G-AFEZ  de Havilland D.H.89A Dragon Rapide               (c/n  6408)

                                 

                                     For some reason this Rapide became the target of several photographers.  Images of it are quite
                                     common.  (Mine came from BEA).  Possibly because it looked so smart in its mid-1950s British
                                     European Airways livery with white top and all.  In 1940 it was dressed up with a RAF roundel
                                     and given the serial X9451.  After a couple of months, however, it reverted to being G-AFEZ
                                     again (probably in camouflage with the underlined rego treatment).  After the war it went to BEA
                                     and was used on the run from Lands End to the Scilly Isles.   It was sold off in 1956 going to
                                     Laos as F-LAAL.  This registration was soon changed to fall into line with the normal French
                                     Overseas allocations and it became F-OBHI.   I don't imagine it lasted long in the hot and humid
                                     conditions of French Indo-China.