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Fambridge Airfield

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About Fambridge Airfield

South Fambridge was probably the location for Britain’s first airfield. It was founded in February 1909 by Noel Pemberton-Billing who was an aviation pioneer. Unfortunately the chosen site wasn't ideal with planes getting literally bogged down in the marshy landing area, so the site closed in November of the same year.

Today the airfield is now farmland and a housing estate with one of the streets aptly named ’Pemberton Field’. Some of the houses Pemberton-Billing built for his aviation experimenters to inhabit are still standing.

Mr Pemberton-Billing went on to establish the Supermarine company that would later create and build the Spitfire. He was also involved in the creation of the Air Ministry and RAF.

Categories:Historical, Point of Interest, Fambridge