Werrington
WERRINGTON: Temporary aerodrome
Operated by: Mr S Summerfield
Location: Roughly 3nm NNW of Peterbrough city centre
Period of operation: 14th to 24th June 1920
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have, once again, Mike Holder who is a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for discovering this little known venue and providing the following items to illustrate the listing.
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE 24th JUNE 1920
The following articles are based on the findings of the inquest hearing and much emphasis is on if aerobatics had been being performed. The Avro 504K was built as a very tough aeroplane and more than capable of regularly performing aerobatics for months on end for many years. Indeed, the Avro 504K and 504N versions continued in service almost until WW2 giving joy-rdes and public air-show displays without, to my knowledge, any major structural problems being recorded when flying? However, in this case, although we will never know the exact cause, I strongly suspect that a major structural component, (probably in the central cabane struts area?), was the root cause of both wings becoming detached. Advice will be welcomed.
This article in four parts, plus the photo, was published in the Hunts County News on the 2nd July 1920.
TWO MORE VERSIONS OF THE STORY
Article Two, in two parts, was published in the Birmingham Daily Gazette on the 28th June 1920. Article three appeared in the Oxfordshire Weekly News on the 30th June 1920.
The local area and area views are from my Google Earth© derived database.
NOTES: The Avro 504K G-EADR (ex D6245) was first put on the civil register 10.07.19, and is described as being nearly new. Which suggests that although being given a military serial it was probably a war surplus machine of which there were a large number available at the time. Many if not most having seen no military service. It was registered to Mr S Summerfield from 09.03.20 and possibly his only machine owned at this time?
It might be worth mentioning that short term venues such as this, even though being operated out of a tent which was not unusual, were required to be officially licensed as aerodromes. Even if used for just one day! In most if not all cases in the early days, two officials from the Air Ministry would arrive to conduct an inspection, usually driving across and around the field in their car to assess its suitabilty. And sometimes placing restrictions on the landing runs to be used, especially if different types of aircraft were being used.
Perhaps needless to say, even after WW2, there were some 'cowboy' operators who suddenly pitched up offering rides, pocketed the proceeds and vanished. The public can be very gullible about such things, understandably. After all, if an aeroplane appeared offering rides, surely it was all legit? Can you imagine the pilot admitting it wasn't?
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