Cosford
COSFORD: Military aerodrome
Note: All eight of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Note: See my article on museums for more pictures.
Note: First picture by the author. The next three items kindly provided by Mike Holder.
Military users: WW2: RAF Technical Training 24 Group (SoTT) School of Technical Training
5 ASU 9 MU 76 MU
Post 1945: RAF Birmingham UAS (8 AEF) (DHC-1 Chipmunks)
1975 to - : RAF Technical Training School
2013: University of Birmingham Air Squadron (DCAE) (Grob 115 Tutors)
Activities: 1990s to - : RAF ab initio training. Also significant museum
Gliding: Gliding: 1997: 633 VGS (site also listed for gliding in 1975 and 1990 so presumably continuous?)
Note: Also the Wrekin Gliding Club
Manufacturing: WW2: Vickers-Supermarine making major Spitfire sections. Presumably final assembly and flight testing too?
Location: S of the A41, N of the A464, SSW of junction 3 - M.54, about 8nm NW of Wolverhampton town centre
Period of operation: 1938 to -
Note: This map is reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014.
Runways: WW2 07/25 1097x46 hard
1990: 06/24 1149x46 hard (light aircraft landing area to N of this runway)
2000: 06/24 1098x46 hard (06/24 1186x46 hard, in one 2001 flight guide)
2004: 06/24 1149x46 hard 06/24 grass
AN ALLEN AMBRIDGE GALLERY
In May 2022 I was kindly contacted by Allen who sent me these great pictures taken whilst he was stationed at COSFORD between 1970 and 1972.
Note: This PR Spitfire was, for several years, one of the Parade Ground 'Guardians' for RAF COSFORD.
Note: In this picture taken in 1972, the Red Arrows are seen overhead the JSOP (Joint School of Photography) building. In those days of course, they were flying Folland Gnats, 'inherited' from the Yellow Jacks. Previously one of the RAF display teams.
NOTES: THE MUSEUM
In 1977 the museum appears to have housed, (was it open to the public at that time?), the Avro York G-AGNV of the Skyfame Museum and Vickers V.701 Viscount G-AMOG of the Imperial War Museum. On the 16th August 1977 the Handley Page Hastings TG511 of 1066 Sqdn at Strike Command Bombing School, RAF SCAMPTON (LINCOLNSHIRE) flew in to join the museum collection. This is claimed to be the last ever flight made by a Hastings in the UK – possibly in the world? (The RNZAF also flew the type)
Presumably in flying condition (?) the Auster 4 G-ANHS and DHC.1 Chipmunk G-BCSB were based here.
Today this museum is perhaps the most underated in the UK with a quite exemplary collection of many rare aircraft bearing witness to British aviation history during WW2 and the ‘Cold War’ period plus the early jet experimental types, especially the high-speed variety. See my article in this Guide of 'British aviation museums' for some pictures of some of the exhibits taken over the years on two or three visits.
GENERAL NOTES: The role played by the Schools of Technical Training both here and at HALTON and CRANWELL for example cannot be over-emphasised. Without suitably proficient mechanics and technicians very few types of aircraft can be flown for more than a few hours at best. In 1937 or soon after for example 1,300 apprentices were instructed here in airframe, armaments, engine and radio. All totally essential to keep aircraft flying.
The immense and very complex ramifications involved in WW2 can be illustrated, at least in part, by relating that here in 1939 fourteen Bristol Blenheims were prepared for the Roumanian Air Force and two Gloster Gauntlets for the Finnish Air Force. Obsolete or superannuated types like Avro Tutors, Fairey Battles and Hawker Audax/Hector types were transferred to CASTLE BROMWICH and DESFORD in preparation for receiving WOOLASTON built Supermarine Spitfires. It seems that the first two Spitfire Mk.1As,(L1050 & L1051), arrived on the 12th July 1939, just five days after test flying, and the British Government declared war on Germany in September 1939.
A PERSONAL MEMORY
On the 17th October 2008 two of my flying friends, Geoff Cowell and Gordon Brown and I, decided to fly to RAF COSFORD to visit the museum. We had picked superb flying weather and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The picture is of our trusty Cessna 172, G-BDNU, sitting on the apron.
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