Cottam
COTTAM: Military aerodrome later private airfield
Note: All three of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
They clearly show how all traces of this airfield were disappearing in the 21st century.
Military user: RAF Maintenance Command 42 Group
91 MU [Maintenance Unit] Storage unit
Operated by: 1980s: Miller Aerial Spraying
Location: W of B1249, 4nm N of Driffield
Period of operation: Military: 1939 to 1945 Civil: 1980s only?
Runways: WW2: 01/19 1175x46 hard 08/26 1645x46 hard
12/30 1280x46 hard
NOTES: Although in WW2 the civilian population were told our backs were against the wall, belts had to tightened, rationing was in force, and everybody had to give up their pots and pans and iron fencing etc, etc. to promote the war effort; the fact is that the military forces were squandering resources on a massive scale. And the Air Ministry and RAF were, arguably, the worst offenders.
A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE
COTTAM was built as a bomber base. But then some bright spark realised we had more than enough, and didn't need it. It was decided to use it as a Maintence Unit for Storage.
But, was this just for aircraft storage? A subject that is interesting me more and more as the research for this 'Guide' progresses. After being built and flight tested, a great number of aircraft in WW2 were ferried to storage sites and I am trying to find where all of these were. Many were, unlike this site (?), open storage on pretty much convenient big fields that had been requisitioned.
There is no doubt that the aircraft manufacturers were, by and large (?), not that much interested in producing the best products to win the war. What they wanted were contracts to build aircraft, preferably in huge numbers. Vickers for example were still manufacturing Wellingtons long after the type had become obsolete. De Havilland also were making Tiger Moths way beyond any further need for the type. Many going from flight testing straight to the dump, to be set on fire.
There are so many questions to ask. Why exactly did Avro, having designed the next to useless Manchester - which the RAF accepted for front-line use (!) - so quickly then develop the Lancaster? Easy to argue the best heavy bomber in WW2.
SOME VISITORS
In 2022 Mr Graham Frost, a great friend of this 'Guide', sent me a list of visitors to COTTAM which he had found. They are so few that it seems worthwhile listing them.
1959: G-APUJ Piper PA-18A-150 Super Cub. This was registered to A.D.S. (Aerial) Ltd, at STAPLEFORD in ESSEX, from 09.06.59 to 11.09.62 before becoming PWFU (Permanently Withdrawn From Use).
1960 to 1963: G-APJD Percival P40 Prentice 1. Registered to Aviation Traders Ltd from 28.11.57 to 16.07.62 (Destroyed). Possibly used as a company hack?
Three Austers from Skegness Air Taxi Services were noted, possibly converted to crop-spraying duties? These being the Auster J/1N G-AHAL - although this was registered to Mr Edward A Moffat from 09.07.53 to 25.06.62 before being acquired by SATS. The other two being the Auster 5J/1B G-AJYR, registered to SATS from 13.06.56 to 14.07.64. Then listed as destroyed. The other being G-AJYT, another Auster 5J/1B, registered from 13.06.56 to 30.07.63.
1964 to 1965: G-AHAL from Skegness Air Taxi Services makes another appearance, as does G-ATEC, the Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee, also operated by Skegness Air Taxi Services from 24.05.65 to 12.09.66. (Then listed as destroyed).
G-ASFB Beech 23 Musketeer 1. Presumably visiting, (or even based here?), when registered to Vertex (Optical) Ltd from 01.07.64 to 23.12.64. Before and after this short period of ownership G-ASFB had been registered to Short Brothers and Harland in Belfast. Possibly as a company flying club aircraft? Not exactly suitable as a go anywhere all weather transport for company executives. But, the company was the sales agent for Beechcraft before Eagle Aircraft at LEAVESDEN took the agency over.
Last but most certainly not least, is G-ASPZ, a de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, registered to the RAF Geilenbrucken Flying Club in Germany. I can find no record of a RAF Geilenbrucken, but there was a RAF Geilenkirchen until 1968.
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