Rest Bay
REST BAY: Civil aerodrome (Aka LOCK'S COMMON and PORTHCAWL)
Note: You might find it of interest to look at the listings for LOCK'S COMMON and PORTHCAWL. To be rather pedantic, (which at my age is always enjoyable), LOCK'S COMMON is the correct name for this location.
NOTES: It appears that Capt. E D C Herne was granted the license to operate this site in 1919. The first license to be granted in Wales after WW1.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for doing the research, and sorting out the differences between various reports over the years for LOCK's COMMON, PORTCAWL and REST BAY. The former and latter being the same place! Something that certainly had me in a state of perplexification for many years.
Note: The first map is the only one found so far which shows LOCK'S COMMON. The first article was published in the Porthcawl News on the 13th May 1920, who also published the Notice, but on the 16th June 1921. Please note the remarkably ill-informed reporter, in the first article, referring to an "A. V. Rowe" machine. It was of course, an Avro. Without much doubt (?) a 504 type, probably a 504K. The company formed by Alliott Verdon Roe, which became a major manufacturer during WW1.
The picture of G-EAKX was kindly sent by Mike Charlton, another great friend of this 'Guide'. It is from a postcard of which he has a fabulous collection.
See: www.aviationpostcard.co.uk The Google Street View shows the scene today from which the photo of G-EAKX was taken. The advert was published in the Western Mail on the 6th June 1927.
The second article was published in the Porthcawl News on the 18th May 1922.The area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
Operated by: Originally Capt E D C Herne. Later used by, Berkshire Aviation Company, Pine's Airways, Surrey Flying Services, Western Aviation Company
Without too much doubt (?) also used by Sir Alan Cobham's National Aviation Day display tours on the 3rd June 1932, and the next year on the 27th May 1933.
Location. Alongside Locks Lane, in Rest Bay roughly 0.5 miles NW of Porthcawl town centre
Period of operation: 1919 to 1939
NOTES: It appears that Captain George Stanley Pine (later MBE) formed Pine's Airways in 1936 after learning to fly and acquiring a DH83 Fox Moth for £1200. Later the ex-Provincial Airways DH83 Fox Moth G-ACEX. The business did well and later a second Fox Moth was added. The Fox Moth could carry, ostensibly, four passengers and a circuit cost 2/6d. Flying over Kenfig Pool cost 5/-, the Nash Lighthouse £1 and flights over Cardiff or the Mumbles £2.
The de Havilland DH83 Fox Moth G-ACEX was registered to Pines Airways, (no apostrophe), from 15.04.36 until 29.12.39, when, on that date it was impressed as X2866, presumably to serve with the RAF.
WW2 put paid to operations, but it appears that Capt. Pine started up pleasure flight operation at Backpool, SQUIRES GATE, after WW2 with a couple of Austers.
marilyn tickner
This comment was written on: 2018-09-06 13:18:00I'm currently doing a report for the Heritage Lottery Fund and I note that the post for this airfield duplicates the one for Lock's Common. The info we have locally is about George Pine and I read with interest the post that you have for Porthcawl where you say that Avro Transport operated from a 'Flying ground. The Front' from 1919 to 1933...On the sands but also a grass airfield was used..... Do you have any more info or photos?
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