Wolverhampton (Pendeford) airfield
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Wolverhampton Pendeford Airfield | |
|---|---|
| Summary | |
| Airport type | Public |
| Serves | Wolverhampton |
| Location | Pendeford, West Midlands |
| In use | June 1938 - December 1970 |
Wolverhampton Pendeford airfield was a was a airport in Pendeford, Wolverhampton. The airfield was planed by The City of Wolverhampton Council in 1933 it would be built on 178 acres in Barnhurst that had previously used for sewage disposal[1].
In October 1935 Boulton Paul Aircraft Ltd. was established in Pendeford in 1934 when the original Norwich based company, Boulton & Paul Ltd., sold its aircraft department[2]. The first aircraft built at the factory was a sub-contracted Hawker Demon, making a flight in August 1936[3]. On the 11th of August 1937 the first Boulton Paul Defiant built in there factory in Pendeford took flight from the still under construction aerodrome.
During the Second World War the airfield was used for training air force pilots, with over 100 de Havilland Tiger Moths stationed there at one stage. No. 28 Elementary Flying Training School commenced operations at Pendeford on 15 September 1941 and was operated for the Royal Air Force by Air Schools Ltd. It was renamed No. 25 Reserve Flying School on 26 June 1947, and ceased to operate on 31 March 1953[4].
The site was also used by No.663 Squadron RAF and No. 1954 Reserve Air Observation Post Flight RAF
In 1950, the airfield hosted the prestigious Kings Cup air race. In 1953 passenger services from the airport commenced, seeing flights to Ronaldsway Airport on the Isle of Man and being a stop over on flights from Derby to Jersey[1], and seeing aircraft such as the Douglas DC-3 and de Havilland Dove.
The airport was criticized for having a lack of asphalt runways which Halfpenny Green Airport had, the airport was also criticized for its close proximity to houses and factories, lack of night flying capabilities and customs facilities.
Don Everall Ltd. promoted the airfield in the mid 1960s. Their fleet of Dakotas was based at Pendeford and they ran a busy flying club which put on displays for the public.
On 9 April 1970 a Hawker Siddeley HS 104 Dove, Registration G-AVHV belonging to McAlpine Aviation crashed on landing at Pendeford Airfield. The flight was a empty flight from London Luton to Pendeford being piloted by Captain J.E. Miller and Trainee co-pilot R.J. Davall, The flight departed Luton at 08:00 going to Pendeford to pick up two members of management of Dowty Rotol Ltd (The owners of the aircraft) where they would then be flown to france. The flight was made under visual flight rules (VFR). The flight was given clearance to fly through the Birmingham Terminal Control Area at 2,500ft at Daventry. When the flight reached Birmingham at 2500ft the flight entered a cloud and were then directed to continue towards Wolverhampton and then descend to find the airport, the first attempt to find the airport was unsuccessful and the plane climbed back up to 2,500 ft. The pilot then contacted Birmingham ATC requesting assistance for the second attempt, The second attempt was also unsuccessful, the pilot then again contacted Birmingham ATC informing the controller that Wolverhampton visibility was just over half a mile. They were ordered to land at runway 25 with radar assistance for their final attempt before they would have to divert. The third attempt was successful and the pilot informed Birmingham ATC that they would stay at low altitude and make a circuit before landing. The plane was then seen flying over the airfield in a westerly direction, the plane was unusually low and according to a witness in a nine story block of flats, flying at a altitude of no more than 200ft, at reduced power and at a slight bank to the left. The plane then began a slightly sharper bank towards the runway but had bled most of its speed causing a stall. the right wing dipped towards the ground by up to 90 degrees, hitting a garden wall and slamming into a house. A major explosion was seen and a fire broke out, The aircraft was destroyed killing both the pilot and co-pilot instantly, one person in the house was killed and two people received minor injuries from jumping from the second story window[5].
The response to the crash by the Wolverhampton City Fire and Rescue Services was described as very quick and were able to contain the fire and eventually extinguish it without any injures to others and without damaging other properties.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "The History of Pendeford". www.historywebsite.co.uk.
- ^ "Exhibition Details - Staffordshire Past Track". www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk.
- ^ Gordon Kinsey Boulton & Paul Aircraft p71-75
- ^ Sturtivant, Ray (1997). Royal Air Force Flying Training and Support Units. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-252-1.
- ^ "10/1971 G-AVHV, 9 April 1970". GOV.UK.