In pictures: Town's airport 30 years after closure

3 hours ago

George KingSuffolk

News image — It was hoped that the Ipswich Airport would help put the Suffolk town "on the map"

Angelika Voss An old photo showing four planes parked in a large green field. — It was hoped that the Ipswich Airport would help put the Suffolk town "on the map"

It has been 30 years since Ipswich's very own airport closed for good, having facilitated the journeys of passengers to the likes of Manchester, Amsterdam and even Clacton.

The Ipswich Municipal Aerodrome – as it was known - was officially opened in 1930 by the then Prince of Wales, Prince Edward, six years before he was crowned king.

Located on land near the River Orwell, the £13,245 airfield was used by the Air Ministry during World War Two before returning to a commercial operation.

In 1996, the complex was delicensed by Ipswich Borough Council, with the final aircraft leaving in 1998, before the some of the site was redeveloped for housing.

'Fond memories'

Angelika Voss, from the Ipswich Airport Association, worked at the airport, initially starting out in the control tower before becoming deputy manager.

On Saturday, she helped organise an exhibition at the Ipswich Transport Museum, boasting archive photos, newspaper clippings and aviation memorabilia.

She told the BBC it was important to keep the memory of the airport, which protesters fought in vain to keep open, alive.

"It was opened in 1930 and there were articles in the press then saying what a wonderful new thing it was and how it would really put Ipswich on the map.

"I think everybody has fond memories and I think that memory should just be preserved."

Three decades on from its closure, here are seven photos of what Prince Edward once described as "one of the finest" aerodromes in the country.

Owen Noakes An old sepia image of RAF personnel dressed in their uniforms standing in front of a plane and sitting on it — The airfield became a fully-fledged RAF station in 1943 during World War Two, with RAF Blenheim bombers and some Hurricanes being based there

Ipswich Airport Association A vintage photo showing the airport building on a snowy day. There is snow on the ground and the sky is grey. — By 1990 the airport was home flying schools, a helicopter school, parachute centre and various support firms.

Martyn Steggalls A white and red plane with Suckling Airways written on the side of it. — In the 1980s, Suckling Airways started operating flights to Amsterdam and Manchester

Ipswich Airport Association A black and white image showing old planes in a field — In 1939, the airport launched a daily flight to Clacton with a journey time of just 15 minutes

Ipswich Airport Association An old, grainy image of a filling station in front of a large metal building — A fuel station at the airfield pictured in 1996

Martyn Steggalls A damaged red and white plane upside down on an airfield. Its partially on top of another black and white black parked next to it. — During the Great Storm of 1987, some light planes at the airfield were damaged

Ipswich Airport Association An aerial image showing where part of the old airport used to be during a partial demolition. — The airport's terminal was a Grade-II listed building before being largely demolished in May 2005

In pictures: Town's airport 30 years after closure

'Fond memories'

Town's 'forgotten' airport remembered

Ipswich Airport Association

Ipswich Transport Museum

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