin J. Brown, aviation photographer remembered
Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet, F-ZWRV (prototype Light Tactical Support). Farnborough, 1974.

Austin J. Brown, aviation photographer remembered
BAC Lightning F.3, XP707 of 226 OCU / RAF Coltishall (RAF). 1974.

Austin J. Brown, aviation photographer remembered
BAC Lightning T.5 (trainer), XS454 of 226 OCU / RAF Coltishall (RAF). 1974.

Austin J. Brown, aviation photographer remembered
Lockheed SR-71A, 17972 (USAF). Farnborough, '74.

Austin J. Brown, aviation photographer remembered
SAAB Viggen, 37053/53 (Swedish Air Force). Farnborough, '74.

Austin J. Brown, aviation photographer remembered
Ilyushin IL-62, CCCP-86702 (Aeroflot). No location, 1974.

Austin J. Brown, aviation photographer remembered
Morane-Saulnier MS.760 Paris, No.79/LA (French Air Force). No location, Aug.-Oct.'75.

Austin J. Brown, aviation photographer remembered
Sycamore, XG502 (RAF. Aug-Oct.'75.

In AvGeek terms, I was a Soesterberg spotter...
x Convair T-29 at Soesterberg AB

Convair T-29, 51-5159 (SAFE) at Soesterberg AB , Nov.'74. I cycled there in all kinds of weather ☺

My correspondent in Spain, Javier Saez Sanz (J. Sanz Saez?) sent me B&W negatives; alas, I did not keep our correspondence although I will have to check my attic further on this..

KC-137 5-245 by Javier Saez Sanz 1975
Boeing KC-137, 5-245 IIAF by Javier Saez Sanz at Barajas, Sep. '75.

C-130H IIAF by Javier Saez Sanze
Lockheed C-130H (L.382-17D), 5-129 ('LAC 4438'?) IIAF at Barajas, Spain. No date.

C-130F 9794/JM by Javier Saez Sanz
Lockheed C-130F, 9794/JM of the US Navy. No date / location.

AB.212 218-3 (003-7) by Javier Saez Sanz
AB-206, ET-116 of the Ejercito del Aire. April 1976, no location.

Chinook, by Javier Saez Sanz CH-47C Chinook, 2.17-3 / ET-403 of Ejercito del Aire. April 1976, no location.

.. by Javier Saez Sanz
AB-47G, 059-104 of the Ejercito del Aire. April 1976, no location.

By whom?
AB.212 218-3 (003-7) 'Marina' by Javier Saez Sanz. Ferrol 18Jul1975.

Military aircraft photography by Javier Saez Sanz (Spain)
AB204, HU8-7, ET.203 (Ejercito del Tierra, Spain). No date nor location.

Lucio Alfieri was one of two correspondents in Italy, Lucio was the longest serving though the material (B&W negatives and slides) we exchanged suffered long intervals during the years we traded.

Military aircraft photography by (Adrian?) Evans, 1970s.
Fiat G-91T/1, SA-95 (SVBAA, Italian Air Force). Treviso, 07Sep.'75.

Lucio Alfieri correspondent of military negs and slides 1970s
Republic RF-84F Thunderflash, 53-6827 (Italian Air Force). Castrette, 31Jul75.

Lucio Alfieri correspondent of military negs and slides 1970s
Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, 236910 / 50-23 (ex/ 50 Stormo, 155 Gruppo, Italian Air Force). Castrette 31Jul75.

Lucio Alfieri correspondent of military negs and slides 1970s
North American F-86K Sabre , 41266(?) / 51-50 (ex/ 51 Stormo, Italian Air Force). Castrette 31Jul75.

Lucio Alfieri correspondent of military negs and slides 1970s
Lockheed C-130M, 46-15 (46 Aerobrigata, 50 Gruppo, Italian AF). Pisa 30Sep75.

Lucio Alfieri correspondent of military negs and slides 1970s
Douglas C-47, CR-41 & CR-45 ('Reparte Radiomisure', Italian Air Force). Venice-Tessera, 31Jul75

Military aircraft by Lucio Alfieri (1975)
Douglas C-47, CR-44? (probaby also 'Reparte Radiomisure'). Bologna, 25Apr75.

Military aircraft by Lucio Alfieri (1975)
Grumman HU-16A Albatross, 15-9 (15 Stormo, Italian Air Force). Bologna, 07Jun75.

Military aircraft by Lucio Alfieri (1975)
Fairchild C-119G, 46-37 (46 Aerobrigata, 2 Gruppo, Italian Air Force). Pisa, 30Sep75.
The C-119 Flying Boxcar 'dossier' is featured in various pages on my website
PAGE ONE + PAGE TWO + PAGE THREE + PAGE FOUR

Military aircraft by Lucio Alfieri (1975)
Fairchild C-119G, 46-92 (46 Aerobrigata, 98 Gruppo, Italian Air Force). Pisa, 30Sep75.

