Two Events across one weekend in September 1932, Hooton Park
Mar 25, 2022 18:07:08 GMT 1
northbynorthwest, ghostrider, and 1 more like this
Post by viscount on Mar 25, 2022 18:07:08 GMT 1
HOOTON PARK – 1932. TWO EVENTS IN ONE WEEKEND.
The posting on NWAN Forum several weeks ago of a link to a short youtube film composed of clips relating to Liverpool social history themes initiated some research, as we could spot that not all the aviation scenes were at Speke Airport.
Link url: youtu.be/K1Ue1ZFS7EM
Within the Liverpool Air Display reports there were clips that quite clearly were of another event with large WW I era hangars. It was quickly decided that the event was at Hooton Park airfield. One of the aircraft, clearly with a German civil registration puzzled as it was not a Klemn design. Correspondence by myself on the Key Publishing, ‘FlyPast’ historic aviation forum quickly established that the aircraft was a Heinkel He.76D. News to me that Heinkel were producing civilian aircraft at that time. Subsequent discussion by experts ‘Mothminor’ and ‘Avions Ancien’ into an identity for the Heinkel uncovered articles in ‘Flight International’ which could be consulted on the internet.
Reference url: archive.org/details/Flight_International_Magazine_1932-09-09-pd… Currently (1.4.22) not opening for me.
Following this lead it was clear that there were two events at Hooton Park on the same day in September 1932, and going back to the film aircraft from both events were captured on a series of brief clips. Absolute evidence that the clips could be tied to a specific date. There is so much detail in ‘Flight international’ that I kept on going back to it and am drawn to now putting the detail together to share the 90 year old events on NWAN Forum. Considering their age and the infancy of moving film, the images when isolated as a single frame are far from amazing, but do convey impressions of the events.
The two events at Hooton were participation in a 4-day touring event aimed at bringing together pilots and aeroplanes from all around Europe, a ‘Week-end Aérien’ and a ‘Manchester to Liverpool Race’ both over the weekend of 3rd and 4th September 1932. The written form of English has changed over nearly a century as have the style and type of information felt to be interesting to readers. But unlike the industry orientated ‘Flight International’ of today, ‘Flight’ correspondents were quite happy to list registrations of participants, and there was clearly a fascination in not just the aircraft but also the powerplant installed.
Two similar shots of some of the aircraft at Hooton with G-EBMQ a DH.60 Gipsy Moth and DH.60 Gipsy Moth X G-EBRI in the foreground. The WWI hangars in the background are the big clue that this Hooton not Speke or Barton. The Hooton hangars are still there and are progressively being fully restored.
WEEK-END AÉRIEN, Thursday 1st September to Sunday 4th September 1932.
The event commenced with participants gathering from 2pm at Heston aerodrome (a little to the NE of today’s Heathrow) in NW London. As over 60 aircraft gathered from around Europe and Britain, some of the participants were provided a flight by Imperial Airways over the capital in a HP.42 airliner ‘Heracles’ of Imperial Airways.
In foul weather, with rain and strong winds, on Friday many of the participants flew from Heston to Bristol. Here they were guests of the Bristol and Wessex Aero Club. Some aircraft had to return to Heston, some making forced landings en route due to the poor conditions. The following day the weather was little changed as the aircraft departed Bristol for Liverpool and Hooton Park. Again cloud, rain, wind and mechanical issues disrupted the flights, with not all the aircraft getting through on the first attempt. At Hooton the event was hosted by ‘Bill’ Gairdner of Brian Lewis & Co and Major Thornton, Chairman of Liverpool and District Aero Club. Due to late arrivals, coaches taking the participants to their overnight accommodation in the Adelphi Hotel left late, so their dinner aboard the SS Adriatic, a White Star Liner was an hour late starting. From there to a dance hosted by the Lord Mayor in the Guildhall.
With the lateness of events the evening before, Sunday’s departure from the Adelphi was an hour late. By the time they arrived at Hooton there were around 60 aircraft all lined up outside the hangars. Mechanical issues and damage incurred in en route forced landings had been fixed by mechanics from the Comper Aircraft Works. The weather had improved a little overnight, while still showery and breezy, visibility was quite good as the aircraft left for either Ratcliffe (just NE of Leicester) or Coventry. The wretched weather cleared further for the final leg on Sunday afternoon back to Heston, the event ending with accommodation in the May Fair Hotel and big celebration meal, ending in speeches by top personalities in aviation.
Some images ‘captured’ from the film. While the quality by today’s standards is poor, they do convey something of the atmosphere of the event and the aircraft involved.
Top image appears to be a Klemm, while above is one of four German Heinkel He.64Ds attending.
Aircraft from outside of Britain that gathered at Heston on day one.
