BLACKBUSHE -A HISTORY Robert Belcher

By Robert Belcher

• Construction began in the spring of 1942 on the new RAF station to be known as RAF Hartford Bridge.

• The site had been open heath land for centuries. No previous aviation history. SAS demonstration 1941

• North of the A30 the site was owned 60% by The Calthorpe family and 40% by the Yateley commoners. Boundary was Vigo Lane. There was also a large portion south of the A30 owned by the war office.

First aircraft to visit Miles Magister from Farnborough July 1942

• Construction was carried out by Alfred McAlpine and the station opened 1st November 1942. The first squadrons arrive

• RAE Farnborough glider flight July 1942- March 1943 Horsa, Hotspur,Hamilcar • 171 sqn NA Mustang December 1942- January 1943 • 34PR wing,16 sqn and 140 sqn arrive March 1943.Photo reconnaissance work with Mosquitos, Mustangs and Venturas. 20th June first mission • August 1943 all buildings finally finished 140sqn DH Mosquito PR16 2 RR Merlins 1500m range 360mph

16sqn NA Mustang 1 Allison engine 750miles 380mph 1943 Bring on the Bombers • August 1943 88 sqn and 107 sqn arrive with Douglas Boston and 21 sqn with Lockheed Venturas. Daily bombing of France and Belgium • Venturas withdrawn in favour of more Bostons 342 sqn(free French) arrive September 1943. Winter 1943 FIDO fog dispersal equipment installed • By end of 1943 three resident Boston Squadrons, 1 Spitfire PR and one Mosquito PR squadron.3000 personell • Douglas Boston • 3 crew • 4000lb bombs • 500 mile range • 300mph

• NA Mitchell • 6 crew • 6000lb bombs • 700 mile range • 250mph 1944 D-day and beyond • February 1944 226 sqn Mitchells arrive, 107 sqn Bostons move to Lasham • PR Mosquitos move out march 1944. 264 sqn night fighter Mosquitos patrol south coast ports as do 322sqn Spitfire by day • 88 sqn and 342 sqn Bostons first mission of D-day laying smoke, 1st RAF aircraft lost on 6 June. • Bostons and Mitchells make daily raids on troop concentrations, railways and V-1 rocket sites • July 14th 1944 king and Queen visit to decorate crews • Bostons and Mitchells move to France in September 1944 to be replaced by Mosquitos • Firstly 107,305 and 613 sqn’s, replaced November 1944 by 418 and 605 sqn’s. Daily attacks on occupied Belgium and Holland with heavy losses. • December 19th 1944 name changed to Blackbushe. • March 1945 Mosquitos move out base handed over to Transport Command Transport Command • Douglas Dakota- 28 passengers, 1600m range, 160mph cruise

• Vickers Warwick CIII- 12-15 passengers, 2300 mile range, cruise 190mph • Transport command Squadrons,167 sqn Warwicks,Dakotas and Ansons. Twice daily flights to Naples via Istres .Later twice weekly to Athens, weekly to Warsaw. Warwicks replaced by Dakotas • 162 sqn Mosquitos arrive 7th June 1945. Courier flights to Oslo, Copenhagen, Prague, Vienna, Rome, Naples, and Athens. Urgent mail air dropped • USAF casualty evacuations and POW return • June 1945 work start on a new passenger and freight (P&F)building plus use of ‘Old Manor House’ Hartley Wintney. • 127 and 167 sqn Dakotas start services in July 1945 to Europe due flooding at Croydon • BOAC request use while Heathrow built ,permission denied by RAF. • 311 sqn Liberator crash 5/10/45 23 killed • July 1945 24 sqn commence daily AWAS service to Prestwick with Dakotas. • August 1945 DDL Danish Airlines commence services with B-17 and FW Condor until March 1946 The end of Transport command

• 167 sqn disband February 1946 followed by 162 sqn in July • Continued use by other squadrons picking up many VIP’s including General Montgomery, Dutch, Greek and Yugoslav Royals and cabinet misisters. • 14th September 1946 first, and only, RAF Battle of Britain display, crowd of 5000 watch afternoon flying display. • Transport command handled 64,000 passengers between March 1945 and November 1946

