Croydon Airport

File:Aa oldcroydonairport.jpg

In December 1915, Beddington Aerodrome was established – one of a number of small airfields around London that were created for protection against Zeppelin airship raids during the First World War. In January 1916, the first two aircraft, B.E.2Cs, arrived at the aerodrome as part of Home Defence. Waddon Aerodrome opened in 1918 as part of the adjoining National Aircraft Factory No. 1, to serve aircraft test flights. The two airfields were on each side of Plough Lane, Beddington to the west and Waddon to the east.

Beddington Aerodrome became a large Reserve Aircraft and Training aerodrome for the Royal Flying Corps. After the end of the First World War the aerodrome became an important training airfield for the newly formed Royal Air Force. During 1919, Prince Albert (later George VI) gained his "wings" here with No. 29 Training Squadron, the first member of the royal family to learn to fly. His elder brother, the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII), also received flying training with No. 29 Training Squadron at Beddington during 1919.{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1919/1919%20-%200473.html?search=Prince%20Albert|title=prince {{!}} prince albert {{!}} rome {{!}} 1919 {{!}} 0473 {{!}} Flight Archive|website=Flightglobal.com|access-date=27 December 2017}}

The following units were also here at some point:{{cite web|url=https://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/croydon-beddington-london-waddon/ |title=Croydon (Beddington) (London) (Waddon) |publisher=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust|access-date=11 April 2022}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=50em|

• No. 17 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron
• No. 17 Reserve Squadron
• No. 17 Training Squadron
• No. 19 Reserve Squadron
• 24th Aero Squadron
• No. 40 Training Squadron
• No. 65 Reserve Squadron

}}

Beddington and Waddon aerodromes were combined to become Croydon Aerodrome, the gateway for all international flights to and from London. The new, single aerodrome opened on 29 March 1920, replacing the temporary civil aerodrome at a Cavalry ground on Hounslow Heath.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/news/Fly-past-mark-50th-anniversary-Croydon-Airport/article-1308837-detail/article.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505143351/http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/news/Fly-past-mark-50th-anniversary-Croydon-Airport/article-1308837-detail/article.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2013|title=Fly past to mark 50th anniversary of Croydon Airport|last=Millard|first=Neil|date=3 September 2009|work=The Croydon Post (online and in print)|publisher=Northcliffe Media|access-date=14 September 2009}} Plough Lane remained a public road crossing the site. Road traffic was halted when necessary, first by a man with a red flag and later by a gate.{{cite web|url=http://www.croydononline.org/history/places/airports.asp|title=Online communities|date=22 January 2016|access-date=9 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131012117/http://www.croydononline.org/history/places/airports.asp|archive-date=31 January 2012|url-status=dead}} The aerodrome stimulated a growth in regular scheduled flights carrying passengers, mail and freight, the first destinations being Paris, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Two flights daily from Paris were scheduled for ease of communication with London during the Paris Peace Conference. In 1923, flights to Berlin Tempelhof Airport began.

Penshurst Airfield was an alternative destination for airliners when Croydon was closed on account of fog. One such diversion was on 24 September 1921, when a de Havilland DH.18 aircraft was diverted to Penshurst.{{cite magazine|title=London Terminal Aerodrome |magazine=Flight |issue=29 September 1921 |page=649 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1921/1921%20-%200649.html}} This situation lasted until Penshurst closed on 28 July 1936.{{cite magazine|title=Penshurst Closed |magazine=Flight |issue=30 July 1936 |page=141 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1936/1936%20-%202116.html?search=penshurst}}

