Netherthorpe
NETHERTHORPE: Civil aerodrome (Once spelt NETHER THORPE - two words)
Note: Pictures by the author unless specified.
Operated by:
1965: Wallace & Janes Aviation Ltd
1980s to - : Sheffield Aero Club (1970s also?)
Flying club/school: Delta Aviation, Phoenix Flying School, Sheffield Aero Club
Maintenance: 2001: Dukeries Aviation
Location: Between the A57 & A619, 2.5nm W to WNW of Worksop
(Now in NOTTINGHAMSHIRE)
Period of operation: 1920s (?) to present day
Note: These maps are reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014.
Runways:
1965: 0624 474 grass 18/36 428 grass
1990: 06/24 450x32 grass 18/36 382x18 grass
2001: 06/24 450x36 grass 18/36 382x18 grass
NOTES: There is a rumour that during WW2 this aerodrome was used for SOE operations. Can anybody confirm this?
In April 2019 an article about NETHERTHORPE, by Sheila Dyson was published in Light Aviation magazine. And a very good read it is too. She tells us that 613 Squadron with Westland Lysanders were based here in WW2. But, having read quite a lot about SOE operations, I very much doubt any SOE operations were conducted here. The Lysanders were most likely involved in Army co-operation duties and surveillance.
SOME HISTORY
For the purposes of this 'Guide' I think the following is worth quoting. "The second Sheffield Aero Club was created on 5 April 1935 in the King's Head Hotel in Sheffield. Present at that meeting were two pilots, a Mr Jakeman and a Mr Horrox, who were already operating out of a field at Netherthorpe."
Sheila Dyson has a picture, in her article, of Sorby Horrox standing by his BA Swallow G-AEIC.
"At that time the airfield, in common with others, had no fixed runways, the letters 'NT' were whitewashed into the centre of the field and pilots simply took off and landed into wind." What a great idea!
"Sheffield City Council had a notion of developing a Sheffield Airport and explored the possibility of Netherthorpe being used, but it came to nothing. However, Sheffield Aero Club was granted the necessary license to operate from the airfield on 31 July 1935. It flourished and a club house and hangar were built." Sheffield Aero Club became involved in the Civil Air Guard, but moved to FIRBECK in 1938.
"The RAF arrived at Netherthorpe in late 1940.....and their job was to patrol two areas. From the Wash to the Humber, and from the Humber to Filey, and report on enemy shipping." I expect they got bored out of their minds most of the time - nothing to report. As Sheila Dyson mentions; "This was the time of the beginning of the Battle of Britain and it was felt that invasion was imminent."
As explained elsewhere in this 'Guide' there was no threat threat of an invasion, and the British government knew this. It certainly had been threatened by Hitler, who was a utter fool when it came to logistics, not having the slightest idea - and hence the failure of his grand plans. Most of his greatest supporters had similar failings. But, the idea was of enormous propaganda benefit for Churchill and the British goverment and they milked it for all it was worth.
"Dawn departures from Netherthorpe were made by the light of gooseneck flares, which were extinguished immediately after departure. The patrols were carried out at dawn and dusk, with night landings when necessary at Finningley."
After WW2 the airfield fell on hard times. What does seem worth mentioning is that two ex RAF instructors, Sqd Ldr Wallace and Flt Lt Dai Jones, attempted to etablish an air taxi business with a Dornier 8. The enterprise failed.
It seems the biggest change occurred in 1971 when Harry Camm generously presented the facilities to Sheffield Aero Club, which became a limited company in 1972. Since then the future of the airfield seemed secure, and it has certainly proved to be the case.
THE SHORTEST LICENSED RUNWAY?
When I visited this very pretty and friendly aerodrome in early 2004 their runway 18/36 was reckoned, (by them), to be the shortest licensed runway in the UK and I had no reason to contradict this. However, in researching this Guide I discovered that runway 18/36 on Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands is even shorter, at 343 metres. But one can hardly blame them for this oversight, and their claim would still be correct, I'm fairly certain, if they stated - "On the UK mainland."
In her article Sheila Dyson claims that the 380 metre runway is the shortest licensed runway in England - and this sounds more like it.
In a list of “UK Operational Aerodromes” published in about 1975, the airfield name was spelt “Nether Thorpe”.
TWO NOTABLE HOME-BUILT TYPES
The home-built movement in the UK has long been a major component of UK General Aviation activity and it appears two very notable and individual types first flew here. The Szep HFC125 G-BCPX in 1980 and later the Bonsall Mustang G-BDWM in about 1990/91.
AN ASTONISHING JOURNEY
One of the constant pleasures in researching this 'Guide' for twenty years or more has been the many discoveries made along the way. In her article for Light Aviation Sheila Dyson mentions, almost in passing: "It was the feeling of a small and special place, (My note; NETHERTHORPE of course), that made it the inspiration for the biggest journey - a flight from Netherthorpe to Sydney, Australia, 2007. The journey was made in a Cessna182Q by the author and John Greasley, both members of Sheffield Aero Club, and Neville Tate, a member at Bagley."
It is just a personal thing, but if anything I have more admiration for people undertaking flights such a this, as I do for 'record breaking' flights. Maybe it did get a lot of publicity - and I just happened to miss it? The Cessna 182 was G-CCYS. What a wonderful achievement.
A PERSONAL MEMORY
My one and only visit to Netherthorpe was on the 8th April 2004. I had collected the Taylor JT2 Titch G-OJON from Dersingham in Norfolk and delivered it here in my truck. As is my wont I always try to fly from as many different airfields as possible, (in the UK and abroad), but unfortunately an instructor was not available. According to my log book it was a Mr A Marsh who took pity on me, (but I think I paid something?), and he took me for a local flight in the Cessna 150 G-BOBV.
As an aside, this picture clearly shows the damage caused to the upper bodywork on my truck when collecting the Stern ST80 (G-BWVI) from LONG MYND in SHROPSHIRE back in November 2002. I never made a point about this, as it comes with the 'territory' of moving aeroplanes, and cannot be charged for. But oddly enough considering how airfields are by their nature so open and wide, access by road can often be very difficult with a large truck, and the resultant damage from hedges and trees is par for the course. A fact of life not easy to square if you take a pride, as an owner driver, in presenting your truck in good condition.
Colin Anthony
This comment was written on: 2019-12-24 11:36:37Hello, If you review Wikipedia this has been brought up to date with regard to the past and present of RAF Netherthorpe and Netherthorpe Airfield. I can confirm no covert ops were carried out at Netherthorpe, Lysanders were utilised by 613 Squadron in 1940 mainly for recce ops on the east coast. Colin.
Dick Flute
This comment was written on: 2019-12-26 23:26:12Hi Colin, Many thanks. This is exactly what I suspected. It seems that due to the relative amount of exposure SOE Lysander operations have had, it is often assumed that if the type was in evidence, then they were connected to SOE operations. When in fact the majority were not. In fact, the majority of SOE operations were conducted by the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley, Lockheed Hudson, Short Stirling and Handley Page Halifax bomber types. Best regards, Dick
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