New to forum, and why Elmdon Boy

Hi Paul,
WOW !!! Thank you for that, amazing. That plane still going (Or will be again) with a later engine and even the original one still working in another Flying Auster. That Auster was 2 years old when my father was flying it and it is now 72 years old. Really good to know its still plugging along. And it’s probably the one my brother and i had our very first flight in, in late 47 0r 48. That doesn’t appear in his logbook, as with 2 of us strapped in seat next to him with one lapstrap belt, he would have been frowned upon at least.
Thanks also for the Books Info, will follow those up. Finally, this is my dads PPL Licence or “Aviators Certificate”, quite a unique looking historic document, signed by no less than Lord Brabazon of Tara. Doubt if modern PPL licences have this quality or “Clout”. My father served as an Engine Fitter LAC in RAF and was sent out to the Battle of France in 39. Servicing Battles and Blenheims. He got back to Dunkirk and managed to get on board a Brit Destroyer. He very rarely talked about his experience there except to say that a lot of his aircrew Sgt’s pals were killed in those Aircraft. he died in 1981.

Bill T.

Accidently put two links to the same website WV-903.

Heres the one I missed off. http://nzcivair.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/austers.html

Hi Paul,
WOW !!! Thank you for that, amazing. That plane still going (Or will be again) with a later engine and even the original one still working in another Flying Auster. That Auster was 2 years old when my father was flying it and it is now 72 years old. Really good to know its still plugging along. And it’s probably the one my brother and i had our very first flight in, in late 47 0r 48. That doesn’t appear in his logbook, as with 2 of us strapped in seat next to him with one lapstrap belt, he would have been frowned upon at least.
Thanks also for the Books Info, will follow those up. Finally, this is my dads PPL Licence or “Aviators Certificate”, quite a unique looking historic document, signed by no less than Lord Brabazon of Tara. Doubt if modern PPL licences have this quality or “Clout”. My father served as an Engine Fitter LAC in RAF and was sent out to the Battle of France in 39. Servicing Battles and Blenheims. He got back to Dunkirk and managed to get on board a Brit Destroyer. He very rarely talked about his experience there except to say that a lot of his aircrew Sgt’s pals were killed in those Aircraft. he died in 1981.

Bill T.

Hi Sopwith,
Absolutely agreed, brilliant read !!!! (Written by his nephew ) The things that man got up to defied the odds. One was he took his car around Perry Barr Speedway (After locking up differential ) with circuit manager sitting in with him (in 1932 ) and i think they took the lap record–lol !!!

Elmdon Boy,
Thanks for info, Don’t think it was Castle Bromwich Airfield pic. as I don’t remember any trees around there. Must have been an RAF Base within range. Honiley springs to mind as that had trees around ( during my visit in 1957 anyway ).

WOW !! about the Auster, Can any NZ enthusiasts up date us on the fate of ZK-AUH ? Would love to know. Changing tack. Do you have any pics. of Stirlings at Elmdon ? Great stuff for me and hope you are enjoying uncoverings thread is throwing up.

Bill T.

WV-903 – Some more info on your Dads Auster. Alive and under restoration in Christchurch.

A couple of links here with photos, www.airport-data.com/aircraft/ZK-AUH.html, www.airport-data.com/aircraft/ZK-AUH.html

Two interesting books with a photo of a Sterling at Elmdon if you can get them.

Aviation in Birmingham by Geoffrey Negus & Tommy Staddon first published by Midland counties publications in 1984. ISBN 0 904597 51 2
Covers all Birmingham aviation in lots of detail and Photos.

Action Stations No 6 – Military airfields of the Cotswolds and Central Midlands by Michael J F Bowyer published by Patrick Stephens Ltd. in 1983 ISBN 0 85059 529 0

Unfortunatly I don’t have any private photos.

Hi Sopwith,
Absolutely agreed, brilliant read !!!! (Written by his nephew ) The things that man got up to defied the odds. One was he took his car around Perry Barr Speedway (After locking up differential ) with circuit manager sitting in with him (in 1932 ) and i think they took the lap record–lol !!!

Elmdon Boy,
Thanks for info, Don’t think it was Castle Bromwich Airfield pic. as I don’t remember any trees around there. Must have been an RAF Base within range. Honiley springs to mind as that had trees around ( during my visit in 1957 anyway ).

WOW !! about the Auster, Can any NZ enthusiasts up date us on the fate of ZK-AUH ? Would love to know. Changing tack. Do you have any pics. of Stirlings at Elmdon ? Great stuff for me and hope you are enjoying uncoverings thread is throwing up.

Bill T.

I agree WV-903 doesn’t look like an Elmdon backdrop to me in photos, and I’ve seen lots of photos taken at Elmdon.

