01/31/2009. Remarks from Bernhard Klein: "The Avro 652 was designed as a light, four-passenger civil transport and mail aircraft only, and the only two built were ordered by Imperial Airways in 1934. Registered G-ACRM c/n 698 and G-ACRN c/n 699, the first flew on January 7, 1935, and two months later both were delivered to Imperial Airways who named them respectively Avalon and Avatar (the latter was soon abbreviated to Ava). Both were impressed to the RAF in February 1941, s/n DG655 and DG656, being transferred to the RN in July 1941.

However, its promise was recognized by the British Air Ministry and in 1936, the Avro 652A, receiving the name Anson, entered service with both the RAF and the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) Coastal Commands, where it was the first low-wing monoplane, and the first operational aircraft with manual retractable landing gear."