Neil's Nostalgia
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Very early Prestwick Airport images - when it was known as "The Meadows" Monkton.
© James B. Aird |
These early images were taken by James B. Aird, (1910 - 1973) my Dad, when he was 24, with his box Brownie camera in 1934 - 1938. He grew up in Prestwick and lived on Saunterne Avenue. Schooled at Ayr Academy. He was mostly interested in railways, and was very active in several Societies in UK and US. His archives are in the Mitchell Library, Glasgow. His only connection with aviation was during WWII when he worked on Short Sunderland flying boats being constructed at the Blackburn Aircraft Works, Dumbarton. He served in the Home Guard as well during that period.
He spoke on occasion on BBC radio and wrote many articles on locomotives/railways, as he was a "Locomotive Engineer", meaning that he inspected steam engines when they were newly made. In 1949 he worked in Chester, Pennsylvania, inspecting Steam Locomotives ordered by the Indian Government from the Baldwin Locomotive Works. My mother and I joined him there, travelling to the United States on the Cunard - White Star Line's R.M.S Queen Mary. My Dad had travelled three months earlier leaving from Southampton on the R.M.S Queen Elizabeth. |
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G-ADWA de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth (3444) with four others at Monkton. Circa 1934.
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G-ADBF Miles M.3A Falcon (131) freshly minted. Regd 09 January 1935 and sold to Italy that year as I-ZENA. Photo: circa early 1935
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Prestwick's first airport 1934. Converted Reo bus belonging to the Midland Scottish Air Ferries at the "Meadow", Monkton. Ground Engineer in the door-way.
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G-ACDN deHavilland DH.84 Dragon (6018) of Midland & Scottish Air Ferries Ltd. Regd 29 May 1933. My Dad wrote on back of photograph; "De Havilland twin engined bi-plane at the "Meadow", Monkton 1934. The first plane sent down was damaged by cattle". |
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A flurry of activity as three Hawker Demon aircraft of the RAF arrive back at base.
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Royal Air Force Hawker Demon K4543 parked on the north side of the current Prestwick Airport, just south of the village of at Monkton, with many others.
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I received this informative e-mail on January 20th, 2010 from my pal Tom Macfadyen, now resident in Spain. many thanks Tom!
>>>>>>>> snip The Meadows was the name given to the field on the east side of the railway line between Monkton railway station and Station Road, Monkton. Cheers Tom Macfadyen |