Croydon Airport
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Just found a page from Air Pictorial I stuck in a scrap book. The air show began at 1000hrs on 5th May 1980. I flew from Biggin and landed at about 1004 in my Islander G-BDWG. The first aircraft to land at Croydon since it closed in September 1959.
I was to drop the Royal Artillery parachute team which was 'fun' since the runway was only 450yds long. I got off OK - the landing was much easier!
I was to drop the Royal Artillery parachute team which was 'fun' since the runway was only 450yds long. I got off OK - the landing was much easier!
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Thanks AH I will make a point of seeking out a copy. Ah dear Mike Hook, one of the nicer people who 'pestered' me in my offices at Biggin. Always had time for him especially at the Air Fair's. Perhaps you were there too!!!
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Croydon Airport
Following my last request for memories/tit bits about Wisley aerodrome, I'm hoping that some people on here might have some memories/photos of Croydon Airport. I have lived just down the road from it all my life (which isn't very long by some regular ppruners' standards!) but have yet to meet anyone that had visited/worked or flown from there.
Couple of questions also:
1. I've seen a photo of an HP Herald sitting on the Apron at Croydon. Was this the largest/heaviest aircraft to use the field?
2. Did any jet aircraft use Croydon? Perhaps a Meteor diversion from Biggin etc.
Just asking out of interest! Would love to hear some memoirs!
Cheers
NC
Couple of questions also:
1. I've seen a photo of an HP Herald sitting on the Apron at Croydon. Was this the largest/heaviest aircraft to use the field?
2. Did any jet aircraft use Croydon? Perhaps a Meteor diversion from Biggin etc.
Just asking out of interest! Would love to hear some memoirs!
Cheers
NC
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There are a few books written locally about Croydon, each is available from libraries in Croydon and Sutton. There is also the Croydon Aiport Society who meet regularly in the old main building. They are always ready to help with enquiries and are always looking for new members.
CP
CP
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NC
I actually worked at Croydon Aerodrome (I don't think the word airport had been invented when they built it) back in the early 1960's long after it had ceased to be used by aircraft. My job was in the AFTN comcentre which was in what I think was an old converted hangar right on the Purley Way. By this time the middle of the field was completely overgrown by grass although the perrimeter track was still there. Used to let my 14 year old brother drive me car around it until I found out that the local plod used to take their dogs for a run there. I remember the old hard stand still being there and if my memory serves me right the old control tower still had the plaque stating that it was 650 feet above sea level. My favourite memory is of the "old" aerodrome hotel which in my day was a lovely boozer still complete with lots of old signed photo's of the original aviators and their 'trixes. It was a standing feature there that since at 10 p.m. around 35 of us on our watch would all arrive in one big scrum, at about 9.55 the barmen would start pulling 35 pints and have them on the counter ready for us - and then start pulling the next 35 - remember way back then we only had half an hours drinking time left until last orders.
Not too long after I left in 1964 the whole thing was turned into Roundshaw housing estate and the last time I saw the pub, sometime in the m id 70's it was all neon and crap. Gotta say though even I don't go back as far as the time they had traffic lights on the Purley Way to stop the traffic so that aircraft taking off could cross the road and use the field on the other side to continue their run.
Ah nostalgia mate, it IS what it used to be.
Heat
I actually worked at Croydon Aerodrome (I don't think the word airport had been invented when they built it) back in the early 1960's long after it had ceased to be used by aircraft. My job was in the AFTN comcentre which was in what I think was an old converted hangar right on the Purley Way. By this time the middle of the field was completely overgrown by grass although the perrimeter track was still there. Used to let my 14 year old brother drive me car around it until I found out that the local plod used to take their dogs for a run there. I remember the old hard stand still being there and if my memory serves me right the old control tower still had the plaque stating that it was 650 feet above sea level. My favourite memory is of the "old" aerodrome hotel which in my day was a lovely boozer still complete with lots of old signed photo's of the original aviators and their 'trixes. It was a standing feature there that since at 10 p.m. around 35 of us on our watch would all arrive in one big scrum, at about 9.55 the barmen would start pulling 35 pints and have them on the counter ready for us - and then start pulling the next 35 - remember way back then we only had half an hours drinking time left until last orders.