Croydon was the first airport in the world to introduce air traffic control, a control tower,{{cite web|url=http://croydonairport.org.uk/The-Airport/The-History|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909054148/http://croydonairport.org.uk/The-Airport/The-History|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 September 2017|title=Historic Croydon Airport|first=Tavis|last=Basing|website=Croydonairport.org.uk|access-date=3 February 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1920/1920%20-%201100.html?search=control%20tower |title=Air conference at Waddon: the Vickers "Viking III" Amphibian |website=Flightglobal.com|access-date=3 February 2018}} and radio position-fixing procedures.{{cite web |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1922/1922%20-%200299.html?search=wireless%20position%20findingr |title=Wireless position-finding for aircraft |website=Flightglobal.com|access-date=3 February 2018}} The "aerodrome control tower", {{cvt|15|ft}} high with windows on all four sides, was commissioned on 25 February 1920 and provided basic traffic, weather and location information to pilots.{{cite news |last1=Kaminski-Morrow |first1=David |title=Colourised images mark centenary of world's first control tower |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/colourised-images-mark-centenary-of-worlds-first-control-tower/136903.article |work=Flight Global |date=25 February 2020 |language=en}} There, Jimmy Jeffs was its first air traffic control officer.{{cite book |last1=Hales-Dutton |first1=Bruce |title=Cross-Channel Aviation Pioneers: Blanchard and Bleriot, Vikings and Viscounts |date=2020 |publisher=Pen and Sword |location=Yorkshire |isbn=978-1-52677-559-7 |page=97 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S90SEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA97 |language=en |chapter=8. On silver wings}}

On the formation of Britain's first national airline, Imperial Airways, on 31 March 1924, Croydon became the new airline's operating base. Imperial Airways was the British Government's chosen instrument to develop connections with the U.K.'s extensive overseas interests. It was therefore from Croydon that Britain first developed its European and longhaul routes to India, Africa, the Middle and Far East, Asia, Africa and Australia (in conjunction with Qantas).

Following the Imperial Airways de Havilland DH.34 crash of December 1924, Britain's first major civil aviation accident, conditions at Croydon came under criticism from the public inquiry that investigated the causes.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Croydon Air Accident. Court of Enquiry's Report |date=11 February 1925 |page=17 |issue=43883 |column=A, B, C, D}} The inquiry was Britain's first into an aviation accident which led to an Act of Parliament, the Croydon Aerodrome Extension Act 1925. The Croydon Aerodrome Extension Act led to large scale expansion, redevelopment and construction of an improved new airport with airport buildings constructed adjacent to the Purley Way, Croydon.{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1927/1927%20-%200943.html|title=The Royal Aero Club and Christmas|website=Flightglobal.com|access-date=3 February 2018}}

File:Croydon Airport aerial view.jpg

File:Jewish refugees at Croydon airport 1939.jpg

Under the provisions of the Croydon Aerodrome Extension Act 1925, the airport was greatly enlarged between 1926 and 1928, with a new complex of buildings being constructed alongside Purley Way, including the first purpose-designed airport terminal and air traffic control tower, the world's first airport hotel, and extensive hangars. The development cost £267,000 (£{{Formatprice|{{inflation|UK|267000|1928}}}} in today's prices) {{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}. Plough Lane was closed permanently to let heavier airliners land and depart safely. The airport's terminal building and control tower were completed in 1928, and the old wooden air traffic control and customs building demolished.{{cite web|url=http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Croydon.htm|title=Croydon Airport & RAF Croydon Airfield|work=controltowers.co.uk}} The new buildings and layout began operations on 20 January 1928, and were officially opened on 2 May 1928 by Lady Maud Hoare.

Croydon was where regular international passenger services began, initially using converted wartime bombers, and the Croydon–Le Bourget route soon became the busiest in the world. Air traffic control was first developed here, as was the "Mayday" distress call. Amy Johnson took off from Croydon on 5 May 1930 for her record-breaking flight to Australia. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh arrived in Spirit of St. Louis, to be greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of over 100,000 people. Winston Churchill also took flying lessons.

