Lawford Heath
LAWFORD HEATH: Landing Ground (Aka LAWFORD HEATH FARM)
Operated by: Mr David Mitchell
Location: North of Dunchurch and roughly 5.5nm SW of Rugby
Period of operation: Very early 1930s (at least) until WW2?
Runways: Maximum run available: 457 grass
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Note: The newspaper article was published in the Coventry Evening Telegraph on the 16th May 1932. Whereas the newspaper photo was published in the Rugby Advertiser on the 20th May 1932. The aircraft they are standing next to is the Desoutter 1, G-AANE, registered at that time to Rollason, Muir and Rickard.
Note: The air to air photo shows the Hillmorton Lane Bridge carrying the LNWR railway.
NOTES ON THE AIRCRAFT IN THE AIR TO AIR PHOTOGRAPHS
Trying to trace the history of most aircraft, especially those registered prior to WW2, is at best an inexact science, so these notes only give a rough indication.
G-ABUL de Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth (sometimes incorrectly listed as a DH82A - it doesn't have anti-spin strakes on the rear fuselage - which it was probably later modified to?). Registered to Sir Alan Cobhams National Aviation Displays 04.03.32, it also took its place in the 1933 tours. Possibly the 1934 tour? Registered to Brooklands Aviation in 1935, it was impressed in 1940 as BB792. (To the RAF or Navy?)
G-ABPY Comper CLA7 Swift. Registered 10.11.31 it was, it appears, being operated by Brian Lewis & Co when these pictures were taken. Later sold in August 1937 as VH-UZB.
G-ABSI Airspeed AS4 Ferry. This eleven-seater airliner was commisioned by Sir Alan Cobham, (he was a director of Airspeed), specifically as a STOL type for his National Aviation Day displays. First registered on the 21st April 1932 that tour started at HANWORTH on the 12th April. The second Ferry G-ABSJ was registered on the 10th June. After Sir Alan Cobham ceased his National Aviation Day display tours in 1935 it appears G-ABSI went to C.W.A. Scotts Flying Display Ltd in 1936 for that season before being registered to Air Publicity at HESTON from 18.11.36 to 27,07.38.
There is then a period of around ten months when it seems there is no trace of it until, on the 27th July 1939 it was acquired by The Portsmouth, Southsea & Isle of Wight Aviation Company until the 18th April 1940. It was then impressed as AV968 so presumably the RAF used it for communication duties? A task it would have been quite well suited to I imagine. However, it appears it was then allocated the serial of 2758M, so presumably ended its days as an instructional airframe?
NOTES: Venue for Sir Alan Cobhams 1932 National Aviation Day UK Display Tour on the 14th May 1932, and Cobhams 1935 No.1 Tour on the 23rd September 1935.
Some years ago I posed the question: "Did the 1933 No.1 Tour also use LAWFORD HEATH as the Rugby venue on the 16th May? The same question also applies of course when, on the 18th June Cobham’s 1934 Tour displayed in/near Rugby." See 'Comments' below for the answer.
ANOTHER MENTION
The Flying - The Light Aeroplane publication lists LAWFORD HEATH FARM as a Landing Ground in it’s guide to ‘UK Flying Clubs and Landing Grounds 1933-34. This ‘Guide’ was sent to me by the Royal Aeronautical Society in 2013. Prior to this I had assumed it was just one of many farmers fields rented for the occasion as was common practise. This said I suppose it is quite possible that the land-owner saw the possibility of this site becoming a Landing Ground after the 1932 display.
A.A. APPROVED
This site is also listed as an A.A. approved (Automobile Association) Landing Ground in 1933.
One detail which differs from most A.A. approved LGs was that both fuel and transport (typically a taxi service) was available “from the LG attendant”. The recommended local hotel was The Derby Haven Hotel six hundred yards away, which, unusually, no longer appears to be in business, (unless it has changed its name?), and the telephone was a public kiosk. It also appears that there were no hangars, in 1933 at least.
Michael T Holder
This comment was written on: 2020-05-30 09:43:17I can confirm from various newspaper articles that the 1932, 33, 34 and 35 sites for Sir Alan Cobham's visits to Rugby all took place at Lawford Heath.
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