Armstrong Whitworth Argosy II   G-AACJ                                   (c/n  AW364)

                                

                                     Following on with the delivery of the three Argosy Mk 1s, A.W. built four more of these lumbering
                                     three-motored biplanes, with slightly more powerful  420 hp Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IVA
                                     power plants. They were supposedly somewhat more 'streamlined' insofar as the engines were
                                     cowled and had townend rings.  The above shot came from a post card and shows the third
                                     Argosy Mk II ("City of Manchester") at Croyden, circa 1932.  Incredibly these Mk IIs were
                                     used on the air mail route to Cape Town.  I cannot imagine traveling from London to South
                                     Africa in 1931 in an A.W. Argosy.  (the year I was born).  Argosies continued in service with
                                     Imperial Airways until 1935, and G-AACJ was the last example flown.  It was later used for
                                     joy-riding by United Airwsys Ltd of Blackpool and was withdrawn from service in December
                                     1936.