ABOUT THE PROJECT
The Selham Airfield Project was set up in 2008 to record the all-but-forgotten story of Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Cowdray Park, near Midhurst, West Sussex. Cowdray Park was a WWII satellite to RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) near Portsmouth, where up to twenty-five Fleet Air Arm aircraft were stored and serviced at any one time, hidden from the prying eyes of the Luftwaffe. After the conflict, the land was returned to the Cowdray Estate and today polo is played there during the summer months.
Welcome to the project's website, where you can access more information on our research and the recently published book on Cowdray Park, 'A Midhurst Flying Field: The Story of a Forgotten Naval Station at War 1941-1945’.
The Ship's Company with officers of the Royal Naval School of Photography, standing in front of one of the school's Avro Ansons, 1944.
225 (Brighton) Squadron ATC on summer camp at RNAS Cowdray Park
Swath Moor c. 1980, vehicular entrance to the air station, showing the old brick control building and MT shed (Dutch barn).
ATC camp prayer service, RNAS Cowdray Park. Photo dated 9th September 1944.
LAC Theodore ‘Tom’ Lane with a group of ATC cadets, in front of Fairey Seal K4225, used at the air station for ground instruction.
Selham Place (now Millburgh Hall), temporary branch of HMS Daedalus's pay office, 1944-45
BOOK REVIEWS
'One of the best Sussex local history books of recent years.'
–
Wheelers Bookshop, Midhurst
‘An excellent and informative book on a little known but very important Second World War temporary airfield used by the Fleet Air Arm as a satellite landing ground for HMS Daedalus, Lee-on-the Solent.’
–
David Coxon, Curator, Tangmere Military Aviation Museum
'An excellent book on a hidden piece of our local history. Well researched and provides a valuable insight into what went on in our local community during WWII.'
–
Gill and Peter Nightingale, The Midhurst Museum
Website design by Smith