Five Ash Down
Note: This map shows the position of Five Ash Down village within the UK.
FIVE ASH DOWN: Temporary aerodrome
Operated by: Sir Alan Cobham’s 1933 No.2 Tour. Cobham’s 1934 Tour. Cobham’s 1935 No.1 Tour.
Location: The village of Five Ash Down is on the A26, about 2nm N of Uckfield town centre
Period of operation: 2nd October 1933, 2nd July 1934, 4th July 1935
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Note: The second item, the newspaper article, was published in the Sussex Agricultural Express on the 29th September 1933.
Note: The newspaper notice was published in the Kent Sussex Courier on the 6th July 1934.
Note: The advert was published in the Eastbourne Chronicle on the 29th June 1935:
NOTES: Cobham's 1933 No.2 tour started at HOLT FARM, Southend on the 14th/15th April and FIVE ASH DOWN was the 75th venue. It ended on the 8th October at MAYLANDS aerodrome, Romford, which was the 161th venue. The No.1 Tour that year was scheduled to visit 116 venues.
The 1934 tour was not split into two and started at CENTRAL PARK, Dagenham in Essex. In this case FIVE ASH DOWN was also the 75th venue and the tour also ended at MAYLANDS aerodrome making it the 159th venue.
The 1935 tour was different in that it started at TITCHFIELD ROAD, Fareham in Hampshire on the 12th April and visited 72 venues before splitting into two tours, both starting on the 1st July. In this case FIVE ASH DOWN was the fourth venue for the No.1 Tour which started at PENSHURST aerodrome and ended at PHOENICE FARM, Bagdon Hill, Dorking on the 29th September, having 58 venues in the schedule. The No.2 Tour started at the OLD RACECOURSE, Portholme Meadow, Huntingdon and finished at OLD BARN, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, also on the 29th September - with 84 venues scheduled to be visited.
It seems astonishing that, as far as can be ascertained today, virtually all the venues were visited on time! Certainly a testament to the flying skills needed, often flying very low in poor visibility and navigating from a map - especially so for those flying types with open cockpits. Also of course, proving just how reliable the aircraft, and indeed the engines, had become since WW1.
Probably worth mentioning that the locals have named a road in the housing estate next to the flying field - Cobham Field Road.
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide