Croydon Airport

Post World War 2 --- The Final Years

After taking over in 1944, RAF 'Transport Command' No 147 Squadron that were using 'C47 Dakota's' and 'Avro Anson's', finaly left on the 15th of September 1946 and 'RAF Croydon', transferred back to civilian use under it's new name of 'Croydon Airport'.

Post WW2 the operations at Croydon Airport were basically ... 1/. Short distance transportation by several small airlines mainly to France and the Channel Islands. 2/. The storage and flying of small privately owned light aircraft. 3/. The storage and conversion of ex-RAF aircraft for civilian use. 4/. The servicing of light and medium aircraft. 5/. Aircraft Flying Clubs and just paid joy riding flights 6/. Aircraft Flying Schools and training flights. 7/. The storage and assessment of crashed aircraft by the investigation section of the Dep't Of Civil Aviation. 8/. And many large and small businesses involved in the repair, development or construction of aviation related items eg instruments etc. Added notes to this list are .... The Evening News Newspaper Group operated their Bell helicopter from ' C ' Hanger. And in the last years before closure larger aircraft for example the DH Heron's, Percival Pembroke's, and some of the converted C47 Dakota's were operated from there short term byTransair and KLM.

(below) From 'Flight' magazine of April 1946

(below) A Royal Navy Avro 652 and crew with friends

(below) rare pictures at the airport in 1946

(below) Swissair C47 Dakota. 1947.

After only just over a year 'Croydon Airport' was again filled with aircraft of RAF 'Transport Command', during the 'Berlin Airlift from the 24th of June 1948 until the 12th of May 1949. Croydon became one of many airfields used by aircraft taking supplies to break the 'Berlin Blockade'. During the 'Allies' occupation of post WW II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control. The Soviets offered to drop the blockade if the Western Allies withdrew the newly introduced Deutsche mark from West Berlin. In response, the Western Allies organized the Berlin airlift to carry supplies to the people of West Berlin, a difficult feat given the city's population. Aircrews from the United States Air Force, the British Royal Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and the South African Air Force flew over 200,000 flights in one year, providing to the West Berliners up to 8,893 tons of necessities each day, such as fuel and food. The Soviets did not disrupt the airlift for fear this might lead to open conflict. By the spring of 1949, the airlift was clearly succeeding, and by April it was delivering more cargo than had previously been transported into the city by rail. On 12 May 1949, the Soviets lifted the blockade of West Berlin.

(above and below) C47 Dakota's of RAF 'Transport Command' coming in to land at Croydon during the 'Berlin Airlift'

'Dakotair'... C47 'Dakota's' of RAF 'Transport Command' during the 'Berlin Airlift'. The RAF group were nicknamed 'Dakotair' during the operation. (Top) picture of aircraft lined up on the grass. (Bottom) picture is of a 'Dakota' being fuelled-up by an RAF 'AEC Matador' tanker.

Local crash of a Dakota during the Berlin Airlift

(above) early 'Post War' ex-RAF conversions underway. Two 'C47 Dakota's', and possibly an 'Avro York'.

(below) Waddon railway station with 'Croydon Airport' named on it.

The (above) Picture c1950. not long after hand over to civil use. A posed lineup of from left to right (aircraft) 'Percival Proctor', 'DH Rapide', two 'Airspeed Consul's' and another 'DH Rapide'. The line-up of vehicles in front (except the Commer aircraft tractor/tug) are from 'Carrs Auto Services' of Tamworth Rd, Croydon. They were 'Standard-Triumph' agents owned by Frank.J.Carr.

(above) Arial view of the airport about 1954. Top right hand corner are the rows of ex RAF 'Tiger Moth's' bought by Jim Whittemore awaiting conversion. The three ex RAF C47 'Dakota's' lined up in front of 'B Hanger' complex are also awaiting conversion for civilian use. The 'Flight Path' marked with the two lines can be clearly seen to go to the South of the 'Aerodrome Hotel' and straight over the top of the 'Waterworks' on the other side of 'Purley Way'.

(above) A typical busy scene in the mid 50's. A 'Miles Aerovan' awaiting repairs. A group of ex RAF aircraft awaiting conversion for civilian use (two'Percival Proctor's, four 'DH Tiger Moth's and a 'DH Dominie). A 'Percival Proctor and a 'DH Rapide' already converted and civilian registered. An 'Auster Aiglet Trainer' from the flying school being prepared (middle right). And a group of 'C47 Dakota's' already converted for the new B.O.A.C. parked out on the grass and another being worked on among the hangers.

(above) 1954

(above) An ex RAF 'DH Chipmunk', on the tarmac in 1955.

(above) a typical tarmac scene mid 1950's.

(above) A Douglas C47 and a Miles Gemini. mid 1950's.

(above) Looking towards the Terminal from D Hanger about 1956. Left to Right. 'DH Dove', 'Percival Pembroke', 'Avro Anson', 'C47'.

(above) When there is not a scheduled commercial flight due, the tarmac area in front of the 'Terminal' is a busy place for light aircraft.

The 'Bread & Butter' so to speak, of post war Croydon Airport businesses both large and small, was the conversion of ex wartime RAF aircraft for civilian use, their repairs, alterations and fitting of radio and electronic equipment. A.J. (Jim) Whittemore for example bought over 200. The following group of pictures are of some of the examples either awaiting or completed.

(above) a 'DH Mosquito' awaiting preparation for the Canadian register. (below) A newly delivered ex RAF 'Airspeed Oxford'', awaits it's turn, while a 'Percival Pembroke' belonging to 'Sperry's' is left out in the cold because of hanger space shortage.

(above) a newly registered ex RAF 'Percival Proctor' sits in front of a hanger full and overflowing outside of aircraft awaiting their turn. (below) newly delivered 'Percival Provost' Trainers, awaiting their turn.

'DH Tiger Moth's', bought by Jim Whittemore and recently flown in from 'RAF Carlisle', with their wings removed for easy storage, awaiting conversion or sale.