History

The Airspeed A.S.10 Oxford was a three seat airplane, with two engines.
It was used as advanced (twin-engined) trainer for at the RAF by the end of the thirties (of the twentieth century). It was the military version of the Airspeed Envoy, first flown in 1937.
The Oxford was equipped with two Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah engines of 375 hp each. The first Oxfords entered RAF service in 1938 and the type remained in service until 1946.
The Mk.I was equipped with an Armstrong Whitworth dorsal turret; with the release of the Mk II this turret was omitted.
The Oxford was used for training of pilots and navigational training.

In the end 8751 Oxfords were built in several versions.

Versions

Airspeed A.S.10 Oxford Mk.I:
Bomber trainer with dorsal turret
Airspeed A.S.10 Oxford Mk.II:
Navigation trainer
Airspeed A.S.10 Oxford Mk.III:
Navigation trainer with more powerful engines
Airspeed A.S.10 Oxford Mk.IV:
Test bank for DeHavilland Gypsy Queen engines
Airspeed A.S.10 Oxford Mk.V:
More powerful engines

 

Technical Information
Dimensions:
Length: 10,52 m Wingspan: 16,26 m
Height: 3,38 m Wing area: 32,12 m2
Weights:
Empty weight: 2569 kg Max. start weight: 3896 kg
Performances:
Max. speed   320 km/u Cruising speed: 224 km/u
Range: 1540 km    
Engine One Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah rated 375 hp
Crew: 1/2 Passengers 3/4

 


In service with RAF, RNlAF and RNlNAS.

In service with Dutch Communications Flight RAF and 320 squadron RAF.

The Oxford was used by the RAF as crew trainer for navigation and bomber crews.
Later several were used for light transport- and communication services. No. 1316 (Dutch) Communications Flight used several Oxfords during the last year of the Second World War .

Also about three Oxfords were in use with no. 320 Dutch squadron, mainly for training and liaison purposes.

Airspeed Oxford van R.Netherlands Naval Air Comms.
Airspeed Oxford of Royal Netherlands Naval Air Communications Flight.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

 

In service with RNlAF.

The Oxfords were assigned to the AVOT, the additional twin-engine pilot training at Twenthe. They were also used for the training of pilots of the Gloster Meteor. In 1950 they were succeeded by the Beechcraft AT-7 Navigator.

According to J.M. van Hest, in an article in Hobby Bulletin of May 1971, were he states the C-1 through C-14 were of type Oxford Mk. II and C-15 through C-28 of type Mk. V.
C. van den Heuvel, who has researched and written an book about aircraft in use by the post-war Royal Netherlands Air Force, states that all Oxfords were of the Mk. I version. Personally I subscribe this point of view.

Airspeed AS-10 Oxford.
In flight photo of Airspeed AS-10 Oxford, C-5.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Airspeed AS-10 Oxford op Valkenburg.
An Airspeed AS-10 Oxford at Valkenburg.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Twee officieren poseren voor een Airspeed AS-10 Oxford.
Two officers in front of an Airspeed AS-10 Oxford.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Een Airspeed AS-10 Oxford in een hangaar.
An Airspeed AS-10 Oxford in a hangar.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Airspeed AS-10 Oxford voor hangaar 3.
Airspeed AS-10 Oxford, overall yellow paint scheme in front of hangar 3.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Airspeed AS-10 Oxford.
Line-up of Airspeed AS-10 Oxfords, possibly shortly after delivery, regarding the names on the nose and the (barely visible) RAF fin flash on the tail of the second Oxford.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Airspeed AS-10 Oxford.
Airspeed AS-10 Oxford.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Airpeed AS-10 Oxford van de Aanvullende Vliegopleiding Tweemotorigen (AVOT) tijdens een vlucht.
Airspeed AS-10 Oxford, C-11.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

 

In service with RNlNAS.

