W
Wendy
Guest
Re: Castle Bromwich Areodrome
What fantastic photo's Chocks I have not seen any like these.
What fantastic photo's Chocks I have not seen any like these.
-
Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.
We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team
Castle Bromwich Aerodrome
- Thread starter oldMohawk
- Start date
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Re: Castle Bromwich Areodrome
Thanks Chocks, best photos I've ever seen of Castle Bromwich airfield. Interesting to see the hangers and of course the good old Tiger Moths. I used sit on the side of the field watching them taking off about 10 years later than the date of the photos.
Thanks Chocks, best photos I've ever seen of Castle Bromwich airfield. Interesting to see the hangers and of course the good old Tiger Moths. I used sit on the side of the field watching them taking off about 10 years later than the date of the photos.
Re: Castle Bromwich Areodrome
Great photos Chocks. Viv.
Great photos Chocks. Viv.
Re: Castle Bromwich Areodrome
I remember cycling over to the Aerodrome from Sutton in the late 50's or early 60's and there was a section you could get into through the fence which contained wrecked 'planes from WW2, British and German. They were little more than scrap but for a lad brought up on The Battle of Britain it was a paradise!
I remember cycling over to the Aerodrome from Sutton in the late 50's or early 60's and there was a section you could get into through the fence which contained wrecked 'planes from WW2, British and German. They were little more than scrap but for a lad brought up on The Battle of Britain it was a paradise!
peggygirl
proper brummie kid
Re: Castle Bromwich Areodrome
Could someone tell me why when I click on the thumbnails to look at the old photos, there is no link there, but everyone
seems to have had better luck. I even asked my husband to have a go as he's a whizz on the computer, but he said there is no link there?????
Could someone tell me why when I click on the thumbnails to look at the old photos, there is no link there, but everyone
seems to have had better luck. I even asked my husband to have a go as he's a whizz on the computer, but he said there is no link there?????
B
BernardR
Guest
Re: Castle Bromwich Areodrome
Not having a problem using Google Chrome (other browsers are available).
I am assuming you are referring to those posted in post 19?
Not having a problem using Google Chrome (other browsers are available).
I am assuming you are referring to those posted in post 19?
peggygirl
proper brummie kid
Re: Castle Bromwich Areodrome
Oh! I don't bother with all of that info ha! I just want to read the threads, so interested in the history of Birmingham, Castle Bromwich, Shard End (if there is any ha)
well anything really, i'm doing the family tree, so anything that is on this site that helps I use.
Thanks for letting me know where I'd gone wrong or missed anything.
Oh! I don't bother with all of that info ha! I just want to read the threads, so interested in the history of Birmingham, Castle Bromwich, Shard End (if there is any ha)
well anything really, i'm doing the family tree, so anything that is on this site that helps I use.
Thanks for letting me know where I'd gone wrong or missed anything.
Re: Castle Bromwich Areodrome
Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask for information. I am looking for information about 'The Bungalows' or 'The Hutment' on Castle Bromwich aerodrome (airfield) The wooden bungalows were sold to the City of Birmingham to house families to help reduce the housing shoratage. Any information please - dates , numbers etc.
Thank you all
aquajet
Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask for information. I am looking for information about 'The Bungalows' or 'The Hutment' on Castle Bromwich aerodrome (airfield) The wooden bungalows were sold to the City of Birmingham to house families to help reduce the housing shoratage. Any information please - dates , numbers etc.
Thank you all
aquajet
Hi Aquajet. I extracted a few lines on the Huts/Bungalows in the 1920s from this link. https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cs/Sa...goBlobs&blobwhere=1223467474810&ssbinary=true
There may be other info in there of interest as well as maps and aerial photos. Viv.
There may be other info in there of interest as well as maps and aerial photos. Viv.
Hi again. I can't get the link to work so suggest you go into https://www.birmingham.gov.uk
Then type in 'History of Castle Vale' and you can select the document from the options that come up. Viv.
Then type in 'History of Castle Vale' and you can select the document from the options that come up. Viv.
