In the 40/50s(and 60s?) f/w aircraft were frequently offloaded from carriers at Portsmouth, lightered across to Fleetlands and then towed along a specially designated aircraft towing route to Lee-on-Solent and/or Gosport(which were less than a mile apart).Also aircraft were towed to Fleetlands from L-o-S & Gosport for repair.
I believe the route(for both Lee and Gosport ) was south along the A32 then west on the B3334.(Modern road numbers).
On a school visit to L-o-S in the 50s we were shown part of the route and it was mentioned that the lampposts were set back to allow extra clearance for towed aircraft.Signs said “Aircraft towing Route”.
Can anyone verify the route and does anyone have any pictures of aircraft being lightered to Fleetlands, off loaded and towed?
Also , when was the last occasion the towing route was used?
By: ZRX61 - 28th September 2010 at 17:13
Don’t know how old you are now – but I guess it has changed more than a little…pretty much one continuous built-up area from Pompey to Southampton!
50, I lived on Rothesay Rd when I was about 2, moved to Essex & then back to Rowner Estate where I went to the local infants school for about a year. (Dad was a RN CPO ERA/Gunnery Instructor on Destroyers: HMS London & HMS Hampshire, also Troubridge & Bulwark, shore based at Whale Island when not afloat…) Then Pompey for a while, left, moved back for awhile in the mid 70’s.
Last time I visted was a week before I emigrated 20 years ago. Mother & stepdad live in Waterlooville, sis is a Obersturmfuhrer with the Inland Revenue in Cosham.
By: Blue_2 - 28th September 2010 at 17:05
Mornington Crescent!
…Only if you’ve had your tea…. 😉
By: ZRX61 - 28th September 2010 at 17:03
That was TFC’s Hellcat.
By: springers - 28th September 2010 at 16:31
Does anyone remember USN aircraft,possibly Bearcat/Corsair being imported into Felixstowe as deck cargo on a container ship and towed up the A14 to Ipswich Airport to be flown on possibly to Duxford? I’m guessing 1988/1990 and it definitely happened once and I think twice.
Colin.
By: darnsarf - 28th September 2010 at 16:16
Mornington Crescent ?
What?Where?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mornington_Crescent_%28game%29
:p:D
By: daveg4otu - 28th September 2010 at 10:40
Mornington Crescent ?
What?Where?
By: Moggy C - 28th September 2010 at 10:19
Mornington Crescent!
By: daveg4otu - 28th September 2010 at 10:18
That makes a lot of sense Melvin …I do remember that on our visit the the road with the set-back street furniture was close to the airfield and had a new (possibly still being built) estate on one side…I guess that would have been Rowner Road.
The date was 1954 – probably about or July – also remember that there were 3 Dutch Navy Avengers at Lee!
By: Melvyn Hiscock - 28th September 2010 at 09:05
The route, as I remember it, was from the back gate of Fleetlands, which is now aerodrome road. Across the A32 to Tichborne Way, across the railway, right into Gorselands Way, right onto Rowner Road and then to Peel Common Cross Roads where it was left into Broom Way and into the airfield at the gate that is in the position of the B3335/Broom Way labels on Google Maps, with the very obvious gold course on the other side of the road.
The last one I remember seeing was the T20 Sea Fury. That was in the early 1980s and I remember the Wren operating the Fury’s brakes was quite cute.
I am not sure if anything was towed to Gosport. That closed before I was really aware.
By: daveg4otu - 27th September 2010 at 21:52
Don’t know how old you are now – but I guess it has changed more than a little…pretty much one continuous built-up area from Pompey to Southampton!
By: ZRX61 - 27th September 2010 at 21:11
ah, ok. Haven’t lived trhere since I was.. er… 6…
By: daveg4otu - 27th September 2010 at 18:53
Newgate Ave?
??
The roads are Rowner Rd and Fareham Rd.
By: ZRX61 - 27th September 2010 at 18:47
Newgate Ave?
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September 27, 2010 at 4:42 pm