#?# text editor's note - file amr5912.txt 1st draft 2006.04.11
#?# original spelling errors not corrected. 
#?# please report any translation errors or comments to pwd_abix at yahoo.co.uk
#?# known errors/problems VP905, XD614

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS : 31 First Avenue, Acton, London, W.3. 
Hon. General Secretary:
F.V. POUND.  
EDITORIAL OFFICES : 100 Bulstrode Road, Hounslow, Middlesex 
11, Coggeshall Road, Feering, near Colchester, Essex 

AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS REVIEW

Edited by 
D.T. HAYNES & G. PENNICK. 

(For Private Circulation Only)

PUBLISHED BY AIR-BRITAIN The National Association of Aviation Enthusiasts
FOUNDED 1948

VOL. 1 NUMBER 9 DECEMBER 1959

Christmas Number

Due to the forthcoming revision of printing arrangements
this issue has had to be written earlier than is usual.
As most of the current aerodrome reports are not to hand 
we have had to make a change from our normal layout.
We would like to thank all the eighty correspondents who
have regularly contributed to the success of the Review
during the past year.  In conclusion we wish all our 
readers a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

FROM READERS LOGS.

HIGHLIGHTS OF 1959.

Once again another year has slipped by, thanks
to a wonderful summer most members have seen a
great variety of types, both old and new. Amongst
the newcomers were RCAF Canadair Argus, F-102A,
Fiat G.91, S-14 Mach-Trainer, Il-18 Moscow, DC-8
and a host of new U.S. light planes, inc. the
Comanche and Mooney Mite. What new shapes will 1960
bring forth, perhaps the Tu-114, Convair CV-880, B-58
Hustler, F-105 Thunderchief. Time will tell. Here's
wishing all readers good spotting and 0/8ths cloud
in the next twelve months.

Here are a few of the interesting sightings
taken from readers logs at random over the last
year.

S.55 G-AOHE seen at Woolsington before leaving with
G-ANUK for the Antarctic aboard 'Southern Harvester'.
                                    Photo: I.MacFarlane.

Stotfold,Beds. 11/2. 15.30 circ. RF335 Lincoln
                                     radar nose.
Leavesden. 19/2. 15.15 W. YI-265 Dove, Iraq A/F.
Hornsey. 25/2. 12.30 - N709PA Boeing 707-121,
       into LAP, minus starboard outer engine.
Ayr. 22/2. 10.25 E. 866 PBY-6A, Danish Navy.
Uxbridge. 21/2. 13.25 W. CBK-76 C-47, Turkish A/F.
Manchester. 15/9. 16.48 VU-BRW Dove, Indian A/F.
Hove. 27/8. 15.45 W. D-ENOL Piper Cub.
Basingstoke. 26/2. 10.40 SW. N4086A, C-46, Balair.
North Weald. 1/3. 13.58 W. CF-CZD Britannia 314.
Bristol. 12/3. 15.34 NE. MM6246 Fiat G.91.
Dover. 24/7. 12.16 SE. OY-AAP KZ.IV Lark.
Darlington. 14/5. 18.15 S. D-EMIN Comanche.
Some recent sightings from readers include .....

S.W.Norfolk.(H.C.Wilden.)
17/9.  -     NE. -         SA-16A, German Navy.
22/9.  13.20 W.  NZ6103    Canberra, R.N.Z.A.F.
10/10. -     -   N96259    Taylorcraft BC-12D, local
flying from Mildenhall, now decked out with dayglo,
some readers have reported this as a Super-Cruiser,
Any comments.
21/10. -     -   G-AMTO & G-ANCT Tiger Moths and
G-APNR Hiller UH-12C, local crop spraying show.
Bristol.(P.R.March.)
30/9.  18.35 E.  XG451     Bristol 192.
 5/10. 12.25 NE. 46-39     Boxcar C-119G, Italian A/F.
Guernsey,C.I.(D.W.Moore.)
21/9.  17.51 NE. F-BBTJ    Auster
11/10. 08.10 NE. OO-JAC    Bonanza
Sible Hedingham,Essex.(K.Rayner.)
20/10. 16.06 NW. -         Boeing B-17 (did any other
members log this unusual rarity, any information
would be most welcome.)
Colchester.
 2/10. 11.30 W.  -         C-97 Stratofreighter, dayglo
 6/10. 13.07 W.  OO-SFB    DC-7C, Sabena.
14/10. 14.03 W.            Il-18 Moscow, returned E.
on Red 1 at 16.04, flying at 16,000'.