• RAF Blackbushe closes 22nd November 1946 Those that did not return

F/O S.Cotton, F/O R.Jones, F/O J.Rankin, F/S T.Jones, F/S A.Parsons, W/O H.Anderson,F/O W.Locke, P/O J.Wilkinson, P/O W.Pattenson, Sgt R.Edwards ,Sgt R.Bicknel, Sgt J.Bateson, F/O R.Christie, F/O Y.Lamy, W/O L.Balcaen, Sgt R.Roussarie, Sgt J.Journyauc, W/c R.England, F/O P.Anderson, F/O A.Kindell, F/O J.Brice, F/S V.Mudell, F/S R.Gibson, F/O R.Mullough, F/O D.Brown, Sgt J.Shaw, F/S T.Hoeg, Sgt H.Gardner, Sgt C.Rodham,F/O C.Stoloff, P/O C.Lang, Sgt J.Allain, Sgt G.Steinburg, F/S M.Baynes, F/O L Petit ,F/L C.Gigliotti, Sgt R.Machecourt, Sgt J. Marin,W/O A.Prandi,Sgt G.Genestal, F/L H. de Montmal ,W/O I.Canix ,F/S R.Bauden ,Sgt A.Urbe, Sgt H.Latrille, Lt A.Truxler(USAAF), P/O D.Skipp, F/S A.Naisbit, P/O B.Mconnell,F/O J.Forsans, F/S P.Watel, W/O P.Johanny,Sgt R.Woddiwiss,W/C A.Wheeler, F/L A.Dickinson, W/O G.Goult, F/S G.Reid ,W/O K.Smith, Lt J.SenryP/O C.Burrows, P/O D.Moultrie, F/O E.Evans, F/S G.George, F/S C.Bagot,W/O E.Macfarlan,F/O Moore, F/S Fuller, F/O Johnson,F/O E.Evans, F/S G.George, F/S C.Bagot,W/O E.Macfarlane, Sgt H.Roovers, Sgt R.Petiot, Sgt C.Simon, F/O J.Edgar, F/L Smith, F/S E. Allan,W/O A.Boyle, P/O J.Chalmers, Sgt A.Garner , Sgt R. Boissiuex, Lt B.Canut, Sgt J.Henson, Sgt C.Biddlescombe, F/F D. Badgerley, F/S D.Ahern, Sgt R.Ulen, F/O J.Fox, F/O C. Pryor, Sgt N.Dixon, Sgt T.McCaffrey, F/S F.Halsey, Sgt M.Hoare, Sgt E.Bishop, P/O L.Patterson, F/O Mills, Sgt J. Werobowecki, Sgt R.Cole, F/O G.Green,F/O A.Dow, P/O J.Bailey,F/S R.Rosemond F/S D.Murray, P/O T.Simpson, P/O E.Vierow, F/S R.Taylor, F/O T.Hood, Sgt H.Cornement,F/S Houriez, P/O M.Sonet, Sgt H.Kninkau, Sgt J. Ladagnous, F/S Lt P.Barrier, Sgt R.Depui, Sgt L.Jean , Sgt R.Bonneville, P/O H.Dubios, F/O A.Feletou, Sgt R.Pierron, W/O Romanietti ,F/O J.Lang, F/O J.Haynes, F/O R.Holmes, F/O K.Jones,S/L G.Vickers, F/L S.Turner, F/L K.Kimber, F/S E.Rudge,Sgt W.Anstey, F/S R.Brett, F/S J.hart, F/S C.Hunter, F/S L.Dunn, W/O R.Clarke, F/O A.Fozlof , F/L R.Henderson, F/S H.Bartram, Sgt McLaughlin,F/O L.Purcell,F/O A.Sharp, F/O J.Eagleson, F/O Loudon, F/O Irvine, F/S S.Catto, P/O M. Emsig, F/O J.Calford, Sgt C.Adair,F/O A. Flament, Sgt R. Schloss, Lt Bellin, Cmdr le Maismont, Sgt Ballaire-Ducos, F/O Z.Mochnacki, P/O Z.Szwarnowiecki, F/O Overend, F/O Brock, F/L H.Glassco, F/L T.Wood, F/L T. Matthew,P/O J.Firth ,F/O G.Day, F/O W. Retzer, F/O L.Berry F/O W.Brown,F/O G/Lumsden, F/O C.Gibson, F/O Bulman, F/O warren, F/L W.Charde, Sgt S.Rosenthal, W/C J.Wickett, F/O W.Jessop,F/L M.Hope, F/O L.Thorpe,F/L H.Miller, F/S W.Hooper, F/O R.Owen, P/O G.Thirlwell ,F/L Enticott,F/L L.Jones, F/P G.Phillips,F/L McLeod, F/O