By logging into your account, you agree to our. This country lane is now the existing approach road to the terminal. Stumbled across your photos of Luton Airport whilst searching for info. I cannot recall the exact date but very soon afterwards, our school timetable was severely disrupted, evacuees were being sent from London and needed to be accommodated in our school. Luton was bombed, particularly with a land mine in 1940 and a V2 rocket in 1944 but it could have been so much worse. Our school, opened in 1937, had spacious grounds and so, like the grown ups we were At first we had to go on alternate days, the Vaccy’s, as we called them, taking the in-between days. One of the ways of passing the time was making a length of woven wool. Tell me, is the road back now a built-up area ?, in those days it was just a quiet country road. Further back from this strip was a boggy overgrown area, which bordered the River Lea. As a matter of fact, Luton was also specifically by the Nazi bombers because they knew about industries and factories in it. Michael Neal. My fathers little smallholding helped a lot as we had plenty of vegetables, Hen & Duck eggs, meat from Rabbits & Chickens, milk from our Goat and honey from our Bees. In 1942 I was 19 years old and living in Houghton Regis, some 6 miles from Luton. On the day the news came through all the kids in our area without any grown up encouragement set about building a celebratory bonfire. Flying High – Luton Airport’s bright future . He persisted and so the firemen began to help, eventually his mother was rescued relatively unharmed, and she had been found in a void formed when a fallen ceiling was supported at on end by the staircase. For recreation I would sometimes catch the No.6 bus into Luton to see a film show.... wherein lay a problem. I used to visit with him on Sundays usually, aged about 11-12 and my father early on in the war was running the 'production line' … November 2003. I grabbed my dog and shot under our billiard table to hear the scream of descending bombs, followed by ever nearing explosions. Airlines include easyJet, Wizz Air, Ryanair, Tui, EL AL, Blue Air, SunExpress and Vueling. Apart from this I did my bit for the War effort. These were later sold in aid of school funds. All rights reserved. One evening my Father, Mother, and I with our two dogs, and Nanny Goat, went for a walk on a country path near our home. It was mid morning, in I think 1944, that sat at my desk in Denbigh Rd School Luton, I heard and felt a terrific explosion. Luckily only three bombs fell in a line heading straight for our house, had there been five I doubt I would be writing this now. IATA airport code is STN. When it sounded almost directly overhead. I was just 8 years old on the day that war was declared on Sept 3rd 1939. He was the only survivor of his flying course. The local Council decided to mark off this land as allotment plots, and those who wished to, could take over the piece to the rear of their gardens. One of our classmates had very recently joined the school after his home in London had been destroyed. Coach from London to Luton Airport in 40 mins (fastest) Our coaches travel from London to Luton Airport up to 35 times a day, from £5 one-way*.Services run around-the-clock, so you're never far away from the next direct coach, no matter when you choose to travel. A book was published in 1998 or thereabouts to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the opening of the airport. He rushed to the scene and began digging in the rubble, but some firemen tried to dissuade him. Gillian Hooper - where are you now? London Stansted Airport is located approximately 3.4 miles / 5.5 kilometers east of Bishops Stortford and about 9.2 miles / 14.8 kilometers northeast of Harlow. He had with him his brand new bike (a rarity in wartime) it was his reward for passing the 11 plus exam. This was achieved with the aid of a cotton reel, on the end of which 4 nails were driven, spaced around the central hole. Luton had its fair share of bombing, the first I remembered was a daylight raid on The Vauxhall motor works which, from a distance, I observed on my way home from school. Luton Airport opened in 1938, owned and operated by the council. 2017-08-30 Posted in 1ST Airport Taxis Luton has vast significant history during the World War II. On the 75th anniversary of the World War Two bombing of Luton's Vauxhall factory, a Norfolk man has told the BBC about watching the attack as a boy. Whether working in aviation, retired, wannabee or just plain fascinated this forum welcomes all with a love of flight. RAF Brize Norton (BZZ) This father did and kept us in a plentiful supply of vegetables throughout the war and beyond. The BBC is not responsible for the content of any external sites It was a warm overcast summer evening when suddenly we heard the sputtering sound of a Doodle Bug engine heading towards us. Age 72. My schooldays were also over, I started work aged 14 at the Commer truck factory immediately after Christmas that year to see the last of the Army trucks roll off the assembly line. My father did his basic flying training for the Fleet Air Arm at Luton in 1940 on Miles Magisters. Contact Us - Best wishes We could hear the air rushing over missile but, to our relief it continued over us. What I have found irritating is the fact that the Google Earth images (present and 1940's) are not quite aligned, so it's difficult to see how the new and the old join together. Find out how you can use this. LV boarding plane. In 2013 this