433:
33:
489:. It encountered technical problems and attempted a forced landing, possibly aiming for the aerodrome, but crashed onto the adjacent railway line, first hitting telegraph cables which would have softened the impact. The two passengers were entirely unharmed, while the pilot received minor injuries having been pinned underneath the aircraft. The aircraft was written off, and was cleared from the railway line by workmen from the aerodrome.
320:
In 1930, the landowner Robert
Christian Ramsay set up Kent Aircraft Services. This company operated the airfield and built Avro 504K aircraft from spare parts (see list below). He also established Kent Flying Club in 1931, setting up a workshop, offices and a lounge and bar in the hangar. Their first
309:
which he kept at the airport - becoming the first owner in
Britain of a private aircraft after World War I. 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
332:
Both organisations were transferred to a new company, Airsales & Service Ltd in 1934. The new company traded as aircraft dealers and as an aircraft maintenance and repair organisation. Aircraft ownership seemed to transfer easily between RC Ramsay, Kent Flying Club, and
Airsales & Service,
230:
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 8 February 1918, and soon standardised on the S.E.5A fighter. With the creation of the
492:
On 2 January 1931 Avro 504K, G-AARV, suffered engine failure on the approach to
Bekesbourne on a flight from Lympne. The aircraft was written off but the pilot and owner, Sydenham Armstrong Payne Jr, was
333:
with most at some time operating with the club. They all appear to have ceased operations when the airfield was closed by the start of WWII, and
Airsales & Service Ltd was wound up in 1945.
557:
P1672 landed with three hung-up bombs which dropped off and exploded, destroying the aircraft. The pilot, G. Grant-Govan survived injured, but air gunner Horace Gwyn Jones, age 20, was killed.
453:. 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.
329:, G-AAKO. One of the club's first students was the owner, RC Ramsay, then aged 71, who gained his "A" licence after 20 hours dual teaching from the instructor, Fit-Lt J. H, Barringer.
429:. The Lysanders made armed reconnaissance flights over France until 2 Squadron moved out on 8 June. The airfield was well obstructed by strakes and abandoned, never to be used again.
398:
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:
521:
On 25 June 1939 Miles M.2 Hawk G-ACHZ of
Airsales and Service Ltd stalled, crashed and caught fire at the aerodrome. The pilot, the only occupant, Cecil James Dobson was killed.
294:
even in official papers such as aircraft registration documents where that name is given as the "Usual
Station". There is no record of any scheduled services using the airport.
536:, the Chief Flying Instructor of Kent Flying Club, and his pupil, Donovon William Alan Pragnell, were killed, as was the sole occupant of the Hind, Pilot-Officer D.C.Lewis
550:
On 30 August 1939 Miles M.2 Hawk G-ADVR of
Airsales and Service Ltd crashed on takeoff. The aircraft was written off, but the pilot, the only occupant, was unhurt.
524:
On 21 July 1939, de
Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth G-ABJZ of Airsales and Service Ltd and operated by Kent Flying Club, flying from Bekesbourne, collided with RAF
283:
were stored at the airfield, some direct from the manufacturer, and were all burned. In 1920 the RAF relinquished the airfield and civilian flying started.
449:, have been converted into bungalows. One of the Belfast Truss Hangars survived the war, and was converted to a warehouse. It was severely damaged by the
511:, near Bekesbourne, during an aerial treasure hunt. Norman Ramsay, the owner's son, and John Wilfred James were killed, and the aircraft was written off.
375:
G-ABJZ which his cousin Ivan C Randrup kept here from October 1936 until he sold it to Airsales & Service on 5 July 1938. He went on to become chief
456:
Local road names reflect the existence of the airfield: Aerodrome Road, Lysander Close, and De Havillands. There are two memorial stones, one from the
239:, 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
368:
117:
432:
873:
457:
474:
1359:
813:
1354:
574:
There is movie film of a Kent Flying Club social event, the Cerva G-ABUH and the hangar taken by Robert Ramsay in 1932.
640:
537:
402:’s Flying Circus, British Hospitals Air Pageant Tour, British Empire Air Display Tour, Coronation Air Displays Tour.
671:
518:
G-ADBK of Kent Flying Club stalled and spun in on approach, killing pilot Garnet Percival Lovett, the sole occupant.