W.Morrison ,F/O G.Sheldrick, F/O P.Klapkew, P/O Timms, Sgt Turner ,F/O Phillip and F/O R.Sergeant, F/S C. Akers, F/O P.S. Briggs, F/L J.Garnett, F/L W.Mathias,F/L G.P. Ormesher, A/C2 A.R. Titford, F/L G.T. Bailey, F/O A.J. Reardon, LAC R.Cox, AC1 P.Fitzgibbon, LAC C.E Hoborough, LAC R.W. Nicholls, Cpl H.P. Mills, LAC S.Thomas, LAC T.S. Wallace, LAC E.R.Richings, LAC S.Price, AC2 C.D. Martin, LAC E,J Lynott, LAC E.J. Lynott, LAC E.A Pettifer, AC2 R.Owen, P/O J.Kudlacek, W/O A.Broz, P/O K.Rybnicek, F/O B.Vaverka ,F/S Z. Sedlak R.Lichtensteinova, R.Obrazova, M.Paulinyova, M.Richter, A. Rosenblumov, J.Rosenblum (aged 2) ,A.Safranek, A.Safrankova, O.Schwarz, E.Sledakova L.Sobeslavsky (aged 1), M. Sobeslavska,M. Sobeslavska(aged 1),O.Trinks, I.Trinksova, H.Wodakova, G.Zalhrova, H.Zaldrova (aged 2), F/L Mandleson The civil take over • Blackbushe opened by Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA) 15th February 1947 along with other airports for private airlines and for diversions. • Terminal and tower refurbished for civil use. Terminal capacity 30 passengers at a time. • Four new companies move in Airwork, Britavia, Silver City and Westminster Airways • Used by BEA, BOAC, BSAAC for training • FIDO refurbished for civil use and tests carried out • By July 1947 seventeen based aircraft and customs provided on demand. Summer scheduled service to Cowes, Isle of Wight! • 1948 first ‘farnborough week’ • 1948 open 18 hours per day 7 days a week full customs • First of many Heathrow diversions. KLM, Sabena, Pan Am, SAS, Austrian, Qantas • August 1948 Berlin Airlift starts. • 1948, controversial flights by South African Airlines break charter rules. • 29th November 1948 one and only use of FIDO • August 1949 Berlin airlift ends, airlines in slump, Westminster Airways ceases trading • 1950 1200 passengers per month in winter 2500 summer • USAF plan 11000ft runway for B-47’s! • 1951 Comet training flights. Regular RAF flights • 1952 Blackbushe chosen as London’s third airport in white paper. Airport land to be compulsory purchased. • Facilities unchanged until 1953 when introduction of Hermes means new terminal built at a cost of £95000. • 1953 arrival of Eagle Airways . Eagle fly scheduled flights to Belgrade, Innsbruck, Jersey, Luxembourg, Dinard, Gothenburg, Aalborg, and Rimini • Package holidays to Nice, Basle, Zurich, Palma, Pisa, Majorca, Malaga and Turin • Airwork ‘coach’ service weekly to Nairobi, Salisbury and Accra via everywhere! Central African Airways fly same service from Nairobi. • US navy arrive from Hendon in1954,their hangar was completed in1956. Civil aircraft used at Blackbushe • Up to 10 seats, short range