After school we would stand by the roadside watching lorries and tanks roll by. It is no longer possible to leave messages here. My family and I emerged from WW2 unscathed but were very aware that there was a war on. The road had a steep grassy bank so we climbed up to get a better view, Peter left his bicycle leaning against the bank, and we were so intent on watching the huge tanks roll by we did not notice that the intense vibration they made, had caused his bike to slip into the path of one of the tanks. In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please click here. A little later I witnessed a Stuka dive-bomber emerge from a cloud and release a single bomb I found later that it hit one of the towns hat factories. Almost immediately our teacher shouted, “get under your desks” this in great haste, we all did. Most of the content on this site is created by our users, who are members of the This cover is from Rumburk, now inthe Czech Republic, formerly in Czechoslovakia. Rationing of most food meant shortages, especially for youngsters who had to exist on 12 ounces of sweets and 1 pound of jam per month. LS passengers walking to aircraft. Obviously a helo, but anyone got any more gen on it ?Did my PPL at Luton in `60, so a bit of a soft spot for it..then, not now ....Syc. That day I left for school not having been told anything by my parents. From a modest terminal 90 miles north of the capital to London’s 4th largest airport, Luton Airport has well and truly shaken off its humble beginnings and is now the 5th largest airport in the UK – serving around 9.2 million passengers a year. ( Luton in bedfordshire UK ) At one point it held approx 3,000 prisoners of war, mostly German. Luton Airport is currently owned by London Luton Airport Ltd (LLAL), with its majority shareholder being Luton Borough Council. When we later emerged from the shelter we were told that nobody was allowed to leave the school at lunchtime. The V2 was a supersonic rocket propelled weapon so there was no warning or defence against them. The surplus was bartered for other short supply items. This story has been placed in the following categories. As my fellow pupil approached this street he was stopped by a Policeman but again ignored instructions and found another way around, to find his home a heap of rubble. When we realised what had happened it was to late, the tank tracks had passed over part of it and bent both wheels the frame etc into almost a right angle, his father was not a happy man. A/V Luton Airport. My father then hit on an idea to increase his flock and encouraged neighbours to apply for the feed ration and he kept the chickens for them, supplying them with eggs in return, needless to say the chickens produced more eggs than he allowed their owners. I heard much later that one of those Evacuees was the comedy actor Dennis Williams. Getting to London Luton Airport. I worked for Napier's for two years from mid 1945 to mid 47. VS of large number of passengers in busy airport waiting lounge. those of the BBC. What brings you to London Luton Airport? Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use. There doesnt seem to be a detailed web site about the history of Luton. The war in Europe VE Day ended May 7th 1945. public. My father had a yen to keep Chickens and Rabbits so without a bye your leave acquired some rough timber and fenced the area (Some 30 years later, he with the aid of a solicitor, claimed that land by “Squatters Rights”). Fred Morrad, 83, lived in Luton … The Story of Luton International Airport was published in 1988 to mark fifty years of licenced flying. Visit the Luton Airport website for the latest information on flight schedules and travelling safely during the coronavirus pandemic. GVs interviews with passengers at airport about delays. CUs waiting passengers. Existing capacity in areas including security search, immigration and baggage reclaim will be doubled as part of the project. One night my parents went to pick up my sister from friends house when the air raid siren sounded. I think we filled that shop at least 3 times, quite a feat since most newspapers consisted of only 6 or 8 page sides. If travelling by road use the postcode LU1 3TQ and leave the M1 motorway at Junction 10. The Blacksmith and his Striker, together with some local farmhands were discussing the momentous announcement. Our route to school from our house, on The Davis Estate in Leagrave, a suburb of Luton took us across a track, which passed a blacksmiths shop. Pom Poms were also made with the aid of two milk bottle tops, which at that time were circular cardboard discs with a hole in the middle. At the end of our street was a small parade of shops, a couple of which, at the time, had no tenants. Luton Airport expands coronavirus testing of passengers with in-terminal facility Luton Today 15:48 22-Apr-21 Opened ‘officially’as a regional airport July 16 th 1938 with expansion work starting in 1936. Also parties down Brandon (I think) Ave. Yep, the end of the trees is where the fire station is. It was written by David Gearing who was an ATCO at Luton at the time - sadly he is no longer with us. An R & D building can be sited at Luton Airport (Office buildings now). Remember some great wall paintings (I think). on the Napier facility there. We often dallied to watch huge shire horses being shod. The apron shown is the second and third photos is now stands 10 and 11 which is outside Monarch. During the World War II, Luton Airport was said to be the base for 264 Fighter Squadron planes.