Upton Court Farm
UPTON COURT FARM: Temporary aerodrome (Now Lascelles Park)
Operated by: Leatherhead Aviation Services
Location: Just NNE of the M4, just SE of Slough town centre
Period of operation: 19th & 20th August 1922
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for investigating this little known venue. It appears that Leatherhead Aviation Services arrived here on the 19th August with their Avro 504K G-EBAV, (ex F9783), to conduct pleasure flights.How long they intended to stay is not known, but in the late afternoon of the 20th, the Avro was involved in a very serious crash, near to this site, in the grounds of St Bernard's Convent.
It is possible that it was based overnight at HOUNSLOW HEATH. The two passengers were the owner of Leatherhead Aviation Services and another man with a Leatherhead address, presumably their mechanic? It may have been going back to HOUNSLOW HEATH in preparation for another days flying, or perhaps, returning to the Leatherhead base.
The article was published in the Daily News (London) on the 21st August 1922.
The photo was published in the Daily Mirror on the 22nd August 1922. The article was published in The Aeroplane on the 23rd August 1922. The letter was also published in The Aeroplane, but on the 13th September. I think reading the letter, having read the article, is very interesting. Not least because in compiling this 'Guide', we have no option but to rely on published material. Needless to say, always with a questioning frame of mind.
Note: The area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
NOTES: Leatherhead Aviation Services had registered G-EBAV on the 2nd January 1922. The Avro 504 variants, especially the 504K and 504N, were very popular after WW1 for joy-riding operations, and had been extensively used during WW1 from trainers to bombers. So, what went wrong here will probably never be explained. Flying a loop was standard practice for those wanting an extra thrill, and for the pilots, often performing several each day, a matter of no concern. And indeed, recovering from a spin was likewise easy, predictable and quite safe. Often performed during displays.
My theory, and it is just that, purely conjecture, is that if the engine faltered towards the top of that loop, it is quite possible it entered an inverted spin. Something rarely if ever practiced. And this can be quite disorientating, even for a highly experienced pilot, the anti-spin control inputs being the opposite of recovering from an upright spin. If this was the case, it might well explain how it came to grief. Very fortunately, hitting a tree, resulting in no fatalities.
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
