As it moves towards the quieter winter opening period the Newark Air Museum is starting to work at creating a new display area in Hangar 1, which will be used to house a new display to highlight the regions aviation contributions to World War I.

Many of Nottinghamshire’s early aviation contributions are well documented, such as the World War I landing grounds and the legendary fighter ace Captain Albert Ball, VC. These were recently recorded in the Aviation in Nottinghamshire booklet published by the Newark Air Museum thanks to a Nottinghamshire County Council Local Improvement Scheme project grant.

Researchers at the museum are now trying to locate more details of a possible aircraft manufacturing side to the county’s history. This research has been sparked by a document in the museum’s archive (copy attached) that refers to The Nottingham Aircraft Manufacturing Co Limited.

This document is a copy of a letter that was sent to Abbott & Co Ltd on 15 May 1918 by The Nottingham Aircraft Manufacturing Co Limited. Newark Air Museum are keen to make contact with anyone who may have heard of this Nottingham based company.

On the letterhead The Nottingham Aircraft Manufacturing Co Limited listed its Head Office as 32 King Street, Nottingham; this was struck through and a new location was typed in as Castle Meadow Road, Nottingham. Did this company become part of the Royal Ordnance Factory in Nottingham?

The letter was sent to Abbott & Co Ltd offering to supply Tube Expanders; it stated that they (The Nottingham Aircraft Manufacturing Co Limited) were already supplying “large contracts for Admiralty Expanders”. The letter was signed by the company’s Managing Director W H Pease.

Any feedback on this company or indeed any other World War I aircraft manufacturing companies in the county would be appreciated. This information can be submitted via the contact form on the museum website at www.newarkairmuseum.org.

www.newarkairmuseum.org