Yet Another Mystery Airfield

Oakley was certainly used by BL for storage so it could be there; on the other hand I believe BL had a factory on Ansty (Coventry) so how about there?

BL never had a factory at Ansty but the sole runway was certainly used to store vehicles -If my memory is correct Chrysler(Ex Rootes Group) stored Avenger and Horizon cars there.The control tower at Ansty was in one end of what became a machine shop -It did not stand alone.The pre-war Watch Office was located in what became the RR training department,now sadly demolished.

RS8V wrote:

BMC, including the Abingdon Competitions Department, used Finmere fairly regularly.

From memory Finmere had a three storey tower...

RS8V wrote:

BMC, including the Abingdon Competitions Department, used Finmere fairly regularly.

I drove past Finmere several times in that time period and the runway was never as bad as that; it was weed free and well kept; that surface is defiitely more like Oakley.
The owner allows anyone to land at Finmere; I understand there is a book in which you can book in when unattended.(but watch out for the sunday market.)

This photo has just appeared on the Air Britain forum with very few clues except for the hangar itself and that the Auster had several owners in and around the Manchester area . Thoughts ?

I note that it is tagged as BArton but presume it is not, hence the Air Britain query?

PETERTHEEATER wrote:

I note that it is tagged as Barton but presume it is not, hence the Air Britain query?

Yes Peter , initial thoughts were Barton because of the Auster ownership and a bit of sleuthing on the CAA website reveals that the Auster V Series J1 was registered in 1946 and it's record card gives the 'Usual Station' as ;
1946 Rearsby
1946 - 48 Sherburn
1948 - 52 Yeadon
1952 - 53 no location but owner in Cheadle Hulme
1953 - 55 owner in Levenshulme
1955 - 58 owned by Basil de Ferranti of Ferranti Ltd , Moston
1958 - 60 owned by the Trustees of the Assets of Ringway Aero Club
1960 - 61 owner in Manchester

The Gemini appeared to move from the Manchester area in 1949 first to Jersey and then Essex , Stapleford , in 1952 and then to Eric Thurston in 1956 before being destroyed on the 18 March 1959 . I recognised the name Eric Thurston and a quick search reveals ; www.thurstonengineering.co.uk/company-history.php .

David wrote:

This photo has just appeared on the Air Britain forum with very few clues except for the hangar itself and that the Auster had several owners in and around the Manchester area . Thoughts ?

I am not sure why but I thought Sherbern-in-Elmet when I first saw the pic, could well be wrong - usually am LOL

Has the hangar been identified by type? Looks like an A1 or B1.

Ringway had an A1-1

The hangar resembles the Philips and Powis 'Aero Garage' hangar at Woodley.
www.ukairfieldguide.net/airfields/Woodley