Fenny Stratford flying sites
Note: This map only gives the position of Fenny Stratford within the UK. If by some minor miracle somebody can kindly provide the exact location, this advice will be much appreciated.
FENNY STRATFORD: Temporary landing ground
NOTES: When this event took place, Fenny Stratford was in BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, and it would be another half century before the metropolis of MILTON KEYNES was constructed. However it does often seem that most County Planning Officers seem determined to rearrange everything so such an extent that many of us 'wrinklies' don't know really which County we came from - and are probably none too certain exactly where we live! And, please don't think that a postal address can be relied upon a many are actually in adjacent counties.
BACK TO THE STORY
In 1911 the Birmingham Aero Club invited Claude Grahame-White, (probably the most famous British aviator in those days?), to open their second aviation exhibition in Bourneville, (Now WEST MIDLANDS), probably expecting him to arrive by train? Not one to do things by halves Grahame-White decided to fly up from HENDON in a 50hp Gome powered Farman.
Leaving HENDON at 05.45, and following the railway from Harrow, thick mist forced him to land at FENNY STRATFORD where he decided to wait until 16.15 before departing again.
BUT - W. B. MOORHOUSE ALSO VISITED FENNY STRATFORD IN 1911
We have to thank Mr Michael T Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide' for discovering this aspect of the history, and a gallery of maps and pictures follows.
NOTES: It appears that Mr William Barnard Moorhouse was engaged to conduct a parcel delivery flight of shoes from Northampton to HENDON. He presumably flew from PORTHOLME (near Huntingdon) on the 17th October 1911 to collect the shoes. Northampton then being a major shoe producing town.
For some reason he relocated from Nunn Mills to the racecourse and departed for HENDON on the 18th. But he didn't make it, being forced to land at Fenny Stratford due to fog. The next day, the 19th, he did make it to HENDON.
This is one example of the very first 'air cargo' flights to take place in the U.K. He used a two-seater Blériot type for this task. Basically it was a publicity stunt, and it seems an advert for the undertaking was placed in the Daily Mirror newspaper. Although today taking three days to complete the task sounds ridiculous, we need to bear in mind that those very basic aircraft had no instrumentation, flew very slowly and couldn't cope with windy conditions.
Note: Mike Holder also tracked down this article from the Bucks Times and County Observer published on the 21st October 1911. It is well worth reading and gives valuable insights into how this escapade progressed, even if a bloke on a bicycle could have delivered the consignment much faster.
In 1912 he changed his name to Rhodes-Moorhouse, and in 1915 when flying in the Royal Flying Corps, operating over Belgium, was very severly wounded but managed to make it back to make his report, before passing away soon after. For this he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Nigel Perry
This comment was written on: 2020-09-09 15:03:37This airfield was known as Loughton The Fountain Hotel now a Harvester pub. Was used by the London gliding Club May 23/24th 1937 for aero-tows by Capt Phillips Avro 504N from Heston,complete with a dog in the rear cockpit. 30 aero-tows on May23. 21 aero-tows next day. Gliders used Hjordis,Grunau,Cambridge II, Rhonsperber and Cambridge I,Kimg Kite and Kiten
Dick Flute
This comment was written on: 2021-05-28 20:32:06Hi Nigel, The first site listed above was just a field. Perhaps near the Fountain Hotel? Who knows? See my listing for FOUNTAIN HOTEL for other info. Best regards, Dick
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