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During World War One part of Port Meadow was transformed into a military aerodrome used for training the Royal Flying Corps.

Port Meadow was an ancient grazing area and each morning before planes could take off and land safely; livestock had to be moved away.

During the Great War, 15 air crew and pilots were killed either flying from Port Meadow or close by. In a letter home to his father 2nd Lieutenant Patrick Sarsfield Manley recalled witnessing one crash which killed both men in the aircraft. Some of the men who lost their lives are buried at Wolvercote Cemetery.

From the archives Ron Bateman and Tommy Thomas recall learning to fly and bombing practice with bags of flour.

Local resident Peter Smith walks across Port Meadow and retraces the location of the seven hangars and many tents that made up the military airfield.

Location: Port Meadow, Wolvercote, Oxfordshire OX2 0NG
Image shows Port Meadow鈥檚 squadron in 1918, courtesy of Peter Smith
Presented by local resident, Peter Smith
Reporting for the 主播大秀: Jane Markham, Podcats Productions

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