Combermere Abbey
COMBERMERE ABBEY: Civil Landing Ground (Aka WHITCHURCH*)
Operated by: Sir Kenneth Crossley
Location: Within Combermere Park, just E of the A530, NNE of Goldsmith House Farm, SE of Home Farm, roughly 4nm NE of Whitchurch
Period of operation: September 1931 to 1939
Runways: 02/20 448 grass 06/24 366 grass 10/28 421 grass
17/35 341 grass
NOTES: In the 1930s Sir Kenneth operated a DH.60G Gypsy Moth (G-AAKC) from here, later adding DH.87B Hornet Moth (G-ADKC). These ‘KC’ registrations would seem to be perhaps the first examples of ‘personalised’ aircraft registrations?
There’s another point to be made, this ‘airfield’ seems to me to be quite advanced in many ways by apparently having four designated and presumably prepared ‘runways’ rather than leaving the field as being ‘all-over’ as was often the common practise in those years.
This was one of the AA (Automobile Association) approved Landing Grounds and states that fuel, transport (typically a taxi service) and accommodation were all available from the nearby Combermere Arms Hotel. However, the AA also state that the nearest telephone was at the Burleydam Post Office half a mile away. There was one hangar on the site but it isn’t clear if this could also be used by visitors.
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