Aviation pictures - A new airport

From Jerripedia

The new States Airport in 1937, and below, the grass surfaces used as the first landing strips, with St Peter's Barracks in the foreground. It can be seen in the picture below that the main landing strip in use when the airport opened was across the picture from left (north) to right (south) and right to left, depending on wind direction. As the entire surface was grass, the direction of landings and take-offs could be adjusted to cope with crosswinds. Today's single runway is aligned approximately due east and west. When the airport first opened, the land behind and to the left of the terminal building, on which the eastern end of the main runway would be built, and which is today all within the Airport boundary, was still in private ownership as cultivated fields

Planning

The site for Jersey Airport from the air in 1933
The site for Jersey Airport
The site for Jersey Airport
The site for Jersey Airport
The site for Jersey Airport
The site for Jersey Airport
The original plan of the airfield layout, later substantially altered
This plan shows the airport, much as it was constructed. However, initially the west-east runway shown on the plan only extended as far as the terminal building and the triangular section on the right of the plan, behind the buildings, was not acquired from the farmers who owned it and continued to grow crops there.
The plans for the building
A model of the original design
The architect's elevation of the new building

The builder's workforce ready to start work on the airport

Building

The steel framework for the airport terminal goes up
Another view of construction work
The building takes shape
Nearly complete
A new airport in 1936
1936: the airport is complete airside but work continues on the forecourt and hangar buildings. Cultivated fields in the foreground reach to within feet of the terminal building
An aerial view in 1936 shortly before the Airport opened
Jersey Airways DH86 in 1936, before the official opening of the Airport
British Airways Electra in 1936
Official approval from the UK of the Airport as a customs airport
Ground preparation

Opening

Five Jersey Airways biplanes fly in formation over Jersey to mark the opening of the Airport

It is not generally known that flying started from the Airport in 1936, some months before its official opening. Here the forecourt entrance is given a wash and brush-up ready for the big day
The Airport ready for its opening in 1937
Opening day
A bouquet for Mrs Coutanche
Alexander Coutanche and his wife on the apron
The official opening ceremony of Jersey Airport in 1937
Alexander Coutanche and his wife in front of a DH 86
Mr Coutanche with the first consignment of mail
A ceremony to mark the opening of an air mail service to and from the island
The observation platform
Official guests on an opening day tour leave the observation platform for the forecourt
Opening day in 1937
The plaque in the entrance hall unveiled
Opening day

The first emergency vehicles

Operating

The date of this picture of the forecourt is uncertain. The cars suggest 1930s, the coach appears later
An aerial view of the new aerodrome
An aerial view in 1937
An aerial view of the new airport in 1937
An aerial view in 1937 with St Peter's Barracks in the foreground and the Airport terminal behind
The original airport control building
The Airport buildings from the north-west in 1937
The new building from the front
The terminal building in 1937 from the air side
The forecourt in 1937
An Airport fireman in 1937
Radio operator in the 1930s
Radio operator in 1938
Air traffic control in 1937
Air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control in 1937
Air traffic control
The 1937 baggage hall
Baggage weighing area
Navigation beacon
A landing beacon in 1937
Using a signalling light
Lobby, 1937
Lobby, 1937
Approach control in 1937
The observation platform
The airport restaurant in 1937
The entrance hall
Another view of the entrance hall
The forecourt in 1937
The apron and terminal building
The Airport terminal from the airside
Passenger check-in and baggage weighing
Control room
The main entrance from the forecourt
Entrance hall
No 1 hangar
The public observation balcony
Inside the main entrance hall
The internal stairs to the observation balcony
A view of the Airport from a DH 86 in 1940
The Airport's first commandant, Charles Roche
The terminal in the early days
The new Airport building from the airside
The airport in 1939
A met officer releases a weather balloon

Flying

A busy apron

DH86 in front of the new terminal. This aircraft was later involved in a fatal crash
Jersey Airways 1937 timetable
A Flight Magazine picture of the Airport in 1937
From an advertisement promoting 'Cerrux' which was used on the terminal exterior surfaces
Two de Havilland aircraft land together from the south at Jersey Airport
July 1937
July 1937
July 1937
July 1937
July 1937
July 1937
July 1937
Jersey Airways' La Saline Bay
Airport from above in 1937
The newly erected perimeter fence
A milkmaid attends to a cow grazing the Airport's grass
Father Christmas arrives by air
Before the opening
A busy apron
Air display
St Peter's Barracks and the Airport
From a 1937 family album
From a 1937 family album
The newly opened airport and St Peter's Barracks in the foreground in 1937
A De Havilland biplane on the apron
1937 aerial view