Bishops Tachbrook

BISHOPS TACHBROOK: Civil Landing Ground    (Aka LEAMINGTON SPA AIRCRAFT PARK and later, in WW2 an Air Ministry aerodrome)

Operated by: 1930s: Major J E Bonniksen, Leamington Spa Aircraft Park
 

Location: 2nm SW of Leamington Spa “Off Warwick Road”. In the ‘AA Landing Grounds’ publication, (1930s), they describe the Landing Ground at Leamington as being “2.75m S Leamington, W of Fosse Way, S of railway”.

Period of operation: 1919 to 1945?

Runway(s) :   Max landing run:   457   grass

1933:  Max landing run:   668   grass

NOTES: I suppose, just possibly, that the initial user of this site was Berkshire Aviation Co, in November 1919, for their ‘Flying circus’ venue?

 

A.A. APPROVED
This site was one of the seventy-four A.A. (Automobile Association) approved ‘Landing Grounds’ in mainland Britain and quite probably unique in also being an established aerodrome? I cannot think of another example. It was also unusual in that fuel, transport (typically a taxi service) and a telephone were all available on site, the latter two services being from, “Major Bonniksen, the bungalow (on LG).” Major Bonniksen appears to have been quite a character. In 1933 one hangar was listed on site, presumably occupied by the Aero Clubs listed below, so possibly not having enough room for visitors?

 

AERO CLUBS
During the 1930s used by the Leamington, Warwick & District Aero Club with DH60 Moths. In the magazine Flying – The Light Aeroplane Weekly in a compilation of UK Flying Clubs and Landing Grounds (1933-34) the “Flying Club” appears to have been the Leamington Spa Aircraft Park and Flying School. So, did two flying clubs operate here, or, was there a change of name?

QUESTION
Was this the venue, (13th & 14th May 1933), for Alan Cobham’s No.1 Tour of the UK?

WW2
This aerodrome was taken over by the Air Ministry during WW2 for use by S.S.Cars Ltd, (later Jaguar), for repair and refurbishment of Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys and Vickers Wellingtons.


 

 

 

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