On the morning of 11 July 1936, Major Hugh Pollard, and Cecil Bebb left Croydon Airport for the Canary Islands in a de Havilland Dragon Rapide aircraft, where they picked up General Francisco Franco, taking him to Spanish Morocco and thereby helping to trigger the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.{{cite web|url=http://randompottins.blogspot.com/2006_09_01_archive.html|title=RandomPottins|work=randompottins.blogspot.com}}

Imperial Airways used the Handley Page HP42/HP45 four-engined biplanes from Croydon, and the Armstrong Whitworth Atalanta, which was the first monoplane airliner used by the airline, intended for use on the African routes. In March 1937 British Airways Ltd operated from Croydon, moving to Heston Aerodrome in May 1938. Imperial Airways, serving routes in the British Empire, and British Airways Ltd, serving European routes, were merged by the Chamberlain government in November 1938 to become British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). Larger four-engined monoplanes, Armstrong Whitworth Ensign series (G-ADSR) came into service that year.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

The airport also hosted a much-publicised visit by Gertrud Scholtz-Klink, leader of the National Socialist Women's League (NS-Frauenschaft) and rumoured to be a spy; historians have speculated that she landed in Britain to cultivate German spies living here, in the run-up to WWII.{{Cite news|url=http://www.historyextra.com/article/premium/when-hitlers-perfect-woman-came-call|title=When Hitler's perfect woman came to call|newspaper=History Extra|access-date=9 December 2016}}

When the Second World War started in September 1939, Croydon Airport was closed to civil aviation but played a vital role as a fighter station during the Battle of Britain. No. 92 Squadron flew Supermarine Spitfires from RAF Croydon during the early part of the Second World War and the Battle of Britain.{{cite web|url=http://cambridgemilitaryhistory.com/2015/05/13/mk1-supermarine-spitfire-to-be-sold-to-benefit-raf-veterans-and-wildlife-charity/|title=MK1 Supermarine Spitfire to be sold to benefit RAF Veterans and Wildlife Charity|work=Cambridge Military History|date=13 May 2015}}

The following units were here at some point:

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

• No. 1 Squadron RAF
• No. 1 Squadron RCAF
• No. 2 Squadron RAF
• No. 3 Squadron RAF
• No. 10 Squadron RAF
• No. 17 Squadron RAF
• No. 22 Squadron RAF
• No. 32 Squadron RAF
• No. 39 Squadron RAF
• No. 41 Squadron RAF
• No. 72 Squadron RAF
• No. 83 Squadron RAF
• No. 84 Squadron RAF
• No. 85 Squadron RAF
• No. 92 Squadron RAF
• No. 93 Squadron RAF
• No. 111 Squadron RAF
• No. 116 Squadron RAF
• No. 145 Squadron RAF
• No. 147 Squadron RAF
• No. 167 Squadron RAF
• No. 207 Squadron RAF
• No. 271 Squadron RAF
• No. 285 Squadron RAF
• No. 287 Squadron RAF
• No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron
• No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron
• No. 414 Squadron RCAF
• No. 435 Squadron RCAF
• No. 437 Squadron RCAF
• No. 501 Squadron RAF
• No. 605 Squadron RAF
• No. 607 Squadron RAF
• No. 615 Squadron RAF

}}

;Units:

{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|

• No. 1 Aircraft Delivery Flight RAF (January 1942 - July 1944){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=47}}
• No. 110 (Transport) Wing RAF (July 1944 - February 1946){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=321}}
• No. 143 Gliding School RAF (May 1945 - December 1946){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=166}}
• No. 405 Aircraft Repair Flight
• No. 405 Repair & Salvage Unit
• No. 409 Repair & Salvage Unit
• No. 3202 Servicing Commando
• No. 4007 Anti-Aircraft Flight RAF Regiment

}}

On 15 August 1940, Croydon Airport was attacked in the first major air raid on the London area. At around 6.20 pm 22 Messerschmitt Bf 110 and Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter-bombers of Erpr.Gr.210 mounted a final raid of the day, intended for RAF Kenley nearby, but attacked Croydon (four miles further north) in error. The armoury was destroyed, the civilian airport terminal building was badly damaged, and a hangar was damaged by cannon fire and blast. Another hangar and about forty training aircraft in it went up in flames. Six airfield personnel died (four airmen from No. 111 Squadron, an officer of No. 1 Squadron RCAF, and a female telephonist from Station HQ). Factories next to Croydon Airport took the worst of the bombing. The British NSF factory (making electrical components) was almost entirely destroyed, and the Bourjois perfume factory gutted. The Rollason Aircraft factory also received bomb hits and accounted for many of the 62 civilians (including five women) killed and 192 injured. Eight of the attacking aircraft were shot down by the Hurricanes of 32 and 111 Squadrons.Ramsey, "After the Battle"{{clarify|date=September 2022}}{{Better source needed|reason=Citation is to After the Battle magazine but no issue number so impossible to verify (there are 195 issues)|date=September 2022}}

