Bray flying sites
BRAY: Initially a civil Landing Ground. In WW2 Military - Relief Landing Ground
(This was known as STROUD FARM prior to WW2 - see seperate entry)
(Also known as BRAY COURT & MAIDENHEAD)
Note: The BRAY civil Landing Ground was laid out and opened in June 1929 by Donald Stevenson.
Military user: RAF Training Command
13 EFTS (Based at WHITE WALTHAM and flying DH.82A Tiger Moths)
18 EFTS (Based at FAIR OAKS and flying DH.82A Tiger Moths)
21 EFTS (Based at BOOKER and flying DH.82A Tiger Moths)
Note: BOOKER was later renamed as WYCOMBE AIR PARK.
Location: Just S of the A308, extending E from the cemetery, 3.5nm WNW of Windsor
Period of operation: 1941 to 1945
Runways: NE/SW 731 grass E/W 457 grass
NOTE: In September 2018 I was kindly contacted by Richard Poad, Chairman of the Maidenhead Heritage Centre, who had this information to add regarding "Bray Gliding Field and 155 Squadron ATC".
"In 1938, the Air League persuaded the towns and countries of the UK to set up Air Defence Cadets, in order 'to bring up the younger generation with a knowledge of and in contact with air matters....' The Air Defence Cadet Corps threw itself into the war effort, proving itself of such value that it was adopted by the Government in 1941 and renamed the Air Training Corps."
"155 Squadron Air Defence Corps was formed in Maidenhead and paraded for the first time in July 1939. During the war, the ATC was the only organisation permitted to continue gliding, and training was carried out at Bray Gliding Field, on the same site used by Donald Stevenson's short-lived aerodrome which had opened in June 1929."
"At Bray, ATC cadets learned to fly Dagnall and Kadett gliders, which were launched by a winch mounted on a converted searchlight vehicle. On one occassion a royal visit was made by the King of Norway, then living in exile nearby. Of more excitement to the casets were occasional visits by a Hurricane flown from the Langley factory by the Hawker Chief Test Pilot Bill Humble, who was a personal friend of Joe West, the CO of 155 Sqn. Such visits could only take place if the wind was in the south west."
"During the war, ATC cadets also worked for and flew with ATA at White Waltham." I have come across some amazing accounts of Air Cadets working with the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary), including for example acting as crew members in flying boats being delivered to Scotland - and then making their own way back by train. Clearly this didn't involve WHITE WALTHAM, but I wonder if any stories can be discovered?
"155 Sqn ATC continued gliding at Bray unril the early 1950's. One of the wartime cadets became an instructor at Bray. The gliding activities were transferred to 623 Gliding School at RAF White Waltham."
BRAY see also CHAUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL
BRAY see also MONKEY ISLAND HOTEL
BRAY see also STROUD FARM
Terry Clark
This comment was written on: 2018-01-06 02:58:57The very first ATC Gliding School was established at Bray Court during WW2
peter Rogers
This comment was written on: 2018-10-16 11:08:49Bray Court and Stroud are one and the same airfield
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