Croydon Airport was the UK’s primary international hub during the interwar years; it served as the original home of Britain’s first national airline, Imperial Airways. The site achieved several global firsts, including the world’s first purpose-built terminal and air traffic control tower in 1928. It was also here in 1923 that Senior Radio Officer Fred Mockford coined the “Mayday” distress signal, chosen because its phonetic similarity to the French m’aidez ensured clarity for pilots on the Croydon to Paris route.
The airport was a magnet for global icons; Charles Lindbergh landed the Spirit of St. Louis here in 1927, and Amy Johnson departed from the site for her record-breaking solo flight to Australia in 1930. Beyond aviation feats, the airport witnessed the “Great Plane Robbery” of 1935, where five men stole £21,000 in gold bullion that was never recovered. Although it closed in 1959 as international traffic moved to Heathrow, the Grade II* listed terminal remains a monumental piece of heritage.
