Perdiswell Park
PERDISWELL PARK: Temporary aerodrome (also known as PERDISWELL PARK AERODROME)
Note: Almost certainly renamed as RAF WORCESTER in WW2. (See seperate listing under Worcester flying sites)
FLYING CIRCUS OPRATIONS
Operated by: Alan Cobham’s 1932 National Aviation Day UK Display tour and next year by the No.1 Tour, also the 1934 Tour
Location: NNE of Worcester city centre
Period of operation: 28th April 1932 to 1934 only?
NOTES: It does not always follow that the 'Flying Circus' operators, (a term despised by Alan Cobham incidentally), used the same site on return visits. In fact this was quite often the case and, indeed, it was not unknown for them to hire a field adjacent to an existing aerodrome! A lot depended on the most favourable terms that could be negotiated.
In 1932 this venue was listed in the Alan Cobham itinerary as being simply Perdiswell Park. However, in the 1933 No.1 tour itinerary (5th October 1933) it was called Perdiswell Park Aerodrome which suggests that others adopted the site as a more permanent aerodrome.
Can anybody confirm this and add extra collaborative proof?
Venue (19th June 1934) for Cobham’s 1934 Tour of the UK
ANOTHER ASPECT
In late 2009 I discovered in the Flight magazine archives that WORCESTER MUNICIPAL AERODROME was to be opened in 1936 occupying a 90 acre site. Is it safe to assume this surely must have been this site?
When I started the research for this 'Guide' over fifteen years ago, (this being in 2015), I would have considered that it must be blindingly obvious. However, over the years I discovered that you really cannot take these things for granted. Also, as Perdiswell Park itself appears to be somewhat larger than the aerodrome site, it might well have been that they operated from different areas within the park.
A search of the ‘web’ reveals that in WW2 the King’s Flight were positioned here to escape the bombing raids on London.
Dennis Strudwick
This comment was written on: 2017-09-09 10:43:49Can the Local Authority be encouraged to erect signs to mark/commemorate this historic site in particular the place where Clark Gable's airplane crashed. Great stuff. This place should be appropriately remembered - not built on.
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Dennis, I shall keep this posted. Best regards, Dick
Tom Moore
This comment was written on: 2017-12-11 20:39:01As a child in the 1950s, my family used to drive down to Weston Super Mare from Solihull for a holiday. No M5 in those days, so we used to drive down the A38 towards Tewkesbury then cross country towards Bristol. Shortly after passing the MOD depot at Ashchurch, there was a fork in the road with a farmhouse where there was a Spitfire in the garden. I always got my father to stop so that I could climb up on the wing and look into the cockpit. There was never anyone around and it was just at the side of the road with no fence. I wasn't an enthusiast so never noted the registration details, The only thing I can say for certain is that it was unpainted i.e. a polished aluminium finish all over. My recollection is that it was there every year until the early 60's then we stopped using that route so I never knew what happened to it. Can anyone supply some information please? Thanks
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Tom, I shall keep this request posted and hopefully somebody can help. I would certainly appreciate a picture to add to my Museums & Gate Guardians article. Best regards, Dick
Tim Onions
This comment was written on: 2018-09-23 20:28:57re WORCESTER MUNICIPAL AERODROME - yes this was the proposed site but the aerodrome was never built. The park did indeed operate during WWII, mainly as a training base with Tiger Moths afaik. I too would like to see a commemorative stone/plaque etc but do not know who to contact, council might be willing to allow it but would not pay for it. btw during the 50s and 60s there was a Spitfire on "gate guard" (long after the airfield ceased to be) later to be replaced by a Javelin, but unlikely that the Spitfire is the one referred to on an earlier comment.
Max
This comment was written on: 2020-09-26 21:37:26The location is one and the same, with the old grass airfield now playing fields and a golf course, plus the local ATC unit hut. There are no plans to build on it, though a leisure centre was constructed in the 70s and primary school. Google maps shows it well. The strip was parallel to the canal I am told, and temporary hangars located where the LC is now. The council - who own the land - did ask for suggestions in improving facilities, and I put forward that a memorial stone be put up, and history boards of the site - hopefully vandal proof - for visitors, of which few know the background. In researching elsewhere, I picked up that some fatalities occurred locally when under training.
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