Seldom seen outside Spain is this C-47D, T3-20 of the Spanish
Air Force, coded '35 223'. Photo taken at Madrid by D.M.Sparks.

33

With the closing of Croydon Airport still fresh in our
minds, we thought it would be appropriate to take a peep
at the Aerodrome as it was in the good old days.

CROYDON IN RETROSPECT

by L.T. MASON

The Beginning.

For nearly forty of it's forty-three years as an aerodrome 
Croydon has had connections with civil aviation.
Originally there were two distinct aerodromes which were
separated by Plough Lane : the aerodrome on the east
(Croydon) side thereof being used for flight testing the
product of the Government aircraft factory at Waddon and
that on the west (Wallington) side for Royal Flying Corps
flying training. The aerodrome on the east extended
roughly from Plough Lane to what is now Purley Way and a
large hangar was put up for assembling the aircraft
which were constructed in the buildings on the site of
the Aerodrome Factory Estate. Some of the present buildings 
are still the original ones, but others, like
Bowaters, are of more recent construction. The centre
part of the big assembly hangar still exists and housed
Fields, Vendair and other companies until the recent
closure. Both the east end bay and the west end bay were
destroyed by bombing during 1940. At the time of it's
erection in 1916 it was claimed to be the longest aeroplane 
hangar in existence. The aerodrome on the west
aide of Plough Lane extended to what is now Forester's
Drive, but was of indifferent surface and so was not a
really successful training field. Three permanent
hangars of the standard 1914/18 war R.F.C. style were
erected close to Plough Lane. Two of the sheds adjoined
each other with a single one behind and all three faced
north. The workshops, administration buildings, etc for
this aerodrome were erected on the east side of Plough
Lane, somewhat south of the three sheds and next to a
small farm, so that they were situated on the 'factory'
aerodrome side of the road instead of on the side of the
aerodrome they served. All these buildings and the
three Permanent sheds were situated roughly mid-way
between the present closed ends of Plough Lane.

1. Handley Page 0/400 G-EATH, which survived until 1923.

The writer first became acquainted with the aerodrome
about eighteen months after its opening as the London
Terminal Aerodrome in March, 1920. All flying was then
done from the former "factory" aerodrome, the Wallington
side being closed. Most of the aeroplanes, however, were
housed in the three permanent hangars on the Wallington
side of Plough Lane and to enable them to taxy from
'drome to hangars and vice versa, a level crossing,
complete with gates on the railway style, was constructed.
Additional Bessonneau temporary hangars were erected on
both sides of Plough Lane near to the level crossing and
the macadam surfaced taxy way which led to it. The
companies offices, customs, etc. were, of course, located
in the buildings on the Croydon side of Plough Lane. A
flying control tower was erected and it must have been
one of the first of such edifices in this country. The

east side of the aerodrome extended to a farm track which
wound its way up to the crest of the hill overlooking
Purley. The present recreation grounds were vegetable
fields. This farm track later was developed into the
present Purley Way. A road (also now part of Purley Way)
ran from Stafford Road to the still existing gates by the
big assembly shed.

--- 00000---

A Visit in the Plough Lane Days of 1922.