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Re: Castle Bromwich Areodrome
Viv - That link was a very interesting read, particularly about Birmingham's sewage arrangements. I've always been interested in the area mainly the Airfield and the BIF buildings. I have mentioned before that my Dad worked on Spitfire production during WW2 and I vaguely remember being taken as a small child near to the airfield and seeing Spitfires being air tested - maybe I might have seen one flown by Alec Henshaw - maybe !
I can't think why I would have been taken there because it was a long ride on the No 28 bus from the Hawthorn Rd terminus and we certainly would not have been allowed into the factory. My Dad later worked in the BIF buildings on exhibition stands previously mentioned here with a photo.
oldmohawk
Viv - That link was a very interesting read, particularly about Birmingham's sewage arrangements. I've always been interested in the area mainly the Airfield and the BIF buildings. I have mentioned before that my Dad worked on Spitfire production during WW2 and I vaguely remember being taken as a small child near to the airfield and seeing Spitfires being air tested - maybe I might have seen one flown by Alec Henshaw - maybe !
I can't think why I would have been taken there because it was a long ride on the No 28 bus from the Hawthorn Rd terminus and we certainly would not have been allowed into the factory. My Dad later worked in the BIF buildings on exhibition stands previously mentioned here with a photo.
oldmohawk
Last edited:
hansonbridge
proper brummie kid
Re: Castle Bromwich Areodrome
Hello,
Regarding Castle Brom Aerodrome and just for general interest, I can recall a barrage balloon with a basket below it and paratroopers dropping out of it. I think the parachutes were on an automatic opening device. That must have been in the late fifties as I was born in 1952. I also recall around the mid Sixties being in my back garden and watching a Spitfire fly over in a last salute to the Aerodrome before it was built on.
Hello,
Regarding Castle Brom Aerodrome and just for general interest, I can recall a barrage balloon with a basket below it and paratroopers dropping out of it. I think the parachutes were on an automatic opening device. That must have been in the late fifties as I was born in 1952. I also recall around the mid Sixties being in my back garden and watching a Spitfire fly over in a last salute to the Aerodrome before it was built on.
Hi Phil - I hope you did see Alex Henshaw. My dad met him but I don't know what my dad thought about him. From things I've read Henshaw was quite a hero so I expect my dad felt the same about him. I feel almost certain my dad would have visited the exhibition too. A good photo as well.
Hi Hansonbridge - seeing the barrage balloon manoeuvres must have been exciting. Hard to imagine these days.
Hi Aquajet again. Here are two snippets about the huts. This is from a Newman College document. The full document is on https://www.newmanlocalhistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/history2-vol11.pdf
The second attachment gives some newspaper references relating to the huts which might be a useful source of further info. Viv.
Hi Hansonbridge - seeing the barrage balloon manoeuvres must have been exciting. Hard to imagine these days.
Hi Aquajet again. Here are two snippets about the huts. This is from a Newman College document. The full document is on https://www.newmanlocalhistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/history2-vol11.pdf
The second attachment gives some newspaper references relating to the huts which might be a useful source of further info. Viv.
Phil I don't seem to have much success in posting links that can be opened, but I'll give this one a go as it might be of interest. It's from Youtube and has footage of Henshaw test flying at Castle Brom in 1941. Quite possibly you've seen it. Apologies in advance if it doesn't work! Viv.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCmzYccyBYM&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Thank you for the information, my parents lived in the bungalows but I never asked how or why they rented one. My father, as far as I know, did not work at Dunlops. I understand the majority of the bungalows were occupied by Dunlop employees. I would like to see photographs, so will continue with my search. Thank you once again.
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Hi Viv,
Thanks for that link, I had not seen the video before. I thought he had 'hit the deck' about 20 seconds in, he certainly took it close !
It brought back an old memory - when I used to watch Spitfires being tested, I remember seeing an occasional puff of smoke during acrobatics and I saw one in the video at about 4 seconds in.
