Vanished airfields
We have several right inside the city of Toronto. A few years back, they were excavating for a new development beside the East York Staples/Business Depot and they discovered a huge underground fuel storage tank that was part of an airport apparently abandoned in the 1930s. "Wow, imagine if all that jet fuel had blown up" was a comment heard by a young reporter on the CBC!
We have several right inside the city of Toronto. A few years back, they were excavating for a new development beside the East York Staples/Business Depot and they discovered a huge underground fuel storage tank that was part of an airport apparently abandoned in the 1930s. "Wow, imagine if all that jet fuel had blown up" was a comment heard by a young reporter on the CBC!
Thought police antagonist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Where I always have been...firmly in the real world
Posts: 1,371
Received 110 Likes
on
77 Posts
" The airfield I first flew from, Woodford the home of the Lancaster, Vulcan and Nimrod, is rapidly disappearing under a housing development. All in all a somewhat depressing subject."
Ironically, bits of RNAS Stretton still remain relatively intact. Also RAF Cranage, albeit there's virtually nothing left to identify it as an airfield. Not an airfield, but once a prominent Station, RAF Hednesford on Cannock Chase "remains " with the various paths and some structures visible
Ironically, bits of RNAS Stretton still remain relatively intact. Also RAF Cranage, albeit there's virtually nothing left to identify it as an airfield. Not an airfield, but once a prominent Station, RAF Hednesford on Cannock Chase "remains " with the various paths and some structures visible
There are reputedly, or were until fairly recently at least, still concrete airship mooring blocks visible at Howden in Yorkshire and Mullion on the Lizard in Cornwall.
Join Date: May 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
" The airfield I first flew from, Woodford the home of the Lancaster, Vulcan and Nimrod, is rapidly disappearing under a housing development. All in all a somewhat depressing subject."
Ironically, bits of RNAS Stretton still remain relatively intact. Also RAF Cranage, albeit there's virtually nothing left to identify it as an airfield. Not an airfield, but once a prominent Station, RAF Hednesford on Cannock Chase "remains " with the various paths and some structures visible
Ironically, bits of RNAS Stretton still remain relatively intact. Also RAF Cranage, albeit there's virtually nothing left to identify it as an airfield. Not an airfield, but once a prominent Station, RAF Hednesford on Cannock Chase "remains " with the various paths and some structures visible
A closed airfield near the home where I grew up and enjoyed many flights as an ATC cadet was Llandow. Quite close to St Athan it was a training base during the war and then a civillian MU and home of 614 sqdn (Vampires) Probably most known for the worst air crash in the UK at the time when a Tudor airliner crashed on landing..
Join Date: May 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A closed airfield near the home where I grew up and enjoyed many flights as an ATC cadet was Llandow. Quite close to St Athan it was a training base during the war and then a civillian MU and home of 614 sqdn (Vampires) Probably most known for the worst air crash in the UK at the time when a Tudor airliner crashed on landing..
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Just out of sight
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Some 40 years ago i was growing up in Radlett Hertfordshire. During the summer hols we would often walk across the fields to what we called Handley page, but was infact Radlett aerodrome. Today most of it is an industrial site and some given over to housing. The old entrance to the aerodrome is still there, now its the entrance to the industrial estate. Not been there for some years now but i recall some of the taxi ways were still visible
In my youth I did a bit of controlling at Leavesden, at the time home to a Rolls-Royce helicopter engine factory, and often had to sort out Leavesden traffic with flights in and out of Hatfield. Both long gone but they leave happy memories.
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Just out of sight
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Leavesden now home to Harry Potter world (good grief !!). Brother in law worked at British aerospace Hatfield now home to Ocado (other food suppliers are available)
Last edited by crunchynutter; 16th Jun 2021 at 21:53. Reason: clarification
How time passes: I did a course at Rolls-Royce's Small Engine Division, Leavesden and remember at least one Moth Club rally at Hatfield.
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,617
Received 293 Likes
on
161 Posts
Quite a lot of Hatfield was developed into the de Havilland Campus for the University of Hertfordshire by my erstwhile employers. I subsequently spent quite a lot of time correcting "De Havilland" in bids and other business development documents!
I was born in Watford and moved to Hertford at an age when I was still measured horizontally rather than vertically and then 6 years later we moved to Welwyn Garden City.
I'm sure it wasn't actually so frequent but it seemed like every weekend we went to Watford to visit one or the other sets of grandparents. This meant passing Hatfield, Radlett and, every other visit, Leavesden.
I clearly remember the de Havilland office building and the airfield being open and many years later I went to one of the last open days and air displays there. It didn't matter what the company name was on the building, it was and always will be de Havilland to me. From the house in Welwyn Garden City we could see aircraft coming up from Hatfield but which particular aircraft now up to 60 years later I've no idea. Most likely Tridents I imagine.
A few miles later we crossed the end of a runway at Radlett, on what was then the A405. I only actually remember seeing one aircraft coming in there, or not really seeing it as it passed directly over the roof of the car, extremely low. Dad looked at the roof of the car when we arrived and when I asked what he was doing he said checking for tyre marks.
Leavesden I don't remember seeing any aircraft movements, although my dad remembered seeing new Mosquitos being pushed out of the hangars during the war. I guess any aircraft movements in the later 50s and 60s would be helicopters so probably nearer the factory buildings - and not necessarily at weekends anyway.
Again I remember seeing the name change from de Havilland Engines, to Bristol-Siddeley Engines and then to Rolls-Royce Small Engine Division.
