Page 153 - KBHA Bulletin 10

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An urban legend has it that he would launch and land this plane on the flat ground next
to Silvermine river. With wings folded the aircraft could be towed there and back and

stored in the garage that he ran on Main Road Kalk Bay, opposite the station. One day,
after servicing the engine in the garage, it was decided to start it up. Unfortunately, the

chocks were not properly in place and the plane took off through the entrance and

across Main Road. Luckily no vehicles were passing at that moment and it was stopped
by the fence on the opposite side, but there was some damage to the craft’s propeller.

The craft was wrecked in early August 1930 near Port Nolloth.

He also did advertising stunts like “tests to destruction” of Union Special watches which
were dropped from planes at great heights. (Fig. 3.49).

Prelude to war (from Crook, 1991.)

The establishment of Wingfield as Cape Town’s civil airport caused Young’s Field to

fade in significance during the 1930s, though it was used by light planes for many years.
The general condition of both buildings and grassed areas deteriorated. By the mid-30s

the South African Air Force had become interested in the site as an air station, and set
about acquiring and consolidating into a single unit the various land parcels bounded by

Wetton Road – Cape Flats railway – Ottery Road – Council properties along Prince
George Drive. The largest part, comprising about 99 morgen, which the City Council

had acquired during 1930 – 34, was acquired by the SAAF in February 1936 for £900.

As part of this deal the Defence Department transferred to Council the military land at
Muizenberg, that dated back to DEIC days, situated between Camp Road and School

Road. This land, known as the Muizenberg Sports Grounds, had until this time been
leased from the Government.

With the prospect of war Young’s Field Air Station was brought rapidly up to required

standards as regards buildings and landing facilities. Civil flying clubs based there

undertook the training of pilots for the Reserve, as required by the Air Force