Not too long after I left in 1964 the whole thing was turned into Roundshaw housing estate and the last time I saw the pub, sometime in the m id 70's it was all neon and crap. Gotta say though even I don't go back as far as the time they had traffic lights on the Purley Way to stop the traffic so that aircraft taking off could cross the road and use the field on the other side to continue their run.
Ah nostalgia mate, it IS what it used to be.
Heat
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incidents at croydon airport
Apologies for ressurecting the thread, but I have just driven past the scene of the St Christopher Airservices Gemine crash in Ridge Park by chance for the first time over 40 years. The crash was at no 20 or 22 a house occupied by the Bluitt family. There was thick snow on the ground at the time which might have had some bearing on the accident. The plane came to rest facing the direction it had come, ie Croydon airport, the tail intact, resting on the front facing ridge of the house. I walked round to it after coming home from school to find the plane being guarded by PC Plod who was fending off questions from us 7 year olds. I can remember being suprised at how intact the plane seemed and that it was made from wood, particularly a large concave shaped piece that looked like a wash basin!!!. I think the wings were more or less intact together with one side of the cockpit. There were no coverings or tarpaulins, so we were not aware of any fatalities or injuries to the occupents. I think the wreckage was removed the following day.
Slight thread drift here but but at the adjacent corner, where the road now continues down to Ambrey Way the used to be the gates to a large house called, I think, Wodcote House which became derilict and an illicit playground, but at the time had a blue Speedbird sign at the gates, and I assume the house was used as an office by the nascent BOAC. Again a slight thread drift, but a nearby house in Ridge Park was occupied by a retired G/C who I understand became an accident inspector for the CAA, might have even been the Chief. Indeed a G/C Tweedie lived nearbye in Plough Lane was I understand involved in accident investigation as well.
I have already mentioned in an earlier post how I cowered under the bed clothes as Dakotas, Ansons, and Consuls thundered seemingly between the chimney pots at 0400 with the newspapers. It seems amazing now how there were not more accidents with the airport being situated in a bowl with housing or industry surrounding it. I can remember a Dove with engine problems crawling over the trees of the cricket club next door, I believe it eventualy made a forced landing in fields towards Banstead. The accident mentioned earlier in Wallington was on top of the Methodist Church Hall in Bandon Hill, and it was subsequently rebuilt.
One incident that has always intregued me was one in late 40's on a Saturday, which involved a Dakota taking off towards the terminal building, and colliding with another plane being one being loaded with passengers. The Dakota was an immegrant flight Rhodesia, ( Spencer Airways, overloaded? ) apparently there was time to unload the plane on the apron before the collision. Perhaps someone could enlighten me, getting passengers off plane of that ilk takes some doing in the time available or was it simply a lght plane. We were travelling up Forresters Drive at the time and witnessed a large amount of smoke from the area as we turned into Stratton Avenue on our way home and assumed it was rubbish being burned and didnt realise the significance of it till later.
The only accident that I actually witnessed was that of an Airways Aero Aiglet which splayed its undercarriage onn the east west runway and closed the airport for a couple of hours.
I used to spend many hours by the railings in Forresters Drive watching the comings and goings, the hours I must have wasted!!!, the advent of the Mexican Viking emerging from the Air Couriers hangar and actually flying, or the arrival of the Leonodes Helold to clear Customs being the only highlights I can remember with any clarity, though I did see the Heron climbing away on the last flight as travelled home on the train through South Croydon Station.
I hope these disjointed ramblings are of some interest to fellow residents of the Croydon Airport community Alan
Slight thread drift here but but at the adjacent corner, where the road now continues down to Ambrey Way the used to be the gates to a large house called, I think, Wodcote House which became derilict and an illicit playground, but at the time had a blue Speedbird sign at the gates, and I assume the house was used as an office by the nascent BOAC. Again a slight thread drift, but a nearby house in Ridge Park was occupied by a retired G/C who I understand became an accident inspector for the CAA, might have even been the Chief. Indeed a G/C Tweedie lived nearbye in Plough Lane was I understand involved in accident investigation as well.
