1. In 1916 Whites purchased the land and set up an airfield which opened at the end of March 1916. In addition a parcel of land nearby was purchased and a new factory was built. In addition the RAF used the aerodrome in 1918 and 1919, basing the Coastal Battery Co-operation School aircraft there (a dozen BE2Cs). However with the end of WW1, the RAF left in late 1919, and Whites having ceased aircraft production in July 1919, the airfield lapsed into (temporary) disuse.

During the early 20s the airfield operated as an unlicensed aerodrome used by light aircraft and gliders. From 1929 Saunders (later SARO) took over the airfield and used it for flight testing. They were joined on 20th February 1931 by Spartan Aircraft who moved into the buildings previously used by J.S.White.