Cuxwold flying sites
Note: This map gives the location of the private airstrip
CUXWOLD: Military Landing Ground (Also known as CAISTOR)
Note: These four items have been kindly provided by Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide'.
Military user: RFC (Royal Flying Corps) later RAF (Royal Air Force)
33 (Home Defence) Sqdn (BE.2s, then FE.2s. By June 1918 Bristol Fighters arrived, but it seems that these were replaced by 'night-fighter' versions of the Avro 504 in August)
Note: Until researching for this 'Guide' I had never heard about the Avro 504 being used as a 'night-fighter'. The Avro 504 was a most remarkable aeroplane, mentioned elswhere in this 'Guide' for performing a quite amazing number of roles, in both military and civilian operations. Still used by the RAF in WW2. (See CHRISTCHURCH)
Location: Roughly 3nm ESE of Caistor
Period of operation: 1916 to 1919
Site area: 80 acres 686 x 686
CUXWOLD: Private airstrip (Aka HALL FARM and WALGATE)
Note: The first three pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©. The area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
Operated by: Mr J R Walgate
Location: 1.5nm S of A46, 3.5nm ESE of Caistor, 3nm NNW of RAF BINBROOK
Period of operation: 1960s to -
Runways:
1968: E/W 365x46 grass N/S 180x46 grass
1990: 07/25 410x46 grass N/S 283x46 grass
1992: 07/25 400x46 grass 16/34 183x46 grass
2021: 06/24 410 grass
Note: At some point, roughly around the early 2000s (?), it looks as if the N/S runway was no longer used.
NOTES: One source says runway 16/34 could only be used in the 16 direction. Another source says this airfield is also known as CAISTOR but I would most strongly dispute this as the details I have found for CAISTOR bear no resemblence to those at CUXWOLD.
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER
Mr Graham Frost, a great friend of this 'Guide', discovered that the Jodel D140 Mosquetaire, G-AOVZ, was registered to A I Walgate & Son from 21.04.61 until 18.05.65. It was initially registered to Rollason Aircraft & Engines at CROYDON from 23.03.60 until 17.04.61. But, as Graham points out, here comes the interesting bit. It was then sold to Rogers Aviation in Bedford who registered G-AOVZ from 26.05.65 until 09.10.65, and they were Cessna main agents!
Perhaps or even probably as a 'part exchange', because as can be seen below the Walgate concern soon became involved in owning Cessna types.
In the mid 1970s I have found a record that four aircraft were listed as being based here: The Percival P.56 Provost T.1 G-AWVF registered to Mr J R Walgate, Cessna U-206D Super Skywagon G-AXJY, Piper PA-E23 Aztec 250 G-BAJX both registered to A I Walgate & Son and the Cessna F.172M G-BCUF registered to a Mr Kirke.
It seems quite remarkable to me that these types can be safely operated from a 410 metre airstrip - unless always at near minimum weight. Especially the Cessna 172.
Graham Frost also , points out that the Cessna U206A Super Skywagon G-ATLT, (ex N4823F), was based here in 1968. A bit of delving reveals that initially registered to Rogers Aviation, (CASTLE MILL), it was then registered to A J Walgate and Son from 18.03.68 to 19.06.69, before going back to Rogers Aviation.
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