I'm sure it wasn't actually so frequent but it seemed like every weekend we went to Watford to visit one or the other sets of grandparents. This meant passing Hatfield, Radlett and, every other visit, Leavesden.
I clearly remember the de Havilland office building and the airfield being open and many years later I went to one of the last open days and air displays there. It didn't matter what the company name was on the building, it was and always will be de Havilland to me. From the house in Welwyn Garden City we could see aircraft coming up from Hatfield but which particular aircraft now up to 60 years later I've no idea. Most likely Tridents I imagine.
A few miles later we crossed the end of a runway at Radlett, on what was then the A405. I only actually remember seeing one aircraft coming in there, or not really seeing it as it passed directly over the roof of the car, extremely low. Dad looked at the roof of the car when we arrived and when I asked what he was doing he said checking for tyre marks.
Leavesden I don't remember seeing any aircraft movements, although my dad remembered seeing new Mosquitos being pushed out of the hangars during the war. I guess any aircraft movements in the later 50s and 60s would be helicopters so probably nearer the factory buildings - and not necessarily at weekends anyway.
Again I remember seeing the name change from de Havilland Engines, to Bristol-Siddeley Engines and then to Rolls-Royce Small Engine Division.
Originally Posted by DHfan
I guess any aircraft movements in the later 50s and 60s would be helicopters so probably nearer the factory buildings
I think I had known there was business traffic there later but by the early 80s my grandparents were all long gone so I passed by extremely rarely if ever.
Rethinking my last post, we moved to Welwyn Garden City in October 1959 so that would predate Tridents. I've never had a great interest in civil aircraft anyway and at the age of seven my recognition skills were limited, to say the least.
Panshanger, which I'd known for a while, as well as any 3 to 4 year old could anyway, and then again in my middle teens was only a mile or two from where we lived. That has been shrinking steadily over the years, in fact my sister now lives on what was airfield land, or very close to it at least. From what I understand, what's left of it is unlikely to reopen and is earmarked for housing.
Rethinking my last post, we moved to Welwyn Garden City in October 1959 so that would predate Tridents. I've never had a great interest in civil aircraft anyway and at the age of seven my recognition skills were limited, to say the least.
Panshanger, which I'd known for a while, as well as any 3 to 4 year old could anyway, and then again in my middle teens was only a mile or two from where we lived. That has been shrinking steadily over the years, in fact my sister now lives on what was airfield land, or very close to it at least. From what I understand, what's left of it is unlikely to reopen and is earmarked for housing.
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi everyone. Don't know if anyone can help me here but I remember as a child in the 1980's, possibly even late 70's, heading for a family holiday. We were driving along a main road near London - at least a dual carriageway but might have been a motorway - and seeing tails of light aircraft (possibly some twins, Navajo etc.?) peeping above the top of the roadside embankment. The embankment seemed very high but I was only little so it might not have been as big as I remember it. I've looked on google maps and can't see an airfield that close to a major road so I'm guessing it's been built on.
I vaguely recall my dad saying it was 'Watford Airport'. Although my dad did once tell me that the Wombles lived in Blaydon, so this must be taken with a pinch of salt.
I vaguely recall my dad saying it was 'Watford Airport'. Although my dad did once tell me that the Wombles lived in Blaydon, so this must be taken with a pinch of salt.
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,617
Received 293 Likes
on
161 Posts
That's got to be Leavesden - the hangars were at the top of a steep bank above the A41. Eagle Aviation usually had several King Airs on the ramp... when I was 15 I walked from Borehamwood station to Elstree, then Leavesden and ended up at Watford station!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mXSiE5Nr55gCfHks7
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mXSiE5Nr55gCfHks7
Last edited by treadigraph; 18th Jun 2021 at 05:45.
Weston-super-mare was once, before the war, home to the busiest air route in the world with DH Rapides shuttling back and forwards to Cardiff. The pubs were shut on Sundays in Wales! It became a shadow factory for Bristol with Beaufighter production, (87 a month at the peak!) then post war helicopter production, first Bristol then Westland. A volunteer gliding school also operated for many years. Now a housing estate. The runway is now the main through route called “The Runway” and the roads have aviation names, like Slingsby Rd, Glider Ave, as well as some more obscure ( to non aviation folk) Leonides Avenue, Mamba Grove, Astazou Drive, Miles Row and Nimbus Way.
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LLANDOW
RE LLANDOW. I was working in editorial at the western Mail when the Tudor crashed (It was a Sunday I recollect) . Took the phone call from a member of the public and went with the photog down there. We were the first 'newsies' to arrive after a mad dash.
He was coopted by the police to photo bodies for ID. I always remember that day being 16 yrs old. Not a nice sight.
After that I joined the Feet Air Arm... and after Llandow dead bodies never affected me!
Any way. Brawdy Naval Air Staion is still in good nick (Served there)..the runways like new ..althothe place is closed. St Davids is still thhere. Dale and Templeton.
When you think of the number of Naval airfields at the end of WW2 we had AND a decent Fleet Air Arm...and now look at what we have...
Makes you weep.
He was coopted by the police to photo bodies for ID. I always remember that day being 16 yrs old. Not a nice sight.
After that I joined the Feet Air Arm... and after Llandow dead bodies never affected me!
Any way. Brawdy Naval Air Staion is still in good nick (Served there)..the runways like new ..althothe place is closed. St Davids is still thhere. Dale and Templeton.
When you think of the number of Naval airfields at the end of WW2 we had AND a decent Fleet Air Arm...and now look at what we have...
Makes you weep.
Last edited by BRIEFING OFFICER; 18th Jun 2021 at 19:36. Reason: spelling