Hunsdon Airfield
Encyclopedia
Hunsdon Airfield is a largely defunct airfield near Hunsdon
, Hertfordshire
(just north of Harlow
, Essex
), England
. The airfield was operational between 1941 and 1945.
, flying Hurricane
Mk1s.
In June No. 1451 Flight was formed. This experimental unit flew Bostons with searchlights fitted in the nose of the aircraft. This experiment was not successful and the unit was reformed as No. 530 Squadron RAF
in September 1942. Numerous Squadrons and Wings used the airfield during its operational life. Hunsdon is most closely associated, however, with the de Havilland Mosquito
aircraft, which first arrived in 1943.
On 18 February 1944, Mk 4s' from No. 21 Squadron RAF
, 464 Squadron (Australia) RAF
, and 487 Squadron (New Zealand) RAF
which formed No 140 Wing (Wing Commander P C Pickard
DSO DFC) carried out Operation Jericho
, otherwise known as the Amiens Prison Raid
The airfield was closed in 1945.
at Hunsdon was demolished in the mid-2000s.
Now closed, the original runways and perimeter track are now considerably reduced in size and used mainly by agricultural vehicles. Hunsdon Microlight Club uses three grass runways situated in the north east corner of the airfield.
On 22 May 2005, a memorial was unveiled and dedicated to the groundcrew, aircrew and support staff who were based at RAF Hunsdon from 1941–45.
All of the remaining buildings at Hunsdon Airfield are no longer accessible due to safety reasons.
Hunsdon
Hunsdon is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England.Hunsdon village centre contains many old houses, some known to date back to at least the 15th century...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
(just north of Harlow
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
), England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The airfield was operational between 1941 and 1945.
History
RAF Hunsdon, as Hunsdon Airfield was once known, become operational in 1941. The first unit to arrive at the Airfield (in May 1941) was No. 85 Squadron RAFNo. 85 Squadron RAF
No. 85 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It most recently served as No. 85 Squadron based at RAF Church Fenton.-In World War I:...
, flying Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
Mk1s.
In June No. 1451 Flight was formed. This experimental unit flew Bostons with searchlights fitted in the nose of the aircraft. This experiment was not successful and the unit was reformed as No. 530 Squadron RAF
No. 530 Squadron RAF
No. 530 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.-History:No. 530 Squadron was formed at RAF Hunsdon, Hertfordshire on 8 September 1942, from No. 1451 Flight, as part of No. 11 Group RAF in Fighter Command...
in September 1942. Numerous Squadrons and Wings used the airfield during its operational life. Hunsdon is most closely associated, however, with the de Havilland Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
aircraft, which first arrived in 1943.
On 18 February 1944, Mk 4s' from No. 21 Squadron RAF
No. 21 Squadron RAF
No. 21 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1915 and was disbanded for the last time in 1979.The squadron is famous for Operation Jericho: on 18 February 1944, the crews of de Havilland Mosquitoes breached the walls of a Gestapo prison at Amiens, France, allowing members of the French...
, 464 Squadron (Australia) RAF
No. 464 Squadron RAAF
No. 464 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force bomber squadron during World War II.-History:The Squadron was officially formed on 1 September 1942 at RAF Feltwell, Norfolk in the United Kingdom, under the Empire Air Training Scheme. No...
, and 487 Squadron (New Zealand) RAF
No. 487 Squadron RNZAF
No. 487 Squadron was a Royal New Zealand Air Force bomber squadron, formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme. It served in the European theatre during World War II, under the operational command of the Royal Air Force.-History:No...
which formed No 140 Wing (Wing Commander P C Pickard
Percy Charles Pickard
Group Captain Percy Charles "Pick" Pickard DSO & Two Bars, DFC, was a British bomber pilot and commander during World War II. He is best remembered by the public for his role in the 1941 wartime propaganda film Target for Tonight in which he featured as the pilot of 'F for Freddie' – a Wellington...
DSO DFC) carried out Operation Jericho
Operation Jericho
Operation Jericho was a low-level World War II bombing raid by Allied aircraft on Amiens Prison in German-occupied France on 18 February 1944. The stated object of the raid was to free French Resistance and political prisoners. The raid is remarkable for the precision and daring of the attack,...
, otherwise known as the Amiens Prison Raid
The airfield was closed in 1945.
