The Old Cock Inn
THE OLD COCK INN: Termporary Landing Ground
Location: On the old A21, (now B245), just E of the newer A21, about 3.25nm NW of Tonbridge town centre, and also roughly 3.75nm SSE of Sevenoaks town centre
Period of operation: Unknown, but, certainly in August 1933
NOTES: We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for finding this location as being described in the two short articles published in the Tonbridge Free Press on the 25th August and 1st September 1933. And, for providing the maps and Google Earth © details.
The Old Cock Inn, later renamed, now appears to be a private residence.
Having driven to and from the Czech Republic, including when it was still called Czechoslovakia, I noted how this reporter spelt the nationality of the pilot.
It never had a hyphen in it, so presumably failed to check the correct spelling. Can you believe a press reporter failing to get the details correct? Ironic perhaps how life pans out. For most of my life I had a very low opinion of the typical "jobsworth", and now, in this respect at least - I have now become one.
In the short article it was thought that this location could, or would, become popular with private pilots. Did it? If anybody can offer advice, this will be most welcome.
OTHER VIEWS
These are from my Google Earth © derived database. Please note that very many flying sites listed in this 'Guide' are not pinned.
THE PROBLEM WITH CONSUMING ALCOHOL WHEN DRIVING AND FLYING
(Or operating machinery, driving a train, etc, etc)
In northern Europe especially, it is a cultural issue going back many centuries. Basically water was known to be not safe to drink, not least because rivers and streams were very conveniant sewers. Hence developing a safer way to imbibe liquids, such as beers and spirits. For example, in England at least, three hundred years ago, (probably much longer), somebody engaged in heavy manual work could be allowed to have eight pints of beer during the working day without it having any adverse effects - or so they thought! Hence the term, "Having one over the eight."
In the first half of the twentieth century, it was common knowledge that having a tipple before driving or flying was benefical. And clearly it was, helping you to relax. So, hence the common expression in those days when in a pub etc, "One more for the road." And, many pilots of that era had the same opinion. How attitudes have, thankfully, changed - in more recent years - was not a popular decision when, for example, in 1967 in the UK, the Road Safety Act was passed, allowing the police to make breathalyser tests.
I have found accounts of pilots, even durng WW2, (including some of the best aces), thinking nothing of, especially away from the front line, obtaining a light aircraft to have a bit of fun flying around on a pub crawl. Perhaps needless to say, after combat missions in WW2, for both RAF and USAAF aircrews, any chance to "Light up the town", or the Mess on the aerodrome, was considered essential. Well, for most anyway.
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