Auster 5 G-AJVU, sold in New Zealand 22-8-50 as ZK-AUH, I wonder if still in existence.

WV-903 I read the book” None more brave”, a biography about Wal Handley, couldn’t put it down. I’d thoroughly recommend it,brilliant.

More on Elmdon Airfield.

Hi Paul (Elmdon Boy,
Thanks for correction, It’s quite possible that Wal Handley came in and out of Elmdon anyway and especially during WW2 early as someone had to deliver those Stirlings. (Thanks for that info too, didn’t realize it was a Stirling factory ).

Here’s the pics I have Of My Father and Instructor looking and what seems to be a problem with Auster G-AJYU. This would be circa 1947 but have a feeling this place is not Elmdon. My dad is shorter one (Just like me—lol !!!, but I’m noisier !!! :stupid:) in Civvy clothes.

Welcome….always fun to discuss civil aircraft.

Hi Elmdon Boy,
Elmdon is something no-one I’ve ever known since those days refered to, so your post came as quite a surprise. Thanks for posting and your memories. Would also like to thank Prop Strike for the ID of my “Mystery pilot”. Well, what a man he was, his read-ups and the 3 You-Toob vids. I’ve now seen really make me realize how fortunate I was to be witness to all this. What a flyer indeed, his kill score and war story about WW2 was incredible. I had no idea till now, ( I was 12 yrs old at the time ) so thanks again for this very timely info. Friends of mine who fly WW2 On-line Flight Sims with me will be really interested to hear about this too. I guess that my estimate of that Air show being 1953 was about correct as “The Count” died in 1955 of a stomach cancer operation and the Video did mention of his trip to UK.

Elmdon Boy,
Interesting that most of the Midland Aero Club members came from Moseley, it was a very well to do area in 1930’s but went downhill fast after that. I’ve noticed that researching about Moseley’s past throws up quite a few pics. of FreeMasons buildings, so maybe we’ll not follow that up. my father definately was not a Free Mason , neither am I. Also, the info on “Count Constantin Cantacuzino points out that he was a Pre WW2 Racing Motor Cyclist and there is a brief pic. of him on a machine in one of the video’s. Well funnily enough, another great brit Pre WW2 Motor Cyclist / Car Racer called Wal Handley was a “Brummy” and he owned several Aircraft in 1930’s after learning to fly at Elmdon Airport (Midland Aero Club. ). He would have raced agaainst “The Count” as he rode all over the world through 1920’s and 1930’s, he was a fantastic Rider. In 1938 he came back out of retirement after being head hunted by BSA’s Bert Perrigo ( They were flying pals in Midland Aero Club ) To race a BSA modified 500cc “Empire Star” in the Brooklands Races to gain a Brooklands “Gold Star” award for achieving a 100mph lap. He did just that (107 mph ) and that was how the famous BSA “Gold Star” Motorcycles were born. After that with WW2 looming Wal (Walter) joined the Air Transport Auxillary and quickly rose to be a commander, he was also a very gifted pilot, flying up to 4 engined machines on deliveries. In Oct 1941 he was killed in a P-39 flying out of a Lancashire Airfield as it was giving trouble to regular delivery pilots. The machine was faulty. He is buried in Acocks or Hall green Church yard. So Walter Handley died some 3-1/2 months after I was born. His grandson has written a book about Wal, called “None but the Brave” and that is some read.

Here’s a pic of him taken on the “Brooklands BSA Empire Star” just before the races commenced. The bike was wrecked in another race that day when he collided with a slower rider.
Interesting place was Birmingham in the past. Keep em coming,

Bill T.

WV-903

Wal Handley would have learnt to fly with the Midland Aero club at Castle Bromwich, and kept his aircraft there, not at Elmdon.

Elmdon did not open up until May 1939.

Hi Elmdon Boy,
Elmdon is something no-one I’ve ever known since those days refered to, so your post came as quite a surprise. Thanks for posting and your memories. Would also like to thank Prop Strike for the ID of my “Mystery pilot”. Well, what a man he was, his read-ups and the 3 You-Toob vids. I’ve now seen really make me realize how fortunate I was to be witness to all this. What a flyer indeed, his kill score and war story about WW2 was incredible. I had no idea till now, ( I was 12 yrs old at the time ) so thanks again for this very timely info. Friends of mine who fly WW2 On-line Flight Sims with me will be really interested to hear about this too. I guess that my estimate of that Air show being 1953 was about correct as “The Count” died in 1955 of a stomach cancer operation and the Video did mention of his trip to UK.

