Joyce Green aerodrome centenary

Some good ideas there, Gerry, especially road names, which is a very common practice – fingers crossed the Council give it their support and good to hear the landowner is friendly. Very important these days! I shall watch developments with great interest. If the mods don’t feel there is mileage in the thread please keep me informed by PM.
Thanks
SH

Cheers gents for your replies,
I will speak to Dartford council and see if they are willing to allow something to take part.
The current owner of the land is a decent chap who I am sure will be only too willing to celebrate the centenary somehow.
It would be great to see some aircraft over the field though.
I know that there is a housing development being built on the site of the old Joyce Green hospital, perhaps they would consider naming a few roads in honour of some of the pioneers that operated from there.
Just a thought….
Cheers again
Gerry

I wish I could contribute more than just considerable moral support!

Its interesting RFC history included it being used for various Home Defence squadrons, also by the Wireless Test Establishment.

They eventually moved out in 1917, to a brand new airfield called…. Biggin Hill.

Among the next inhabitants of Joyce Green were some of the earliest elements of the US Army
Air Service to arrive in Europe…..

Well worth ‘an event’ if it can be organised!

Thank you both for the pictures and links. I do hope someone can arrange a smalll celebration – it seems to be crying out for it!:)

Hi Wiesso,
Cheers for those links.
The FB16, nicknamed ‘Pot belly’ by Vickers chief test pilot Henry Barnwell, was reputedly McCuddens favourite aircraft.
I know that he tried to take it with him when he went back to France, however he was not allowed due to it being ‘Non standard’.
On July 5th 1917 McCudden test flew FB16 after it had been fitted with a new 200 hp Hispano engine. He achieved 147 mph at ground level and a climb to 10000 feet in 8.5 minutes.
I should add that I take no credit for any of the above information, all from an early edition of ‘Cross and Cockade’.
Nonetheless, another example of the historical importance of the aerodrome.
Thanks once again for your time
best wishes
Gerry

A nice vintage ad http://www.dartfordarchive.org.uk/technology/magnified/vickers_ad.htm
and some details http://www.dartfordarchive.org.uk/technology/engin_vickers.shtml

Hi,
Yes you are quite correct.
The FB27 Vimy Prototype was assembled and flown from Joyce Green.
In fact in order to fit the Vimy in the hangars they had to dig out the ground inside. I have attached a picture that shows that quite well.
Best wishes
Gerry

I don’t suppose there is a local association which woild be invloved, is there? In fact are you the only person who is even aware of the anniversary? Wasn’t the Vimy or its pdecessor first flown from Joyce Green?

Hi,
I doubt that the ground would be hard enough for a landing, certainly at this time if the year.
There is a road that takes you right past the site of the airfield.
However access to this road is locked with a gate most of the time. I doubt that the owner would have any objection to opening it to allow people to watch a flypast though.
It may even be possible to land something there in the summer time when the ground is much firmer- now that would be something!
Gerry

What a great idea! How accessible is the site now?