Railway Air Services - Southampton
Southampton was served by the Atlantic Park Municipal Airport which was better known as Eastleigh. The North Stoneham Farm
water meadows were used for occasional flights from 1910. The site was developed as a military airport in 1917. After 1921 the
aerodrome was closed, and the buildings were used to house European emigrants waiting to go the USA. Southampton
Corporation bought 100 acres of the land in 1929 for use as an airport and the air ministry issued a private-use license on 30 Nov
1932. The aerodrome then became Southampton Airport. It was used by RAS from 30 July 1934.
Southampton was on the Birmingham – Bristol – Southampton – Cowes route. On the 20th August, the plane from Liverpool
stopped at Bristol and returned to Birmingham. Thus, no mail went in or out of Southampton on the 20th August. The GPO stated
that all Southampton mail was held over to the next day and did not go by train. A full service was resumed on the 21st.
Flown 21st. - Liverpool, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Cowes, Glasgow, Belfast, Isle of Man, Manchester. (20th and 21st postmarks)
Surface 20th - Plymouth, London, (Field says Teignmouth also)
Shown below are 3 covers that went by air on the 21st and one that went surface on the 20th. Note that it is impossible from the
envelopes without a backstamp to determine how it was transported.
RAS Railway Air Services Covers flown from Southampton 21st August 1934
Southampton to Cowes. Flown 21st
Southampton to Bristol. Flown 21st
Copyright
© 2022 Robert Farquharson All Rights Reserved
Southampton to Birmingham. Flown 21st
Southampton to Cardiff. Went by surface.
Last Flights.
Last flight Southampton to Bristol. 29th Sep 1934
Last flight Southampton to Isle of Man. 29th Sep 1934
Last flight Southampton to Cardiff. 29th Sep 1934
Last flight Southampton to Liverpool. 29th Sep 1934
British Internal Airmails of the 1930’s
Last flight Southampton to Liverpool. 29th Sep 1934
Railway Air Services - Southampton
Southampton was served by the Atlantic Park Municipal Airport which was better known as Eastleigh. The North Stoneham Farm
water meadows were used for occasional flights from 1910. The site was developed as a military airport in 1917. After 1921 the
aerodrome was closed, and the buildings were used to house European emigrants waiting to go the USA. Southampton
Corporation bought 100 acres of the land in 1929 for use as an airport and the air ministry issued a private-use license on 30 Nov
1932. The aerodrome then became Southampton Airport. It was used by RAS from 30 July 1934.
Southampton was on the Birmingham – Bristol – Southampton – Cowes route. On the 20th August, the plane from Liverpool
stopped at Bristol and returned to Birmingham. Thus, no mail went in or out of Southampton on the 20th August. The GPO stated
that all Southampton mail was held over to the next day and did not go by train. A full service was resumed on the 21st.
Flown 21st. - Liverpool, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Cowes, Glasgow, Belfast, Isle of Man, Manchester. (20th and 21st postmarks)
Surface 20th - Plymouth, London, (Field says Teignmouth also)
Shown below are 3 covers that went by air on the 21st and one that went surface on the 20th. Note that it is impossible from the
envelopes without a backstamp to determine how it was transported.
RAS Railway Air Services Covers flown from Southampton 21st August 1934
Southampton to Cowes. Flown 21st
Copyright
© 2020 Robert Farquharson All Rights Reserved
Southampton to Birmingham. Flown 21st
Last Flights.
Last flight Southampton to Bristol. 29th Sep 1934
Last flight Southampton to Cardiff. 29th Sep 1934
British Internal Airmails of the 1930’s
