For decades it was part of the beating heart of Felixstowe.
RAF Felixstowe in the 1930s - today the whole area is covered by the port.
FSR Berths 8 & 9 now sit on this site
Mayor of Felixstowe Jan Garfield was thrilled with her flight in a Catalina flying boat - the plane wil be part of an anniversary flypast to mark ther centenary of RAF Felixstowe on August 4.She is accompanied by town council officer Celia Page, Rageenee Hope from the Port of Felixstowe, and her escort, husband Jon.
The resort is marking the anniversary on Sunday with Wings on Waves, a day of events including an air display featuring a flypast by a Catalina flying boat.
The air base – known at times as RAF Felixstowe and also as the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment (MAEE) – stood where the Port of Felixstowe today has its container quays.
It saw active service in wartime but as the MAEE was an operation which saw the design and testing of hundreds of seaplanes and flying boats, both military and civilian, and other aeronautical equipment.
The celebrations will begin with a special church service at 11am at St John’s Church in Orwell Road, followed by a seafront parade, led by the Harwich Pipe Band, from the Spa Pavilion to the Town Hall at about 12.30pm.
The parade is open to everyone and will be visible from Undercliff Road West, the prom or Wolsey Gardens.
At 3pm, an air display will take place – weather permitting – over the sea, opposite Felixstowe Town Hall.
Star of the show will be the historic Consolidated PBY twin-engined Catalina, known as Miss Pick me Up and sponsored by the Port of Felixstowe, and due to start the display.
Other aircraft taking part will be the Trig Aerobatic Team, scheduled for 3.12pm, Sea King helicopter at 3.26pm, Cessna 305C, Bird Dog G-PDOG and Auster AOP 11 at 3.43pm, the Yak52 and ME 108 at 3.55pm, with a Spitfire rounding off the entertainment at 4.12pm.
Stephen Rampley, Felixstowe’s events co-ordinator, said: “It promises to be a thrilling aerial spectacle.”
On Saturday night historian Phil Hadwen will be giving an illustrated talk on the air station at St John’s John at at 7.30pm. Admission free.
Mr Hadwen is also part of the team from the Felixstowe Society which is producing a limited edition run of 1,500 souvenir booklets about the seaplanes base.
Mr Rampley said another highlight of the celebrations would be a replica of the Schneider Trophy on display at Felixstowe Museum from August 7.
The worldwide air high-speed challenge trophy was won three times by teams from Felixstowe – in 1927, 1929 and 1931.
And yesterday following a special ceremony and a seafront parade in front of thousands of people, it returned to mark the 100th anniversary of sea planes flying out of the town.
Stars of the Wings on Waves show, which was organised by Felixstowe Town Council, included a rare Catalina flying boat – its appearance sponsored by the Port of Felixstowe – and a Spitfire.
Graham Newman, deputy mayor of Felixstowe, said the event had been a great day for the town.
He said: “It has been a really successful event and that’s down to people like the mayor who really driven the project and a number of people in the town hall office. The place has been absolutely packed.
“It has been very good news for the town.
“It’s one thing getting people here to commemorate something, but actually they have come to see the town when it has been in fine fettle.”
For most of its long history, the RAF Felixstowe air station was associated with seaplanes and flying boats. Known as Sea Planes – Felixstowe but officially the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment, it opened on August 5, 1913, under the command of Squadron Captain CE. Risk.
During the years the Felixstowe base operated as the MAEE, more than 250 types of seaplanes and flying boats – military and civilian aircraft – and others were tested and designed there.
Inventor of the jet engine flying officer Frank Whittle was stationed at the base, which also held tests of jet fighters and a jet-powered flying boat, as well as experiments with floating docks and de-icing.
The base, which was also home to the world high-speed flying champions team, closed in 1962.
A really good day for all the people / visitors at Felixstowe
Felixstowe Wings on Waves Airshow, 4th August, 2013
A glimpse of Felixstowe's first seafront airshow, featuring the outstanding Catalina flying boat, Pitt Special stunt planes, the Cessna Bird-Dog, Auster AOP, Yak 52, ME 108, and the iconic Spitfire.
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