Llandow
LLANDOW: Military aerodrome
Note: This picture, (2018)), was obtained from Google Earth ©
Even today the airfield layout can be clearly seen.
Military users: WW2: RAF Transport Command 44 Group
No.3 Aircraft Preparation Unit
RAF Transport Command Central Night Vision Training School
RAF 41 Group
53 OTU [Operational Training Unit] (Vickers-Supermarine Sptifires)
(See more in the notes below)
38 MU Aircraft Storage Unit
Note: See BERROW
RAF 46 Group
93 & 94 Forward Staging Posts
(What were these? Presumably used for D-Day?)
MODEL FLYING
Note: Both of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
NOTES: It appears that the South Wales Radio Control Society has used the NE end of runway 10/28 since 1963, which they leased. In 1984 they were given the opportunity to purchase the site, which was eagerley accepted. In recent years it seems a 400x40 runway has been laid out. Quite enough for many light aircraft to land on. An idea which could possibly be taken up?
I am very keen to see the model aircraft and GA communities getting on together. And indeed all the others sharing our love of private aviation activities.
Location: W of Sigingstone village, 13nm WSW of Cardiff
Period of operation: 1937 to 1957
Runways: WW2: 10/28 1463x46 hard 06/24 914x46 hard
15/33 914x46 hard
NOTES: Here again yet another aerodrome probably barely remembered today but during its day up to 1623 RAF personnel were based here plus 309 WAAFs. And they had hard standings for 45 aircraft, (40 Frypan and 5 Loop)
In his excellent book Spitfire Voices, Dilip Sarkar gives this account from Flight Lieutenant Bob Poulton DFC, when he was posted to 53 OTU at LLANDOW. "That was a bit hairy as the aircraft were all old ones. The Station Commander was none other than Group Captain Ira Jones, who served with distinction in 74 Squadron during the Great War."
"On the 15 February 1942, I was involved in a fatal mid-air collision. It was an exercise with the local Home Guard, which was 'attacking' the airfield. The briefing was not good, and most pilots went off to find the 'enemy'. Unfortunately, Flight Lieutenant Pickering and I attacked a Home Guard convoy simultaneously. He made a run along the convoy and I 'attacked' from 90 degrees. We hadn't seen each other and I hit him just behind the cockpit. His Spitfire was cut in two and went straight in, killed outright."
"My aircraft was badly damaged but I managed to control it sufficiently to land straight ahead in a field, suffering just a couple of bruises. Pickering was a Battle of Britain veteran too and it was such a waste for him to die in this accident."
THE WORST AIR DISASTER
On the 12th March 1950 an Avro Tudor 5, G-AKBY chartered from Fairflight based at LANGLEY, (west of London), crashed here on its approach to land, killing seventy-five of the seventy-eight people of board, including the crew. It was carrying rugby supporters to Belfast for a major match, (which Wales won), and there appears some doubt about how the aircraft was loaded - possibly exceeding the centre of gravity limits?
At that time it was the worst air disaster on record.
Fairflight was run by Don Bennett of Pathfinder fame in WW2 and his record of operating commercial aircraft after WW2 was abysmal. Possibly having the worst accident record? This certainly was not helped by his decision to operate the Avro Tudor, arguably the worst civil aircraft put into production after WW2?
A VISIT IN APRIL 2024
When staying with a nephew living near Neath, I decided to make a visit to LLANDOW to see what was visible of the remains, and he kindly decided to come along, having a day off work. It turned out it would have been something of a nightmare for me on my own to determine exactly what remained, but he both relied on his Sat-Nav and looking at Google Earth images as we criss-crossed the area.
The Google Earth imagery gives a most misleading impression of what can be seen today at ground level. After the airfield closed a road system was laid out over the airfield. In some cases sections of runway were removed, ditches dug and hedges and trees planted. In a couple of cases using just part of the runway of which the remains are pretty much out of sight behind the hedges etc.
What soon became obvious was that this was a very large airfield in its day, and a surprising amount of the hangars still exist. Some of which have been extensively renovated. Indeed, a few looking like new. Others, although still in use, are in poor condition. Below is a medley of images of hangars and runway sections.
The first runway view might seem most unlikely, but we checked it out and it was in line with the eastern end of the runway which still exists in its full width on the other side of an offset junction in the public road.
The fifth hangar view is a side view of the third hangar view, clearly showing its WW2 heritage design and seen from the Llandow racing circuit.
NOTES: I'm supposed to have some idea about aerodrome layouts being a private pilot, albeit no longer flying of course, (unlike a driving licence in the UK, pilots retain their licence until they die - the privilege of actually flying being determined by passing a medical and being checked out at regular intervals), so - hopefully I have this correct? I think the first runway picture is of part of runway 15/33. The second and third pictures being of runway 06/24 and the fourth and fifth being parts of runway 10/28.
Perhaps needless to say, I will welcome any advice and confirmation.
Michael Bailey
This comment was written on: 2016-11-11 21:44:00My father Eric Sydney West served at Llandow as a LAC in WW2 and I have a letter commending him for his conduct during an air raid. Dos anybody know the date of that and have any details as to what happened please. My father died in 1948 when I was very young and on re-marriage my Mother changed my name just to explain the difference.
Reply from Dick Flute:
Dear Michael, I cannot help with this enquiry, but will keep it posted. Hopefully somebody will kindly offer advice. Best regards, Dick
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