Coley Park
Note: This map shows Coley recreation ground.
COLEY PARK: Military aerodrome
NOTE: Although I had this site listed, in 2020 Mike Holder, (such a good friend of this 'Guide'), decided to investigate further and enlisted the help of the Berkshire Aviation Museum. The result was astonishing and so generous, and indeed more than enough to base a book on. The museum I have listed in my article on museums and really is well worth a visit.
Note: These maps and the Google Earth © picture were kindly provided by Mr Michael T Holder
Military users: RFC (Royal Flying Corps), later RAF
No.1 School of Military Aeronautics
No.1 Technical Training School
Location: HQ building at Yeomanry House, Castle Hill, Reading
Note: Several years ago I made these notes: "There are conflicting accounts regarding where the 'Flying Field' was located. One account states that the Flying field was on the University playing fields in Elmhurst Road, 1.5nm SSE of Reading town centre. Another account states it was south of Berkeley Avenue, by the River Kennet, in/near centre of Reading. I favour the latter and the map shows my guess as to where it might have been."
The account from the Berkshire Aviation Museum gives us a so much better idea of what was going on:
"In December 1915 the RFC commandeered buildings that now belong to the University of Reading, at first for the purpose of training flight instructors. On 27 October the following year the school was expanded to include cadet pilot and observer training and designated No.1 School of Military Aeronautics. The schools headquarters were based in Yeomanry House whilst most of the lessons were taught at Wantage Hall ( a recently built halls of residence). Other buildings in and near Reading were also commandeered and used. Practical classes were held in Upper Redlands Road and nearby playing fields."
"The school was preliminary training for cadets and taught theoritical aspects of flight: including map reading, gunnery and mechanics. A small airfield was established at nearby Coley Park in around 1917. Technical trades were split off from the flight school, as the School of Technical Training, which operated from a jam factory adjoining the airfield. In September 1917 technical training was consolidated at Halton Park Camp, although Coley Park remained open until 1919.
Period of operation: 1915 to 1918 (Closed 1919)
Note: These three pictures were kindly provided by Mr Michael T Holder
The Berkshire Aviation Museum account goes on to tell us: "During its active life the school had over 10,000 cadets (including 112 Russians, many from the 'Empire', Americans and the one Japanese who served in the RFC), and 300 ladies working on maintenance manuals."
Although not actually flying, I think this account of the preparatory exercises deemed neccessary is well worth including, but we must remember that a study of the most senior officers in WW1 concluded that in a modern IQ test, they would mostly rate in the 'Moron' category.
"The 'practical exercises' ......was truly amazing. The cadets climbed what looked like precarious ladders into trees, got into an extremely flimsy looking mocked-up cockpit and were launched on a wire (or rope?) over marked out trenches. In the few seconds of their "flight" they honed their expertise of making obsevations. The 'lucky' ones did the same thing from Wantage Hall tower - going across the quadrangle."
Easy to mock today by some perhaps, but clear evidence of quite advanced thinking - the first attempts to provide 'flight simulators'.
"There was also a room mocked up for artillery observation - a light-studded map was painted onto the floor and a mock fuselage hung from the ceiling."
Once more, clear proof of the early stages of what is now pretty standard practice for all commercial and military pilots - getting bashed in the 'sim'.
It appears that pilots would have three to four hours flying instruction, presumably to reach 'solo' status. Pretty much the same amount of training for 'first solo' expected in WW2. Today, a good student might exect to qualify in twelve hours, but needing to learn a great deal more.
As an aside, it appears that William Earl Johns, the author of the Biggles books, (which I still have on my list to read), gained his flying certicate at Coley Park.
And, kindly also sent by Mike Holder:
There is a film on You Tube of Russian Air Cadets training.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=819fHZS8EyE
Warning: Unfortunately it appears that You Tube don't like links from other web-sites? I'm afraid you'll need to copy this out. This said, it is worth doing as it is a very interesting peice of film.
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