I have a great love for First World War Aviation, to me its bare bones flying, man and machine embodying the very essence of flying. Where better to see and experience life in the Royal Flying Corps than Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome.
Stow Maries started its duties in September 1916 where it was home to ‘B’ Flight of 37 Squadron charged with Home Defence for the London area. They would be at the forefront of defending Britain against Zeppelin and Gotha bomber attacks. The duty of which was made famous of course by Captain Leefe Robinson who was awarded the VC for his attack against a Zeppelin on the night of the 2nd September 1916.
The very first bombs dropped on London were in Stoke Newington on the 31st May 1915 by Zeppelin airships killing 7 people and injuring 35. The first day light attack came on 13th June 1917 from 20 Gotha bombers, they dropped over 100 bombs, killing 162 civilians including 18 infants earning them the nickname, ‘the baby killers’. During the First World War 556 people were killed and 1,357 injured from those great flying machines ‘lobbing death’. This was modern warfare and so a modern solution was required.
This is, for their part, where Stow Maries and 37 Squadron stepped up, they would be part of a network of home defence units across the south of England.
In late 1916 37 Squadron was commanded by Claude Alward Ridley, DSO, MC who famously in April 1916 had to put down his aircraft in occupied territory (flying with 60 Squadron) whilst dropping off a spy. He was captured, questioned but quickly managed to escape and return to England via Belgium. What gained him his DSO was his note taking of German forces, which he delivered to Intelligence on his return home. Sounds like something straight out of Blackadder that one.
Stow Maries had a dicey reputation, with 8 airmen dying in accidents and 2 shot down by the Royal Navy. One of those who died in an accident was Lieutenant Cyril Milburn, flying a B.E.2e (B4535), he ploughed it through a hedgerow. He is buried at the nearby Church of St Mary & St Margaret under his real name Edward Gerald Mucklow.
On 1st April 1918 the Royal Air Force was formed and 37 Squadron transitioned from the RFC and RAF, maintaining their Squadron identity. That was until the March of 1919 when the Royal Air Force decided to Close Stow Maries and return the land to its original owner, Flambirds Farm.
However, technically not in service, the airfield still served a purpose in the Second World War. Still looking like an airfield from the air, it was targeted by the Luftwaffe thinking it was operational and a Hurricane from 242 Squadron which landed there with battle damage in 1940. This Hurricane was P3715 LE-H flown by Pilot Officer (Later Air Marshal) Dennis Crowley-Milling.
Luckily for us the building were kept intact and in remarkably good condition. In fact it is purported to be the greatest surviving WW1 Aerodrome left anywhere in the world. There has been evidence that 47 buildings were on the site and that 24 of them have survived and have subsequently been granted Grade II listed status.
Onto the Photoshoot, and today we will be looking at an Avro 504K and a B.E.2e.
Avro 504K G-ABAA
Constructed in May 1930, this Avro 504K, was built by G & H aviation Ltd of Barnet Middlesex.
B.E 2e G-CJZO (A2767)
Replica built, this B.E.2e was constructed in Masterton, New Zealand in 2014 and handed over to The Vintage Aviator Limited with the serial ZK-TFZ. In April 2014 it was dismantled and shipped to the UK and the marking A2943 applied. In March 2017 it was re-designated G-CJZO.
S.E.5a (F235)
This is a scale flying replica constructed in 1983 with the designation G-BMDB.
On conclusion of the event and now having edited my work from the shoot, I can now convey that it was well worth the drive down. The hospitality of the staff and volunteers from Stow Maries was exceptional and the reenactors gave 110% and were very friendly and willing to listen to ideas for our shots. Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome truly is a jewel in the crown of British aviation history, so if you haven’t been I’d encourage you to give them a visit!
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