Railway Air Services - Plymouth

Plymouth was served by Roborough Municipal Airport. It appears that the "Flying Circus" operators were the first to use Roborough, but, in 1929 Sir Alan Cobham’s UK Municipal Aerodrome Campaign tour used the Polo Ground at Roborough as his Plymouth venue. The next year, (20th August 1932), Alan Cobham’s National Aviation Day UK Display Tour gave their Plymouth venue as Roborough Aerodrome. GWR used the airport from 12th April to 29 September 1933 and it was also used that year by International Airlines (24 Aug – 3 September) and Provincial Airlines (25th and 26th November only). RAS flew from Roborough from 7th May 1934. The airport is still open today. Plymouth was on the Liverpool – Birmingham – Cardiff – Teignmouth – Plymouth route. It was one of few destinations to have a full service on the 20th August. As well as mail to its route connections it also flew mail that was destined for Teignmouth as that site did not offload mail on the Inward flight. As well as the 20th there was a full service on the 21st. Field’s list give entirely different outcomes for Plymouth than for Teignmouth. This makes no sense. Surely, they would be identical. Comments are welcome. Flown 20th - Cardiff, Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Teignmouth Flown 21st - Glasgow, Belfast, Isle of Man, Manchester (21st postmarks) Part flown 20th - Glasgow, Belfast, Isle of Man, Manchester. Surface 20th - Southampton, Cowes, London.

RAS Railway Air Services Covers Flown from Cardiff 20th August 1934

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Last Flights

Last Flight 29th Sep 1934. Plymouth to Liverpool.

Last Flight. 29th Sep 1934. Plymouth to Cardiff.

Last Flight 29th Sep 1934. By surface.

Last Flight. Plymouth to Cardiff. LMS label.

British Internal Airmails of the 1930’s

Plymouth to Cardiff Flown 20th August

Plymouth to Teignmouth Flown 20th August

Plymouth to Birmingham and onto Boston. First flight flown. Very scarce Cobourg cds. Boston backstamp of 21st.

Plymouth to Cardiff first flight flown 20th August. Plain envelope with purple ‘FIRST OFFICIAL AIR POST’ cachet. Scarce Roborough cds. Sent to Newport via Cardiff

Plymouth to Liverpool 20th August first flight flown. When the cover has reached Liverpool is has been reposted with the new 1 2/2d stamp that came out that day making this cover a first day cover. The 9.30 pm. date on the stamp also proves the first day flight.