Osterley Park
OSTERLEY PARK: Temporary Landing Ground
The aerial view was obtained from Google Earth © and the local area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
Location: Just S of the M4, roughly 5nm ENE of the centre of HEATHROW airport
Period of operation: 10th August 1918
ARTICLE IN THE TIMES, 12th AUGUST 1918
FIRST A.S.C. AEROPLANE
-------♦-------
NAMING BY PRINCESS PATRICIA
Princess Patricia of Connaught visited the headquarters
of the Army Service Corps at Osterley Park on Saturday,
accompanied by the Duke of Connaught, to name an
aeroplane subscribed for by officers and men of the
mechanical transport depôt through their regimental War
Savings Association.
As stated in The Times on Friday, the Air Minister agreed
last May that any Army War Savings Association which
raised £2,000 could have an aeroplane named after its
unit. Colonel T. J. Kearns, the officer in command of the
Mechanical Transport depôt at Osterley Park, explained
that the amount subcribed at the depôt was £12,982.
The name given to the first of its aeroplanes by Princess
Patricia was "The Osterley No.1." Before the ceremony a
dedicatory prayer was offered by Bishop Taylor Smith,
Chaplain-General of the Forces; and later an exhibition
flight was given by Lieutenant A.C. Sanderson.
NOTES: We have Mr Ed Whitaker, a good friend and ex RAF (Vulcans and Buccaneers) to thank for unearthing this old article. We both volunteer at Osterley Park and House, Ed being a senior volunteer, myself being very much a junior. During a conversation I mentioned that I thought it likely that some form of aviation related activity must surely have occured - possibly a balloon launch at the start of the 20th century? Or an aeroplane dropping in to visit the Jersey family?
The Countess of Jersey had made quite a name for herself, holding, for example, very extravagent garden parties to which a guest list reads like a volume of Who's Who. It was very common, even before WW1 and up to WW2, for the wealthy and privileged, either in the RAF or having their own private aeroplane, to drop in at various large estates for tiffin, or stay the night.
This is the result so far. We did not know what type of aeroplane 'Osterley No.1' was, until later, when we discovered it was a Sopwith Camel, a front lne fighter in those days. Nor where it landed. Looking at old maps the basic layout of the location does not seem to have changed very much over the last one hundred years or so, and the large grass area in front of the house, (to the east), would seem to be the most likely? (Here again, advice will be much appreciated).
A SURPRISING ADDITION
Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', having noticed the addition of OSTERLEY PARK, had a look around to see if anything else comes to light. And found this, published in The Bystander on the 22nd May 1935. "Lord Jersey, whose property includes Osterley Park, near Heston, has succumbed to the lure of the aeroplanes which fly constantly over his head, and is learning to fly at the Airwork School."
We do not know if he gained his license, or indeed if any landings were made at OSTERLEY PARK. Seems likely he did? (Advice will be most welcome). HESTON AIRPORT was roughly, centre to centre, just 1.5nm W of OSTERLEY PARK.
AVIATION CAN BE A SMALL WORLD
Isn't it great when the dots join up? As noted, Ed Whitaker found the evidence for making this listing and Mike Holder found the later info. Being fairly certain this is still not 'Classified' under the 'Top Secret' regulations, when flying in Vulcans during the Cold War, but not in the same Squadron, Mike and Ed were neighbours in the base. Hadn't seen or heard from each other until this 'Guide' made an introduction across the inter-web.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Having got his interest in this location, Mike Holder decided to see what else he could find about it. As you can see, quite a lot, and not all aviation related either. But, I trust you will agree, of considerable interest. It is often the case that so many locations listed in this 'Guide' have a history that is fascinating, and which I cannot spare the time to investigate and include. However, seeing as Ed Whitaker and myself volunteer here, (and it is my 'Guide'), and seeing that every rule has exceptions, even in law, I decided to offer the following:
The 1927 aerial photo seems to offer proof that the temporary Landing Ground in 1918, was in front of the house - to the east. Article One was published in the Middlesex Chronicle on the 8th May 1915.
The picture is from Ealing and Northfields by Richard Essex, taken during WW1.Article Two was published in Flight magazine on the15th August 1918:
These three photos were published also in Flight magazine, on the 15th August 1918, when the Sopwith Camel 'Osterley No.1' was being christened.
Always interests me to learn how keen the Church of England have been to sanctify nigh on every aspect of killing people by whatever means. It has been a long time since I had to go to church and Sunday school as a youngster, but seem to recall something in the Bible about not killing people?
OTHER EXAMPLES WHERE OSTERLEY PARK GETS A MENTION - NO FLYING THOUGH
Excerpt One is fom Mutinies 1917 to 1920 by David Lamb. Excerpt Two is from Britain and the Spanish Civil War by Tom Buchanan. Excerpt Three is from George Orwell, the road to 1984 by Peter Lewis.
AND JUST TO ROUND OFF
The photo of Virginia West was published in The Tatler on the 28th July 1937. The photo of the house in 2024 is by the author.
AND ALSO
Please see a seperate listing for SPRING GROVE, just to the south where Princess Patricia performed a second christening of another Sopwith Pup on the same day, named after the Mechanical Transport Depot at OSTERLEY.
END NOTES
When welcoming visitors who have never been here before, I do like to explain that when this house was built around the Tudor house, in the mid 18th century, it was never intended to be lived in. It was a summer house, a party house, designed to show off in the most extravagent manner just how wealthy the owners were.
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