EPW037865 ENGLAND. Clifton upon Dunsmore, DH.82A Tiger Moth G-ABUL and Airspeed AS.4 Ferry G-ABSI of the National Aviation Day Display team in flight, 1932

It is possible to locate the view in this picture quite precisely. Clifton-upon-Dunsmore is a village which lies about 2 and a half miles east of Rugby town (Warwickshire) and is reached by taking the Clifton Road out of the town. Clifton Road crosses the main railway line from London to Rugby station and thence to Birmingham and to the the North-West, running downhill (with Rugby Golf course on the right) to Butlers Leap and then uphill, over the canal and onwards, up Vicarage Hill, through a series of moderate bends to reach Clifton-upon-Dunsmore itself.

In the photograph, Clifton can be seen in the distance immediately under the tail fuselage of the upper biplane, the road from Clifton running back down towards the camera, housing on the south side of Vicarage Hill being seen in the lower right part of the photo, before the road reaches and crosses the canal bridge, continuing on towards Butlers Leap, which is just this side of the base of the photo.

Thus, it is possible to determine that this photo was taken from a third 'plane, whilst all three were approximately ove the main NorthWest railway line just south west of Rugby itself, the biplanes flying in an approximately northerly direction.

The building seen on the far side of the canal and to the left of the canal bridge still exists and is part of a narrow-boat enterprise, called Clifton Cruisers. Nowadays there are houses on the left side of Vicarage Hill as well.

The branch line seen under the tail fuselage of the lower biplane fell victim to Dr Beecham's axe in the 1960s.

Clifton Bill at your service

Hi Class31,



This might be my favourite NADD image. Thanks for the location, we'll update the catalogue and post the new detail here in due course.



Yours, Katy

Britain from Above Cataloguing Team Leader