Beaulieu flying sites
Note: The map gives the location of the WW2 airfield; the EAST BOLDRE site is roughly 1nm to the east.
Note: This picture was obtained from Google Earth ©
BEAULIEU: One of the first UK flying grounds or airfields, later military aerodrome in WW1
(Known as EAST BOLDRE from 1916?)
Note: This picture (of the brick building painted in white) taken by the author in June 2004 is apparently the only tangible remains of the WW1 airfield. This said, I would think that the perfectly flat playing fields adjacent to this building might also be a legacy?
Operated by: 1910: William Edward McArdle and the American J Armstrong ‘Chips’ Drexel (Others say it was formed in 1911)
Flying School: 1910 to 1912: New Forest Flying School (Others say it was the ‘New Forest Aviation School)
Military users: In 1914 the Army (RFC) took over, (from a nearby site), with flying from 1915 to 1919
Reserve and Training Squadron Station RFC/RAF 1916 to 1918. Training Depot Station and Training School RAF 1918 to 1919
Location: On Beaulieu Heath adjacent to and W to SW of the Beaulieu Estate, 3nm NNE of Lymington
Period of operation: Civil: 1910 (?) to 1911. Military: 1914 to 1919
Site area: WW1: 213 acres 1052 x 777
NOTES: Official records show BEAULIEU as being the place where J Armstrong Drexel gained his Pilots Certificate, (No.14), dated 21st June 1910 flying a Blériot Monoplane. He was the first but a few other pilots followed his example by also getting their Pilots Certificates awarded after their flying training here. Quinto Poggoili gained his Pilot Certificate No: 65 here dated 28/2/11 - the fourth pilot to do so. What was his history I wonder? It appears the company ceased trading in late 1911. It does seem more than reasonable to ask why on earth did McCardle and Drexel decide to form a flying school at such a remote location? Even today it is not exactly a quick and covenient place to visit even by car!
It also appears that Drexel was quite a pioneer by setting a new British altitude record soon after, (or even during?), learning to fly of 1,100ft “over the New Forest” in early 1910.
The irony being that many years later Lord Montagu decided to set up a heritage Motor Museum nearby in 1952 which has since become a major enterprise venue encompassing a vast range of ‘associated’ activities centred around the value of the museum legacy.
When I started the research for this book I would have immediately jumped to the conclusion that this site and the one listed below must surely be one and the same. Not so although they were closely located. For more information find the book ‘History of Beaulieu Airfield’ by Bob Coles published in 1982 to provide more information. When I first discovered this airfield I felt pretty confident it would be on the Beaulieu Estate but this is not the case even though I have read the then Lord Montagu did positively encourage the enterprise.
During investigating the information available for this Guide I often discovered details which, on the face of it, made no sense at all. Obviously in most cases, I suppose (?) another important factor was involved. For example it is claimed that in 1913 Perry-Beadle & Co, with their works in Twickenham (West London), decided to first fly their T.1 design, a small tractor biplane, from here. Why? In those days the transportation alone was a major costly exercise and the majority of manufacturing companies ‘off airfield’ in this region used BROOKLANDS. Was it because the site was unused and therefore a cheap if not free venue to use?
It appears that from 1945 to 1950 this site was used as a Drop Zone by nearby RAF BEAULIEU
BEAULIEU: Civil Landing Ground (Aka BEAULIEU – BROCKENHUST)
Location: 1nm WSW of Beaulieu, S of B3055, just before junction with B3054
Period of operation: 1930s only?
Runway: Max landing run: 283 grass
NOTES: Info source ‘AA Landing Grounds’ publication, 1930s. From this information it certainly seems that this airstrip had no connection with either of the other two BEAULIEU airfields listed very close by? Extra info recently published by the ARG (Airfield Research Group) adds that a telephone was available at, “Swinesleys Farm adjoining LG”.
BEAULIEU: Military aerodrome. RAF initially but having a RN Air Section in 1948 (also known as BROCKENHURST and LADYCROSS)
Military users: RAF Fighter Command 11 Group
Forward Airfield
279 (ASR) Sqdn (Lockheed Hudsons)
USAAF: 9th Air Force
323rd & 365th Bomber Group
Post WW2:Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment
Location: Roughly 0.5nm W of the EAST BOLDRE location, 3nm NNE of Lymington
Period of operation: 1942 to 1950
Runways: 08/26 1801x46 hard 02/20 1252x46 hard 15/33 1252x46 hard
NOTES: This airfield was closed for good in 1960 although any flying activity seems to have ceased many years before. After WW2 control of the airfield passed to the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment. Does anybody know what they did here?For over a quarter of a century at least this site has been run by the Forestry Commission and you may well find you can use this aerodrome with a caravan or motor caravan/camper or tent. You can certainly use STONEY CROSS aerodrome also in the New Forest and as a family along with friends we have done so, parking up in one of the dispersal areas. This was roughly in about 1990 but within minutes of being let out our children were running back with spent cannon cartridges and other sorts of similar ammunition some of which were whole and hadn’t been fired!
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN DISPLAY
On the 17th September 1949 a Battle of Britain Display was hosted, the last before the airfield closed in 1950. Peter Amos was there, having cycled across from Christchurch, and gives an account in the most excellent Tails Of The Fifties compiled by Peter Campbell which I’ll quote simply because I’m astonished such a show could have occurred here, an airfield which to all intents and purposes was pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Not too many people owned cars in those days but it seems quite a large crowd had assembled.
“Beaulieu was home to the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment who put on a very good display and the Command fly-past consisted of Yorks, Lincolns and Meteors before the American Superfortresses arrived. Sqdn. Ldr. ‘Jeep’ Cable showed what could be done with a Bristol helicopter, including engine-off landings, and seen for the first time in public was the new technique developed by Flight Refuelling Ld, when one of their Lancaster tankers appeared with a Meteor linked by a refuelling hose. The Meteor then broke away overhead the airfield.”
Just copying this out almost produces goosebumps, the sense of nostalgia is so great. But there’s more! “The famous circus of performing Hoverflies disguised as elephants was put through its paces, and at the end of the act the Cireva Air Horse arrived and disgorged a herd of pantomime ponies, which after amusing the crowd with their antics were lassoed and taken round to collect for the RAF Benevolent Fund. High speed aerobatics by the Meteor and Vampire were contrasted with low-speed aerobatics by the Hawker Tomtit and Comper Swift. Mike Lithgow then arrived at high speed and nought feet in the swept-wing Supermarine 510 before putting it through its tremendous paces.”
One small ‘hard’ area, possibly part of a runway or apron, is still used for model flying. The second picture possibly depicts pretty much all that remains of the WW2 airfield today?
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