DH Rapide DH Dove

Avro Anson Airspeed Consul Medium range • Vickers Viking 36 passengers 210 mph cruise 1700 mile range

Users - Airwork, Continental, Eagle, Falcon, Independent,Orion, Pegasus, BEA

• Douglas DC-3/C-47/R4D 32 passengers 150 mph cruise 1000 mile range Users- Air Contractors, Air Kruise, Air Transport Charter, Airwork, Britavia, Dan-Air, Independent Silver City, US Navy, Westminster Airways ,BEA • Bristol 170 60 passengers or two cars and 20 passengers Cruise 170 mph range 490 miles. • Users- Dan-Air, Eagle, Silver City Long Range • HP Halifax 250mph cruise, range 2050 miles 8 tonnes

Users – Westminster Airways

• Avro Lancastrian 230 mph cruise range 4150 miles 9 passengers or 2500 gallons of fuel

Users- Silver City • Avro Tudor -80 passengers cruise 200 mph range 2300 miles Users- Fairflight, William Dempster

• Avro York- 56 passengers 230mph cruise 3000 miles range Users- Dan Air, Eagle • Vickers Viscount- 75 passengers, 352mph cruise, 1700 mile range Users- Airwork,BEA Eagle

• HP Hermes 82 passengers 270mph cruise 2000 mile range

Users- Airwork, Britavia, Silver City • Douglas DC-4/C-54/R5D- 86 passengers, 227 mph cruise, 4250 miles range

Users- Independent, US Navy

Douglas DC-6/R6D – up to 102 passengers, 315 mph cruise, 2610 miles range

Users- Eagle, US Navy Based Airlines • Airwork 1947-1959-Bristol 170, Douglas DC-3 ,HP Hermes,Vickers Viking, Vickers Viscount. Scheduled services to Accra,Khartoum, Nairobi and Salisbury. Trooping flights to Suez,Aden and Kenya. Became part of BUA in 1961 • Britavia 1947-1959- Douglas DC-3,HP Hermes. Ferry flights of war surplus aircraft and trooping flights to the Far East. Merged with Silver City 1959 • Silver City 1947-1959- Avro Lancastrian, Bristol 170, Douglas DC-3 – Scheduled car ferry flights to Zurich and Northern Ireland. Regular horse charters and Berlin Airlift • Westminster Airways 1947-1951 Douglas DC-3,HP Halifax Berlin airlift and ad hoc charters. • Eagle 1953-1960- Bristol 170, Douglas DC-3, Douglas DC-6, Vickers Viking,Vickers Viscount. Scheduled flights to Basle, Belgrade, Dinard, Gothenburg, Jersey, Luxembourg, Innsbruck, Ostend, Pisa. Also trooping flights to Cyprus and Malta. Moved to Heathrow 1960, ceased operations 1968 • Smaller carriers- Air Contractors ,Air Kruise ,Independent Fairflight, Continental, Dan Air, Falcon, Orion,Pegasus

Foreign operators- Indian Airlines Cargo, American International, Meteor Air Transport (USA), TMA (Lebanon), Kar-Air (Finland),LTU (Germany), SCAL (France), Belgian International, Tropic and Trek airways (S.Africa) Regular military visitors from –USA ,France, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Israel, Canada, Portugal, Germany The passenger experience and who were they?

• Initially ‘their Lords and Ladies’, Winston Churchill, Lord Beaverbrook and Royal visits. Those who can afford first class today. • Transportation of ships crews. ‘Club’ holidays • Start of package holidays in 1947, became more common after 1955 • Lack of airport security, land side and airside. Severe customs restrictions on goods and currency. • Most passengers ‘check in’ at London terminal ,then transported by coach. • No airport shops! One small café until restaurant in 1958

US Navy 1954-60 FASRON 200 Based aircraft- Beech SNB, Convair R4Y, Douglas R4D, R5D. Regular visitors Douglas R6D, Lockheed P2V, R7V,WV2, Martin P4M. Scheduled flights from US and Europe. Accidents • 17-2-54 128353 Lockheed P2V US Navy overrun runway and burnt out • 15-08-54 G-AIVS Viking ,Eagle stalled on single engine approach crashed and burned at Star Hill • 12/13-12-54 G-ALWF/G-AMOB Viscount 701 BEA crashed on crew training flights • 20-01-56 G-AMOM Viscount 701,BEA.crashed on take off Blackbushe after simulated engine failure. • 05-11-56 G-ALDJ Hermes,Britavia, undershot runway 08 came down in forest .5 killed. • 01-05-57 G-AJBO Viking,Eagle Aviation,crashed on single engine approach Blackbushe ,34 killed. • 01-09-58 XE462/R106 Seahawk FGA6 Royal Navy ,crashed Blackbushe.(800Sq Aerobatic Team) • 1958 airport refurbished. Runway and taxiways resurfaced. New control room added to tower, new runway lighting installed. Airwork provided with second hangar. • Large RAF and USAF paradrop exercises. Large increase in trooping and training flights.Suez trooping flights • 1958 30,000 movements(LGW 11,600) 6187 airline movements, 204,000 pax 578 tonnes cargo (LGW 9740 airline movements 186,000 pax)

