Wilmington
WILMINGTON: Civil aerodrome (Also known as MILTON GATE and, for the gliding community, THE OLD MAN OF WILMINGTON)
Note: This picture is from my Google Earth © derived database
Military users: Apparently, at one time, used by 207 Sqdn during WW2. Almost certainly 24 Sqdn in 1940
Operated by: Initially by Mr Melville W Allenby?
Note: This fabulous picture, (from a postcard), of a publicity stunt showing new radio sets being delivered by air, using a DH83 Fox Moth, was kindly sent by Mike Charlton who has an amazing collection. See: www.aviationpostcard.co.uk
I am certainly impressed that this amount of boxes could be stuffed into a Fox Moth. Perhaps the seats had been removed?
Note: Also, in the 1930s, the base for the Eastbourne Flying Club and Sussex Aero Club
Location: 1.5nm NE of Alfriston, 5nm NW of Eastbourne
Period of operation: Civil 1932 to 1939 only? Limited military use in WW2 (1940 only?)
NOTES: Records show that Mr Allenby kept the Avro 504K G-EBZB here.
At one period afforded airport status? Some sources reckon WILMINGTON was indeed once a regional Airport.
FLYING CIRCUS VENUES
Venue (19th July 1933) for the British Hospitals Air Pageant tour
Venue (14th August 1933) for Alan Cobham’s No.1 Tour of the UK. A few days later (25th August 1933) the No.2 tour performed.
On 7th July 1935 Cobham’s No.1 Tour performed.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Until 2022 I had no maps to illustrate this venue. That problem being kindly solved by Mike, a great friend of this 'Guide'.
Note: The newspaper article was published in the Eastbourne Gazette on the 12th July 1933.
Although one of the biggest tours that year, the British Hospitals Air Pageant tour visited 150 venues. By comparison, Sir Alan Cobham's two tours that year, visited 267 venues.
Note: The local area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
MORE NOTES
This site was it seems for extensive gliding trials and competitions in 1939. Also, according to Graham Smith, as WW2 appeared inevitable, in August 1939 WILMINGTON hosted the last Kings Cup Air Race with three German pilots competing and a Polish airman!
There are reliable accounts of this aerodrome being used by RAF Hurricanes during WW2, possibly only during the ‘Battle of Britain’ as a diversion airfield, but it was never officially ‘on charge’ as a military aerodrome?
A NEW BEGINNING
On the 21st of October 1988 an attempt was made to re-open WILMINGTON as an aerodrome by the ‘Tiger Club’ using the Super Cub G-AVPT and Stampe G-AZCB. Experts to measure the noise plus local councillors attended. It seems the experts had great difficulty in measuring the aircraft noise due to traffic on the nearby A27. Nevertheless permission was denied although I have heard that this decision was heavily influenced by the jealous owner of a nearby airstrip flying continuously and noisely overhead. Extreme examples of such petty actions by very small minded people (or self interest) involved in aviation, are not at all uncommon in the UK. It might seem beyond belief but in fact some airline pilots living close to small aerodromes can be the most vociferous objectors to aircraft noise!
SOMETHING TO BE DISCOVERED
It seems that during WW2 a DH.89A Rapide, (in February 1940), and Percival Vega Gull, (in March 1940), of 24 Sqdn used WILMINGTON on flights from France. There must surely be a story here?
A LOVELY STORY
In many respects very much what this 'Guide' is intended for. So often the exact history of many locations listed seems to defy definition. In November 2021, on the 23rd, I was kindly contacted by Mr Peter Woodman, who has this tale to tell.
"I landed my Auster, G-AHCK, in Wilmington on May 28th 1973. Our PFA Southern Strut at Shoreham, had arranged a competition for pilots and the turning points had to be verified by ground observers. After the competition had ended, I was asked by Pat Holmes, who owned a Fornier RF4 motor glider at Shoreham, to collect one of the Observer Corps members and his camping equipment. They had both pitched their tents there the previous day. The other observer was collected by a fellow pilot in a Piper Cub. We both landed in the field, approaching over the small river that is at the east boundary, collected both observers and flew them to Shoreham."
"I often fly over this field, as recently as yesterday, in our group-owned Piper Archer, G-BMIW. At one time there used to be a distinctive hangar on the field's north boundary, but no buildings appear there now."
A BIT MORE INFO
The de Havilland DH60G Gipsy Moth, G-AAIV, was registered here to the Eastbourne Flying Club from 09.12.35. It remained with them until 23.06.40 when it was impressed as AW127.
Also, the privately owned Avro 616 Avian IVM, G-AATL, was based here from 21.11.33 until 07.06.37 when it was written off.
peter Duffell
This comment was written on: 2020-11-11 22:13:06DH89A P1765 of 24 Squadron is recorded in the station records AIR 27 292 8 page 28 as arriving at Wilmington on 15 December 1939 at 11:10 with A/Cmdr Quinnell from Reims and leaving with no passengers at 11:20 destination Hendon.
peter Duffell
This comment was written on: 2020-11-13 19:51:48February DH89A P1764 on 5th feb flew from Ameins and landed at 16:05 F/L Oldroyd and LAC Jennings as crew and LAC Bracher as passenger. on 6th Feb took off at 11:50 and landed at 12:15 same crew and passenger. On 7th Feb same crew and passenger plus S/L Whitley took off at 10:25 heading for Hendon. Information from Squadron records National Archieves Ref AIR 27/293/4 pages 4 to 7.
peter Duffell
This comment was written on: 2020-11-13 20:02:11March 1940 ref: Vega Gulf 3 ref P1754 - 15th March landed from Hendon at 14:05 crew P/O Hockey passenger W/C Whitley and picked up W/C Goode and taook off at 14:20 heading for Gatwick.
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
