Ingoldmells
INGOLDMELLS: Civil aerodrome (Not to be confused with the later aerodrome just to the south)
Note: The airfield map was kindly provided by Mr Graham Frost. The local area view and area view are from my Google Earth © derived database.
Operated by: Mostly it seems by Skegness Air Taxi Services
Location: Just W and S of the A52, just W of Skegness town centre
Period of operation: 1949 to 1993
Charter/air taxi: Bond Air Services, Skegness Air Taxi Services
Flying Clubs: (1959) Humber Flying Group, Skegness Aero Club
Note: In The Aeroplane directory in 1957, the Skegness Aero Club were listed as operating three Austers and three Tiger Moths.
Pleasure flights: Bond Air Services and Skegness Air Taxi Services
Runways: 02/20 424 grass 06/24 454 grass
11/29 628 grass 17/35 488 grass
THE BEGINNINGS
It appears it was two people involved with Bond Air Services, Mr Robert Treen and Mr 'Freddy' Laker, who founded this aerodrome on the 9th September 1949. Just in time to miss most of the summer holiday customers.
A MEMORY
In More Tails Of The Fifties, compiled and edited by Peter G Campbell, Peter Amos had a tale to tell from 1953. Having flown here he found that Skegness Air Taxi services were offering pleasure flights in the de Havilland DH89A Dragon Rapide G-ALBA. Costing 10/- he took full advantage of this, thus having his first flight in a twin-engine aeroplane. He also noted the Miles M.65 Gemini 1A G-AKFU, the Miles M.38 Messenger 4A G-ALAW, the Fairchild Argus II G-AJPE with flat tyres, the Auster J/1N Autocrat G-AHAL and the wrecked Auster IV G-AJYB.
AIRCRAFT BASED HERE IN 1958
Mr Graham Frost, a great friend of this 'Guide', tells us that these aircraft were based here:
Auster J/1N Autocrats G-AHAL and G-AHHP (The latter re-registered as G-SIME)
Miles M.38 Messenger 2A G-AKKO
Miles M.38 Messenger 4A G-ALAV (ex RH428) and G-ALAW (ex RH426)
de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth G-ANIZ (ex T7467) later sold to the USA as N9714
A NEWSPAPER DELIVERY SERVICE
It appears that in the 1960s at least, Skegness Air Taxi Services flew, on a Saturday, two Austers to TOLLERTON (NOTTINGHAMSHIRE), to collect the Evening Post newspaper. Presumably 'Skeggy' was a much favoured holiday destination for those living in and around Nottingham.
AIRCRAFT BASED HERE IN 1991
Here again we have Mr Graham Frost to thank for this information.
G-AGXN Auster J/1N Autocrat
G-AHCK Auster J/1N Autocrat
G-ALBJ Taylorcraft Auster 5 (Ex TW501)
G-APAF Auster 5
G-AOGI de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth (ex DF186) To Belgium as OO-SOA in 1955, restored July 1982
G-APAW de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth (ex DE206)
G-ARJT Piper PA-23 Apache 160H
G-ASNI Scintex CP.1310C-3 Super Emeraude
G-ATYN Reims/Cessna F150G
G-AWBM Druine D31 Turbulent
G-AXNX Cessna 182M Skylane (ex N70606)
G-BAOS Reims/Cessna F.172M Skyhawk
G-BCPK Reims/Cessna F.172M Skyhawk II (ex D-ELOB)
G-BILL Piper PA-25 Pawnee 235D
G-BOXR Grumman American GA-7 Cougar (Ex N772GA)
G-BPGB Cessna 150J (ex N51042)
AN INTERESTING INTERLUDE
Many scenes for the film Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines were shot here in 1964. Other locations were BROOKLANDS, Dover, Pagham Bay and WYCOMBE AIR PARK.
It is said that after filming was finished Derek Piggott flew the Bristol Boxkite from here to WYCOMBE AIR PARK, a straight line distance of about 120 miles. Fitted with a 90hp Lycoming rather than a 50hp Gnome rotary, and looking at the size of the fuel tank, (presumably the same as when filming?), this flight seems entirely feasible given low winds - or preferably a tail-wind. This aircraft is with the Shuttleworth Collection and still makes short flights.
There you have it, so far at least. If anybody can kindly offer more information and advice this will be most welcome. Pictures are of course much appreciated.
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