File:Croydon Airport 1945.png

Following the end of the war, it was realised that post-war airliners and cargo aircraft would be larger and that air traffic would intensify. The urban spread of south London and the growth of surrounding villages had enclosed Croydon Airport and left it little room for expansion. Heathrow was therefore designated as London's airport.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

Croydon returned to civil control in February 1946; a diagram in the issue of Flight magazine dated 11 April shows {{convert|1250|yd|m}} ground run in the 170–350 direction, {{convert|1150|yd|m}} 060-240 and {{convert|1100|yd|m}} 120–300 (the numbers are degrees clockwise from north). Northolt opened to the airlines soon after that, cutting Croydon's traffic, but the September 1946 ABC Guide shows 218 departures a week to Belfast, Dublin, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow (Renfrew), Jersey, Guernsey, and several continental airports. A year later there were 56 departures a week, mostly BEA de Havilland Dragon Rapides that weeks later left Croydon for good.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

It was decided in 1952 that the airport would eventually be closed, as Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire and Northolt Aerodrome in Middlesex could accommodate European flights during the 1950s. The last scheduled flight from Croydon departed at 18:15 on 30 September 1959, followed by the last aircraft (a private flight), at 19:45; the airfield officially closed at 22:20.{{cite news|title=Airport milestone marked by flypast|last=Austen|first=Ian|date=7 October 2009|work=The Croydon Post|publisher=Northcliffe Media|location=Croydon, UK}}

On 27 September 2009, to mark the 50th anniversary of the closing of the airport, eleven light aircraft, including eight biplanes, staged a flypast. A gold laurel leaf tribute was laid in the control tower to mark the anniversary.

File:Airport House at the old Croydon Aerodrome - geograph.org.uk - 1571720.jpg outside Airport House]]

File:R.A.F. Memorial, Croydon Airport - geograph.org.uk - 1208193.jpg

Much of the site has been built over, but some of the terminal buildings near Purley Way (the A23 road) are still visible, clearly identifiable as to their former purpose. The former terminal building is called Airport House, and the former control tower houses a visitors' centre.

A de Havilland Heron (a small propeller-driven British airliner of the 1950s) is displayed on the forecourt outside Airport House, mounted on struts. The Heron is painted to represent an example registered G-AOXL of Morton Air Services, the aircraft that flew the last passenger flight from Croydon on 30 September 1959. A memorial to those lost in the Battle of Britain stands slightly to the south.

Although Croydon has long ceased operation, the two cut ends of Plough Lane have never been reunited, but the area between has been developed instead into parkland, playing fields, and the Roundshaw residential estate with its roads aptly named after aviators and aircraft. All that remains of the runways is a small area of tarmac about {{convert|400|ft|m}} long each way in Roundshaw Park just west of Purley Way, which is a remnant of the WNW-ESE runway due south of the control buildings; it can be seen at {{coord|51.351067|N|0.117449|W|type:landmark}}; the "arm" may be a remnant of a taxiway to Hangar B.{{cite web|url=http://myunclefred.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/thursday-15th-august-1940.html|title=Thursday 15th August 1940 – Battle of Britain|publisher=War and peace and the price of cat-fish|date=22 August 2010|access-date=10 May 2012|archive-date=16 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116144900/http://myunclefred.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/thursday-15th-august-1940.html|url-status=dead}} The area is used primarily by walkers, model aircraft enthusiasts, locals playing football and the Croydon Pirates baseball team.

The church on the Roundshaw estate has a cross on its outside wall that was made from the cut down propeller of a Spitfire based at Croydon during the Second World War.

The area is still known as Croydon Airport for transport purposes and was the location for Croydon Water Palace.

