Rose Hill
ROSE HILL: Temporary aerodrome (Aka Mr HARPER'S FIELD)
Operated by: Berkshire Aviation Company
Location: In Iffley, just W of the A4158 and just N of the much later A4142 Oxford ring road. About 2.25nm SSE of Oxford city centre
Period of operation: 3rd to 6th July 1919
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have, here once again, to thank Mike Holder, a great long term friend of this 'Guide, for researching and providing the following items.
The Advert One was placed in the Oxfordshire Chronicle and Reading Gazette on the 27th June 1919. Advert Two was placed in the Oxford Journal on the 2nd July 1919.
FROM THE PRESS
This article, in three parts, was published in the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette on the 4th July 1919.
This photo was published, in the Oxford Journal on the 9th July 1919. It shows the Avro 504K G-EACL (ex D9298) built by the Parnall Company at Yate near Bristol at ROSE HILL. This was the first aircraft operated by the Berkshire Aviation Company, and was being flown by Alan Cobham, (later Sir Alan Cobham after his pioneering flights for Imperial Airways). Purchased from the Aircraft Disposal Board at WADDESDON aerodrome, which was later absorbed into the later CROYDON airport, it was also one the first aircraft on the Civil Aircraft Register, which came into force, in the UK, in 1919. Starting with G-EAAA.
This said, many if not most operators ignored painting the civil registration onto their aircraft for many months. I suppose they were looking for 'A Round Too-IT' tool to complete the task? The G-E system lasted for about nine years, before being replaced by the G-AAAA register, perhaps the most famous early example being G-AAAH, the DH60G Moth which Amy Johnson flew to Australia, now exhibited in the Science Museum.
Mike Holder is not one to leave any turn unstoned, and eventually discovered from a Court Report published in the Oxfordshire Weekly News published on the 6th July 1910, where Mr Harper's Meadow actually was. The local area view is from my Google Earth© derived database.
NOTES: When the Berkshire Aviation Company started out, they had two notable problems to resolve, the first being how to maintain the French designed but British-built 110hp Le Rhone, to keep operating long enough to complete a day of flying. On at least a couple of occassions a complete strip down and overhaul was undertaken during the night using parafin lamps out in the open, using a conveniant tree to sling a hoist a branch.
The other main problem was that every field intended to be used, had to be licensed, and therefore inspected by the Air Ministry prior to any display taking place. Needless to say this sort of combination would, and indeed did, defeat many of the aspiring 'joy-ride' operators setting up after WW1. Only a few survived more than a year or two. Without much if any doubt of the Berkshire Aviation Company succeeding, was that unlike most of the others, concentrating on the summer season to raise sufficient revenue, they kept going all year round.
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
