1910 The distinction of being 'the founder' of Southampton Airport falls to Eric Rowland Moon who periodically used the meadows of North Stoneham Farm to fly his homemade monoplane, Moonbeam Mk II.

1917 Stoneham Farm was requisitioned by the War Office to build an Aircraft Acceptance Park, but before it was completed the base was given to the US Navy to develop an assembly area for future bombing operations in Northern Europe.

1921 A number of shipping companies moved in and used the facilities as a trans-migrant centre. Renamed Atlantic Park Hostel, flying activities at the airfield were curtailed until the end of the 1920s.

1932 Southampton Corporation purchased Atlantic Park and the airfield became Southampton Municipal Airport.

1936 On 5 March Captain Joseph 'Mutt' Summers, chief test pilot with Vickers Supermarine Ltd, took the prototype of the Spitfire K5054, out on its maiden flight. The Spitfire, designed by legendary designer Reginald Joseph ('RJ') Mitchell, was a winner and soon went into full production. They were designed and built locally in Woolston and were then assembled and tested at Southampton Airport.

1939 RAF Southampton was recommissioned as HMS Raven and subsequently spent most of the war in a ground and air training role for the Royal Navy. In an attempt to disrupt the assembly of aircraft, sporadic raids were made on the airport. However German propaganda did not quite get it right when they reported that HMS Raven had been sunk!

1945 Resumption of a regular air service to the Channel Islands marked the return of the war-time aerodrome to a municipal airport, subsequently nationalised in 1948.

1960s Mr. J. N. Somers, owner at the time of a small airfield in Hertfordshire, secured the future of Southampton Airport when he purchased it from Southampton Corporation.

A number of airport improvements including the construction of a 1723m concrete runway were carried out, as routes and frequency of flights increased.

In the first year of operation with the new runway, 273,247 passengers passed through the airport, almost four times the figure for the previous year.

1970s The recession led to a reduction in passenger numbers, but undeterred, a new air traffic control tower was built and AR1 Surveillance Radar installed.

1984 Airports UK Ltd, a wholly subsidary of BAA plc, was appointed to manage the operational activities of Southampton Airport and set about improving the facilities and attracting new services.

1988 A consortium headed by Peter de Savary bought the airport site from Mr. Somers and applied for planning permission for the complete redevelopment of the airport as well as the construction of two business parks.

 

1990 BAA plc purchased the site apart from the proposed business parks and announced its intentions to invest £27 million in the complete redevelopment of the airport.

1993 Detailed planning permission was granted and work began on the construction of the new facilities.

1994 The 'New Southampton Airport' was opened by HRH the Duke of York.

1996 Over 560,000 passengers pass through the Airport. A new record.

1997 631,000 passengers travelled through the airport as new destinations and modern aircraft were added to Southampton's growing route network.

2001 Construction of a multi-storey car park begins on two thirds of the existing short term car park.

This aerial photo was taken on 7th July 1981, not one of the buildings in the picture survives today. It was before the M27 was completed and shows the twisting railway bridge, which survivies, but without the large roundabout which connects with the motorway junction today.

 

With thanks to BAA for providing the historical information.

http://www.souairport.co.uk/