In September 1945 the minister of Naval Affairs discussed the acquisition of three aircraft (including equipment and spare parts) for performing communication flights.
Early 1946, three aircraft were received on loan. These were brought in the so-called detachment aircraft carriers, VKS. This detachment was based on airbase Heston, Middlesex, as section squadron no 701. There were regularly conducted flights to Valkenburg, Eindhoven and Schiphol.

From July 1946 it is stated that three Oxford would have been purchased by the RNlAS. These aircraft originated from the Admiralty Communications Flight, Royal Navy.

These aircraft were stationed on airbase Valkenburg in May 1947 and were used as liaison aircraft and also for photo flights.

Soon they were transferred to 320 Squadron for "general purpose" and got the new serials A-1 to A-3. When this happened is not known. With the commissioning of the squadron 5, early 1951 the Oxford were housed there. Also was their registration changed in R.1 through R3 and during the course of 1951 the R-4 and R-5 (received from the LSK) were added to the strength. These last two Oxfords were written off in 1952, due to poor condition.

In 1953, the remaining aircraft were replaced by the Beechcraft SNB-5/TC-45J Navigator.

Airspeed AS-10 Oxford. Gezien de registratie (niet helemaal zichtbaar) is dit vliegtuig van de MLD.
Airspeed AS-10 Oxford of RNlNAS.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
De Airspeed Oxford Mk.I trainer voortgezette vliegopleiding A-1 (1947-1952) met de volltallige bemanning
Airspeed Oxford Mk.I trainer, A-1 (1947-1952) with the entire crew
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
noodlanding van het Oxford-lesvliegtuig nr. 18-2 nabij wassenaar, 1951
Emergency landing of Oxford, 18-2 near Wassenaar in 1951.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Airspeed Trainer voor voortgezet vliegopleiding, type, mark1 (1947-1953)
Airspeed Trainer of the RNlNAS (1947-1953).
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

 


Airspeed AS-10 Oxford Mk.II

 

 


Serial overview of RAF, RNlAF and RNlNAS.

Airspeed Oxford I, RAF

RAF-serial Construction nr. Date in service Date out of service Notes
R6085   28-12-1943 15-02-1944  
LX614   15-02-1944 28-08-1944  
AP479   30-09-1944 20-08-1946  

 

Airspeed Oxford I, RNlAF

Serial
Serial
Construction nr.
Construction nr.
RAF-serial
RAF-serial
Date in service
Date in service
Date out of service
Date out of service
Notes
Notes
C-1 176 X6784 /A 05-1946 08-1948 Scrapped 1948
C-2 4389 RR348 05-1945 08-1952 Scrapped 1952
C-3 3688 NM520 05-1946 08-1952 Scrapped
C-4 638 HM610 05-1946 04-1951 To RNlNAS (MLD), April 1951. Became 18-4 (R-4)
C-5   MP428 /E 05-1946 08-1952 Scrapped 1952
C-6 728 HM735 05-1946 03-1951 To RNlNAS (MLD), April 1951, Became 18-5 (R-5)
C-7   MP422 /B 09-1946 08-1952 Scrapped
C-8 4398 RR347 05-1946 08-1952 Flew as HM347 at RNlAF.
C-9 937 HN131/S 07-1946 08-1948 29-6-1948, accident near Oldenzaal Rossum.
C-10 595 P8910 01-1946 09-1950 NZ1284, P8910, Scrapped
C-11 157 X6765 06-1946 08-1952 Scrapped 1952
C-12   V3907 07-1946 08-1952 Scrapped
C-13 967 HN172 06-1945 08-1952 Scrapped
C-14 975 HN182 07-1946 08-1952 Scrapped 1952
C-15   DF257 07-1947 11-1950 Out of use 1950
C-16   DF410 08-1947 08-1952 Scrapped
C-17   DF479 07-1947 11-1950 Scrapped
C-18 1684 BF951 07-1947 08-1952 Scrapped 1952
C-19   HN691 07-1947 08-1952 Scrapped 1952
C-20 2944 HN771 08-1947 08-1952 Scrapped 1952
C-21 2982 HN826 07-1947 08-1952 Scrapped 1952
C-22 7147 HM754 07-1947 11-1950  
C-23 776 HM798 07-1947 08-1952 Scrapped 1952
C-24   MP461 07-1947 09-1950 Was 5492M, MP461. Scrapped
C-25 1073 LW819 10-1947 11-1950 Scrapped 1950
C-26 1106 LW864 08-1947 08-1952 Scrapped 1950
C-27 416 P1894 07-1947 08-1952 Scrapped 1950
C-28 2719 R6269 08-1947 08-1952 Scrapped

