Hursley Aerodrome

Evidence of the existence in Hursley Park of part of the Worthy Down Royal Flying Corps has come from research at Worthy Down. From these limited references it seems that the Hursley Park section was a satellite aerodrome of Worthy Down, probably set on the high ground above the hamlet of Pitt, on the Winchester side of the Park. It seems that advantage was taken of the entertainment hall at the Park House for lecturing purposes, and the Park for airfield and observation tuition. It is unlikely that the flat meadows south and west of the Southampton Lodge would have been used as an aerodrome, being too close to the House. There is a grave in Hursley churchyard of two members of the Royal Australian Flying Corps, who both died on 12 May 1918, in what could have been a local flying accident. Was there an Australian Squadron here?

Three of the vehicles serving the Hursley supply depot. Photo: S Thorne.

On 1 April 1918, the Royal Air Force came into being, and inherited nearly two hundred and fifty airfields and landing sites throughout the United Kingdom from the old Royal Flying Corps. By 1924 this number had been drastically reduced to just twenty-seven, and Hursley Park Aerodrome was one of many to be relegated to history and obscurity, leaving no evidence of its existence except some references to the Royal Flying Corps at Hursley in various record offices. There is always the hope that a photograph will surface some day.