It was the early summer of 1922 when the writer began
visiting The London Terminal Aerodrome (as it was then
styled) regularly - previous visits having been spasmodic.
Normally I contrived to spend most summer Saturdays there.
but only after some maternal chores had been completed!
Sunday visits were not allowed. Anyway there were only
a few "air-liner" movements on Sundays but more incidental
flying, which consisted almost entirely of Avro's (504
variants) and D.H.9's. At that time I lived at Norbury
and it took me exactly one hour to walk from my home to
the level crossing gates in Plough Lane, via Mitcham
Common and Beddington Lane. After crossing the Hafford
Road and entering Plough Lane, the pang of expectation
caused an ever quickening pace for this last quarter of
a mile. As now there were mounds of earth in front of
the corrugated iron fence on the aerodrome side of the
road. From about halfway up Plough Lane it was possible 
by standing on these mounds to see the upper wings of
the big twin-engined aircraft preparing for the day's
flights to Paris. By then, too, the sounds of aero
engines warming up could be heard - usually those of the
Eagle VIII's in the Handley Pages. These were either of
the W.8B or 0/400 type, the latter being converted wartime 
bombers (Photo 1). These Eagle engines made a
distinctive rattling sound at low revs whilst idling or
taxying. But sometimes, on nearing the 'drome, the
running-up whine of the Napier 'Lion' would be heard,
this increasing to a powerful roar at full revs, with
blast buffetted mechanics holding down the tail of a
D.H.18 or 34 or perchance the prototype W.8 (Photo 2).

2. A peep over the fence reveals the W.8 being towed to the
sheds. Note the Surrey hills in background. [G-EAPJ]

Arrival at the crossing reveals a number of aeroplanes
inside and outside the H.P. shed nearer to the road,
whilst the "French" shed, which adjoined it, was crammed
with "Gollies" (Photo 3), which was the name used by the
aerodrome habitues when referring to the Farman Goliath.
A single-engined Spad and Breguet were outside the shed.
Continuing round the curve in the road - more machines
were seen inside and outside the Instone shed which was
at the rear of the other two. One, a Vickers Vulcan -
known as the "Flying Pig", (for the reason see Photo 4)
- they were always in trouble - was having an engine
run-up, whilst a 34 was just taxying away behind the
"French" shed an route to the aerodrome via the level
crossing. Like all Instone buses (as they were called
in those days) it was painted "Reckitt's" blue with
silver wings, whilst the 0/400's of Handley Pages wore a

34

3. Farman Goliath - on the "apron" prior to loading. [F-FARH]

drab mixture of brown and green similar to the war time
camouflage. The new W.8 B's, however, were silver with
gilt lines and insignia, whilst the W.8 had a cream
coloured fuselage. Both types carried big black
registration letters. Passing the Instone shed, the
narrow and leafy lane of Plough was crossed and one
entered the sacred precincts of the aerodrome (Photo 5).
Past the company offices - the British, Handley Page,
Instone and Daimler; the French Compagnie Messageries
and Grand Express and the Dutch K.L.M. - to the weather
and movements boards at the end of the road. This latter
revealed that several 'planes had already left for
continental destinations - including the early morning
newspaper carrying Golly. A brief visit to the public
enclosure (free in those far-off days!) showed a Renault-
Avro all ready for joy-riding (Photo 6), an Instone 34
being refuelled prior to leaving for Brussels and a
D.H.9 from the Aircraft Disposal Company, it's Puma engine
whistling lustily as it taxy's away from the control
tower and customs (Photo 7 and on the left of Photo 3).

After buying some tuck at the kiosk one returns to the
level crossing in time to see the second Goliath pushed
over the road and lined up with the first ready for
motor testing. This in followed by two more Goliaths
and a Spad and a Breguet. The excitable French mechanics,
with much shouting and gesticulation, swing the propellers
of the Goliaths' Salmson engines with gusto, but some
engines are reluctant to start - hence more excitement
and shouting and rushing hither and thither.  At last they
are all running, emiting clouds of pale blue smoke and
sweet smelling exhaust fumes which pervade the atmosphere
long after the 'planes have taxied away to the apron by
the customs. The last Goliath has Renault in-line
engines which have a more even running note than the
burring of the radial water-cooled Salmsons. All these

4. A "Reckitts' Blue" painted Vulcan of Instones being
refuelled from a hydrant. [G-EBBL]

5. Plough Lane entrance in the early days.

'planes duly depart, the joy-rider does a few trips and
later the R.A.F.-engined Avro of Marconi's takes-off on
a routine trial. Soon its plaintive bleatings will be
calling the Croydon control tower.  Even one of the Royal
Aero Club's rotary engined Avros stutters away into the
sky, but it's pilot doesn't venture far, for it is
obvious that the engine is running unevenly.

