Podington airfield post-war

[T-21]

Can any readers provide details of aerial activities from 1945 up to 1966 when it became a drag racing strip. Skydiving was done from Dragon Rapide G-AKNN and glider towing using a Tiger Moth and Auster. Any movement dates ? with the proximity of the USAF base at Chelveston and RAE Thurleigh were there special Air Traffic procedures in force ?

[BEagle]

An amusing comment in Airfields of the Eighth, Then and Now:

The 92nd (Bomb Group) left Podington in July 1945 and the airfield was retained by the Air Ministry for storage. As late as 1960, fourteen ministry employees were still looking after the well-being of several million sandbags. A farmer, Mr. Ernie Braddock, was incensed by the waste and, after representations were made throught the local Member of Parliament, the airfield was sold to him in 1961. Although St. Ives Sand & Gravel cleared some concrete Mr. Braddock, realising that it would be worthwhile to clear it himself, set up his own demolition company. Luckily, before large-scale operations had begun at Podington, a group of drag-racing enthusiasts approached Mr. Braddock in 1964 with the proposal to use the main runway as a drag strip. He readily agreed (becoming a director of Santa Pod Raceway) and the first race meeting was held at Easter 1966.

Neither Action Stations nor Airfields of the Eighth, Then and Now have any mention of any post-war flying activities at Podington though.

[T-21]

The Northamptonshire Gliding Club was formed at Sywell in January 1957 . As Sywell grew busier the club looked for an alternative home and after 2 years moved to Twinwood Farm alongside the NAE Gliding Club. Between March 1959 to October 1959 they were housed at Cranfield,then moving to Podington. Tug pilots were Harvey Britten and Harry Midwood and Dave ? Luddington. With the change of airfield use to drag racing the club moved again to Cranfield in May 1965 and was absorbed into the College of Aeronautics club. Gliders used were Cadet Mk.1,Tutor.T-31,T-21,Swallow,Eagle and Skylark 2.

[REF]

you could also try asking the question on this forum
Airfield Information Exchange - The Public Forums of The Airfield Research Group (ARG) :: Index (http://airfieldinformationexchange.freeforums.org/)


Richard