de Havilland D.H.89M Dragon Rapide            Lithuanian Air Force

                                 

                                      This Rapide had me mystified until the following details were kindly provided by my "D.H. expert",
                                      Stuart McKay:  " This aircraft was one of two built as a D.H.89M light bomber for the Lithuanian
                                      Air Force in 1937.  The two machines were c/ns 6348 and 6349.  They were serialed 701 and 702
                                      after they arrived in that Baltic state.   The above photograph was taken at Hatfield before delivery,
                                      and it is unclear which one of the two it is.  Both aircraft were at Shaulaj when the Russians invaded
                                      and the aircraft were taken over by the Luftwaffe in June 1941 and allocated to communications duties
                                      with Luftflotte 2.  Their subsequent fate is unknown". 
                                      I suspect that the bomb load was external which would account for the need for the dorsal fairing to
                                      the fin.   Even in 1937 I doubt that my leaning would have been toward the Rapide as my choice for
                                      a light bomber!