I have already mentioned in an earlier post how I cowered under the bed clothes as Dakotas, Ansons, and Consuls thundered seemingly between the chimney pots at 0400 with the newspapers. It seems amazing now how there were not more accidents with the airport being situated in a bowl with housing or industry surrounding it. I can remember a Dove with engine problems crawling over the trees of the cricket club next door, I believe it eventualy made a forced landing in fields towards Banstead. The accident mentioned earlier in Wallington was on top of the Methodist Church Hall in Bandon Hill, and it was subsequently rebuilt.
One incident that has always intregued me was one in late 40's on a Saturday, which involved a Dakota taking off towards the terminal building, and colliding with another plane being one being loaded with passengers. The Dakota was an immegrant flight Rhodesia, ( Spencer Airways, overloaded? ) apparently there was time to unload the plane on the apron before the collision. Perhaps someone could enlighten me, getting passengers off plane of that ilk takes some doing in the time available or was it simply a lght plane. We were travelling up Forresters Drive at the time and witnessed a large amount of smoke from the area as we turned into Stratton Avenue on our way home and assumed it was rubbish being burned and didnt realise the significance of it till later.
The only accident that I actually witnessed was that of an Airways Aero Aiglet which splayed its undercarriage onn the east west runway and closed the airport for a couple of hours.
I used to spend many hours by the railings in Forresters Drive watching the comings and goings, the hours I must have wasted!!!, the advent of the Mexican Viking emerging from the Air Couriers hangar and actually flying, or the arrival of the Leonodes Helold to clear Customs being the only highlights I can remember with any clarity, though I did see the Heron climbing away on the last flight as travelled home on the train through South Croydon Station.
I hope these disjointed ramblings are of some interest to fellow residents of the Croydon Airport community Alan
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Yes it was, London's first AIRPORT. I.e. the only London airport with full Customs & Immigration facilities.Check www.croydonairport.org.uk
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I have two pictures of the Czech DC 3 which was destroyed by the Spencer DC 3 which were taken by my father just after it happened however I cannot seem to get the hang of uploading pictures to this forum. I realise I am steam driven at my age but the whole process seems more difficult than other forums I am on.
KeMac
KeMac
If you can locate a copy, Roy Lockwood's 1934 short film "Airport" makes interesting viewing. It's a "day in the life" of Croydon Airport, and includes footage of an HP42 loading, fueling, starting & flying from Croydon. Also the mechanics stripping an engine from same, & some wonderful (lack of) H&S regarding solvents and climbing scaffolding towers.
There are other aircraft featured, but I can't remember the details.
There are other aircraft featured, but I can't remember the details.
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CROYDON AIRPORT....?
Croydon Airport, in recent times, has held an open day on the first Sunday of January. I've been a couple of times previously, but this year the 1st Sunday is New Year's day.
Has it in fact taken place, or does anybody know if this year it will be next Sunday, the 8th? There didn't seem to me any mention on the visitor centre page.
I've read PPRuNe contributions from Croydon Airport Historians from those parts, so hoping someone will know......
P.S. For our non-UK cousins, Croydon Airport was London's main international version during the 1930s, and later. All that exists now is the original combined terminal and control tower building. It's also very much the flavour of Art Deco.
Has it in fact taken place, or does anybody know if this year it will be next Sunday, the 8th? There didn't seem to me any mention on the visitor centre page.
I've read PPRuNe contributions from Croydon Airport Historians from those parts, so hoping someone will know......
P.S. For our non-UK cousins, Croydon Airport was London's main international version during the 1930s, and later. All that exists now is the original combined terminal and control tower building. It's also very much the flavour of Art Deco.
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Times plse
Hi Batchy,
There's no times published on the flyer for the 8th at Croydon, can you plse post these. I've tried to call Redhill & sent a mail, but no answer.
Thks Merlin
There's no times published on the flyer for the 8th at Croydon, can you plse post these. I've tried to call Redhill & sent a mail, but no answer.
Thks Merlin