Group    To 30/9/1959

all connected with Croydon & its aerodrome who gave their lives in WW2

Croydon aerodrome was the world's first international airport. It was closed to civil traffic at the start of WW2 to become an RAF fighter station. It was in the front line for the Battle of Britain. On 15 August 1940 it was targeted during the first major raid on the London area. In February 1946 it was handed back to civil control but with no room for expansion the decision was taken to close it and the last scheduled plane flew out on 30 September 1959.

We cannot find a picture of the airport from the wartime, but perhaps that's due to security preventing any being taken. Our undated picture is of the inside of the control tower.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
all connected with Croydon & its aerodrome who gave their lives in WW2

Commemorated ati

Croydon Aerodrome Battle of Britain memorial

21 foot high and topped with a bronze eagle, this monument does not actually ...

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Other Subjects

Short Brothers

Short Brothers

Pioneering aeronautical engineers. Oswald and Eustace formed a partnership in 1897, initially working on balloons. They supplied Charles Rolls, amongst others. In 1908 Horace joined, the company wa...

Group, Aviation, Engineering

1 memorial
Watney Combe Reid

Watney Combe Reid

In 1837 James Watney (1800 - 84) became a partner in the Stag Brewery, Pimlico and the Watney family were the main partners there for much of the 19th century. In 1889 James Watney & Co., acqui...

Group, Commerce, Food & Drink

2 memorials
members of the Allied armies who died in Battle of Waterloo

members of the Allied armies who died in Battle of Waterloo

Our picture comes from Londonist's review of an exhibition of the photographs of Sam Faulkner.

Group

3 memorials
Studio Voltaire

Studio Voltaire

Arts organisation.

Group, Art

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Elizabeth line

Elizabeth line

W2, Eastbourne Terrace, Paddington station

This must have been one of the Queen's last plaques.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Oskar Kokoschka

Oskar Kokoschka

Painter. Born in Pöchlarn, Austria. He studied in Vienna and worked in Berlin for many years where he painted expressionist portraits and did illustrations for the periodical 'Der Sturm'. Branded a...

Person, Art, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Switzerland

1 memorial
Hannen Swaffer and Mrs Swaffer

Hannen Swaffer and Mrs Swaffer

Supporters of the Rochester Square Spiritualist Temple.

Group, Paranormal, Religion

1 memorial
Philip E. Hill

Philip E. Hill

Investment banker. Chairman of Beechams Pills Ltd in 1936. Chairman of Covent Garden Properties Company Limited, in 1933. The most interesting fact we can discover is that he moved into 68 Brook St...

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Zeppelin airships

Zeppelin airships

Invented by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in 1900. London was first targeted with airships in May 1915 and initially found defence very difficult. Searchlights and incendiary ammunition helped to de...

Vehicle, Armed Forces, Aviation

7 memorials