Exeter Airport - Memories

The ever changing shape of Exeter Airport through the years from 1937 to 2024. From a basic grass airfield and the first landing on the 31 May 1937 to the present day in images and maps. All images are credited to the original copyright owners.

The development of Skypark phase two by Onyx is shown here taken today Saturday 3 August from outside of Hangar 52, Northside. The unit frames are up and no doubt access roads will be completed very soon.

https://airportindustry-news.com/uk-exeter-airport-to-trial-hydorgen-ground-support-equipment/

Good morning all. Some of the more observant of you will have noticed a change to the page title this morning. This has been aligned with the name of the corresponding website 'Exeter Airport - Memories'. It is still very much the page it was but no longer called Exeter Airport - Through The Years. It is just an alignment - nothing else. Thank you all for your continued support.

On This Day in History - 18 June 1940:

No. 213 Squadron Royal Air Force Motto was – 'Irritatus lacessit crabro' – 'The hornet attacks when roused' and they were based at RAF Exeter, Clyst Honiton, from the 18 June 1940, using the Hawker Hurricane MK1.

The squadron was reformed at RAF Northolt on 8 March 1937 and was equipped with the Gauntlet fighter squadron. In January 1938 the squadron began to convert to the Hurricane Mk1, completing the move by the start of March 1938. As with most Squadrons during the war years it was normal to only remain at an airfield for short periods of time, sometimes months, sometimes weeks, rarely years. In May 1938 the squadron moved to RAF Wittering, where it remained until May 1940.

In May 1940 a detachment from the squadron flew to France to reinforce the Air Component of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). The squadron also took part in the air operations over Dunkirk. When it was realised by the Prime Minister that France was falling to the German Forces a decision was made to return Allied Forces back to England ready to protect our Island.

213 Squadron was moved back to the South West and were the first Squadron to set up camp at RAF Exeter. At the time, the airfield was still in a transition from a Civilian Airport to a Military airfield in preparation for war. The initial quarters for the men was canvas tents until more permanent structures were built.

Commanding Officers at RAF Exeter.
S/Ldr. H. McGregor, DSO - 27 May 1940 - 25 August 1940
S/Ldr. D.S. MacDonald - 25 August 1940 - 14 November 1941
Squadron Code – ‘AK’

Images credited to original copyright owners.

Greatest Hits Radio kindly attended our exhibition at the Exeter Airport Terminal Building on Wednesday 5 June and interviewed Jerry Bird.

Jerry did a fantastic job and provided so much information in the short time he had. On behalf of both us we would like to thank Greatest Hits Radio for attending our event and for taking the time to capture this interview.

If you click on the link below and scroll down to Jason Clark/Exeter Airport section and press the play button, you can listen to the interview.

Greatest Hits Radio - The Good Times Sound Like This Listen live to your favourite music and presenters at Greatest Hits Radio. Keep up with the latest news and shows, enter competitions, and check out our playlists.

We will remember them this night and always 🙏

Very busy at Exeter today which is good to see 👍

On This Day in History – 31 May 1937:

Exeter Airfield initially opened on this day, however, prior to this date on the 10 May 1937, the first unofficial aircraft to land was a Leopard Moth of Air Dispatch Ltd and piloted by S W A Scott who had with him a copy of the film of the Coronation of George VI for the local cinemas.

The airport was opened to the first air traffic on this day in 1937 when the Mayor of Exeter, Alfred Anstey and civic leaders were given a flight over the city in a DH 86 Express G-ACZO aircraft (see photo). The new Aerodrome which had incurred an outlay of £35,000 was leased to Exeter Airport Ltd, one of the enterprises associated with Mr Whitney Straight, the American millionaire racing motorist, who however, had resided in Devon for twelve years, and flew from London to attend the small unofficial ceremony. The airport was far from complete with canvas tents used as the first terminal buildings.

The official and formal opening would not take place until the following year when the initial terminal building was completed. The ceremony and speeches by the Air Minister, Sir Kingsley Wood therefore took place on the 30 July 1938.

Provided below are the diagrams/maps of the original site for Exeter Aerodrome and a photo of the DH 86 Express G-ACZO aircraft.

All images are credited to original copyright owners.

https://exeter-airport.co.uk/d-day-role-highlighted-in-80th-anniversary-exhibition/

D-Day role highlighted in 80th anniversary exhibition - Exeter Airport Exeter Airport’s vital role in supporting the allied D-Day invasion of Europe 80 years ago is being highlighted in a two-day public exhibition at the airport. The D-Day 80th anniversary event is being hosted by Chris Wiseman and Jerry Bird on 5 and 6 June, from 11am to 7pm on both days in the airp...

