As can be seen from the map above ,the evolution of Christchurch Airfield was complex.The first beginnings were in July 1926 on the area known as "Burrysfield" (area "A")which was used for pleasure flights.In May 1928,the Hampshire Aero Club operated from fields adjacent to the Somerford Garage.The next step was when Francis C Fisher leased the area marked as"D" near Somerford Bridge.He operated from there for four summer seasons,until his lease ran out.The original field was still in use at the time.In 1933 Burry started operating from areas "A+B+C" as the Shamrock and Rambler Air Station.Airline services commenced on 14/5/34 with Western Airways operating a DH Dragon.On the inaugural flight the aircraft mistakenly landed at Fishers field and became bogged down in soft ground.Henceforth the airfield was known as Christchurch Airport until February 1935 when it became known as Bournemouth Airport, encompassing areas" A+B+C+D".

New services were operated by Cobham Air Routes toGuernsey and Croydon using Westland Wessex aircraft.A hangar was built to accomodate the aircraft overnight.

Over the next five years airline services were operated to Cardiff & Shoreham(Channel Air Ferries Ltd), and to Ryde(IOW) by PSIOWA.

In the early days of 1940 the Airspeed factory ,built on part of the original Fishers field ,commenced production .This factory produced Horsa glider,Oxfords,and Mosquitos during WW2.Therafter,as part of De Havillands,it produced the Ambassador airliner, Vampires,Sea Venoms and Sea Vixens before closure in 1962.

At the beginning of WW2 the government Air Defence Research and Development Establishment was built at the north eastern end of the airfield,and in May 1940 the Special Duties Flight ,operating a very mixed bag of aircraft ,arrived to take part in the experiments with Radar.The SDF operated such diverse types as the Blenheim,Avro 504K,Scott Viking gliders,and eventually,3 Hurricanes for defence.In addition ,the Fleet Air Arm sent aircraft for Radar trials from HMS Raven at Eastliegh,though these were only transient visitors.

During 1943 the steel mesh runway was laid by the USAAF on land to the south of the existing airfield.The USAAF moved in in March 1944 when the 405FG arrived with509/ 510/511 Squadrons,equipped with P-47D Thunderbolts.The USAAF left soon after D-Day following a not uneventful stay and the airfield was returned to RAF control.In March 1945 control passed to Transport Command.The main activities continued to be production(Mosquitos) from Airspeed ,Radar trials,and Glider pick-up training.In January 1946 control of the airfield passed to the Ministry of Aircraft Production.

Civilian flying returned to Christchurch after the war. Christchurch Aero club operated from the north side whilst on the southwestern tip of the field the 622 Glider School operated for many years from a hangar just outside the airfield boundary.In 1954 the Military Experimental Engineering Establishment from Christchurch ,laid a Tarmac runway on the site of the WW2 wire mesh runway,The main benificiaries of this exercise were De Havillands who were by now turning out Vampires and Ambassadors. However ,time was running out for Christchurch ,and following the closure of De Havillands factory in 1962,the airfield rapidly declined.The ATC departed in July 1963 and the Aero Club closed in 1964.The airfield officially closed at the end of 1964,although occasional aircraft movements took place for several years after that date. My last fixed wing sighting at Christchurch was early 1970- but even after that there were occasional helicopter arrival/departures at SRDE (located at the eastern end of the field.Although SRDE(Signal Research and Developement Establishment) used a helipad on their Sports Field (outside the airfield boundary)for civil visitors, military (mainly AAC) helicopters usually landed on the old airfield just outside the SRDE southeastern perimeter fence.However,eventually all activity ceased and the airfield site was built on ,and today nothing remains except some of the Airspeed buildings,and streets named after aircraft.A downloadable file showing aircraft production by Airspeed/De Havilland is available here or at my other web site"Aviation in Hampshire UK 1900 to 2000.