Whitecross Farm
WHITECROSS FARM: Private airstrip (also known as WALLINGFORD)
Note: These three maps and the Google Earth © image were kindly provided by Mr Michael T Holder
Operated by: Perhaps, Thames Valley Flying Group
Location: E of the A329, just SE of Wallingford town centre
Note: The field was cut in half when the Wallingford bypass was built
Period of operation: 1970s & 1980s only?
Runway: N/S 480 grass
NOTES: An airfield guide from the 1980s says, “East side of the A329, almost opposite a minor road to Chalsey”, yet my maps show this is probably Cholsey. A listing from a guide published in the mid 1970s states that the only aircraft based here was Druine D.31 Turbulent G-ARCZ
SO, WHERE WAS IT?
This site is so close to BERKSHIRE it could be in that County? And indeed, it once was I have since discovered. In my research for this area I have been greatly aided by Mike Holder who is a great friend of this 'Guide'. He enlisted the help of Judy Dewey, the Curator of Wallingford Museum who very kindly offered this advice:
"As for the airstrip, the only other possibility I can offer is some land belonging to Whitecross Farm, Cholsey. The location is actually in Winterbrook, on the outskirts of Wallingford, which was in the Parish of Cholsey in the 1930s. There was certainly an airstrip in use there in the early 1970s when I first came came to live in Cholsey - the wind-sock was easily seen towards the river, on the left side of the road as you drove towards Cholsey. However, in the early 1990s the new bridge at Winterbrook was built to carry the new Wallingford bypass over the river. The bypass bridge approach cut right across the old airstrip."
So there you have it. Combined with my original notes and the subsequent help from Mike Holder and Judy Dewer it certainly seems we have the location at least firmly nailed. But of course we don't really know who used it and for how long? Did other pilots visit? If anybody can kindly offer advice, this well be much appreciated.
In March 2023, Mr Graham Frost who is another great friend of this 'Guide', told me that a Miles M.38 Messenger 2A, G-AIEK, was based here from 19.08.66 to 27.07.68. This was owned by the Thames Valley Flying Group, and one of the five co-owners, Mr Peter A Hawkins, gave his address as Whitecross Farm.
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