Whilst looking through some books on Grimsby and Cleethorpes, for information for the Cleethorpes Beach Flights thread, I came across this interesting photograph. The caption below it reads:-
Before the First World War, the Daily Mail hired an intrepid ‘aeroplanist’ to tour the country in a series of publicity flights for the newspaper. The aeroplane landed near Love Lane Corner on 16 July 1912.
The photograph particularly interests me because I live about 500 yards from Love Lane Corner (The roundabout in the pic). The area is still relatively open, with a mixture of sports and recreation fields, so it’s not too hard to picture the scene; and indeed, the feat was sort of replicated in the 70’s, when a light aircraft landed on the very narrow grass field, beside the athletics stadium, for some fête… would that be allowed these days?
The plane looks like a Blériot Monoplane, appears to have a number 2 on the tail and with those distinctive scimitar shaped prop blades, can anybody identify it? And who was the pilot? I’ve done a spot of ‘Googling’ and there’s not a lot of information about the Daily Mail Aviation Tours of Great Britain. A few names I have come across are; Gustave Hamel, Claude Grahame-White, Henri Salmet & Bentfield C, Hucks
Can anyone put any more meat on the bones?
Dean.
By: airfield - 14th August 2023 at 21:22
I think the aeroplane in the picture is a Morane Saulner Monoplane, the number on the tail is a ‘3’. Looking at the high trees in the background they could be Weelsby Woods which would put the aircraft more or less where the sports field is now..Hamel did fly a Morane Saulner during this time and the rather outlandish propeller is shown in another photograph of a Morane but I have never seen that particular one on a Bleriot.
Hope this helps?
By: alisonwhite - 13th August 2023 at 14:38
I am writing a new book about Claude Grahame-White and would appreciate hearing from anyone with any physical materials on him that’s not available on the interweaving. I’m particularly keen to see the materials that DeanK refers to.
Thanks!
By: DeanK - 31st July 2007 at 00:26
Dean, from what I can make out, Gustav Hamel covered this area during the “Wake Up England!” tour.
Robbo, (or should I say Claude 😉 ) thanks for that. My appetite has now been whetted! I’ve found snippets about him on the web, but there’s not a great deal of information… I might look for a book on the subject – any recommendations?
Thanks again,
Dean.
By: DeanK - 28th July 2007 at 12:20
Dean, I’ve got a scrapbook containing all the original press cuttings from this event (An Ebay bargain at £4.95) and several books by Harry Harper, the Mail’s aviation correspondent.
I’ll see if these provide any clues when I get back home next week.
Thanks for that Robbo, look forward to seeing what you might find.
Dean.
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July 27, 2007 at 9:04 pm