Which Aerodrome Mk III

[nvubu]

It was an interesting search - and I got distracted by a fair few of the airfields I looked at. I just couldn't find on with 4 1/2 hangers, plus the water in the background.


OK, where in the world should we go next ? I'll have a rummage.

[Russell Gulch]

Its nice to se this thread have a new lease of life! thanks to all the contributors!
Russ

[India Four Two]

Russ,

Thanks.

It's nice to see that everyone is "playing the game" rather than doing just doing an image search.

[albatross]

Calgary....Only place I didn't think of looking ...well done.

[India Four Two]

albatross,

I thought my location would have been a give away!


TwoBigDogs,

Re your deleted post, I cannot PM you. Please PM or email me.

[Terry Dactil]

A bit more historical info, team. It was also originally 'Currie Field' or 'Calgary Military Airfield'

In 1935 the RCAF constructed a landing field on a section of army property located in southwest Calgary. The airfield was known as Currie Field or the Calgary Military Airport. In 1938, the aerodrome was home to two RCAF squadrons: No. 3 (Bomber) Squadron flying Westland Wapitis and No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron flying Armstrong Siskins later upgraded to Hawker Hurricanes. No. 1 (F) Squadron became 401 Squadron posted overseas for combat duty. During the BCATP Lincoln Field became No.3 SFTS airfield. Aircraft flown Avro Anson and Cessna Cranes. After the war became No.10 Repair Depot until 1947 when No.25 Air Material Base Calgary. The base was renamed RCAF Station Lincoln Park. Lincoln Park became a training centre for NATO pilots. This training facility closed in 1958 and the station became an emergency landing field. RCAF Station Lincoln Park was closed to aviation for good in 1964.

I eventually found a plan view of the airfield.
It makes for an interesting search on Google Earth when the 'after' bit of 'before and after' is no longer an airfield.

Before:


After:

[nvubu]

Thanks for that Terry, very interesting - can you do the same at the International airport as there's a similar looking ghost there as well.

Russ - I was quite surprised to see how quiet it had gone when I came back to it a couple of months ago. Thought that it should be more active, and am glad that everyone has made interesting posts.

I've got one coming very shortly - another plan - just removing all the giveaway marks.

[nvubu]

OK, here we go. This is either very easy or hard I'll post a link to a larger version of the plan if wanted


Being constructed

[Russell Gulch]

I know where it is but i dont know the name ( just north of the M60. at A663

Even the sewage works is still there

The Oldham Aircraft Factory?

[Terry Dactil]

Are we looking for an airship station in England in WW1 ?

Thanks Russell. That reduces the search area a lot

[nvubu]

As Russell has the location, I think he has it - Thought it might be easy edit: I see he does

Oldham Aircraft Factory - National Aircraft Factory No 4. Completed just before the end of the Great War, and seems not to have constructed very many aircraft before it closed.

I've replaced the plan above - and here is a link to a larger version

I can't find any images of the airfield - which is where the Avro Ltd Aircraft Plant, Chadderton was built, latterly BAE Chadderton.


Terry - I'll post a balloon station another time

[Terry Dactil]

Thanks for the updated version . The increased resolution reveals a lot more details..
Interesting to see a POW camp on the site.
And what is a Gorse mill for? Feeding the horses or manufacturing dope?

[Russell Gulch]

That wasnt easy for me nvubu. but I know the UK canal network a bit so a bit of sleuthing with a NS railway gave me the location. The sewage works "sluice" helped. I won't tellyou what I do for a living .

Its a pity that there is little on the net about this place.

Open house for the moment, I do have photos but not available wright now.
Thanks for an interesting challenge, nvubu.

p.s I think you should leave your edited version of the chart up in post#5868 for the sake of it , because you removed the name and the name of the canal. but leave your link in your later post to the un-edited one. Russ

[nvubu]

Russell - I've returned the plan to the edited one as suggested.

Interestingly, this was a Handley Page site with a twist - see the below:

Answers the question Terry had about the Gorse Mill.











And the next please

[Allan Lupton]

Originally Posted by nvubu

Oldham Aircraft Factory - National Aircraft Factory No 4. Completed just before the end of the Great War, and seems not to have constructed very many aircraft before it closed.

I can't find any images of the airfield - which is where the Avro Ltd Aircraft Plant, Chadderton was built, latterly BAE Chadderton.

In the 1970s John Bagley (then at RAE but later aeronautical curator at the Science Museum) and I visited the site and found tennis courts where the erecting sheds were - with the same pattern so using the same foundations! The office building had become a branch of HM Stationery Office and their security guard was a bit unhappy that we were taking photos. We didn't show him the period photos we had with us!
John told me it was to build HP O/400s, but that the armistice happened before any were produced. I can't see how they proposed to get the aeroplanes from the factory to the aerodrome for the Americans to fly 'em.
Most of that airfield that went with the factory was the other side of the (new since 1918) Greengate road from the Avro/HSA/BAe Chadderton plant and was mainly allottment gardens when we visited. I think the Chadderton plant is roughly where the American Camp is written on your plan.
Between the HMSO and the Chad. site was a post-WW2 housing development with an Edward VII pillar box on the roadway that heads for the railway bridge. That still makes me wonder what was there before the Oldham Aircraft Factory was built in 1918, as the pillar box should have been 1910 or earlier.
The whole area is totally different since the M60 and its access roads were built and I can't now be sure of what I remember. My post-1924 1" OS map is not much help as it dates from a time that aerodromes and related matters were omitted.

[evansb]

Is this still "What Aerodrome?"..

[Allan Lupton]

Originally Posted by evansb

Is this still "What Aerodrome?"..

We've had a digression, to be sure, but someone, somewhere could be interested in more detail - and I'd say that some of the similar expansions in the previous 290-odd pages help justify this thread being in the History & Nostalgia area rather than Jet Blast.

[India Four Two]

i think it is a very interesting and highly suitable digression. The report posted by nvubu is fascinating and I would like to see more, particularly the conclusion.

I see from the address that the AEF were not slumming it - hobnobbing with the Bellamy's in Belgravia!

[nvubu]

I42



So no aircraft had been completed .

Looking at various maps - current and via old-map.co.uk, the Regimental Institute (part of the American Camp) lasted until somewhere between 1965 & 1975.

[India Four Two]

Thanks, nvubu.

I am guessing that the Chief of Air Services' telegram was something along the lines of "How come you guys have spent so much money but have not assembled any aircraft?"