When two local schools, Waddon Infants School and Duppas Junior School, merged in September 2010, they were renamed The Aerodrome School, in recognition of the airport's historical significance.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/news/Work-begins-new-primary-school-Waddon/article-1234258-detail/article.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912090420/http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/news/Work-begins-new-primary-school-Waddon/article-1234258-detail/article.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 September 2012|title=Work begins on new primary school in Waddon|last=Charlton|first=Jo|date=7 August 2009|work=The Croydon Advertiser|publisher=Northcliffe Media|access-date=8 October 2009|location=Croydon, UK}}{{cite web|url=http://www.croydon.gov.uk/democracy/councilnews/874261|title=Schools amalgamation means lift off for Aerodrome School|date=6 August 2009|publisher=London Borough of Croydon|access-date=8 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605123243/http://www.croydon.gov.uk/democracy/councilnews/874261|archive-date=5 June 2011}}

The Aerodrome Hotel and the terminal building including its grand booking hall were built in the neo-classical geometrical design typical of the early 20th century. A further item that would have caught the eye of visitor and traveller alike was the time zone tower (now lost) in the booking hall with its dials depicting the times in different parts of the world. Croydon Airport's Aerodrome Hotel is part of Croydon Vision 2020 regeneration plan.

File:Croydon Airport Booking Hall, world with wings.jpg

The Airport Hotel survives as the independent Hallmark Hotel.{{cite web|url=http://www.londonnethotels.co.uk/Aerodrome_Hotel_Croydon.htm|title=Hallmark Hotel Croydon, Croydon, Near Gatwick|work=londonnethotels.co.uk|access-date=6 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419235938/http://www.londonnethotels.co.uk/Aerodrome_Hotel_Croydon.htm|archive-date=19 April 2012|url-status=dead}}

• On 15 March 1923, Farman F.60 Goliath F-AEIE of Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes overran the runway on landing and collided with a building. The aircraft was later repaired and returned to service.{{cite web|url=http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/f-aaaa.pdf |title=French pre-war register version 120211 |publisher=Air Britain |access-date=8 March 2011}}
• On 22 January 1924, Goliath F-GEAO of Air Union was destroyed by fire following an accident when landing.
• On 24 December 1924 (1924 Imperial Airways de Havilland DH.34 crash), Imperial Airways de Havilland DH.34 G-EBBX crashed and caught fire shortly after takeoff from Croydon, killing the pilot and all seven passengers.{{cite magazine|title=Air Disaster at Croydon |magazine=Flight |issue=1 January 1925 |page=4 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1925/1925%20-%200004.html}}
• On 6 November 1929, the Deutsche Lufthansa Junkers G 24bi Oberschlesien (registration D-903) crashed after striking trees on a hill in Marden Park, Surrey, while attempting to return to Croydon in thick fog after taking off for a flight to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Three of the four crew members and four of the five passengers died.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19291106-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Junkers G.24bi D-903 Godstone, Surrey|author=Harro Ranter|date=6 November 1929|work=aviation-safety.net}}
• On 19 May 1934, a Wibault 280 of Air France crash-landed on a cricket pitch adjacent to Croydon Airport as a result of running out of fuel. Only one of the ten people on board was injured.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Mishap to French Air Liner |date=21 May 1934 |page=7 |issue=46759 |column=F}}
• On 31 May 1934 an Air France aircraft carrying newspapers to Paris crashed after hitting the mast of an aircraft radio navigation beacon that had been erected off the end of the white-line takeoff path, killing the two crew.
• On 6 March 1935, in the Croydon Airport robbery, £21,000 worth of gold bullion was stolen. Three men were charged, only one was sentenced. The gold was never found.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/4075336.secrets-of-gold-bullion-heist-revealed/|title=Secrets of gold bullion heist revealed|last=Whalley|first=Kirsty|date=26 January 2009|website=Your Local Guardian|language=en|access-date=26 March 2019}}
• On 9 December 1936 (1936 KLM Croydon accident), a KLM Douglas DC-2 crashed on takeoff at Croydon Airport on a flight to Amsterdam. The accident killed 15 out of 17 on the DC-2,{{cite web |url=http://www.reachinformation.com/define/1936_KLM_Croydon_accident.aspx |title=Informasi Teknologi Terbaru 2018 |access-date=16 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715161231/http://www.reachinformation.com/define/1936_KLM_Croydon_accident.aspx |archive-date=15 July 2011 }} including Juan de la Cierva and Arvid Lindman.
• On 25 January 1947 (1947 Croydon Dakota accident), a Spencer Airways Douglas Dakota failed to get airborne on a flight to Rhodesia. The aircraft struck another parked and empty aircraft, killing 11 passengers and the pilot.{{ASN accident|id=19470125-3}}