Ahead of our display commemorating the events of 5/6 June 1944, from Station 463 USAAF (Exeter Airport), an online ‘Book of Remembrance’ form has been added to the top of D-Day webpage of the RAF Exeter website. This allows you to add your own messages in private (not published) which will be collated and passed onto the current 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) team in the US. Please rest assured that no personal data will be published or released. Just the messages of Remembrance will be collated and passed on as a mark of respect for those who paid the ultimate price in 1944.

The direct link to the webpage is https://rafexeter.co.uk/d-day-the-440th-troop-carrier-group

For those attending the event in the terminal building of Exeter Airport on 5 or 6 June, a book of remembrance will also be available for you to add your own messages.

Poppy crosses will be placed by the USAAF plaque situated at the base of the Bronze Memorial statue at the entrance to the airport during this event.

Lest We Forget.

D-Day & the 440th Troop Carrier Group

https://exeter-airport.co.uk/exeter-airport-80th-anniversary-of-d-day/

80th Anniversary of D-Day - Exeter Airport Join us and say hello to Chris Wiseman and Jerry Bird who will be hosting our D-Day 80th Anniversary event at Exeter Airport, 5 & 6 June, 11am – 7pm. Visit our display of photos, presentations, memorabilia and stories of D-Day at RAF Exeter. Event parking – Park in Car Park 4 – £2 per [...]

Let the season begin ✈️

Following feedback from those of you working, please note the times of this event have now been changed to 11:00 - 19:00. Hopefully those who could not attend before will be able to now :-)

The very first unofficial landing took place on the proposed site of Exeter Aerodrome on this day, 10 May 1937. Pilot S.W.A Scott of Air Dispatch Ltd flying a Leopard Moth brought films of the Coronation of HM King George VI for showing in the cinemas of Exeter. The aerodrome would not open until the 31 May 1937, so this was a very unique event.

Back in the day - 1997:

The Knock style reconstruction of a police arrest of drug smugglers at Branscombe airfield. This photo demonstrates a drop of drugs from a Cessna to a waiting car. Picture courtesy of the Express & Echo, 21 May 1997.

Back in the day - 1996:

Two more press photos from John Ffoulkes for a story in the Express & Echo newspaper. Taken on an icy day, 24 December 1996, Air Malta flight A320 on stand.

Back in the day - 1990:

The Express & Echo newspaper titled this report as 'Little and Large'. The write up was as follows,
'A massive Tristar jet arrived at Exeter Airport today on its inaugural flight to Canada dwarfing the little private aircraft. The 345 seat plane is the first ever wide bodied jet to use the airport regularly. The mighty aircraft was due to pick up 200 passengers, on its way to Toronto, via Manchester, on the first of a 24-week service throughout the season. The inaugural flight of the Canadian charter airline Worldways jet was celebrated by about 70 South-West travel agents'.

The photo is dated 24 May 1990 and was taken by John Ffoulkes.

More scanned images from back in the day circa 1970s. These were only captured using an instamatic camera hence poor quality and they are only small images also. That said, it is the memories they create that's important.

Another weather related photo this time a great image of the delayed Florida flight at 10:50 on 5 June 1997, about to be marshalled onto stand on a grey wet day.

Photo from the Express & Echo newspaper credited to Derek Meredith

Just having a sort out of old photo albums on this rainy grey low visibility Sunday and found this. It was taken by the Express & Echo photographer on a similar day to today.

The caption on the reverse of this print reads, The Red Arrows at Exeter Airport unable to leave because of thick fog, dated, 16 August 1996.

Photo credited to Scott Drew.

Spaciotempo is the company who provided the triangular structure from 25m to 15m in width – 975sqm used as a loading canopy for a postal service provider at the airport. Part of a major logistics operation handling inbound and outbound post every weekday evening this bespoke triangular structure has perforated steel clad walling.

More information can be found on the Spaciotempo website here https://www.spaciotempo.co.uk/case-study/exeter-airport/

Photos credited to original copyright owners.

That's it! The final Exeter Air Day to be held. There were a number of smaller anniversary events including one held by the Hunter Flying Group in the 90's and Concorde made more visits. But the Exeter Air Days as we knew them were over. Several reasons were given including the increase in commercial airline traffic was making it difficult to slot in an Air Display event. Also, Devon County Highways were concerned about the amount of extra traffic generated by these popular public events and so the plug was pulled.

Great days and a lot of aviation heritage over the years, never to return :-(