The movements clerk is writing a whole list of aircraft
on the "arrivals" board. These include a K.L.M. Fokker
FIII from Amsterdam, an Instone 34 from Brussels and a
veritable horde from Paris - a H.P. 0/400, also a W.8B,
two Daimler 34's, two Messageries Gollies as well as a
Breguet, and three Grand Express Gollies. Also a second
Fokker has left Rotterdam and a D.H.9C of the de Havilland
Hire Co. is on the way in from St.Inglevert. It looks
like being an interesting afternoon.  Meantime a pillar-
box red 34 of Daimlers, together with an FII of K.L.M.
have been engine testing outside the Bessonnau sheds in
which they are housed. The Bessonnau is a wartime
temporary type of hangar - being wooden framed and covered
with canvas. With the lull between the departures and
afternoon arrivals the apron is empty.  This affords the
opportunity for the Aerodrome "pieces de resistance" to
display and disport themselves. They are much more
important than the aeroplanes for they are the aerodrome's 
rollers - one steam and one petrol. Like most
aerodromes Croydon is an extremely muddy place and the
rollers find it a full time job keeping the surrounds of
the apron fit for big aircraft to taxy on.  So here they
come, lumbering from their lairs, for a combined assault
on the mud before the incoming horde of aircraft churn
the place up again. To-day it would be said that the
rollers had a "steady job".
And so passes the next hour or two, watching the
rollers, the occasional joy-rider, a Bristol "Fighter"

6. The red and white Renault-Avro, with part of the enclosure
on the right. [G-EAPQ]

35

on test from the A.D.C. factory at the other side of the
aerodrome, and the mechanics tinkering with the Aero
Clubs recalcitrant engine in the Avro. Then the man on
the control tower is seen scanning the horizon with
binoculars, as some of the 'planes are about due. Their
exact location is unknown, as only the Handley Pages
carry wireless, but the other British companies will soon
have it too. Suddenly the man stops scanning and sounds
a series of long and short blasts on the Klaxon horn.
Each company is allotted a code of these siren symphonies
which are repeated in the hangers and offices. A sounding 
tells all and sundry that a 'plane of a particular
company has hove in sight over the Surrey Hills. As soon
as the Klaxon sounds the afternoon lethargy disappears :
the company manager and traffic clerk leave their offices
for the apron : the mechanics leave the hanger : the
traffic hands assemble to unload the 'plane and push up
the steps (foreground (Photo 4) : the passenger coach
chauffeur awakes and starts the engine and the rollers
leave hurriedly for their lairs. This first Klaxon has
sounded the K.L.M. from Amsterdam and soon the Fokker
monoplane is seen gliding towards the big A.D.C. shed in
the north-east corner of the aerodrome. Approaching the
shed it banks slightly into the northwest wind and makes
a gentle enough landing, taxying up to the waiting
assembly on the apron. Soon the Klaxon sounds again and
starts a flood of arrivals over the next couple of hours
----- Gollies galore (Photo 8) with 18's and 34's of
Instones and Daimlers, the big Handley Pages, a single-
engined Spad and a Breguet, (both with goods), the 9C of
the D.H. Hire and finally, a "flying pig" of Instones
and a Golly which had had forced landings en route at
Berck and Penshurst owing to engine trouble.

After they have all unloaded and the pilots and staff
dispersed one turns for home, and approaching the level
crossing, the last Golly to arrive is seen taxying over
the road on it's way to the sheds - a fitting finale to
an interesting day at the London Terminal Aerodrome.

7. In the beginning. Croydon Control tower and customs in
1920, before the grass had changed to a quagmire with the
heavier traffic in succeeding years.