Elmdon Boy,
Interesting that most of the Midland Aero Club members came from Moseley, it was a very well to do area in 1930’s but went downhill fast after that. I’ve noticed that researching about Moseley’s past throws up quite a few pics. of FreeMasons buildings, so maybe we’ll not follow that up. my father definately was not a Free Mason , neither am I. Also, the info on “Count Constantin Cantacuzino points out that he was a Pre WW2 Racing Motor Cyclist and there is a brief pic. of him on a machine in one of the video’s. Well funnily enough, another great brit Pre WW2 Motor Cyclist / Car Racer called Wal Handley was a “Brummy” and he owned several Aircraft in 1930’s after learning to fly at Elmdon Airport (Midland Aero Club. ). He would have raced agaainst “The Count” as he rode all over the world through 1920’s and 1930’s, he was a fantastic Rider. In 1938 he came back out of retirement after being head hunted by BSA’s Bert Perrigo ( They were flying pals in Midland Aero Club ) To race a BSA modified 500cc “Empire Star” in the Brooklands Races to gain a Brooklands “Gold Star” award for achieving a 100mph lap. He did just that (107 mph ) and that was how the famous BSA “Gold Star” Motorcycles were born. After that with WW2 looming Wal (Walter) joined the Air Transport Auxillary and quickly rose to be a commander, he was also a very gifted pilot, flying up to 4 engined machines on deliveries. In Oct 1941 he was killed in a P-39 flying out of a Lancashire Airfield as it was giving trouble to regular delivery pilots. The machine was faulty. He is buried in Acocks or Hall green Church yard. So Walter Handley died some 3-1/2 months after I was born. His grandson has written a book about Wal, called “None but the Brave” and that is some read.

Here’s a pic of him taken on the “Brooklands BSA Empire Star” just before the races commenced. The bike was wrecked in another race that day when he collided with a slower rider.
Interesting place was Birmingham in the past. Keep em coming,

Bill T.

No, it was the nineties – by which time I was too old to have any credibility as a spotter. My sixties were misspent down south, being chased out of hangars at, mainly, Gatwick and Shoreham!

I’m not sure your comments here are are correct .The only spotters you see now are the are the ones from the past who are now considered old.

When was the last time you saw a school boy spotting at an airfields.

Its the youngsters now who would not have any credibility being a spotter.

More credibility for them sitting at home on there PlayStation. There loss I think.

Hi Elmdon Boy,

I reckon your mystery pilot was the famous Count Constantin Cantacuzino , in his Jungmeister ( with very small wheels)

”After the war ended, Cantacuzino was demobilized and returned to LARES. The USSR imposed a communist regime that confiscated private property and began imprisoning the old elite and opponents of the regime. Cantacuzino lost all his land and soon his wife left him. In 1946 he married Nadia Gray. He managed to escape to Italy in 1947 and then he settled in Spain. There he was helped by the Romanian community to buy himself an airplane, in order to earn his living at air shows.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantin_Cantacuzino_(aviator)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dgJxjVxq18

Propstrike

I think this reply was aimed for WV-903, Interesting info though thanks.

Hi WV-903

Thanks for your welcome.

What a vivid memory you have of Elmdon in the 50s. I was to young to remember those days, but they sound fabulous.

The only airshow in the 60s was in April 1960 when an open day was held to
commemorate the hand over of control from the Ministry of aviation to Birmingham corporation. I vaguely remember going to this open day, hadn’t started spotting then, but its probably the catalyst that started my lifetime interest in aviation.

There was apparently a small airshow held in 1953 by the Midland Aero club, could this have been the show you refer to. I do not have any further info, but if I do I will get back to you.

There was of cause the big display and air races in July 1949 which attracted over 12,000 people over a bank holiday weekend, plus in September 1951 once again the Midland Aero club had a flying display.

The big hangers over the far side you mention were the old wartime hangers that assembled Stirling bombers. They had to tow them over a fairly narrow bridge over the railway to the airport for test flying.
After the war they became a assembly line for Metro Cammel Ltd for bus assembly.

During the 1960s my Dad was a delivery driver for new vehicles, and I remember him telling me he had to collect buses from there to deliver them to Tilbury docks for onward shipment to Cuba. Due to the political tensions then with Cuba they never got delivered . But that as they say is another story, for perhaps another forum

The hangers were I believe pulled down in about the late 80s – early 90s, industrial estate now.

You mention you lived in Moseley. I’ve looked on G-INFO and notice that a lot of the resident aircraft at Elmdon in the 60s were owned by people who lived in Moseley.

Paul S

Another 60s spotter here, but Liverpool Speke

Well someone has to come from Liverpool 😀

I was born within 5 miles of Elmdon, but my dad’s job got moved up north, so I started my spotting at Ringway in the late 60’s (and I still look out of the window and see what is on approach to there).

Welcome to the forum.

