Bekesbourne Aerodrome

Bekesbourne Aerodrome
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Private
Serves	Canterbury
Location	6 km (3.7 mi) southeast of Canterbury
Elevation AMSL	170 ft / 52 m
Coordinates	51°15′16″N 1°9′22″E / 51.25444°N 1.15611°E / 51.25444; 1.15611Coordinates: 51°15′16″N 1°9′22″E / 51.25444°N 1.15611°E / 51.25444; 1.15611
Map
Bekesbourne Show map of England Bekesbourne Show map of Kent Location in England

Bekesbourne Aerodrome was an airport located at the southeast edge of the village of Bekesbourne, southwest of Canterbury, Kent. It operated from 1916 until 1940, and had both military and civil roles.

History

World War 1

The airfield started as RFC Bekesbourne when the Royal Flying Corps requisitioned 98 acres (40 ha) of land in 1916 as an Emergency Landing Ground (ELG).^[1] B flight of No. 50 (Home Defence) Squadron moved in, operating Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3 and F.K.8 and Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 and B.E.12 aircraft. Very little action was seen. After a German bombing raid on London in 1917, some S.E.5 aircraft from No.56 Squadron were brought in between June 21st and July 5th, but again, no combat operations were undertaken.^[2]

Despite the land being on a slope, and quite restricted in dimensions (there is a railway line on the northern boundary), 50 Squadron moved in entirely on the 8th February 1918, and soon standardised on the S.E.5A fighter. With the creation of the Royal Air Force on 1st April, the Squadron's duties expanded at what was now RAF Bekesbourne, and it upgraded its tents and temporary buildings. The S.E.5A aircraft were found to take too long to warm up, and during August were replaced by 24 Sopwith Camels.^[2]

By September 1918 two Belfast Truss hangars hade been completed, along with other buildings. The squadron nicknamed its hangar "The Nest".^[3] The Commanding Officer from December 1918 until disbandment was Major A T Harris AFC., later Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Arthur Harris GCB OBE AFC.^[4] 50 Squadron was disbanded in June 1919.^[2]

Inter-war years

During 1919, dozens of Sopwith Snipes were stored at the airfield, some direct from the manufacturer, and were all burned.^[2] In 1920 the RAF relinquished the airfield and civilian flying started.

The airfield was named Canterbury Airport.^[2] though it was usually referred to as Bekesbourne Aerodrome even in official papers such as aircraft registration documents where that name is given as the "Usual Station".^[5] There is no record of any scheduled services using the airport.

A notable occupant of the airport was Dr. Edward Douglas Whitehead Reid, a senior surgeon at Kent and Canterbury Hospital. In 1919 he bought an old Airco DH.6 which he kept at the airport - becoming the first owner in Britain of a private aircraft after World War 1. He went on to own several further aircraft, all based here, which he used for visiting patients, touring, joyriding flights, and competitions. He became very well known in aviation circles, and when he was killed in a crash in 1930, one of the tributes at his funeral came from Amy Johnson.^[6]

The Kent Gliding Club had a base here - Dr Whitehead Reid was a member, and in 1930 became its president. The Kent Flying Club was formed here in 1931.^[7] It was owned by Airsales & Service Ltd, also based at the airport.^[8]

In the 1930s, flying circuses were very popular, and visited hundreds of venues, from official airfields to appropriate farms or waste land. It is thought that the following flying circuses visited Bekesbourne: Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus, British Hospitals Air Pageant Tour, British Empire Air Display Tour, Coronation Air Displays Tour.^[9]

Another notable user of the airport was Michael Randrup, who gained his pilot's licence here in 1936. He went on to become chief test pilot for D. Napier & Son, in which role he piloted English Electric Canberra B.2 WK163 to set a new world aeroplane altitude record of 70,310 ft in 1957.^{[10] [11]}

A section of the Civil Air Guard was established here in 1938, but the airport was closed on the outbreak of war in 1939.

World War 2

Despite having been closed in 1939, the airfield was reactivated for a short period in 1940, when, on the 20th May, Westland Lysanders of No. 2 Squadron RAF arrived. They were joined for two days (29th and 30th May) by Lysanders from No. 13 Squadron. The Lysanders made armed reconnaissance flights over France until 2 Squadron moved out on June 8th. The airfield was well obstructed by strakes and abandoned, never to be used again.^[2]

Current use

Some airfield buildings, including the Officers’ Mess and combined station chapel and NAAFI, have been converted into bungalows.^[12] One of the Belfast Truss Hangars survived the war, and was converted to a warehouse. It was severely damaged by the Great Storm of 1987. It was rebuilt afterwards, but in 1997 it was demolished and the site was redeveloped to create the De Havillands housing estate. The rest of the airfield returned to agricultural use.

Local road names reflect the existence of the airfield: Aerodrome Road, Lysander Close, and De Havillands. There are two memorial stones, one from the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust, and one commemorating the RFC and RAF.^[13]

Accidents and incidents

• On the 24th August 1939 a landing de Havilland Moth Minor, G-AFMZ, operated by Kent Flying Club, struck and killed a cyclist riding on an adjacent road.^[8]
• During the active period in 1940, a Lysander landed with three hung-up bombs which dropped off and exploded, destroying the aircraft.^[2]

References