British Aircraft Swallow

It differed from the German original with its more powerful engines and local strengthening to meet British airworthiness requirements.

At this time the company changed its name to the British Aircraft Manufacturing Co., so the revised version was known as the B.A Swallow II.

[2] A number of Swallows were taken on charge during late 1940 by the Royal Air Force's Glider Training Squadron within the Central Landing Establishment based at RAF Ringway near Manchester.

The Swallows were towed singly, in pairs and in threes by retired Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bombers before being released to glide to their simulated "target" on the airfield.

This unusual procedure was adopted to assist the evaluation of the future use of heavy gliders in assaults on enemy positions.

BA Swallow with Cirrus Minor engine at Wroughton airfield, Wiltshire in July 1992
1937-built BA Swallow II in 2007
Pobjoy Swallow G-AFGD with wings folded, at Shobdon Aerodrome Herefordshire in 1987. This aircraft served as a glider at RAF Ringway in 1940