Tiffield
TIFFIELD: Temporary Landing Ground
Operated by: No.2 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
Location: Just E of the A43, about 1.75nm NE of Towcester town centre and 6nm SSW of Northampton town centre
Period of operation: During February 1913
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for providing the information, maps etc.
A VERY COMPREHENSIVE REPORT
This was published in the Northampton Mercury on the 21st February 1913.
Note: The chimneys of the brickworks in the background helped to identify this field.
Note: The area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
NOTES: The No.2 Squadron, one of three squadrons based at FARNBOROUGH, was formed on the 13th May 1912. Thereby forming the nucleas of the Royal Flying Corps. However, it appears that Army operational flying activity was actually under the naval wing of the RFC. Which makes for a rather confusing history to say the least. The RNAS, (Royal Naval Air Service), was formed on the 1st July 1914.
For some reason in those days, the greatest threat to the Royal Navy, from Germany, was perceived to be be in Scotland. Therefore the first Naval Air Station in the UK was established at MONTROSE, in Angus, to help protect the Navy. Mainly by conducting aerial spotting duties.
In February 1913, in the depths of winter of course, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, gave orders for a Flight of Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2s to fly from FARNBOROUGH to MONTROSE. In those days a daunting task even in summer, and only a fool, totally ignorant of aviation would have given such an order! And yet, can you believe, Churchill had undertaken basic flying training, but obviously had learnt nothing. (See CLACTON)
To put things into some kind of perspective, the straight line distance from FARNBOROUGH to MONTROSE is around 500 miles. The distance from London to central Paris being around 210 miles, and, the direct distance from London to Berlin is around 580 miles. So, those intrepid RFC aviators had a very daunting task ahead of them after departing from FARNBOROUGH, with very basic flight instruments and no navigation aids bar a map to read in an open cockpit at best.
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