 

Airspeed Oxford I, RNlAS

Serial
Serial
Second Serial
Second Serial
RAF-serial
RAF-serial
Construction nr.
Construction nr.
Date in service
Date in service
Date out of service
Date out of service
Notes
Notes
A-1 R-1 PH144   15-10-1947 26-11-1952 Withdrawn from use
A-2 R-2 PH184   15-10-1947 17-09-1953 Withdrawn from use
A-3 R-3 PH308   15-10-1947 28-09-1953 Withdrawn from use
R-4   HM610   03-04-1951 29-07-1952 ex C-4. Withdrawn from use
R-5   HM735   19-03-1951 25-07-1952 Built by Percival Aircraft Ltd.
Taken over from RNlAF, ex-C-6.
Withdrawn from use
In 1946 some Oxfords were received on loan from Royal Navy/Fleet Air Arm
    DF505        
    HM974       Damaged due to emergency landing near Beford; Replaced wuth PZ934
    LX282        
    PZ934        

 


1/72nd Scale

Kits

  • AZ Models
    • Kit 7362: Model of an Oxford Mk. I, released midst 2013.
    • Kit 7363: Model of an Oxford Mk. II, released midst 2013.
    • Kit 7385: Airspeed Oxford T1 with decals for Royal Navy and RNlNAS.
  • Frog/Novo
    • Kit F336: An old kit, very rare nowadays.
  • Tasman/Upgrade
    • Kit 0106 / 0112: Released several years ago two kits of Oxford Mk.I, Mk.II  and Mk.V (Short run plastic & white metal kit)
  • Pavla
    • Kit 7241: Oxford Mk. I/ Mk. II

 

Airspeed AS 46 Oxford Mk II AKleijn
A model of an Airspeed Oxford, built by Adri Kleijn.
Airspeed AS 10 Oxford MK II AZ Model AKleijn
A model of an Airspeed Oxford of the Dutch Navy, built by Adri Kleijn. The kit used is the 1.72nd scale AZ Models kit.

 

Modelling add-on

  • --
    • Set --: --

Decals

  • Dutch Decal
    • Set 72026: A decal set, released years ago, with options for a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina IVA P-206 (post-war); PBY-5 Y-45 with flags; PBY-5 Catalina Y-69 black cat with flags; Dornier Wal F D-41; Airspeed Oxford C-14, HN182 overall yellow; Avro Anson D-23, HS188 overall yellow and Spitfire FR.Mk XIV XC MT853 of the Technical school LSK.
    • Set 72064: Decalset for Firefly F.Mk.I 16-6; Fierfly FR.VI 11-45; Airspeed Oxford 18-2; Sikorski S-51 8-1 Blauw; Bücker Bu-131 BJ-002; North American B-25: M434 (witte registraties); Northrop NF-5 K3062 "Redskins" and Douglas DB8A-3N.
  • FlevoDecal
    • Set FD72-013: Royal Netherlands Navy Pt. II: Grumman TBM-3E Avenger, Harvard, Catalina, Oxford, Beech TC-45J, Fokker S-11.

