Old Moor Aerodrome 1916-1918. World War One
You could be forgiven for being surprised but in 1916 Old Moor Farm was home to an airfield. The farm was chosen as a subsidiary airfield in 1916 to aid 33 Squadron in the Great War. The runway was grass rather than the modern day concrete or tarmac. This was prior to the formation of the R.A.F. in early 1918. 33 Squadron were based at Elsham Wolds in Lincolnshire. Although no details of the role played by Old Moor Aerodrome are available yet efforts are being made to rectify this. 33 Squadron’s role was to protect the area from Hull through to industrial Sheffield. From Hull up the Humber estuary through Doncaster and on to Sheffield provided many serious targets for German zeppelins and aircraft.
The “Flying Circus Era”
Between the two world wars (1926–1937) the country witnessed what is commonly known as the “Flying Circus Era”. Aviation companies like Sir Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus toured Great Britain, Ireland and South Africa showcasing their aviation talents to the general public. Loop the loop, wing walking, dogfights and a whole host of other skills were on display. These Airshows promoted civil aviation which was then in it’s infancy. Alongside this it allowed people their first opportunity to experience a flight . Typically you could buy this experience for 4 or 5 shillings. It was a whole new world opening up but there were to be another great benefit for Britain. It proved to be a wonderful advertisement for the R.A.F. who enrolled many future pilots on the back of the shows. The shows were a great success in many ways. Sarah (Daisy) Brooke along with sister Ethel were the last two of the Brooke family to reside at Old Moor Farm. Daisy worked for the Red Cross in World War One but between the wars could be found flying aeroplanes at these airshows. A very talented woman indeed. However, there could also be a downside. In 1933 the Sunday School Festival had to be abandoned because of noise from the airshow.
Old Moor Farm 