mystery airfield

Okay, here we go. Bit of a long shot, but can anybody identify the airfield in these shots? The only clue is that the wording in the distance on the one with the buildings seems to be 'Ordnance'. These photos were in an album of various family snaps in the possession of a couple from Little Stretton, Shropshire, both now dead, but the daughter says it is not her family in the pictures. The inference seems to be that the couple were given the album, bought it from an antique shop, or it was in some furniture they bought. There are no real clues in the album - one shot has been identified as Clovelly, another as near Salisbury cathedral, and there's somebody on a motorcycle with an EL registration, which I believe is Essex. The date would appear to be around the time of World War One - if anybody can identify the aircraft that would help date it.
Hope I've successfully attached the pix (am a first-timer). If not, this thread may reappear later!

Attached files [IMG]/community/110794=9959-mystery airfield 1.jpg[/img] [IMG]/community/110794=9958-mystery airfield 2.jpg[/img]

The airfield is most likely Eastchurch in Kent which is not too far from Essex ? The aircraft in Photo1 are I think , a Deperdussin Monoplane and a Be2a but I have no idea about Photo 2 ?

Could the hangars be Larkhill?

I've just reached over to get my copy of "Britain's First Warplanes" (by JM Bruce, A&AP,1987) alas, there is no image of an aircraft numbered 22. However, at the back, it lists the first 1-400 machines. Number 22 is a Deperdussin Monoplane, 80hp Anzani.
Thumbnail 2 looks like a Farman "Longhorn" to me. Have I misread the number?

I did exactly the same Ossington_2008 ! There is at least one photo in the book of aircraft at Eastchurch and the hangars with windows look to be the same ?

EL plates were Bournemouth.(I used to live there)
I was wondering about either Larkhill or Stonehenge.

I think this is could be Larkhill at the time of the 1912 Military Trials. The aircraft listed in Jack Bruce's "Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps" [1] include a Maurice Farman S.7 biplane (entered by the Aircraft Manufacturing Co.), the number 22 is the the competition identifying number rather than an RFC serial. There is a photograph (p.22) in the book showing the number painted in the rudders. The Coventry Ordnance Works entered two aircraft which would account for the 'Ordnance' wording on the hangar ( or is it a packing case?) in the background of the first picture. Although four Deperdussins were entered for the competition ( two each by the French company and their British agents) the aircraft in the foreground of the first picture seems to match the earlier Deperdussins illustrated on pp.216/7 rather than any of the trails aircraft, note the single upright cabane struts rather than the two or three strut pylons of the trials aircraft. B.E.2 was present at the trials and completed the tests but was not officially entered.

1. J.M.Bruce, The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps ( Military Wing ), Putnam, London, 1982

Philip Morten

Thank you very much for all the above. A 1912 date would fit my own preconception about the picture based, not on the aircraft, but on the fact that in the background there appears to be a woman in a long dress, although I may be wrong as it's difficult to make out. If that's right, it would suggest a pre-war picture and a comparatively relaxed atmosphere.

Toby

Just looked at the second picture again as well as a first and it obviously is a woman in a long dress!

Toby

Toby wrote:

Just looked at the second picture again as well as a first and it obviously is a woman in a long dress!

Toby

Just seen this, and I agree that it's definitely a woman in a full length dress, complete with a hat.