Regn Aircraft Engine Representing
D-2091 Klemm Argus As.8 Germany
D-2212 Klemm Argus As.8 Germany
D-2255 Klemm Siemens S4.14 Germany
D-2260 Heinkel He.64 Argus AS.8a Germany
D-2301 Heinkel He.64 Argus AS.8a Germany
D-2302 Heinkel He.64 Argus AS.8a Germany
D-2304 Heinkel He.64 Argus AS.8a Germany
F-AJRS Coupé Moth Gipsy I Greece
F-AJYK Caudron Renault 4P.b France
F-ALCP Farman 271 Renualt 4P.b France
F-ALFU Potez 36 Salmson A.C.7 France
F-ALIT Potez 36 Salmson A.C.7 France
F-ALOG Potez 36 Renault 4P.b France
F-ALUS Caudron C.270 Salmson A.C.7 France
F-ALUZ Farman 198 Renault 4P.b France
F-ALVK Caudron C.270 Salmson A.C.7 France
F-AYZB DH Moth Gipsy II France
G-AAGA Puss Moth Gipsy III Belgium
G-ABLF Avro Avian Hermes II France
G-ABRC Tiger Moth Gipsy III Holland
G-ABVZ Bluebird Gipsy I Germany
OO-ADG DH Moth Gipsy I Belgium
OO-AKG R.S.V. Gipsy III Belgium
OO-AKH St.Hubert G.1 Walter Vega Belgium
OO-ALY Bulte Sport Gipsy I Belgium
OO-AMM DH Moth Gipsy I Belgium
OO-AMO DH Moth Gipsy I Belgium
OO-AMT St. Hubert Renard 120 Belgium
PH-AEX Pander Walter Vega Holland
PH-AFM Pander Walter Vega Holland
PH-AGN Pander Walter Vega Holland
PH-AIA Pander Walter Vega Holland
PH-AKA Pander Walter Vega Holland
PH-MAG Puss Moth Gipsy III Holland
SP-AGJ R.W.D. 5 Hermes 1B Poland
SP-AHD DH Moth Gipsy I Poland
ZS-ACZ DH Moth Gipsy I Belgium
With a further 24+ British operated aircraft, bringing the total involved to around 60 aircraft. Not all aircraft called at Hooton due to the weather delays or mechanical issues.
MANCHESTER – LIVERPOOL RACE, Sunday 4th September 1932.
After the 60 or so aircraft in the Week-end Aérien departed between 1 and 2 pm, attention at Hooton turned to the Manchester-Liverpool Race. Conditions were far from ideal with winds gusting upto 50 mph at 1,000ft and squalls of rain, however visibility below the cloud was quite good. There were 15 entries in the Air Race. Considerable publicity was given to rivalry between two Comper Swifts, one each supported by the staff of Lewis’s Stores in Liverpool and in Manchester.
The Air Race event had first been flown in 1929, with several trophies being competed for. The course following departure from Hooton over Huyton, Southport and landing at Barton. Then from Barton over Woodford back to Hooton. In 1932 there was no air show while the small crowd waited at Hooton between 3:30 and 5:00 for the aircraft to reappear, and little about the progress of the competitors could be communicated to the waiting crowd. The landing at Barton was unpleasant with gusting winds. One propeller was damaged, but a replacement fitted before the second leg commenced.
The winner, Flt Lt Comper, in one of his own aircraft dipped low across the Mersey to cross the finish line at 5:08 in the worst squall of the afternoon, just 32 seconds ahead of second place - in aircraft that had started first group and in the last group in the handicapping. The winner took the Cuncliffe Trophy. The Fylde Cup was presented to the highest placed pilot that lived within 25 miles of either Manchester or Liverpool, with the Reynolds Cup to the city with the best placed team of pilots. In 1932 this was won for the first time by Manchester, so for 1933 the start moved to Barton.
The 1932 Manchester-Liverpool Race competitors:
Regn Type Engine Represented Pilot Started Placed
G-EMRQ DH Moth II Cirrus II M Hall 1st 3rd
G-EMRI DH Moth X Cirrus II M Smithers 2nd 15th
G-EBST DH Moth X Cirrus II M Holmwood 3rd 14th
G-EBZU DH Moth X Cirrus II M Bonar 4th 12th
G-EBWA DH Moth X Cirrus II M Radley 5th 11th
G-AALA DH Moth X Gipsy I L Wilson 6th 13th
G-AAZC Comper Swift Pobjoy R L Walker 11th 8th
G-AAZF Comper Swift Pobjoy R L Higgings 12th 2nd
G-ABME Avro Avian Genet-Major M Cantrill 15th 4th
G-ABOY DH Moth X Gipsy I L Selway 8th 9th
G-ABUA Comper Swift Pobjoy R N Crossley 9th 7th
G-ABUU Comper Swift Pobjoy R M Lacayo 10th 5th
G-ABVL Avro Avian Gipsy I L Greenfell 7th 10th
G-ABWH Comper Swift Gipsy III N Styran 13th 6th
G-ABWW Comper Swift Gipsy III L Comper 14th 1st
Representing: L Liverpool M Manchester N Neutral
‘Screen grabs’ from the film are not of amazing quality, but serve well to illustrate this event from a little short of 90 years ago. Due credit is given to the source, the images look better on Youtube, so do have a look – the url is at the top of this post.
A series of shots of Comper Swift aircraft participating in the air race. The Comper Swift aircraft were manufactured at Hooton Park airfield.
A DH.83 Fox Moth - a type not noted by 'Flight International', so likely either one of many civilian aircraft based at Hooton at the time, or one of the British participants in the 'Weekend Aérien' event?