Hi Elmdon Boy,

I reckon your mystery pilot was the famous Count Constantin Cantacuzino , in his Jungmeister ( with very small wheels)

”After the war ended, Cantacuzino was demobilized and returned to LARES. The USSR imposed a communist regime that confiscated private property and began imprisoning the old elite and opponents of the regime. Cantacuzino lost all his land and soon his wife left him. In 1946 he married Nadia Gray. He managed to escape to Italy in 1947 and then he settled in Spain. There he was helped by the Romanian community to buy himself an airplane, in order to earn his living at air shows.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantin_Cantacuzino_(aviator)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dgJxjVxq18

avion ancient

Olton , was this in the 60s and was you a spotter.

I wonder if we know one another.

No, it was the nineties – by which time I was too old to have any credibility as a spotter. My sixties were misspent down south, being chased out of hangars at, mainly, Gatwick and Shoreham!

Hi Elmdon Boy,
Yes indeed, welcome to the forum. Interesting what you have to say about Elmdon Airport as I was doing the same sort of thing there as you but my times ran from early 1950’s through to end of 1957 when I went into RAF Apprentices scheme at RAF Halton as a U/T rigger. (This was to get me out of National Service,so I could pick my trade. Remember National Service Boys, everyone had to do it except essential trades, like :- Miners–Train Drivers–,etc,etc. )

But back to Elmdon in the 1950’s, it was a great place, exactly as you say, i went to just about all the Airshows there then and the one that has stuck in my mind these past many decades was the one circa 1953 ? Witnessing a mass take off of Navy Seafires fitted with JATO rockets to give assistance. That was impressive. I would always stand right at the wire fence that the public were behind, as Aircraft would be parked up next to it sometimes and we got to see the whole start up and taxi out. Also (I think this was at the same Airshow ) In front of me was a biplane parked up, it looked like a german version of a Tiger Moth. this pilot came out to it, did his walk around and climbed in. he wore a white flying suit and a cloth helmet and goggles, exactly like the 1930’s flyers did. All this was happening about ten feet in front of me with the pilot speaking to crowd as he went around his plane . I had no idea who he was, but I was very,very interested. He fired the plane up and after the checks gave it full throttle and raced off across the grass, we were blown back but this was “Magic”, He ran the plane a minimal distance, lifted up to around 10 feet in height and calmly rolled it upside down and proceeded to fly all around the Airfield perimeter before climbing up to a superb flying display. (Fuel system must have been modified for that. ). The sideslipped her back to ground very close taxied back to same place ,shut down ,climbed out and bowed to us. Well !!!! what a reception. I think that was the day that clinched it all for me, I was going to get involved in Aircraft properly after that. I think the pilot was known as “Count Stokowski” ?? or something like that, he definately was the top flyer of those times and I was part of that. ( Moggy take note )

So from that I joined The ATC in around 1954 ( 493 Sqdn, Kings Heath, B’ham ). This continued right up to joining RAF, with annual camp at Hemswell in 1956 where all the ATC Cadets got rides in a Lincoln Bomber except me as there was no room boohh hooo I was furious about that, because even at that time, I knew the value of being around those Lincolns. Anyway, I digress. In the Summer of 1957, myself and 2 pals cycled over to Elmdon on our push bikes in our ATC uniforms. Once there we got into the private Aircraft hangers no trouble and were looking around one of the Tiger Moths when this pilot walked up to us and was asking what we were doing then said:- ” I’m the Chief Flying Instructor, here, Would you chaps like to go for a flight in a Tiger Moth ? ” Well you know what the answer was to that and thats what happened, he gave each of us a 20 min. flight around Elmdon and never charged us a penny, even gave us cups of tea at the Flight Hut. We were absolutely bowled over by this magnificent gesture. Funnily enough ,I’ve never been back to Elmdon since and i don’t think i need to.( The rest of the world beckoned. )
There were some very big hangers or Factories over other side of the main Railway line, that were still decked in their camouflage markings for many years, guess they are probably long gone now.
Yes Elmdon was a special place for me as my first flight in an aeroplane was from there in an Auster with my dad piloting and me and brother strapped in to seat next to him by one lap strap. This was in 1947 just after dad had got his ppl. He flew us over where we lived in Moseley and to show us our house he banked right over to the left, and circled around then opened our door so we could see down to the houses below. Woooo !!! Impressive. I’ve got a couple of pics, somewhere of his plane and club licence,etc. I’ll post em here if I can find em. Good days indeed.

Bill T.

avion ancient

Olton , was this in the 60s and was you a spotter.

I wonder if we know one another.

Thanks for the links avion ancien.,
I didn’t know of the Donald Bennet incident, well before my time, I was just starting school then.
The midland aero club link is interesting. Late in the 60s I remember going to the night club , down Elmdon Lane, at the back of hanger 2.
Elmdon Boy

Another 60s spotter here, but Liverpool Speke

Welcome.

Moggy