The island forms part of the local government district of swale. Sheppey is derived from old english sceapig, meaning sheep island. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates. Veteran airfield eastchurch came into being towards the end of 1909 to act as a replacement for leysdown, whose landing area had left much to be desired. The village website claims the area to have a history steeped in stories of piracy and smugglers. Eastchurch is a village and civil parish on the isle of sheppey, in the english county of kent, two miles east of minster. View all hotels near all saints church on tripadvisor. By the time that ww1 started, eastchurch was the home of sheppeys only airfield and remained that way until it finally closed in 1946. Attracted by the novel and exciting experience of ballooning, in 1901. For mail order please get in touch using our contact dahg form. A map made with new objects from 3ds max 8, placed on a landscape of eastchurch aerodrome on the isle of sheppey kent during the second world war. Link here i am not on facebook so i have posted my comments here. During the course of the second world war kg 2 lost 767 aircraft destroyed and 158 damaged.
A pictorial history is available for purchase in the raf museum and at the national trust shop. The book tells the fascinating history of raf defford from when part of the croome estate was first requisitioned in 1941 through the. As well as recommending that the aero club adopt this as a club aerodrome. The history of aviation at eastchurch stretches back to the first decade of the 20th century when it was used as an airfield by members of the royal aero club. My family is from sittingbourne and i inherited this from my grans cousin so i am not sure where it came from originally. A look at sheppeys pioneering aviation heritage open on tuesday. What became eastchurch aerodrome was where the first pilots of the royal naval. Its only 34 pages and eastchurch is covered from p20. A military chaplain leads prayers at eastchurch airfield on the isle of sheppey in kent, before pilot, major j c p wood and navigator c c wylies planned attempt to win the daily mail 10,000pound prize for the first heavierthanair transatlantic flight, in the shamrock, a modified short shirl, april 1919.
The womens royal air force at eastchurch 1918 to 1920. The history is intended to become a living document, with additional information to keep it accurate and up to date. The area saw the first flight by a british pilot in britain. This site is dedicated to the history of manston airfield, in kent from its first official usage back in 1916.
Rnas eastchurch eastchurch, on the isle of sheppey in kent, can lay claim to being the first royal naval air station. Eastchurch trip planner plan your eastchurch vacation. Kampfgeschwader 2 project gutenberg selfpublishing. The first airfield of the aero club of gb 1909 and then in 1910 the royal aero. Kent airfields in the second world war countryside books, newbury. Dec 17, 2005 eastchurch airfield on isle of sheppy help. Sections on the actual history, the gliding school, 405fg usaaf, airspeed, resident and visiting aircraft. Since passing his gft for a private pilots license on the 30th june 1989 in the cessna 152 gwacb at wycombe air park the gates of opportunity opened and he has, for example, flown an aircraft in every country in western europe registered in each country. Airfield by jeanette ingold meet your next favorite book. Aviation at eastchurch started with the pioneer experiments with. Uk airfield guide a guide to the history of british.
Uk airfield guide a guide to the history of british flying. Kampfgeschwader 2 holzhammer kg 2 battle wing 2 was a luftwaffe bomber unit during the second world war. Eastchurch landplane airfields of britain conservation. Raf eastchurch formerly rnas eastchurch was a royal air force station near eastchurch village, on the isle of sheppey, kent, england. The eastchurch airfield played a significant role in the history of british aviation from 1909 when frank mcclean acquired stonepits farm, on the marshes across from leysdown, converting the land into an airfield for members of the aero club of great britain. The gliders involved in the most classic cugc adventures, such as the olympia that was ditched in the sea twice. In his usually excellent book flying and ballooning from old photographs, john fabb has this picture captioned. Flying started from the site in 1941 as raf edgehill. Raf eastchurch in the second world war 19391945 the wartime. Memorial to the home of aviation, eastchurch 1258069 historic. It is owned by the andersons, a keen aviation family that operate the organic farm in which tiffenden airfield is situated. There were other functions at eastchurch, so rather than try to summarise, i have copied the following from a projected book on the sopwith triplane that i have been working on for a long time. It appears that nothing was set down to enable this happening in a binding contractual and legal framework. On the 2nd august the inspecting captain of aircraft at the central air office sheerness, issued the order of battle for the r.
The unit operated the dornier do 17 light bomber, dornier do 217 and junkers ju 188 heavy bombers. The book tells the fascinating history of raf defford from when part of the croome estate was first requisitioned in 1941 through the early days of bomber command training and on to when the airfield became the secret home of the telecommunications flying unit. Rnas eastchurch sheppey page 2 air personnel and the. Eastchurch is the home of british aviation eastchurch witnessed the first controlled flight by a british pilot on british soil. This was mainly due to the fact that eastchurch was chiefly used as a naval air station rather than one used by fighter command. The island had been a hive of activity in relation to flying since the beginning of the twentieth century, when the royal aero club came to leysdown, making it the first airfield in england.
Since the beginning of the year the naval flying school at eastchurch had been under the command of capt. Private businessman francis mcclean acquired the land in order for it to be leased to the aero club, and events moved quite swiftly after charles rolls shifted his quarters to eastchurch in november 1909. Though eastchurch was not part of fighter command, the luftwaffe believed the base to so and duly attacked it in augustseptember 1940. The kart club shares the airfield with the present shenington gliding club. Christchurch aerodrome 19261970, 3rd editionaugust 2017 edition of my book about christchurch. Rnas eastchurch eastchurch, on the isle of sheppey in kent, can lay. Eastchurch is styled the home of british aviation as eastchurch airfield saw the first controlled flight by a british pilot on british soil. Available as a free download in pdf format at hampshire airfields or from amazon as kindleipad file.
