Guernsey 1930s
L'ERÉE: Civil aerodrome and regional airport
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Note: The news item was published in The Scotsman on the 7th of May 1935, and as so often with newspaper reports, it was inaccurate. The Wessex carried two pilots and four passengers.
Without too much doubt the picture in Flight magazine was a composite picture - common practice in those days.
Note: The crash report was published in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette on the 5th July 1935 and involved the Wessex G-ADEW.
Operated by: Guernsey Aero Club
British airline user: Cobham Air Routes
Location: On the W of the island, pretty much W of St Peter Port on the E side.
Period of operation: 1930s only?
NOTES: It appears that this was the only landing site for fixed wing aircraft in the 1930s. Sir Alan Cobham was, it seems, a member of the Guernsey Aero Club, so set about trying to establish an airline service to the island, This airfield was it appears of minimal size, so very few small airliner types could cope.
However, the Westland Wessex fitted the bill exactly, and three of them operated by the Belgian airline SABENA were coming up for sale. In the end Codham purchased four Westland Wessex as they were ideal for his airline and national tours. It now appears that the Westland Wessex was the only 'airliner' licensed to use this airfield.
The Cobham Air Routes Westland Wessex aircraft were: G-EBXK, G-ABAJ, G-ADEW and G-ADFZ. Cobham subsequently sold his airline to Olley Air Services.
But of course we must remember what could constitute an airliner in those days. The Westland Wessex had a crew of two and could carry four passengers. If you would like to see what a Westland Wessex looked like, please look at my entry for YEOVIL where a Wessex later purchased by Cobham can be seen when operated by its previous owner, the Belgian SABENA airline.
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