8. "Golly" F-GEAO.

LATEST AERODROME REPORTS.

GATWICK.
 4/10. HB-AAN   Viking 1B, Balair.
       G-AOMK   Prentice, Maitland Air Charter.
 9/10. VP905    Devon, R.A.F. with VP958. #?#
13/10. HB-ILA   DC-4, Balair.
14/10. PH-REP   Tri-Pacer.
15/10. EI-AKR   Bellanca 260.
18/10. N58TA    Mitchell, TV Associates Inc.
20/10. YV-C-ANJ Viscount 810 Series, L.A.V. - ILS run.
22/10. XL639    Britannia 253, R.A.F. Transport Command.
23/10. 57-6038  L-23D Seminole, U.S. Army with 57-6043.
                                               M.J.Elliott.
HURN.           
27/9.  XL727    S-55, Royal Navy, coded G.
 3/10. G-APJW   Rapide, Tarmac Construction Ltd.
 8/10. OD-ACX   Viscount 754, M.E.A. diversion from L.A.P.
 9/10. 56548    R5D-3, U.S. Marines.
15/10. TC-YOL   C-47, T.H.Y. Turkey, for Viscount spares.
       TG527    Hastings, R.A.F., to Airwork.
20/10. G-APPL   Prentice, F.J.Ibbotson.
                                                 G.Rogers.
                
ZS-CDW Viscount 813, of South African Airways seen recently
at Jan Smuts Airport, Johannesburg South Africa. Photo: B.Stainer
                
ELSTREE.        
23/9.  N5179H   Super Cub, from Croydon.
25/9.  G-AIBX   Auster Autocrat, R.J.White, from Leavesden.
29/9.  G-APKL   Auster J.1/N, Portsmouth Aero Club.
 6/10. G-AHVR   Plus Model D, from Panshanger.
                                                  A.Bowen.
SALISBURY, SOUTHERN RHODESIA.
 3/10. ZS-BVR   Beech D.18S, Tsumeb Corporation.
10/10. XD614    Valiant, R.A.F. #?#
13/10. ZS-CIG   DC-4, Trek Airways.
18/10. ZS-CFC   Beech D.18S, Stewart & Lloyds.
       ZS-CCC   Beaver Floatplane, De Havilland Aircraft (S.A.).
21/10. VP-YME   Auster J5C, Northern Rhodesian Government.
23/10. ZS-CCK   Cessna 310, Anglo-Alpha Cement Co.
27/10. ZS-CMF   Dornier DO-27, Trek Airways, delivery.
       VQ-ZBL   Dornier DO-27, Basutoair, delivery.
29/10. G-APEB   Vanguard 951, Vickers Armstrong Ltd, to
                Jo'burg for tropical and altitude tests.
30/10. WZ372    Valiant, R.A.F.
       XL637    Britannia 253, R.A.F., from Kano.
                                                 B.Robbins.
TAIERI,DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND.
26/9.  ZK-AUK   Whitney Straight, ex G-AFJX, from Timaru.
27/9.  NZ1807   Devon, R.N.Z.A.F.
28/9.  ZK-BUO   Tiger Moth Coupe.
 5/10. ZK-BCP   Rapide, Trans Island Airways, Ambulance flight.
13/10. ZK-AWP   Dakota, N.Z.N.A.C., day-glo markings.
                                                  R.Killick.
PAYA LEBAR, SINGAPORE.
27/9.  128427   R6D-1Z, U.S. Navy, coded RZ.
 6/10. PK-PAA   DC-3, Caltex.
11/10. 9M-ALF   Aiglet Tr, from Panang.
       9M-ALY   Viscount 760, Malayan Airways, ex VR-HFI.
                                                  C.Smith.
PALMA, MAJORCA. 
19/9.  D-BELI   Cv240, Flugdienst, with D-BELV & D-BESI.
       EC-AGV   Languedoc, Aviacion y Comercio S A.
 3/10. D-ABAB   Cv440, Condor Luftreederei.
       N4007P   Apache.                           D.Parvin.
36