Michaelchurch
MICHAELCHURCH: Private airfield (Aka MICHAELCHURCH COURT)
Note: The three maps were very kindly provided by Mr Michael T Holder. The fourth picture was obtained from Google Earth ©
Operated by: Mr Randolph Trafford
Location: Just NE of Michaelchurch Escley village, 7nm SE of Hay-on-Wye and 12nm WSW of Hereford
Period of operation: 1930 to early 1940s
NOTES: We have two great friends of this 'Guide' to thank for this entry. Graham Frost and Mike Holder. All I have done is make the entry - and what an entry it is. Apparently the first airfield to be established in HEREFORDSHIRE!
Highly recommended is a visit to: http://www.ewyaslacy.org.uk/doc.php?d=rs_mic_0162
http://www.ewyaslacy.org.uk/-/Early-Aviation-in-Ewyas-Lacy/1930-s/rs_mic_0142
For a taster, he learnt to fly in Switzerland where the family had a house. When he became a confident pilot he brought the Morane-Saulnier MS-137, registered CH-184 and flew it across to England in 1929, basing it at STAG LANE (LONDON).
In around 1930 he purchased the DH60G Gipsy Moth G-ABAM, and it seems this was when he decided to have his very own airfield. Initially no fuel was on site, so he flew across to land in a field near to Wildings Garage near Turnastone/Vowchurch/Peterchurch which itself is well worth a 'Google'. Still preserved and reckoned to be the second garage in England to obtain a license for selling petrol. Oddly perhaps, it appears he only had G-ABAM registered to him from 19.06.30 until 30.04.32. Presumably replaced?
Without any doubt whatsoever, this airfield was intended to be a far from private affair. Many visitors were invited to fly in, including some from Europe. And indeed he held an Air Rally on the 29th and 30th August 1937 when a dozen or so aircraft arrived, including some from France, Switzerland and Germany.
This included a type totally unknown to me: The Caudron C-600 Aiglon F-ANVM.
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