Southend Airport – Old Archive Films

Here are some interesting clips of Southend Airport from Pathe News.

Air Ferries showing Southend in the early 70’s including lots of Carvair activity and various shots inside the terminal

Boy Pilot shows Auster Autocrat G-AJEO in 1955. Includes the Auster taking off on the grass runway (15) towards Warners Bridge

First Civil Aircraft for Germany – shows the handover of Viking D-ADEL in 1955

German Trade Delegates Arrive – shows them arriving on a Trans Avia Viking in 1959

Good Stock goes East – shows cattle being loaded aboard Bristol Freighter G-ANVR in 1958 en route to Russia

Honeymooners Beat the Tax – shows them flying from Southend to Jersey in a Channel Airways Dakota G-AJIB in 1961

Hooneymoons Galore – shows them all boarding a Channel Airways Viscount en route to Jeresy in 1964.

Follow the link http://www.britishpathe.com/results.php?search=southend+airport

Then click on the selected clip

Thanks for posting the Taylor Titch link. I remember the photo in the local paper of TYO tail high coming down the side of the house but I didn’t realise that it was pushed all the way to the airport.

Here is some footage about the history of the Taylor Titch, a lot of which was taken at Southend in 1967. Lots of Viscount activity in the background.

I particularly liked scenes of the aircraft being pushed the three miles from his house along the Southend Arterial Road and then turning left at Kent Elms Corner!

Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/user/wfvc135?blend=8&ob=5#p/u

My first visit to Southend was in 1967 as a 11 year old. My parents finally relented and let me cycle there from home about a 20-25 min cycle ride.
It was still pretty busy then and I spent many days and evenings there as a spotter. It is just a shame that I didn’t have a camera then.

Beautiful films, wasn’t it a busy place. Bet it brings back memories.

Yes indeed, second busiest airport in the country and the Southend – Ostend route was the busiest international air route in the world during the early sixties. Southend was certainly buzzing with life in those days! On a Monday morning the tarmac was “double banked” with Dakotas, Vikings and Freighters awaiting their passengers to arrive in coaches to transport them to Ostend! Two hours later they all arrived back empty. On Friday afternnon the same thing happened in reverse when they all went out empty and all came back full!

I am amazed it has taken until now for Southend to have its own railway station!

The airport open day includes some shots of Lincoln RF342 which along with a few of the other BHAM aircraft was moved across the airfield for static display.
The Carvair in the Aviation Traders hangar is VH-INM, the last Carvair built which flew in as a DC-4.
The crashed Viscount is G-APPU which aquaplaned up the bank and almost onto the railway line on 4 May 1968. I remember that the wing tip had been cut off to allow the trains to run again. The very bent prop shown in one shot ended up with the Southend museum. When you look at the damage it seems amazing that there were no serious injuries.

Now those really bring back some memories! Especially the pre 1965 stuff when I was a pimply faced schoolboy spotter!

Beautiful films, wasn’t it a busy place. Bet it brings back memories.

Lovely, the footage of the open day is amazing.