Avro York LV633 'Ascalon'


Prime Minister Winston Churchill initially used a converted B-24 Liberator bomber as his personal transport, however this wasn't very comfortable! So when the third Avro York was rolled out in February 1943 it was converted into a VVIP transport for the Royal Family, the Prime Minister, and other dignitaries. The only aircraft of this type to be fitted with square windows, it was delivered to no. 24 Squadron on May 21st of that year after completing its acceptance trials.

Churchill, (often referred to as "The Owner` by the flight crew), was very keen to start using 'his' York, (now named Ascalon after St. George's sword). Consequently, Ascalon was flown out to Gibraltar on May 26th to rendezvous with the P.M., who had arrived there in a B.O.A.C. flying boat direct from a meeting in the USA. Two days later he took his first trip from Gibraltar, to Algiers and Tunis, before returning to Northolt on June 5th after flying nearly 5,000 miles six days later, Ascalon took H.M. King George VI to review his victorious
8th Army and a tour of the Middle East, returning to the UK at the month's end,

Although the York was fitted out as comfortably as possible
during wartime, the catering facilities left a lot to be desired
so on July 12th it was flown back to the makers at Ringway
(Manchester) for a new galley to be installed.


(Monochrome Photograph) - Of The Owner.

Demand for Ascalon was high, with the aircraft subsequently making trips to Tehran, Cairo, Adana (Turkey), and Marrakesh. At the end of July, 1944, the King once again made use of LV633, this time
accompanying the Queen and Princess Elizabeth to Rabat and Naples.

Churchill's last flight in Ascalon was in October 1944, on his return from Moscow via the Crimea, Cairo, and Naples. This trip included Ascalon's longest flight - almost 2,000 miles, in 12 hours 45 minutes, non-stop between Cairo and Moscow. In all, Ascalon had clocked up 804,650 miles in VVIP service.

In February 1945 the aircraft was transferred to no. 246 Squadron, before going to Avro Langar for repairs and refurbishment. Churchill's chair was probably removed at this time and subsequently ended up at the Avro Head Office at Chadderton, from where it became part of the Heritage collection.

Avro York LV633 was finally withdrawn from service, struck off charge, and scrapped in June 1954.