Llanddona
Note: This map is only a rough estimation of the site, within the UK. If anybody could be kind enough to provide a more exact location, this will be most welcome.
LLANDDONA: Early experimental flying site (Should be known as RED WHARF BAY?)
Operated by: Mr William Ellis Williams
Location: Red Wharf Bay near Llanddona, roughly 3nm NW of Beaumaris,on the E end of Anglesey
Period of operation: 1911 to 1913 only?
NOTES: The first mention of this site came in 2010 when reading the excellent book British Built Aircraft Vol.5 by Ron Smith in which he states: “William Ellis Williams was the first Professor of Electrical Engineering in the University of Wales, and designed and built his own aeroplane at Bangor. Ellis Williams flew this machine at Llanddona (a few yards away from Red Wharf Bay beach), his address whilst conducting these trials being ‘The Aeroplane Shed, Llanddona’.”
It would now appear Ellis Williams actually used the beach, possibly at a location near to Pentrellwyn, at the eastern end of Red Wharf Bay, which is about a mile away from the village of Llanddona. However, I think we need to be a bit careful here because there is a village on the west side of Red Wharf Bay (Traeth-coch) also named Red Wharf Bay.
Ron Smith goes on to say, “After much modification and struggling, the aircraft flew in autumn 1911 with a JAP engine hired from A.V.Roe. A further engine, a 40hp Clément, was hired in 1912, and subsequently purchased for £25 and used for a further flying season in 1913. A successful flight was recorded photographically on 3 September 1913. The whole objective of this activity was research, and these experiments included some of the earliest to measure the aerofoil pressure distribution in flight!”
Getting back to my preoccupation, which is where this flying took place, fortunately Ron Smith gives both a description and translation of a monument erected by Angelsey County Council to commerate the flying by William Ellis Williams. “Red Wharf Bay is a glorious beach, which provides a vast area of sand at low tide. A narrow and steep road from Llanddona leads down to the beach, where at the end of a short stretch of unmade road there is a small car park. At the rear of the car park, there is a monument to Professor Williams…..”
He ends by saying, (which I wholeheartedly endorse), “Here, at least, a piece of national aviation heritage is preserved for future generations.” If only other County Councils could be persuaded to appreciate our aviation heritage. Indeed, if it wasn’t for our aviation heritage they’d quite likely now be running their Councils under the control of a nephew of Hitler or Goering or Himmler etc. With the Gestapo breathing down their necks!
Most fortunately, but normally not erected by County Councils, we now have an amazing amount of monuments, (usually in the form of a small plaque), dotted around the UK to celebrate our aviation heitage, and I have featured many of these in this 'Guide'.
Sue Smith
This comment was written on: 2021-04-30 20:07:43I visited the memorial at Llanddona yesterday and it is lovely that a small memorial garden with picnic tables and a small copse which had a carpet of Bluebells which looked stunning is set up just behind the memorial. I'd have liked to see a bit more information about WEW but thankfully Google found your site.
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