BERNHARD C.F. KLEIN MEMORIAL COLLECTION
No. 5433. De Schelde Scheldemusch (PH-AMG c/n 53)
Photograph courtesy AIN

De Schelde Scheldemusch

06/15/2006. Remarks by Bernhard Klein: "The De Schelde company was situated at the Schelde River. 'Scheldemusch' means 'Schelde Sparrrow' (Note: 'musch' is prewar Dutch. It is now 'mus' without the 'ch', so today the plane would be called 'Scheldemus').

This was a light aircraft designed by Theodorus 'Theo' Egbert Slot and was intended to become the 'Pou-du-Ciel' of the Netherlands. The prototype registered PH-ALB (c/n 49) was flown in November 1935. Flown in the UK by Mr. Doing for demonstration flights in an effort to build up license production, it was lost in a crash at Gravesend, UK, on March 5, 1937, the pilot stayed unharmed.

Five more were built in the Netherlands in 1936/37: PH-AMA, PH-AME, PH-AMG, PH-AMH, PH-AMI (c/n 51 to 55). PH-AMI crashed at Ypenburg on September 12, 1937. PH-AMG went to the De Schelde sales representative in the UK in 1939. The Germans invaded the Netherlands on May 10, 1940 and during the hostilities PH-AMA and PH-AMH were destroyed, PH-AME was broken up.

The RAF tested PH-AMG briefly as a light scout airplane and it flew in RAF camouflage and the British roundels while still carrying Dutch registration. The aircraft was last sighted in Birmingham in 1960, its fate is unknown."


Created June 15, 2006