Pre-war airfield at Bury St Edmunds

Thanks G-ORDY

Thanks G-ORDY for your reply to my enquiry. I was aware of Westley’s history (from ‘Wings over Westley’ published privately 2 years ago). My problem is that I have been told there was an airfield that pre-dated Westley, possibly at Fornham All Saints, but have not yet been able to confirm it’s location. Thanks for taking the time and trouble to post your reply. All The best, Skyboy

I’ll scan the appropriate pages from the UK Air Pilot (1934 Edn) when I get home tonight.

IIRC it was part of the Whitney Straight organisation.

Well I would have done but when I checked Bury St Edmunds was not established until 1937/38. The information that I have is that Courtney M. Prentice of Ipswich founded the West Suffolk Aero Club at the new – municipally owned – aerodrome on Newmarket Road, Bury St Edmunds with two Taylorcraft Model A aircraft, G-AFDN and G-AFKN. ‘DN was the first UK import and was demonstrated at the Heathrow Garden Party of the RAeS on 8 May 1938, it was based at Ipswich before moving to Bury St Edmunds. (He was also the founder of the Suffolk Aero Club at Ipswich in 1925).

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/nick.neale/ravenswood/airport_history/

Once the Taylorcraft went into production at Rearsby, the West Suffolk club acquired G-AFTP (c/n 104), G-AFTT (c/n 101), G-AFTZ (c/n 106), all being delivered in May and June 1939. G-AFKN crashed at Bury on 11 March 1939 and was replaced by a Piper J-3 Cub, G-AFIY (c/n 2425) which was dismantled at Bury St Edmunds in July 1941.

This website says the airfield was located at Westley:
http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/visit/1900-2000.cfm

CFI at the West Suffolk club was Wg Cdr Bruce Lockhart, Courtney Prentice’s son Eugene taking his place in March 1939.

Could this be a reference to the same Eugene Prentice? (Look in the “Apologies for Absence”) got to be the same chap IMHO.

http://www.ngcglide.freeserve.co.uk/password/agm2001.htm

That’s all Folks! 🙂

I’ll scan the appropriate pages from the UK Air Pilot (1934 Edn) when I get home tonight.

IIRC it was part of the Whitney Straight organisation.