Phil
Thanks for that link, I had not seen the video before. I thought he had 'hit the deck' about 20 seconds in, he certainly took it close !
It brought back an old memory - when I used to watch Spitfires being tested, I remember seeing an occasional puff of smoke during acrobatics and I saw one in the video at about 4 seconds in.
Phil
Hi Phil. Funny how even today, it still looks like he took great risks. When I was nosing around looking for info on the huts I came across a couple of old Pathe news films about the Birmingham Air Pageant. There was one which shows a performance of them blowing up a mock castle at Castle Brom Aerodrome. The films were on Youtube. It's interesting because you get a few glimpses of the Aerodome too. There were also ones about the BIF, royalty visits etc. Won't post them here as they have copyright plastered all over them. Might be worth a look if you're interested.
Also, the Britain from Above website has some lovely aerial views taken in the 1920s of both the Aerodrome and the BIF building. It might also be possible to spot the huts on the photos - but I think it needs more of an expert eye to look at them. I posted an example below - the exhibition buildings in 1928. There're several more nice views of the Aerodrome on that site too.
And the photo....
Viv.
Also, the Britain from Above website has some lovely aerial views taken in the 1920s of both the Aerodrome and the BIF building. It might also be possible to spot the huts on the photos - but I think it needs more of an expert eye to look at them. I posted an example below - the exhibition buildings in 1928. There're several more nice views of the Aerodrome on that site too.
And the photo....
Viv.
Great photo Phil. And an interesting topic Aquajet. A warm welcome to you. Viv.
Phil,
I understand the wooden bungalows were referred to as the "Hutments" and were originally built to accommodate Castle Bromwich aerodrome personel. They then became the property of The Birmingham Tame and Rea Drainage Board who sold them to the City of Birmingham housing dept. There was, as today, a housing shortage and the bungalows were to be allocated to Dunlop workers. I do not know if my father worked for Dunlop.
Thank you for your trouble.
aquajet
I understand the wooden bungalows were referred to as the "Hutments" and were originally built to accommodate Castle Bromwich aerodrome personel. They then became the property of The Birmingham Tame and Rea Drainage Board who sold them to the City of Birmingham housing dept. There was, as today, a housing shortage and the bungalows were to be allocated to Dunlop workers. I do not know if my father worked for Dunlop.
Thank you for your trouble.
aquajet
Re: Castle Bromwich Areodrome
Hi,
I'm researching the history of gliding at Castle Bromwich aerodrome. Can anyone help me? I believe that an ATC unit was based there post-war, but when did it start, and when did it disband? Was the ATC the only gliding activity at CB, or was there any private gliding. Was there only winch launching or was aerotow used? Where were the gliders kept - presumably in one of the hangars? Does anyone have the names of any instructors or students? Any if you've got any photographs of gliding at CB......
Thanks, MT
Hi,
I'm researching the history of gliding at Castle Bromwich aerodrome. Can anyone help me? I believe that an ATC unit was based there post-war, but when did it start, and when did it disband? Was the ATC the only gliding activity at CB, or was there any private gliding. Was there only winch launching or was aerotow used? Where were the gliders kept - presumably in one of the hangars? Does anyone have the names of any instructors or students? Any if you've got any photographs of gliding at CB......
Thanks, MT
Here we have an AVRO passenger 'flying machine'for 3 people. It's at the Castle Bromwich airfield. No date for this, but at a guess, maybe 1920s ? I've guessed 1920s as I've assumed there were no passenger flights until after WW1. Viv.
That appears to be an Avro 504K, which was the standard training aircraft for the most part of WW1. The aircraft carries RAF insignia, so I don't think it was a civilian machine. Hard to date the picture, could be 1920's, but I'd have said somewhat earlier. Standard 504Ks carried only the instructor plus pupil.
G
Thanks Big Gee. So 'passenger' in this sense meant other flying officers. There seem to be many hangers in the distance. One is open with possibly another aeroplane inside. If I remember correctly the RFC used this airfield (pre-RAF). Viv.