Middleton Park
MIDDLETON PARK: Military Landing Ground later temporary aerodrome
(Known as MIDDLETON in WW1) Aka: THE CLEARINGS
Note: This picture was obtained from Google Earth ©
Military users: RFC/RAF (Royal Flying Corps / Royal Air Force)
33 [Home Defence) Sqdn: (Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 & F.E.2, Bristol F2B Fighter, Avro 504)
76 [Home Defence] Sqdn: (Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 & B.E.12, Bristol F2B Fighter)
LATER CIVIL USE
Operated by: Alan Cobham’s 1932 National Aviation Day UK Display Tour. Used by Cobham’s 1933 No.1 Tour and 138th venue on Cobham’s 1934 Tour. Also Cobham’s 1935 No.2 Tour
Location: Approx. 3nm S of Leeds city centre
Period of operation: WW1: 1916 to 1918
Later civil: 20th June 1932, 11th & 12th June 1933, 10th September 1934,14th & 15th September 1935
NOTES: It was during the 1933 show that two young boys, despite several warnings, persisted in riding their bicycles beneath the approaching airliner. Eventually they were killed outright when hit by the Handley Page Clive G-ABYX. At a court of inquiry the pilot, Hugh Johnson, was cleared of any blame…and quite rightly too.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', has kindly looked for other information regarding this location.
Note: The second item was published in the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer on the 22nd March 1933. The fourth item was published in the same newspaper, but this time on the 26th April 1933. It appears the British Hospitals Air Pageant did display in or near Leeds, on the 28th and 29th May 1933 - presumably here? Later that year they displayed at YEADON on the 23rd September.
Note: The two part newspaper article, divided into two parts to make it easier to read, was published in The Scotsman on the 12th June 1933. The local view and area view are from my Google Earth © derived database.
MODEL FLYING
I do have this listed as a seperate item, seeing that it was happening here some seventy five years after the last reported flying activity at this location, but, it seems worth adding a mention in this listing.
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