The etrich monoplane at eastchurch, the naval aviation ground on the isle of sheppey, december 1912. Eastchurch airfield and aircraft, and free flying lessons for naval officers. Rnas eastchurch sheppey air personnel and the war in the. It is intended to bring together the various sources of information at events, squadrons, aircraft and personnel that have been involved in the site. Eastchurch was used as a royal naval air station in world war one. This is so that we can prepare suitable material and extra volunteers, if necessary, so that everyone has the best possible experience. A small museum full of aviation history and the history of the aircraft industry on.
Recently two photos of wrafs at eastchurch were posted on the sheppey history facebook page. Click on contactfind us facebook aviation history at eastchurch. This is so that we can prepare suitable material and extra volunteers, if necessary, so that everyone has the best possible. The history of each airfield is described with the aircraft based at them and the main operations flown. The hope for the history is to create a complete and interesting record of the clubs history from 1935 to the current day, with notable flights and members exploits and achievements and mishaps recorded for posterity. In his excellent book, british aviation the pioneer years, first published in 1967, harald penrose offers us another insight regarding the situation in 1912. William e david standford hill prison is now on the site of the old royal air force station situated at eastchurch, isle of sheppey. With war being declared against germany on 4th august 1914 it is interesting to look at what the defences at eastchurch airfield were. Of those cottages mentioned in the article published by the royal air force, only one remains, but the mythical feeling of raf manston still exists.
Raf eastchurch was an air base on the isle of sheppey, north of chatham in kent, during world war two. If you have any experience or history of aviation on sheppey, please share it. Raf eastchurch project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. However, throughout that time, the mod still retained the original leysdown landing ground and its few buildings, that had once been the home of the aero club and shorts bros. The effects of the war on the daily lives of civilians, and the constant dangers from raids and night bombing are also detailed. The book is called early birds a short history of how flight came to sheppey by air commodore bill croydon cbe raf retd isbn 0953273938. Since childhood he has been fascinated by all aspects of aviation history. The airfield officially opened in august 1938 and within days had its first residents, no.
Hi guys i lived in leysdown for 11 years for my sins. Eastchurch was used as a royal naval air station in world war. Jan, 2014 a map made with new objects from 3ds max 8, placed on a landscape of eastchurch aerodrome on the isle of sheppey kent during the second world war. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Raf eastchurch in the second world war, the wartime memories project.
Actaeon, the torpedo ship at sheerness which nominally bore the pilots under training. Aviation history at eastchurch the museum is about preserving and maintaining the rich history of aviation on the isle of sheppey. It has a history in aviation, near where the prisons are located now, was an airfield. For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached pdf 91502. Eastchurch aerodrome 1940s during air raid youtube. The effects of the war on the daily lives of civilians, and the constant dangers.
Apr 21, 2015 raf eastchurch was an air base on the isle of sheppey, north of chatham in kent, during world war two. Even though the history of eastchurch dates back to 1903, it was one of those airfields that did not attain the same heights as such airfields as hornchurch or biggin hill. Eastchurch trip planner plan your eastchurch vacation itinerary. A memorial stone is situated near the entrance to the kart circuit. Raf eastchurch was a royal air force station near eastchurch village, on the isle of sheppey, kent, england. Initially wellington bombers used the airfield for flying practice, but occasionally supplying aircraft and crew for operational bombing raids. In 1910 it was offered to the royal navy as a training aerodrome.
Eastchurch aviaton museum requests that all parties of 10 or more and all school parties contact us to prebook. My sister is living on the isle of sheppy, and it would be good if i good fly down and see her. View all hotels near eastchurch aviation museum on tripadvisor. Raf eastchurch formerly rna s eastchurch was a royal air force station n ear eastchurch village, on the isle of sheppey, kent, englan d. The british parliament were not consulted, let alone the british public, and yet we potentially all ended up on the.
In 1933, beatty hangs out at the airport where her pilot father flies mail. The role of the aas was to train armament officers, air gunners and air bombers so extensive use was made of the nearby bombing ranges on the coast. A full account of the part played by kents airfields during the second world war. Eastchurch aviaton museum requests that all parties of 10 or more and all school parties contact us to prebook by phone 0745 062 1217 website. This book is the first out of a three volume set that provides a detailed account of manstons history, and covers the formative period of 1916 to 1930. The history of aviation at eastchurch stretches back to the first decade of the. Eastchurch is styled the home of british aviation as eastchurch airfield saw the first controlled flight by a british pilot on british soil the eastchurch airfield played a significant role in the history of british aviation from 1909 when frank mcclean acquired stonepits farm, on the marshes across from leysdown, converting the land into an airfield for members of the. A military chaplain leads prayers at eastchurch airfield. Digital copies of group photographs, scrapbooks, autograph books, photo. Aviation historyeastchurch is styled the home of british aviation as eastchurch airfield saw the first controlled flight by a british pilot on british soil. The second, third pictures and fourth pictures were scanned from, british aviation the pioneer years, by.
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