The Very Begining's

'The Government Air Operations Field Beddington'

During WW1 in December 1915 the British Government selected a site in Beddington, Surrey, alongside Plough Lane, as a location for the 'Royal Flying Corps Home Defence', in response to German bombing raids on London by Zepplin Airships. The airfield was soon prepared for the arrival of the RFC by January 1916, and given the name 'Government Air Operations Field Beddington'. The first to arrive and operate from there was '39 Squadron RFC' with two 'BE 2c's'. Then 93 squadron in August and September, No 65, then No40 squadron, and finaly No17 Training Squadron.

(above) an RFC Nieuport IV at Croydon

BE 2c

In 1916 a wooden Air Traffic Control and Customs building was erected at Beddington. More aircraft were stationed there as the war progressed, and 1916 and 1917 saw Sopwith Camel's and Sopwith Pup's as well as Avro 504's take up the challenge against marauding Zepplins and Gotha bombers.

The map above shows Beddington airfield set between Stafford Rd, Farm Lane, and Plough Lane where it had it's ground traffic entrance.

(below) Ground crew 1918.

(above) a group photograph of RFC members at Beddington

(below) an R.E.8. of the RFC at Beddington

(above) 'SE5's at Beddington

(below) RFC at Beddington with a motorbike

The 1st of April 1918 saw the formation of the 'Royal Airforce' by the merging of the 'Royal Flying Corps' and the 'Royal Naval Air Service'. The airfields duties were now taken over by the 'No29 Training Squadron Royal Airforce'. This was followed by No10 Squadron, 22, 32, 41, 83, 84 and 207 squadrons. During 1918 adjacent to the airfield and on the other side of Plough Lane, a factory complex for aircraft construction was built called 'National Aircraft Factory No1'. compete with it's own airfield for test flights. Now an RAF airfield, Beddington once again had another name change, this time to 'The Government Aerodrome Waddon'.

(above) 'No29 RAF Training Squadron', in 1919. Prince Albert (later became King George VI), is centre of the middle row, at 'The Government Aerodrome Waddon'.

'King George VI' wore the pilots wings not 'honoris causa' like George V, but completed his course of flying instruction as Prince Albert in an 'Avro 504J'. This aircraft RAF No C4451 became the first to be specifically allocated to a royal task.

(above and below) Prince Albert and his flying instructor Lt Alec Coryton in the 'Avro 504J' (C4451)

In July 1919, Winston Churchill the man who would later become 'Honorary Air Commodore', was almost killed while taking flying lessons. His plane stalled and tumbled out of the sky. Somehow, on impact the plane didn't catch fire, and Churchill and his tutor A.J.L.Scott escaped with little more than cuts and bruises.

On the 29th of March 1920 the two airfields were combined and a link created across Plough Lane. The combined airfields now reverting to civilian use only, operated under the new name of 'Waddon Aerodrome'.

For information on the 'National Aircraft Factory', it's operation and production click HERE