The Chief Immigration Officer of the shipping port of Port of Dover, P. L. Hartley, took over in 1936.{{Cite news|title=Dover Express|date=25 December 1936}}

A medical officer, Dr John Robert Draper, M.B., B.Ch., was employed by Croydon Council to take over medical duties at the airport from 1 January 1931. He was answerable to Croydon's Medical Officer of Health. Following the Public Health (Aircraft) Regulations 1938, his role changed significantly.{{Cite journal |first=John Robert |last=Draper |date=7 January 1939 |title=Medical Supervision at Croydon Aerodrome |journal=British Medical Journal |volume=1 |issue=4070 |pages=S1–S3 |jstor=20302025 |doi=10.1136/bmj.1.4070.S1 |s2cid=219995166}}

Croydon Airport features heavily in two detective novels, Freeman Wills Crofts' The 12.30 from Croydon (1934) and Agatha Christie's Death in the Clouds (1935).{{cite book |first1=Vanessa |last1=Wagstaff |first2=Stephen |last2=Poole |title=Agatha Christie: a reader's companion |date=2004 |publisher=Aurum Press |location=London |isbn=978-1845130152 |edition=2nd |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/agathachristiere00wags }} It is also mentioned in Evelyn Waugh's Labels: A Mediterranean Journey (1930), Elizabeth Bowen's To the North (1932) and Winston Churchill's Thoughts and Adventures (1932).

W. H. Auden, in his Letter to Lord Byron (1937), lists "Croydon Aerodrome" as one of the locations visited by a modern-day Don Juan.{{cite book |last1=Auden |first1=W H |title=Collected longer poems |date=1968 |publisher=Faber |isbn=978-0571106059 |page=[https://archive.org/details/collectedlongerp0000aude_m8g9/page/35 35] |url=https://archive.org/details/collectedlongerp0000aude_m8g9/page/35 }}

"I see his face in every magazine.

'Don Juan at lunch with one of Cochran's ladies.'

'Don Juan with his red setter May MacQueen.'

'Don Juan, who's just been wintering in Cadiz,

Caught at the wheel of his maroon Mercedes.'

'Don Juan at Croydon Aerodrome.' 'Don Juan

Snapped in the paddock with the Aga Khan.'"

