Historic Croydon Airport Trust
Life at Croydon in May 1945
Victory in Europe in May brought rejoicing across Britain. At Croydon a lot of partying went on. Wing Commander Paul Evans, who had just taken over as Station Commander remembers VE day for the greatest among many memorable parties in the Croydon Officers’ Mess:
“ We were lucky to have as Intelligence Officer, Squadron Leader Tony Pulitzer, an American of the well-known Pulitzer family, who said that he could arrange some drink if we gave him a free hand and an aeroplane. These he used for a visit to Madam Pol Roger in France, and he came back with a large quantity of champagne. Joe Cooper, who flew him there, says it was 1000 bottles, and as President of the Mess Committee, he should know. We certainly had an excellent party. Our guest of honour was the Commander in Chief of Transport Command, Sir Ralph Cochrane”
The last Hawker Hurricane squadron had moved out of Croydon in May 1941. and there were Spitfires on detachment from 30th June until 7th July 1942. After that the RAF presence was with transport and communications aircraft. On VE Day the RAF aircraft stationed at Croydon were Dakotas and Ansons of 110 Wing Transport Command, 147 Squadron. The Squadron was based at Croydon from 1st September 1944 until 15th September 1946 and operated throughout the UK and into Europe. Until VE Day only service personnel were allowed to use the aircraft, after VE Day the aircraft began carrying fare-paying passengers also.
The airlines had restarted operations from Croydon in November 1944 with the BOAC Croydon to Rineanna (now named Shannon) shuttle in southern Ireland, from where ongoing passengers could catch the flying boat services across the Atlantic. The service from Croydon operated about four times a week – on VE Day there were two Dakota departures to Rineanna. In addition there was a daily service flown by Railway Air Services with Dragon Rapide or Dragon Six biplanes from Croydon to Belfast and Liverpool and since 9th April 1945, Railway Air Services also continued on to Prestwick in Scotland where passengers could catch the Lancaster service operated by Trans-Canada Air Lines to Montreal.
BOAC had a major overhaul and maintenance centre at Croydon Airport and in May 1945 several Lancasters, Dakotas and a Mosquito were there. Other companies at the airport carried out engine overhauls and radio plus instrument repairs for civilian and military customers.
Image: VE Day Party 110 Wing Transport Command. Image courtesy of Historic Croydon Airport Trust
With thanks to the Historic Croydon Airport Trust
Bibliography
Croydon Airport from War to Peace by Joanna Bogle
Ian Walker and Peter Marson
