A CAMPAIGN has been launched to honour the memories of 17 young men killed during the First World War in flying accidents.

Money will be raised for a granite plaque in Wolvercote to remember those who died while serving at the Port Meadow aerodrome.

During the war the Meadow, which was first established as an airfield in 1911, was used as a training ground for the Royal Flying Corps, accommodating 10 large canvas hangars and several hundred personnel at its peak.

But Howard Crapper, 65, of the Wolvercote WWI Aerodrome Memorial Project, said fatalities at the site were little known.

Among the 17 men were trainees, instructors and combat veterans, most in their 20s and four with gallantry medals.

They were killed between 1917 and 1918 in training or other accidents while serving at the aerodrome or visiting it.

Mr Crapper, who lives near Shrivenham, said: “We want to raise local awareness of the aerodrome during the centenary commemoration period for the First World War and – most importantly – visibly recognise the ultimate sacrifice made by the 17 young airmen who died.”

Eight of the men killed are buried in Wolvercote Cemetery with another one buried in Botley, two in Ascot and the others repatriated to home towns elsewhere in the UK.

Mr Crapper said the campaign group wanted to have the new memorial for the men in place by November 2018.

Early designs have been drawn up for the plaque, which it is hoped could be placed near one of the concrete huts at the Wolvercote bathing place’s car park, off Godstow Road.

It would be similar to the plaque on Airmen’s Bridge, near the Trout Inn at Godstow, which marks the first crash involving Port Meadow on September 10, 1912.

A Bristol monoplane due to land there came down after a wire came loose and tore a hole in its starboard wing, killing pilot Lieutenant Claude Bettington, 30, and his observer, Second Lieutenant Edward Hotchkiss, 28.

Mr Crapper said his group wanted to repeat the fundraising drive held for that plaque, when more than 2,000 local people contributed towards the cost.

The grandfather-of-one added: “At the time people were shocked because that sort of crash in Oxford was very unusual, but we hope people here will get involved in this project too.”

At the moment the group is setting up a system for people to donate cash to the project.

It also hopes to install a panel with the plaque to provide a brief description of the history of the aerodrome.

Port Meadow became a training aerodrome for the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 to meet the huge demand for new pilots.

The livestock grazing there were moved every morning so planes could take off.

The equipment and hangars were taken away at the end of the conflict, but it remained in use and the Prince of Wales – future King Edward VIII – landed there in June 1933 when he visited the city.