Ruislip
RUISLIP: Military aerodrome
Military user: RFC (Royal Flying Corps)
Location: RAF NORTHOLT
Period of operation: 1915 to 1917 only?
NOTES: According to ‘official’ Pilot Certificate records No.1364 was awarded to Lieut. Franklyn Bellamy on 30/6/15 flying a Maurice Farman biplane. This is the first record of any flying activity on this site discovered to date. Lieut-Col Evelyn Boscawen Gordon was awarded RAeC Certificate No: 4382 here, March 17th 1917, flying a Maurice Farman machine.
Without any doubt whatsoever, this flying site was what soon became much better known as RAF NORTHOLT. The reason for making a seperate entry is simply because these two pilots listed RUISLIP as being where they passed their test. Which of course does raise the question as to whether another small training airfield did actually exist?
We need to remember that in WW1 a field of around 300 metres square was considered quite adequate for use by night fighters. And experience has taught me to be very wary of jumping to obvious conclusions. Also, although today firmly embedded in suburbia, in those days this was mainly open countryside with just the odd village dotted around.
If anybody can kindly offer advice, this will be most welcome.
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