Bridgend
Note: This map only gives a rough idea of the location(s) used. If any can kindly offer advice on this subject, this will be most welcome.
BRIDGEND: Occassional landing area (Isle of Islay)
Operated by: Possibly Northern and Scottish Airways? Certainly Scottish Airways and Midland & Scottish Air Ferries
Location: On the beach. Bridgend is the town more or less on the centre of the island.
Period of operation: 1930s
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for investigating this location and providing the following items.
Photo One shows the DH84 Dragon G-ACCZ, of Midland & Scottish Air Ferries, after landing at RENFREW having completed an Air Ambulance mission to BRIDGEND, 14.05.33.
The article in two parts was published in the Ballymena Weekly Telegraph on the 20th of May 1933.
Photo Two shows the opening, at possibly, (or probably), CAMPBELTOWN, of the services to Islay in 1933. The local area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
The aircraft operating the inaugral flight was a DH84 Dragon 1 of Midland & Scottish Air Ferries. There is a tiny clue if you look closely at this picture, which appears to indicate it was G-ACCZ. This aircraft stayed with M&SAF until services terminated in 1934. I cannot seem to find what happened to it from 1934 until 1938 when it was registered to Mr Eric Noddings and based at Croydon - 12.04.38 to 27.12.39. It then went to Air Dispatch at Cardiff airport, (PENGHAM MOORS), registered from 22.01.40 until 19.07.40. It was impressed as AW154 on 01.07.40 and scrapped in December 1942. (Note the discrepancy in the dates as the paperwork caught up with events.
It is, I think, well worth reading up on the history of M&SAF, founded by John Sword who was well known as a major bus operator. He was clearly very forward thinking as he employed Miss Winnie Drinkwater, who, at the tender age of nineteen was a qualified commercial pilot and engineer. She was often kept very busy as a pilot and has the claim of being the world's first ever female commercial pilot.
NOTES: See also DUICH FARM
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