851:
388:
255:
993:
262:
259:
1043:
417:
Despite having been closed in 1939, the airfield was reactivated for a short period in 1940, when, on 20 May,
216:
839:
302:
220:
212:
110:
326:
317:
The Kent Gliding Club had a base here. Dr Whitehead Reid was a member, and in 1930 became its president.
268:
247:
199:
requisitioned 98 acres (40 ha) of land in 1916 as an Emergency Landing Ground (ELG). B flight of
1349:
384:
208:
204:
250:
had been completed, along with other buildings. The squadron nicknamed its hangar "The Nest". The
696:
544:
504:
372:
371:, who started his training here in 1935 and gained his pilot's licence in 1936. He possibly used
762:
547:, G-AFMZ, operated by Kent Flying Club, struck and killed a cyclist riding on an adjacent road.
100:
1268:
227:
were brought in between 21 June and 5 July, but again, no combat operations were undertaken.
298:
898:
595:
1068:
395:
219:
aircraft. Very little action was seen. After a German bombing raid on London in 1917, some
470:
8:
968:
450:
426:
409:
was established here in 1938, but the airport was closed on the outbreak of war in 1939.
224:
200:
1018:
903:
497:
422:
380:
251:
196:
445:
Some airfield buildings, including the Officers’ Mess and combined station chapel and
341:
These were all Avro 504K aircraft built from spare parts and fitted with three seats.
636:
554:
500:, G-ABKH, crashed on take-off. The aircraft was written off, but the pilot survived.
418:
265:
55:
44:
878:
The Aviation Ancestry Database of British Aviation Industry Advertisements 1909-1990
507:
G-AAEU, owned by RC Ramsay and operated by Kent Flying Club, stalled and crashed at
310:
when he was killed in a crash in 1930, one of the tributes at his funeral came from
918:
406:
943:
787:
32:
1318:
1293:
1243:
1218:
1193:
1168:
1143:
1118:
1093:
1343:
280:
240:
132:
119:
178:. It operated from 1916 until 1940, and had both military and civil roles.
633:
Action Stations 9: Military airfields of the Central South and South-East
533:
529:
525:
425:
arrived. They were joined for two days (29 and 30 May) by Lysanders from
399:
322:
311:
167:
731:
515:
482:
376:
306:
171:
713:
Viner, John; Riding, Richard (December 1984). "Doctor in the Sky".
508:
478:
163:
635:(2nd ed.). Patrick Stephens Limited. pp. 47–48, 310.
486:
446:
336:
235:
on 1 April, the Squadron's duties expanded at what was now
175:
1269:"Cyclist killed by low-flying aircraft, Bekesbourne, 1939"
254:
from December 1918 until disbandment was Major A T Harris
232:
998:Test & Research Pilots, Flight Test Engineers
1341:
757:
755:
436:Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust Memorial
166:located at the southeast edge of the village of
840:"Private Flying & Gliding - At Bekesbourne"
832:
658:Military Airfields of Britain: Southern England
94:6 km (3.7 mi) southeast of Canterbury
752:
271:AFC. 50 Squadron was disbanded in June 1919.
1311:
1286:
1236:
1211:
1186:
1161:
1136:
1111:
1086:
936:
792:Grace's Guide to British Industrial History
712:
697:"Nationality and Registration Marks G-ADGI"
351:G-AAUL c/n KAS.3 registered 7 February 1930
348:G-AAUK c/n KAS.2 registered 7 February 1930
345:G-AAUJ c/n KAS.1 registered 2 February 1930
911:
463:
944:"Civil Aircraft Register - Great Britain"
923:British Aviation – Projects to Production
460:, and one commemorating the RFC and RAF.
391:of 70,310 feet (21,430 m) in 1957.
