Longbridge…

Aircraft production at Longbridge

Austin first became involved in aircraft production during the first world war, producing SE5a’s, RE7’s and F2b’s amongst others. Some of these were flown off from a landing ground Austin had built by removing the top off a local Hill. This is now the site of what most people recognise as the Longbridge factory today. At the time it was a 75 acre 4,500 foot diameter circular landing ground.
Austin also dabbled with their own design of aircraft producing the AFB1 with Capt Albert Ball VC in 1917, the AFT3 Osprey in 1918 and the Austin Greyhound. Postwar they produced the Austin Kestrel and Whippet, none of thes designs ammaounting to other than ones or two’s in number.
Prior to the Second World War a new shadow factory was opened down the road from the airfield – locally this is known as East Works, and a Flight shed was also constructed. Early on this produced Fairy battles and Hurricanes, these being flown from the Airfield after being winched up the hill from the back of the Flightshed. Later production of Lancasters and Stirlings were transported by road to the then Elmdon – now Birmingham International airfield for final assembly and flight test.
The whole area under Longbridge is also ridled with tunnels as this was the site of an underground factory producing many types of war material from trucks to jerry cans, most of these still exist on site but are closed off for safety reasons.
Hope this is of interest
Mark

*ahem*

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A1061740

“…at Longbridge, men and women turned out 2,866 Fairey Battles, Hurricanes, Stirlings and Lancasters; whilst at the nearby Austin works almost 500 army and other vehicles were made each week – as well as a multitude of other goods”

Did they have an airfield on-site?

dont know about that but they did make lancasters