Cobnor
Note: This map only gives an approximate position. If anybody can kindly offer advice, this will be most welcome.
COBNOR: Civil private aerodrome and adjoining seaplane station
Operated by: Wells Aviation Co Ltd
Location: On the S end of the stubby peninsular S of Childham, about 4.5nm WSW of Chichester
Period of operation: 1916 to 1918 (?)
NOTES: The info above was all I had listed until 2011 when, yet again, Ron Smith came up trumps in his book British Built Aircraft Vol.3 from which I quote: “The Wells Aviation Co. Ltd aerodrome, seaplane station and school of flying was set up at Cobnor, near Chichester, the company being reported in Flight to be starting up as a new flying field ‘down Chichester way’ in October 1916. By February 1917, the School of Flying was active with Caudron biplanes. The origins of this company were with R.F.Wells & Co of Chelsea, which became Wells Aviation Co. Ltd in April 1916. The company was the agent for Benoist flying boats and built both Sopwith and Vickers designs. By October 1917, the company was in liquidation.”
I imagine there must be an interesting story behind this? In the public imagination it was, (still is?), a long held belief that getting a government contract is tantamount to a license for printing your own money – especially in a state of war. Surely this School of Flying must have been training military pilots during 1916/17? The harsh realities of being in business to serve the British Government obviously contains many pitfalls, some of which beset The Norman Thompson Flight Co. Ltd just along the coast to the east at MIDDLETON-on-SEA in this era.
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