897:
706:
630:
626:
624:
622:
620:
618:
616:
431:
367:Another notable user of the airport was
363:G-ABOL c/n KAS.7 registered 23 July 1931
337:Aircraft built by Kent Aircraft Services
290:. though it was usually referred to as
1048:Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust
961:
726:
724:
676:No.50 & No.61 Squadrons Association
588:
532:, Kent. The two occupants of the Moth,
469:On 23 June 1921, a passing aircraft, a
458:Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust
1342:
1261:
986:
360:G-ABJF c/n KAS.6 registered March 1931
357:G-AAWD c/n KAS.4 registered April 1930
354:G-AAWC c/n KAS.5 registered April 1930
297:A notable occupant of the airport was
814:"The Kent Flying Club at Bekesbourne"
780:
655:
613:
1036:
1011:
721:
664:
649:
16:Defunct British airfield (1916–1940)
1061:
475:Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes
13:
1319:"ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 227957"
1294:"ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 204474"
1244:"ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 189541"
1219:"ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 199325"
1194:"ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 203706"
1169:"ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 200851"
1144:"ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 202538"
1119:"ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 201483"
1094:"ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 201006"
811:
689:
274:
14:
1371:
907:. 14 December 1945. p. 6120.
788:"Kent Flying Club - Graces Guide"
299:Dr. Edward Douglas Whitehead Reid
31:
1044:"Bekesbourne-Bridge-Canterbury"
891:
866:
805:
568:
412:
389:world aeroplane altitude record
739:Air-Britain Researchers Corner
440:
260:Marshal of the Royal Air Force
201:No. 50 (Home Defence) Squadron
186:
1:
1273:KSH South-East History Boards
596:"History of Kent's Airfields"
581:
1360:Airports established in 1916
672:"History of No. 50 Squadron"
561:
543:On 24 August 1939 a landing
303:Kent and Canterbury Hospital
213:Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2
7:
1355:Defunct airports in England
1023:UK Airfields & Airports
994:"Michael Randrup 1913-1984"
383:, in which role he piloted
321:aircraft were an autogyro,
305:. In 1919 he bought an old
10:
1376:
919:"Avro 504 to 504K (Civil)"
717:. 12 No 12 (140): 660–664.
534:Keith Kendle 'K. K.' Brown
181:
385:English Electric Canberra
205:Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3
153:
148:
109:
98:
90:
82:
74:
69:
39:
30:
23:
948:Golden Years of Aviation
820:. British Film Institute
631:Ashworth, Chris (1990).
327:De Havilland DH.60M Moth
191:The airfield started as
1323:Aviation Safety Network
1298:Aviation Safety Network
1248:Aviation Safety Network
1223:Aviation Safety Network
1198:Aviation Safety Network
1173:Aviation Safety Network
1148:Aviation Safety Network
1123:Aviation Safety Network
1098:Aviation Safety Network
763:"Bekesbourne Aerodrome"
545:de Havilland Moth Minor
464:Accidents and incidents
387:B.2 WK163 to set a new
286:The airfield was named
279:During 1919, dozens of
105:170 ft / 52 m
498:Martinsyde F4A Buzzard
437:
301:, a senior surgeon at
246:By September 1918 two
496:On 5 February 1933 a
435:
292:Bekesbourne Aerodrome
248:Belfast Truss hangars
160:Bekesbourne Aerodrome
25:Bekesbourne Aerodrome
973:This Day in Aviation
767:Sussex History Forum
503:On 2 September 1934
477:, was en route from
203:moved in, operating
133:51.25444°N 1.15611°E
656:Delve, Ken (2011).
451:Great Storm of 1987
381:D. Napier & Son
129: /
1073:Kent History Forum
904:The London Gazette
874:"Kent Flying Club"
438:
423:No. 2 Squadron RAF
419:Westland Lysanders
288:Canterbury Airport
252:Commanding Officer
197:Royal Flying Corps
1069:"RFC Bekesbourne"
969:"Michael Randrup"
715:Aeroplane Monthly
514:On 9 August 1937
505:DH.60G Gipsy Moth
471:Blériot-SPAD S.27
405:A section of the
373:DH.60G Gipsy Moth
263:Sir Arthur Harris
157:
156:
138:51.25444; 1.15611
1367:
1350:Airports in Kent
1334:
1333:
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836:
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812:Ramsey, Robert.
809:
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668:
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572:
553:On 22 May 1940,
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62:
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35:
21:
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753:
743:
741:
734:
730:
729:
722:
711:
707:
702:. UK CAA GINFO.