Lucio Alfieri correspondent of military negs and slides 1970s
Piaggio PD.808, mm61957 (RVSM 302 Gruppe, Italian Air Force). Venice-Tessera, 04Jul75

Military aircraft photograpy by Lucio Alfieri
Agusta AB206 E.I.-626, Esercito (Italian Army). Venice-Tessera, 04Jul75.
Helpful link: www.helis.com/database/

Military aircraft photograpy by Lucio Alfieri
Lockheed F-104S, 5-03 (102 Gruppe/5 Stormo, Italian Air Force). Rimini, 14Jul1975.

Useful link: en.wikipedia.org:_Italian_Air_Force_Museum

I don't seem to have saved correspondence from 'Evans', whom I seem to recall was a Brit and perhaps his first name was 'Adrian'? He sent me plenty of aircraft negatives in the 1970s but the negatives don't hold much in terms of dates or locations.

Military aircraft photography by (Adrian?) Evans, 1970s.
BAC Lightning F3, XR716 (RAF). No date nor location.

Military aircraft photography by (Adrian?) Evans, 1970s.
Blackburn Buccaneer S1 (S2?), (XN956?) 105/E (Royal Navy). No date nor location. EMAIL

Military aircraft photography by (Adrian?) Evans, 1970s.
Hawker Hunter T.7, Royal Saudi Air Force. No date nor location. They operated 4x F.60 and 2x T.7.
Helpful link: en.wikipedia.org:_List_of_Hawker_Hunter_operators

Military aircraft photography by (Adrian?) Evans, 1970s.
Westland Whirlwind, XP360 (RAF). No date nor location.

Military aircraft photography by (Adrian?) Evans, 1970s.
Hawker Hunter F.6A, XE653/28 (RAF). No date nor location.

Military aircraft photography by (Adrian?) Evans, 1970s.
Hawker Hunter F.6A, XE653/28 (RAF). No date nor location.
>> read how it ended up at Stellenbosch as ZU-AUJ.

Military aircraft photography by (Adrian?) Evans, 1970s.
Zero (?). No date nor location.

Military aircraft photography by (Adrian?) Evans, 1970s.
Supermarine Swift FR5, WK281 (RAF). Identified by the only marking 'S' on the tailfin on ABPic.
Tony Szulc provided the following details: Swift FR.5 WK281/S, 79 Sqn

Military aircraft photography by (Adrian?) Evans, 1970s.
Hawker Hunter (F6?), (RAF). No date nor location. Seems to have an 'L' on the tailfin? EMAIL
Again Tony's help: Hunter FGA.9 XJ642/L, 54 Sqn.

Military aircraft photography by (Adrian?) Evans, 1970s. Gloster Meteor F.8, WH364/U (RAF). No date nor location.
See also abpic.co.uk/pictures/ - 85 Squadron?
Tony Szulc (may 2025): Meteor F.8 WH364/U, 85 Sqn
Tony added: "All three looking like they were taken at RAF Abingdon 50th Anniversary Display 1968, 15June68.
See www.airhistory.net. If you look on these pages, you will find images taken there and the Hunter image you can
see the Swift behind it, the Meteor was also at the same air show."

Military aircraft photography by (Adrian?) Evans, 1970s.
Lockheed C-130K (C.1) Hercules, XV220 (RAF). No date nor location. See for fate: XV220 @ABPic scrapped!

Military aircraft photography by (Adrian?) Evans, 1970s.
McDonnell F-4K Phantom FG1 XT874/J (RAF). No date nor location.

Cyril Defever was a French correspondent (or someone I bought a few slides from) of whom during a brief period.
I had no adress nor records, but found him on Facebook www.facebook.com/cyril.defever
Propliners from my archive, copyright Ruud Leeuw
Douglas C-47A, N47TF (c/n 12317). Pacific Southwest/David Tallichet @Stockton,CA Sep.2000 - Photo C. Defever

Propliners from my archive, copyright Ruud Leeuw
Douglas VC-47A 42-93800 ('North Dakota Air National Guard') - Photo Cyril Defever @Reno, NV 2000

Propliners from my archive, copyright Ruud Leeuw
Grumman HU-16E, 7245 (c/n G-333), preserved Santa Rosa air museum,CA. Photo C. Defever, 2000.

Propliners from my archive, copyright Ruud Leeuw
North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco, N419DF/410 (CDF). Photo C. Defever @Porterville AAB, CA 24Sep.2000.

More of his photos on SCANS-ARCHIVE-COLOR-P2

Per Schmidt was another provider of slides, either by exchange or by purchasing some for a brief period.

Propliners from my archive, copyright Ruud Leeuw
Douglas DC-3 (C-47A-80-DL), 79004/13 (c/n 19771; 43-15305) of Royal Swedish Air Force. By Per Schmidt, 6-'83

Propliners from my archive, copyright Ruud Leeuw
Douglas DC-3 (C-47A-85-DL), K-688 (c/n 20118) of Danish Air Force (ex/ 43-15652). By Per Schmidt.
No adress or records. German, Swiss or Austrian?

Propliners from my archive, copyright Ruud Leeuw
Douglas C-47A, C-FNWS (c/n 12419) of Northwest Territorial. (Via) Per Schmidt, probly Nov.1986.

More of his photos on SCANS-ARCHIVE-COLOR-P2

Created: 18-Feb-2025
Updated 11-Mei-2025