I believe the writing on the all dayglo tail, under the number 55 is NORFOLK. This photo was taken from Wingfield way in about 1960. This was a rare visitor at the time but visited in later years in a more subdued colour scheme, as shown in the Convair feature

    This was certainly NOT a regular visitor, although Civil French Dakotas operated by the SGACC (French equivalent to MTCA) were frequently seen. The registration looks like F-BFRG (but I can't be sure). The French Navy also operated a Noratlas with tip-jets (No 01), and this also visited in later years.

    Another typical business visitor. There were no customs facilities for business flights at this time, so foreign visitors were very rarely seen. Biz Jets were unheard of, (although USAF Sabreliners began to visit about this time). Single-engined aircraft were not banned so the occasional Cessna or Piper single was also to be seen.

    This was an entry in the London-Paris air race and was photographed waiting for it's passenger on the threshold of Rwy08.The date was 22nd July 1959. As I remember, other race entries which used Northolt were a BEA Comet4B, a Dutch Airforce Mach-Trainer and a Royal Navy Sea Vampire