MOUNTBATTEN OF BURMA, Louis, Earl.

£1,850 · Offered by Peter Harrington

History of York Aircraft MW102. First and sole edition, with a tipped-in photograph of the plane signed by Mountbatten in green ink. This report details the inspection, modification, and flight tests of Mountbatten's VIP aircraft while he was Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia Command (SEAC). We have traced no other copies."Realizing that the post-war aircraft market would be dominated by American designs, (and in contravention of the Anglo-American agreement that all transport aircraft would be made in the United States), in 1941, Avro designer Roy Chadwick began to sketch out a long-range, four-engined transport based on the Lancaster bomber. His design married the wings, tail assembly, engines, and landing gear of the bomber to a square fuselage. The prototype Avro Type 685 flew on July 5, 1942, and production of the York (as it was called) began in 1943" (Pigott, p. 152).The Avro York became the VIP aircraft of choice for Winston Churchill, the Duke of Gloucester, Jan Smuts, and Lord Mountbatten. Mountbatten's York was captained by Squadron Leader Jack Matthews, alongside navigator Flight Lieutenant Reggie Wainwright and engineering officer Flight Lieutenant E. Maxwell. This report, produced by Matthews, details the maintenance and modifications that were required to make her a diplomatic aircraft. These included the installation of additional fuel tanks, extra luggage storage, and the provision of desks and VIP chairs. The report also contains the minutes of class

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