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last1=Bluffield|first1=Robert|title=Imperial Airways: The Birth of the British Airline Industry 1914–1940|date=2009|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|isbn=978-1-906537-07-4}}
• {{cite book |first1=Douglas |last1=Cluett |first2=Joanna |last2=Nash |first3=Bob |last3=Learmonth |year=1980 |title=Croydon Airport: The Great Days 1928–1939 |publisher=London Borough of Sutton Libraries and Arts Services |place=Sutton |isbn=978-0-9503224-8-3 }}
• {{cite book |first1=Douglas |last1=Cluett |first2=Joanna |last2=Bogle (Nash) |first3=Bob |last3=Learmonth |year=1984 |title=Croydon Airport and The Battle for Britain 1939–1940 |publisher=London Borough of Sutton Libraries and Arts Services |place=Sutton |isbn=978-0-907335-11-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/croydonairportba0000clue }}
• {{cite book |first=Charles C. |last=Dickson |year=1983 |title=Croydon Airport Remembered |publisher=London Borough of Sutton Libraries and Arts Services |place=Sutton |isbn=978-0-907335-12-2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/croydonairportre0000dick }}
• {{cite book |last1=Gillies |first1=Midge |title=Amy Johnson: Queen of the Air |date=2003|publisher=Weidenfeld and Nicolson |isbn=978-0-75381-770-4}}
• {{cite book |last1=Gordon|first1=Alistair|title=Naked Airport: A Cultural History of the World's Most Revolutionary Structure |date=2004 |publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-30456-4}}
• {{cite book |first1=Bob |last1=Learmonth |first2=Joanna |last2=Nash |first3=Douglas |last3=Cluett |year=1977 |title=The First Croydon Airport 1915–1928 |publisher=London Borough of Sutton Libraries and Arts Services |place=Sutton |isbn=978-0-9503224-3-8 }}
• {{cite web |last1=Noble |first1=Will |title=This airport was once the gateway to Europe. Now no one’s heard of it |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/croydon-airport-london-aerodrome-gateway/index.html |website=CNN Travel |access-date=12 September 2024 |language=en |date=4 September 2024}}
• {{cite book |last1=Stroud|first1=John|title=Railway Air Services|date=1987|publisher=Ian Allan |isbn=978-0-7110-1743-6}}
• {{cite book |last1=Sturtivant|first1=R.|last2=Hamlin|first2=J.|last3=Halley|first3=J.|title=Royal Air Force flying training and support units |year=1997 |publisher= Air-Britain (Historians)|location= UK|isbn=0-85130-252-1}}

{{refend}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.historiccroydonairport.org.uk/ Historic Croydon Airport Trust website]
• [http://www.ponies.me.uk/maps/osmap.html?z=13&x=-0.0734710693359375&y=51.351200630655974 Old Ordnance Survey map of the area as in the 1920s]: see the word "Aerodrome" between the two roads going north-northwest from Purley; the westerly of those two roads is Plough Lane.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120131012117/http://www.croydononline.org/history/places/airports.asp History of Croydon Airport web page] from Croydon Online
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071019231835/http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Croydon_photo.htm Various photos from Control Towers website]
• [http://myunclefred.blogspot.com/2010/08/thursday-15th-august-1940.html Chart of Croydon Airport] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217143818/https://myunclefred.blogspot.com/2010/08/thursday-15th-august-1940.html |date=17 February 2020 }} from The Air Pilot, published by Air Ministry, London, 1934.
• [http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Croydon.htm Croydon control tower]
• {{YouTube|8O8IG3UrzaA|Flypast over Croydon Airport – Sunday 27 September 2009}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100627003741/http://www.demotix.com/news/croydon-airport-50th-anniversary-flypast Demotix – Croydon Airport 50th Anniversary Flypast photos]
• [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=51.356425,-0.116495&spn=0.000708,0.001742&sll=51.35645,-0.116639&sspn=0.002844,0.009012&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=51.356371,-0.116482&panoid=gXoJkdyQ0LbPhWCYAimMUw&cbp=12,260.77,,0,3.88 Google Earth ground view] of Croydon Airport from the A23 road (Purley Way)
• [http://cambridgemilitaryhistory.com/2015/05/13/mk1-supermarine-spitfire-to-be-sold-to-benefit-raf-veterans-and-wildlife-charity/ Article about MK1 Spitfires from No. 92 Squadron which flew from RAF Croydon at cambridgemilitaryhistory.com weblog]
• [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClMuJ1DTvfqVF1SRS761OgQ Croydon Airport reconstruction]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReeZj8z5-L8 Croydon Airport | Shell Historical Film Archive 1935]

{{Defunct airports in the United Kingdom}}

{{LB Croydon}}

{{Buildings and structures in Croydon}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Defunct airports in England

Category:Airports established in 1920

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Category:1920 establishments in the United Kingdom

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Category:Airports in the London region

Category:Art Deco architecture in London

Category:Battle of Britain

Category:History of the London Borough of Croydon

Category:Croydon 2020

Category:Grade II listed buildings in the London Borough of Croydon

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Category:Transport in the London Borough of Croydon

Category:Grade II listed airports

Category:World War II memorials in England

Category:Tourist attractions in the London Borough of Croydon