Units based at RAF Hunsdon 1941–1945
RAF units based here during the Second World War are:| Wing | SQN | Flights | Brief Stays | Hunsdon Wing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 140 2 TAF RAF Second Tactical Air Force The former RAF Second Tactical Air Force was one of three tactical air forces within the Royal Air Force during and after the Second World War... |
85 No. 85 Squadron RAF No. 85 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It most recently served as No. 85 Squadron based at RAF Church Fenton.-In World War I:... |
1451 | 242 No. 242 Squadron RAF No. 242 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron. It flew in many roles during its active service and it is also known for being the first squadron Douglas Bader commanded.-In World War I:No... |
611 (West Lancashire) No. 611 Squadron RAF No. 611 Squadron was a British Auxiliary Air Force later Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron first formed in 1936 and lastly disbanded in 1957.-Early years:... |
| 287 | 1530 | 406 (Canada) No. 406 Squadron RCAF 406 "City of Saskatoon" Maritime Operational Training Squadron is an air force unit with the Canadian Forces. Based at 12 Wing Shearwater it is responsible for crew training on the Sea King. The squadron was originally an Royal Canadian Air Force unit flying with RAF Fighter Command.-History:It...  |
154 (Motor Industry) | |
| 3F No. 3 Squadron RAF No 3 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Typhoon F2, FGR4 and T3 from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.No 3 Squadron, which celebrated its 95th anniversary over the weekend of 11-13 May 2007, is unique in the RAF for having two official crests.... |
56(F) | 442 (Caribou) Canada No. 442 Squadron RCAF 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force of the Canadian Forces. Based at CFB Comox on Vancouver Island it provides Search and Rescue coverage for the West Coast of Canada... |
||
| 530 No. 530 Squadron RAF No. 530 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.-History:No. 530 Squadron was formed at RAF Hunsdon, Hertfordshire on 8 September 1942, from No. 1451 Flight, as part of No. 11 Group RAF in Fighter Command... |
605 (County of Warwick) RAuxAF No. 605 Squadron RAF No 605 Squadron was formed as an Auxiliary Air Force Squadron. Initially formed as a bomber unit, it was one of the most successful participants of the Battle of Britain. It also had the distinction of being active during World War II at two fronts at a time, when the squadron was split up between... |
|||
| 157 No. 157 Squadron RAF No. 157 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was active as a night fighter unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:No. 157 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed on 14 July 1918 at RAF Upper Heyford and was eventually equipped with Salamander aircraft for ground support duties,... |
2 (AC) No. 2 Squadron RAF No. 2 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is currently one of two RAF squadrons operating in the reconnaissance role with the Tornado GR4A and GR4 and is based at RAF Marham, Norfolk.No. II Squadron holds claim to being "the oldest heavier-than-air flying machine squadron in the world", along with No... |
|||
| 515 (Mandrel) No. 515 Squadron RAF No. 515 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force formed during the Second World War. It stood at the brink of Electronic countermeasures warfare, jamming enemy radar installations from October 1942. This was first done as only such squadron in the RAF, but later in the war together with... |
4(AC) No. IV Squadron RAF No.4 Squadron, of the Royal Air Force operated the Harrier GR7, GR9 and T10 from RAF Wittering until January 2011.-Formation and First World War:... |
|||
| 410 (Cougar) Canada No. 410 Squadron RCAF 410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron, nicknamed the "Cougars", is a Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft squadron currently located at Canada's primary training base for the CF-18 , at Cold Lake, Alberta... |
219 (Belgium) | |||
| 21 (City Of Norwich) No. 21 Squadron RAF No. 21 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1915 and was disbanded for the last time in 1979.The squadron is famous for Operation Jericho: on 18 February 1944, the crews of de Havilland Mosquitoes breached the walls of a Gestapo prison at Amiens, France, allowing members of the French... |
||||
| 464 (Australia) No. 464 Squadron RAAF No. 464 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force bomber squadron during World War II.-History:The Squadron was officially formed on 1 September 1942 at RAF Feltwell, Norfolk in the United Kingdom, under the Empire Air Training Scheme. No...  |
||||
| 487 (New Zealand) No. 487 Squadron RNZAF No. 487 Squadron was a Royal New Zealand Air Force bomber squadron, formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme. It served in the European theatre during World War II, under the operational command of the Royal Air Force.-History:No...  |
||||
| 409 (Nighthawk) Canada No. 409 Squadron RCAF 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron operates the CF-18 Hornet from CFB Cold Lake in Alberta, Canada.-History:... |
||||
| 29 No. 29 Squadron RAF No. 29 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was first raised in 1915, and is one of the world's oldest fighter squadrons. The second British squadron to receive the Eurofighter Typhoon, it is currently the Operational Conversion Unit for the RAF's newest fighter.-Service in World War I:This unit was... |
||||
| 264 No. 264 Squadron RAF No. 264 Squadron RAF also known as No 264 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force formed from two former Royal Naval Air Service flights, No. 439 and No. 440, on 27 September 1918 at Souda Bay, Crete to perform anti-submarine patrols. It operated the Short 184 floatplanes on patrols in the... |
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| 418 (City of Edmonton) Canada |
||||
| 488 (New Zealand) No. 488 Squadron RNZAF 488 Squadron was the name given to two distinct Royal New Zealand Air Force squadrons during the Second World War. Both were formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme and served under the operational command of the Royal Air Force.... |
||||
| 501 (City of Gloucester) RAuxAF No. 501 Squadron RAF No 501 Squadron was the fourteenth of the twenty-one flying units in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, the volunteer reserve part of the British Royal Air Force. The squadron won seven battle honours, flying Hurricane, Spitfire and Tempest fighter aircraft during World War II, and was one of the most... |
Today
Today only a few original buildings remain of the former RAF Hunsdon. One such building is the Hunsdon Underground Battle Headquarters, which was designed to provide emergency organisation of airfield defenses should the airfield come under attack. Other remaining buildings include the airfield's three defensive pillboxes, a brick slit trench used as a defence position, a complete "Mushroom" defence position, and Number 3 dispersed site air raid shelter. The last remaining blister hangarBlister hangar
A blister hangar is an arched, portable aircraft hangar patented by Miskins and Sons in 1939. It is made of wooden or steel ribs that are generally covered in steel sheets. It does not require a foundation and can be anchored with iron stakes.-References:*...
at Hunsdon was demolished in the mid-2000s.
Now closed, the original runways and perimeter track are now considerably reduced in size and used mainly by agricultural vehicles. Hunsdon Microlight Club uses three grass runways situated in the north east corner of the airfield.
On 22 May 2005, a memorial was unveiled and dedicated to the groundcrew, aircrew and support staff who were based at RAF Hunsdon from 1941–45.
All of the remaining buildings at Hunsdon Airfield are no longer accessible due to safety reasons.