1/48th Scale

Kits

  • Sanger
    • Kit 4840: a vacu formed model.
  • Special Hobby
    • Kit 48104: A (short run) injection moulded kit.
    • Kit 48122: A (short run) injection moulded kit of a Mk. II .
    • Kit 48159: Mk. I/II met decals voor USAAF; Czech AF; Belgian AF en MLD

Modelling add-on

  • Vector Resin
    • Set 48-026: one resin Pratt and Whitney R985 engine

Decals

  • --
    • Set --: --

Top

 


Both the Oxfords of the RNlAF as of the RNlNAS were delivered in standard RAF camouflage scheme.
The Oxfords of the Air Force had the RAF serials on the fuselage with a code on the tail. Later these Oxfords received a new Dutch serial, applied in white, starting with C an later also received an overall trainer yellow paint scheme with the serial in black.

The aircraft of the Dutch navy were later camouflaged overall grey with white serials.

 

Scheme Colour name FS number BS number Humbrol XtraColor Vallejo Model Color Vallejo Model Air Hataka
Delivery scheme: Standard RAF scheme Upper sides Dark Green   BS:641 183 X001 70.892 71.323 ~143
Dark Earth   BS:450 29 X002 70.921 71.324 ~206
Undersides Yellow ~3538 BS:356 154 X213 70.953 71.078 ~066
 
Scheme # 2 Overall Yellow ~3538 BS:356 154 X213 70.953 71.078 ~066
 
Scheme #3: RNlAS Overall Extra Dark Sea Grey ~6099 BS:640 123 / 106 X005 / X376 70.866 71.110 ~140

Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

 

Several colour schemes applied on the Dutch Airspeed Oxford.

These scheme's are meant for illustration purposes only. The size and type of used fonts of the serials, the size of the roundels etcetera are not always correct, but are as good as possible a simulation of the original.

Airspeed_AS10_Oxford-RAF-SMALL
Standard RAF scheme Airspeed Oxford.
Shown is an example of an aircraft used by the no 1316 Dutch Communications Flight.
Probably orange triangles were applied just at the cockpit area, these are shown somewhat faded on the drawing.

See the photo shown at the beginning of this article.

Airspeed_AS10_Oxford-KLU-1-SMALL
Delivery scheme Airspeed Oxford.
This scheme is the same for the aircraft of both LSK and MLD and is equal to the standard wartime RAF scheme.
Airspeed AS10 Oxford-KLu-2-SMALL
Scheme 2 Airspeed Oxford.
Shown is the second scheme added to the Oxford of the LSK.
Airspeed AS10 Oxford-KLu-3-SMALL
Third scheme Airspeed Oxford LSK.
Airspeed_AS10_Oxford-KLU-1-SMALL
Second scheme Airspeed Oxford RNlNAS.
Airspeed_AS10_Oxford-KLU-1-SMALL
Third scheme Airspeed Oxford RNlNAS.

 


Literature.

AVIA; 34e jaargang nummer 7: Luchtvloot van Plastic: Airspeed AS-46 Oxford   Pag. 236 - 237 1975; Uitgevers Wyt, Rotterdam
Zestigjaar Marineluchtvaartdienst in Beeld Hugo Hooftman pag. 101 1977 Europese Bibliotheek, Zaltbommel
Nederlandse Militaire Luchtvaart in Beeld; deel 2 Hugo Hooftman pag. 14 - 18   Europese Bibliotheek, Zaltbommel
NederlandseMarinevliegtuigen Thijs Postma & Nico Geldhof Pag. 50 1978 Omniboek, 's Gravenhage
Dutch military Aviation Paul A. Jackson Pag. 42 1978 Uitgever Midland Countries Publications, Leicester
KLu Vliegtuigen >W. Schoenmaker/Th. Postma pag. 79 1987 Uitgave: De
Camouflage en Kentekens J.Greuter e.a.   1997 Bonneville – Bergen (NH)
85 JAAR Marineluchtvaartdienst in beeld: Van Farman tot NH 90 Helikopter Peter Korbee Pag. 96 - 97 2002 Korbee MLD Promotie, Valkenburg

 

Websites.