Brunshaw
BRUNSHAW: Temporary aerodrome
Operated by: Kingsford-Smith, Maddocks Aeros Ltd
Location: Just SE of Burnley town centre
Period of operation: 2nd to 14th September 1919
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Here again we have to thank Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', for both discovering this little known venue and providing the following items to illustrate the listing.
The advert was placed in the Burnley Express on the 6th September.
AN ARTICLE IN THE BURNLEY EXPRESS
The arrival of a joy-riding operation in Burnley during 1919 clearly made a big impression, this article being published on the 6th September 1919.
The photo caption says that the veteran photographer Mr Hartley is seen with Kingsford-Smith in the centre with his mechanic at his side.
Using my patented Sherlock Holmes detective kit, (complete with a 12in metric converter), I think it is highly likely to deduce that it is Mr Hartley on the right, kitted out with goggles and ready to go flying.
The local area view is from my Google Earth© derived database.
NOTES: The caption for the photo above in the article also states that Kingsford-Smith would be competing in the England to Australia air race commencing later in 1919 from HOUNSLOW HEATH, but I cannot find any proof of him actually taking part? However, having moved back to Australia in 1921, it was in 1928 that he achieved considerable fame, in Australia at least, by being the first to fly across the Pacific ocean from California via Hawaii and Fuji.Shortly after completing the first non-stop flight across Australia from Melbourne to Perth, about 1690 miles, then undertaking a non-stop flight from Australia to New Zealand.
Sadly he and his co-pilot Tommy Pethybridge vanished while crossing the Andaman Sea off Burma in 1935 whilst attempting to break the Australia to England speed record. His memory lives on today as the Sydney airport in Australia is named after him.
If you 'Google' up his history it is mentioned that after WW1 he was a 'barnstormer' in England. He was most certainly not a 'barnstormer', quite the opposite. Still, this said, thanks to Mike Holder, this is the first record I have come across, not only describing what he was doing at the time, but giving a location.
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