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Old 20th Nov 2007, 15:52
  #1488 (permalink)  
MReyn24050
 
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Mel's Challenge

India Four Two has it
Ford airfield was opened 1918; at first it was called Ford junction airfield, then became Yapton aerodrome but was known as Ford Aerodrome by 1931. Originally a training station, it was briefly occupied by the United States Navy later in 1918 and was closed in the following year.
In the 1930s the airfield was used at different times as a flying school, for joy-rides, as the headquarters of Sir Alan Cobham's 'flying circus', and as a base for experimental flying. At the time of the photograph 1933 the airfield was used by Rollason Aeroplane Co (who ran the South downs Aero club). In 1937, however, it was taken back by the Air Ministry, new buildings being built in Climping parish, while the original buildings continued to be used for experimental purposes. The airfield was to becmme HMS Peregrine and used by the Fleet Air Arm until it was closed 1959.
I had my first ever flight from HMS Peregrine, way back in 1954, as a young CCF RN Cadet. We were flown in an Anson and typical RN, they had there fun, in that they made us all wear parachutes, we were never told how to use them mind, and they made us run out to the aircraft with the chutes swinging behind us almost knocking legs from under us.
IndiaFourTwo you have control.
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