• Agreement in principal with local authorities to purchase common land. But shortly after put on sudden hold…. Closure • Announced 31-7-59, 6 key reasons • 1) Airwork had moved scheduled flights to Gatwick, and Britavia to Manston. Eagle looking to transfer schedules to Heathrow. New airlines not filling the gap • 2) annual £300,000 loss likely to increase • 3) Heavy expenditure needed to upgrade airport to modern standards. £1million to upgrade to modern short haul airport, £2million for long haul(inc runway extension and diversion of A30) • 4) ATC limitations, conflicts with Heathrow and Farnborough • 5) Lack of public transport, rail in particular. • 6) Blackbushe not suitable for long term 3rd airport due to 4 and 5 above. • Airport will close 31st may 1960, land requisition runs out 31st December 1960 site to be completely cleared. • Much dismay amongst airlines and the US Navy, Committee formed to fight closure but failed due to common land issue. • Over winter of 1959/60 airlines begin move. Opening hours recuced. Last airlines to go are Orion and Pegasus Vikings to Gatwick. • US Navy moves to West Malling, airlines mainly to Gatwick. • In summer of 1959 some 54 based airliners , 960 staff employed by airlines, 235 airport staff, 160 by other based companies and 208 US Navy • Last movements on 31st May 1960. Last departure by G-AHNA Proctor Other Visitors

Blackbushe- destruction and ,rebirth 1960- • During 1960/61 all buildings except the terminal and US Navy hangar are removed. Taxiways and runways to be removed but this would take 10 years. • Army Air Corps look to use Blackbushe as permanent base but no budget available. AAC DHC Beavers use airport for exercises. • May 1961 Don Bennett buys western 2/3rds Blackbushe for £12,000 from Calthorpes . Eastern third returns to commoners. • August 1961 planning permission sought for private use of airport. Initially airport used on 28 day rule. • Volunteers clear rubble from terminal area, runway lighting and manhole covers replaced and western end terminal building reopened. • January 1962 Blackbushe aeroclub formed, 170 sign up by March 1962 first aircraft Piper PA-22 flown up from Southampton at weekends. First based aircraft DH Hornet Moth housed in a nissen hut! • Planning permission denied by parish council, government overrule this in May 1962. Airport reopens for private aircraft with shortened runways. • Reopening air show staged October 6 1962 • Summer of 1963 ten based aircraft. Somel DC-3 visits, one French Air Force example with former Boston crews for reunion. • November 1963 Bennett tried to buy the eastern end from Commoners and applies for permission to build new terminal and hangars, this is denied. • ICL flying club formed with PA-22, British Parachute Club move in with a Rapide • December 1964 planning approval for clubhouse and 12 lock up hangars. 1965 Aeromart aero club joints Blackbushe and ICL clubs. 40000 movements, customs introduced again. • Vintage Aircraft Club and PFA flyins, return of ‘Farnborough week’ • Three Counties joins other clubs in 1964. • 1972 Don Bennett sells up to Doug Arnold Dou Arnold Era • BN-2 Islander agency and Warbirds of great Britain collection. Private owners vacate hangars. • Continued denial of permission for hangars and new terminal • 1973 planning enquiry designates whole airport common land. Planning Appeals drag out until 1981 when permission for new hangars and permanent market given. • Warbirds arrive from Spain, France India, Germany, and the USA • Islanders arrive pending sale and for temporary storage • Other flying clubs fade away leaving just Three Counties • 1976 and 1977 air shows a great success. • Sunday market and drag racing. • 1978 picnic at Blackbushe sees Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton appear • First bizjets appear- IDS operate Citations and HS125’s. Plus other air taxi operators ,Air Swift PA34, ATS PA23 and PA34 and Yellow Bird Cessna 310,PA23

• November 1984 Doug Arnold sells up to British Car Auctions who wish to build a auction centre and HQ. BCA already operate aircraft from airport. BCA 1985-2016 • 1985 Cabair open flying school in former café in terminal

• BCA gain permission for new auction centre to concentrate their southern operations on, but permission for a new HQ denied due traffic considerations.

• 1988 Air Hanson take over two hangars after three years of private owners use

• Air Swift and later Manhattan Air operate Be200’s on taxi flights

• 1990 Three Counties become European Flyers who last until 2001. • 1992 50th anniversary air show. • 1996 north side runways given over to country park and agreement on airport operations reached with council. East end of terminal demolished • 2002 Redair take up residence after the failure of European Flyers. • 2008 Blink start operations with Cessna 510. • 2013 Redair becomes Blackbushe Aviation. 2015 BCA sell airport to current consortium in May, market closed. BCA take over all hangars for auction use • 2017 Airport celebrates its 75 anniversary • 2018 Blink cease operations. And finally……..