History of Southern Aircraft (Gatwick) Ltd, 1939 - 1962,

by Peter Amos & Brian Buss

In 1935, John Coxon set up Southern Motor & Aircraft Company, which in November 1938, moved to Gatwick Airport to undertake the sale and maintenance of light aircraft and shortly afterwards, it changed its name to Southern Aircraft (Gatwick) Ltd. On the outbreak of war in September 1939, the company became part of the Civilian Repair Organisation and handled a large variety of different aircraft, besides designing and manufacturing components for RAF aircraft.

Post-war, Southern Aircraft (Gatwick) Ltd, purchased various surplus RAF aircraft for refurbishment and sale and undertook other engineering activities until Gatwick Airport was closed for redevelopment in 1954.

This book, derived from detailed research and with full support of the Coxon family archives, comprehensively describes the history and growth of the company from its inception in 1935 to its final demise in the 1960s. It particularly covers in detail all the aircraft handled along with a large number of previously unpublished photographs.