Leckhampton
LECKHAMPTON: Landing Ground used occassionaly (Aka ROLAND'S FIELD)
Location: On the E side of Leckhampton, roughly 1.5nm SSE of Cheltenham town centre
Period of operation: Not known exactly, but it appears that Henri Salmet was the first to use the site on the 25th July 1912? Later used in October 1913. (See below). If anybody can kindly offer more advice and information, this will be much appreciated.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
In 1912 the Daily Mail sponsored the famous French aviator Henri Salmet to conduct a tour, mostly of England and South Wales. Departing from WORMWOOD SCRUBBS in west London on the 18th May he flew a most erratic route much of the time and the reasons for doing this appear today unexplained. He flew here after a display in Gloucester and his next destination was Cirencester.
From there he routed eastwards ending up in Kent, then flew around the south coast until reaching Southampton, from where he departed to the Midlands and the North West, ending up in Barrow-upon-Furness.
Note: The second item was published in the Gloucestershire Echo on the 25th July 1912.
The newspaper article, given in two parts to make it easier to read, was published in the Gloucester Citizen on the 26th July 1912.
The newspaper article was published in the Gloucestershire Echo on the 27th July 1912.
A LATER VISIT RECORDED
This account of three Royal Flying Corps aircraft landing here was found by Mike Holder, published in the Gloucestershire Echo on the 23rd October 1913.
The article refers to the site in a way that infers it was well known, which seems to suggest it was used by other aviators?
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