A number of small airfields were created around London in 1915 to protect against Zeppelin airship raids. One of these was Beddington Aerodrome. In January 1916, the first two B.E.2C aircraft of what became No. 93 Squadron of the RFC arrived. As the War went on, Beddington became a large Reserve Aircraft and Training aerodrome.
Nearby, National Aircraft Factory No. 1, was opened in 1918 with the adjoining Waddon Aerodrome built to allow aircraft test flights. The factory made Airco/De Havilland DH9 planes. More at AirportOfCroydon.
Beddington Aerodrome became a large Reserve Aircraft and Training aerodrome for the Royal Flying Corps. At the end of the First World War the aerodrome was retained, becoming 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.
The two aerodromes were combined following the end of the WWI to become Croydon Aerodrome. George VI and Edward VIII learned to fly here (Bebington). The new aerodrome opened on 29 March 1920. Croydon was where regular international passenger services began, initially using converted wartime bombers, and was the busiest and most important airport in the world. It was the gateway for all international flights to and from London, and was the first airport to introduce air traffic control, a control tower, and radio position-fixing procedures. The “Mayday” distress call was developed here – an anglicisation of “M’aidez” (as most flights were from Croydon to Le Bourget). It gave its name to Mayday Road, Croydon (the only street of its name in Britain), and from thence to the Mayday Hospital. The rebranding of the Hospital in 2002-10 to Croydon University Hospital has been attributed to the the unfortunate connotations of Mayday (and ‘may die’).
Later in the 1920s, a new complex of buildings was constructed, including the first purpose-designed airport terminal and air traffic control tower, the world’s first airport hotel, and extensive hangars. Remnants are now listed buildings.
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. Amy Johnson took off in a De Havilland DH60 Moth on 5 May 1930 for her record-breaking flight to Australia.
Imperial Airways used the Handley Page HP42/HP45 four-engined biplanes and the Armstrong Whitworth Atalanta from Croydon.
