Spalding flying sites
Note: This map only shows the postion of Spalding within the UK.
SPALDING see also CROWLAND
AN IMPORTANT NOTE:
It would now appear that the sites listed below were fairly close to each other, NE of Spalding
WYKEHAM: Temporary Landing Ground (Aka SPALDING)
Note: These four items, and the article below, were kindly provided by Mr Michael T Holder
This was the 3rd venue, on the 17th May 1929, for Sir Alan Cobham’s 1929 Municipal Aerodrome Campaign Tour. Starting in May, the Tour was planned to visit one hundred and seven towns and cities before ending in October. They were mostly in England, with two venues in Wales and eight in Scotland. The northenmost being Perth. The aircraft he used was the ten-seater de Havilland DH61 Giant Moth G-AAEV, named 'Youth of Britain'.
But, given its task to get towns and cities 'Air Minded' in the UK, why was Spalding selected as being the 3rd venue? Without any wish to put Spalding down, I fail to see why a Municipal aerodrome here could have been such an important addition to the UK network? In the end, after a couple of crashes and other setbacks, Cobham managed to visit around 95 venues. A quite magnificent achievement nevertheless.
This article, published in the Nottingham Journal on the 15th May is of much interest. Especially for anybody struggling, (like myself), to untangle the history. The reporter had got the story completely wrong. The Tour started in Oxford on the 15th May, then visited CARDINGTON on the 16th, before Cobham landed here on the 17th.
NOTES: In April 1931 it seems the CD Barnard Air Tours performed at a venue during their tour of the UK in/near Spalding. Does anybody now know where this took place?
WESTON MARSH: Civil aerodrome (Aka SPALDING)
Note: The first and third pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©. The second kindly provided by Mr Michael T Holder.
Location: Roughly 4.5nm NE of Spalding town centre
Period of operation: 1947 to 1954? (But is this correct?)
SPALDING AIRWAYS - A GALLERY BY MICHAEL T HOLDER
Our thanks clearly extend to Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide' for tracking down these items. The first was published in both the Lincolnshire Standard and the Boston Guardian on the 28th February 1948. The third item was published in the Skegness Standard on the 17th November 1948 and the fourth item was published in the Boston Guardian on the 28th June 1950.
The DH89A Rapide G-AEMH at SOUTHEND is of interest in that it was registered to Mr George Clifton from 09.03.49 to 24.05.52. The address is the same as in the 1950 advert above - so presumably Spalding Airways was his trading name. If correct, it does of course raise the question about the aircraft he was using in 1948? Is it possible for example that he rented or leased G-AEMH from Manx Air Charter based at RONALDSWAY on the Isle of Man, to whom it was registered from 11.07.47 to 16.02.49, then made an offer to buy it?
This said, the picture above of G-AEMH was taken when it was later owned by East Anglian Flying Services, soon to be part of Channel Airways. The clue being the Bristol Superfreighter seen beyond, which first flew on the 16th January 1953.
NOTES: In the 1957 'The Aeroplane' directory, the Spalding Aero Club is listed, based at SPALDING aerodrome. It is of course a constant problem for anybody attempting to provide a directory. Is the information available up to date? Thank heavens I decided right from the start, that this project would be simply a 'Guide'.
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