Addington
Note: This map gives only a general location of Addington within the UK.
ADDINGTON: Temporary landing site
NOTES: A report in the Times newspaper dated 10.04.1914 tells that, “The airman Salmet….flew in a waterplane…with the intention of flying to Hendon.” Like so many newspaper reports, (still applicable today of course), the report was, without any doubt (?) certainly inaccurate, To fly his Blériot from Buc aerodrome near Paris to HENDON as a ‘waterplane’ wouldn’t make any sense at all - unless he intended landing on the WELSH HARP of course.
However, looking at maps today, I cannot see a lake or resevoir in or near Addington that could be suitable for floatplane operation.
The tour was to include Barnstable, Falmouth, Ilfracombe, Paington and Penzance. It now appears that Salmet decided that fitting floats was a better option after reaching Paignton? Perhaps before?
It appears that Salmet left Buc, (near Paris), aerodrome at 9.50AM with the intention of reaching Hendon. Flying via Boulougne and Folkestone, “Owing to the bad weather, however , he found it necessary to descend at a farm at ADDINGTON at 1.30.” The report goes on to say, “His machine was undamaged, but he intimated he did not intend to complete the journey to Hendon yesterday.”
Without much if any doubt his Blériot was, at this point on the tour, being operated as a conventional ‘tail-dragger’ type.
SOMETHING TO BEAR IN MIND?
Seeing as we’re on the subject, perhaps I should point out is that a floatplane is by far the safest type to make a forced landing with. You can land it quite safely on nearly every type of land surface (including bogs and heathland), and probably without causing much if any damage. BUT, of course, you’ll never take-off again. Mind you, having said this, it isn’t entirely true as attempts to fit detachable wheeled ‘skates’ have been used, and with some success. In Canada for example, it has been common practice to land seaplanes on the grass at airfields when the summer season ends so that wheels / skis can be fitted for winter operations.
MORE INFORMATION
In June 2017 I discovered this information, sent to me many years ago, and to my great shame I hadn't made a note of the person who very kindly supplied it. Do please get in contact if you discover this web-site. It is not a reasonable excuse, but, over the twenty plus years researching this subject, running a business and having so much else going on, I did tend to quickly file information away without thinking to keep adequate notes regarding their source.
"In 1910, Arthur and Sidney Zippi unsuccessfully attempted to test their monoplane in fields of Lodge Lane just north of present Fieldway."
A MOST DEFINITE LOCATION
In 2021 I was kindly contacted by Mr Phil Green who has produced a lovely video about this airfield.
See:- https://youtu.be/lwhh55J1QCc
"In 1930, British Air Transport applied for use of fields bounded by Milne Park, St Edward's Church, King Henry's Drive, Fairchildes Avenue, and Hutchinson's Bank."
"This was sanctioned in Spring 1932 and a tent hangar was erected in March 1932, this site being used for training new pilots. In summer 1932 a small wooden house for 3 trainer Aircraft replaced the tent. One of the pilots, B. Cheslyn Curtis, recalls the transporting of freight in the form of greyhounds to race elsewhere in England."
"The film 'I was a spy' starring Conrad Veidt and Madeline Carroll was made on the site (this is available by appointment to view on video at Croydon Local History Library)."
"In the Spring of 1933, C.W.A. Scott brought his British Hospitals Air Pageant to Addington."
"Private flights were taken by Miss Pauline Glover, who was later to be Commander of Air transport Auxilliary, whose women pilots ferried aircraft from the factory to the R.A.F." This isn't correct - Pauline Glover in those days was operating a commercial enterprise, Air Trips, providing 'Joy Rides' together with her partner Dorothy Spicer. They based their Spartan Three-seater G-ABKK between PENSHURST in KENT and OAKLEY WOOD in OXFORDSHIRE.
"In early 1944 British Air Transport transferred to Gatwick and later to Redhill." Here again this seems doubtful as in 1944 WW2 was still being fought and civilian operations were nigh on non-existent, especially in this part of England.
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