699:
695:
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629:
614:
604:
602:
594:
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589:
584:
579:
578:
573:
569:
564:
466:
443:
427:No. 13 Squadron
415:
407:Civil Air Guard
396:flying circuses
369:Michael Randrup
339:
277:
275:Inter-war years
237:RAF Bekesbourne
233:Royal Air Force
193:RFC Bekesbourne
189:
184:
170:, southeast of
137:
135:
131:
128:
123:
120:
118:
116:
115:
99:Elevation
65:
54:
43:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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541:
522:
519:
516:Miles M.2 Hawk
512:
501:
494:
490:
465:
462:
442:
439:
414:
411:
394:In the 1930s,
365:
364:
361:
358:
355:
352:
349:
346:
338:
335:
325:G-ABUH, and a
281:Sopwith Snipes
276:
273:
241:Sopwith Camels
225:No.56 Squadron
223:aircraft from
188:
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113:
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1099:
1095:
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1024:
1020:
1019:"Bekesbourne"
1014:
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989:
974:
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642:1-85260-376-3
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50:
46:
42:
41:
38:
34:
29:
22:
19:
1326:. Retrieved
1322:
1313:
1301:. Retrieved
1297:
1288:
1276:. Retrieved
1272:
1263:
1251:. Retrieved
1247:
1238:
1226:. Retrieved
1222:
1213:
1201:. Retrieved
1197:
1188:
1176:. Retrieved
1172:
1163:
1151:. Retrieved
1147:
1138:
1126:. Retrieved
1122:
1113:
1101:. Retrieved
1097:
1088:
1076:. Retrieved
1072:
1063:
1051:. Retrieved
1047:
1038:
1026:. Retrieved
1022:
1013:
1001:. Retrieved
997:
988:
976:. Retrieved
972:
963:
951:. Retrieved
947:
938:
926:. Retrieved
922:
913:
902:
893:
881:. Retrieved
877:
868:
856:. Retrieved
854:. 6 May 1932
847:
843:
834:
822:. Retrieved
817:
807:
795:. Retrieved
791:
782:
770:. Retrieved
766:
742:. Retrieved
738:
732:"DH.60 Moth"
714:
708:
691:
679:. Retrieved
675:
666:
657:
651:
632:
603:. Retrieved
599:
590:
570:
473:, F-CMAY of
455:
444:
416:
413:World War II
404:
393:
366:
340:
331:
319:
316:
296:
291:
287:
285:
278:
245:
236:
229:
192:
190:
159:
158:
75:Airport type
59:
48:
18:
1203:10 February
1178:10 February
1153:25 February
1128:25 February
1103:25 February
953:10 February
928:10 February
899:"No. 37391"
858:10 February
824:12 February
772:10 February
744:10 February
530:Tilmanstone
528:K5418 over
526:Hawker Hind
441:Current use
400:Alan Cobham
323:Cierva C.19
312:Amy Johnson
187:World War I
168:Bekesbourne
136: /
111:Coordinates
1344:Categories
1303:9 February
1253:9 February
1228:9 February
818:BFI Player
660:. Crowood.
582:References
483:Le Bourget
377:test pilot
307:Airco DH.6
172:Canterbury
121:51°15′16″N
86:Canterbury
600:Kent Past
562:Footnotes
258:., later
195:when the
1278:12 April
1078:12 April
1053:12 April
1028:12 April
1003:12 April
978:12 April
883:21 March
797:12 April
681:13 April
605:12 April
555:Lysander
124:1°9′22″E
91:Location
1328:6 March
509:Adisham
493:unhurt.
479:Croydon
182:History
164:airport
162:was an
78:Private
70:Summary
850:(19):
844:Flight
639:
217:B.E.12
83:Serves
735:(PDF)
700:(PDF)
538:RAFVR
487:Paris
447:NAAFI
221:S.E.5
209:F.K.8
1330:2023
1305:2020
1280:2017
1255:2020
1230:2020
1205:2020
1180:2020
1155:2020
1130:2020
1105:2020
1080:2017
1055:2017
1030:2017
1005:2017
980:2017
955:2020
930:2020
885:2023
860:2020
826:2022
799:2017
774:2020
746:2020
683:2017
637:ISBN
607:2017
379:for
215:and
211:and
207:and
176:Kent
101:AMSL
60:none
56:ICAO
49:none
45:IATA
852:394
481:to
421:of
269:OBE
266:GCB
256:AFC
149:Map
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