EPW041022 ENGLAND (1933). Thatcham, wing-walking at the National Aviation Day air display, 1933

Thanks for the location! We'll update the catalogue and post the new data here in due course.



Yours, Katy

Britain from Above Cataloguing Team Leader

Does anyone have a complete list of the 1933 venues for the National Aviation Days? I have yet to find one.

EUREKA Please allow me a feeling of elation as I have now identified the location of these three photos which are of Thatcham looking eastward from Thatcham Farm towards Thatcham Station presumably on 28th April 1933 when the National Aviation Day visited Newbury.

EPW041021, EPW041022 and EPW041023 are of the same location which is Thatcham Farm looking east towards Thatcham Station.

Alan Cobham's 'National Aviation Day' displays in the UK in April 1933. Two tours operated simultaneously in the summer in the UK.

14 April: 1 (day off), 2: Southend

15 April: 1 Dagenham, 2: Southend

16 April: 1 Woolwich, 2: Gravesend

17 April: 1 Woolwich, 2: Maidstone

18 April: 1 Hitchin, 2: Elstree

19 April: 1 Gatwick, 2: Luton

20 April: 1 Canterbury, 2: Hertford

21 April: 1 Tenterden, 2: Kings Langley

22 April: 1 Mertsham, 2: Clandon

23 April: 1 Mertsham, 2: Clandon

24 April: 1 Wallingford, 2: Alton

25 April: Slough, 2: Petersfield

26 April: Welwyn, 2: Reigate

27 April: Pangborne, 2: Chichester

28 April: Epsom, 2: Newbury

29 April: Warlingham, 2: Southampton

30 April: Warlingham, 2: Christchurch

These dates might help narrow down the location?

From http://www.webmaker.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Airspeed_Ferry_1.htm



"In 1933 the National Aviation Day programme was split into No 1 and No 2 Tours, with No 1 Tour beginning at Dagenham on April 15 and No 2 Tour starting at Southend on the previous day. For part of the season at least, G-ABSI flew with No 1 Tour and G-ABSJ flew with No 2 Tour. On April 20 No 2 Tour visited Hertford. It was a warm, wet day and I remember seeing the display formation flight over the town—my first view of the Airspeed Ferry. According to Cobham's list of towns visited in 1933, No 1 Tour was at Welwyn on April 26."

Planes flying: G-EBHE and G-EBGZ. Planes on ground: G-ACEZ and G-EBYH, plus three at bottom of frame with numbers not visible.

Most of the spectators are waving. Perhaps they were told the photograph was being taken for posterity? Was this one of the final events culminating in the Trafalgar Sq fly past?

visit http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1933/1933%20-%200724.html for more possible locations.

The last of Sir Alan Cobham's National Aviation Days in 1933 took place in Romford in October. Could this be Romford?

For a contemporary article on Sir Alan Cobham's events see http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1933/1933%20-%200752.html

This has the feel of somewhere in the Thames valley. I think that the fencing on the railway line is characteristic of the Great Western Railway.