Cirencester Abbey Grounds and Deer Park
This map gives the location of the Abbey Grounds Landing Ground
CIRENCESTER ABBEY GROUNDS & DEER PARK: Temporary Landing Grounds
Locations: The Abbey Grounds site is roughly just NW of Cirecenster town centre, the Deer Park is to the west, just N of the A419
Period of operation in 1912: 25th to 27th July
NOTES: In 1912 the famous French aviator Henri Salmet was sponsored by the Daily Mail to conduct a tour, mostly in England and south Wales. His itinerary can be seen in my article produced in conjunction with Mike Holder. He had flown down from a brief visit to Cheltenham on the 25th and stayed here for two nights in the Fleece Hotel. Then departing on the 27th for Swindon.
For some now unknown reason he decided to make the very short flight from the Abbey Grounds to the Deer Park on the 26th. Perhaps it offered a larger space for the huge crowds that had gathered, and given him greater clearance for his displays from the trees that surrounded both sites?
It is perhaps a tad difficult today to imagine just how much excitement the appearance of an aeroplane created in those days. It was truly sensational - most people in the U.K. had never seen an aeroplane - let alone one actually flying and giving aerial displays. The few pilots capable of undertaking such adventures were féted as heroes, 'super-stars' as we might well call them.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Note: The second item, the newspaper photo, was published in the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard on the 3rd August 1912. The fourth item, the newspaper article, was published in the Gloucester Citizen on the 26th July 1912.
Note: The seventh item, the newspaper article, was published in the Gloucester Citizen on the 27th July 1912.
Note: The ninth item, another newspaper article, was published in the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard on the 3rd August 1912.
Note: The fourteenth item. the newspaper article, was published in the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard on the 3rd August 1912. The last and sixteenth item, the area view, was obtained from my Google Earth © derived database.
THE 188th U S ARMY GENERAL HOSPITAL
Although I have yet to find any proof, (by May 2022), that USAAF light liaison aircraft visited this hospital, especially in and around the D-Day landings period, I certainly have found proof of other hospitals being visited. And, judging from the size of this facility, (see the fifteenth item above), it would seem highly likely?
One reason, probably the main reason, is that injured personnel returning from the combat zones, could provide very valuable information. This being of considerable importance regarding future planning and strategies as the invasion made it way towards Germany. If anybody can kindly offer advice, this will be much appreciated.
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