Hunsdon was Built by several contractors. The main contractor for the perimeter track and runways
were George Wimpey & Co Ltd. Most of the buildings were built by H.J. Janes of Luton Ltd. Work was started on the 9th
of October 1940, and the airfield officially opened on the 4th of May 1941.
Hunsdon was used as a satellite landing field for nearby North
Weald at first, and became a significant airfield for the fledgling night - fighter force of the Royal Air Force. It became
home to 85 Squadron and its charismatic leader, Group Captain Peter Townsend, who, in later years, was linked, romantically,
with H.R.H. The Princess Margaret. Ironically, Princess Margaret's ancestor, Queen Elizabeth 1st, stayed at Hunsdon House
plotting the downfall of the Spanish Armada, 400 years previously.
85 Squadron flew Hawker Hurricanes in the early part of
1941, as a night fighter squadron after a successful, and fruitful, campaign, during the Battle Of Britain. The Squadron reverted
to this role with their black painted Hurricanes, to try and combat the increasing Luftwaffe raids on London, and the midlands,
at night. They were guided by ground radar, with experienced controllers. The process was known as "Ground Control Intercept",
or GCI.
85 Squadron were to change their faithful Hurricanes, briefly ,for the Boulton - Paul Defiant, and then,
again, for the twin - engined Douglas Havoc. These aircraft were to be used by the French Air Force, but were diverted
to England after France capitulated. 85 Squadron later converted to de Havilland Mosquito aircraft and enjoyed success as
a fully fledged nightfighter squadron before moving to West Malling, in the county of Kent .
No 3 (F) Squadron operated Hawker Hurricanes, converting to
Hawker Typhoons, and shared Hunsdon with 85 Squadron for some time, and were one of the oldest Squadrons formed in the RAF.
The first squadron to actually have aircraft, 1 Squadron, operated kites, while II Squadron operated Balloons, hence
the 3(F) squadron motto- 'Third but foremost'. To combat the rivalry, both II and 3 Squadron's Commanding Officers took to
the air at the same time from the same field.
The main runway at Hunsdon was orientated
East /West on 270°/090 °. The secondary runway NNE/SSW, on 210°/030°. Main runway
length was originally 1,450 yards long, but, extended later by 300 yards to the east, to a total length of 1,750 yards. The
secondary runway was also extended by 200 yards to the South, to a total length of 1,450 yards. both were
50 yards wide and the perimeter track was 50 feet wide. The extensions show up easily on the Air Ministry plans
below and by walking it is possible to see the different mix of Concrete used for the extensions.
Full night flying capabilites were installed
using DREM lighting as standard, with an angle of approach indicator system installed.
Units known to have operated from Hunsdon
85 Squadron,( Hawker Hurricane, Boulton-Paul Defiant, Douglas
Boston/Havoc)
287 Squadron (Boulton Paul Defiant 2's)
1451 flight (Turbinlite flight, Douglas Boston/Havoc)
29 Squadron (Mosquito's)
3 Squadron(F) (Hawker Hurricane 2c's)
1530 flight (Airspeed Oxford's)
157 Squadron (Mosquito's)
515 Squadron (Bristol Beaufighters and Boulton-Paul Defiant's)
406 (RCAF) Squadron (Mosquito's)
409 (RCAF) Squadron (Mosquito's),
410(Cougar) Squadron RCAF (Mosquito's)
418 (RCAF) Squadron (Mosquito's)
21(City of Norwich) Squadron, 464 (Australia), and 487 (New Zealand)
Squadrons all equipped with Mosquito's and forming 140 wing of the 2nd Tactical Air Force.
264 Squadron ( Mosquito's)
488 (New Zealand) Squadron (Mosquito's)
151 Squadron (Mosquito's)
501 (county of Gloucester) Squadron (Hawker Tempest's)
530 Squadron (Turbinlight,formed from 1451 flight, Boston/Havoc)
611(Mustang 4's) and 154 (Mustang 4's and Spitfire Mk6) Squadrons forming
the Hunsdon Wing , 442(RCAF) using the now disbanded 154 Squadrons aircraft.
Several other Squadrons paid brief visits lasting only a few days,
these included, 242, 56, 2, 605 , 4 (B flight only), and 219 (Belgium) Squadrons.
Several aircraft types operated from Hunsdon, but by far the most numerous
were the Mosquito's of the Royal Canadian Air Force, initially as Nightfighter squadrons and then on "Intruder" operations.
This type of operation involved aircraft to orbit at a small distance, from known German nightfighter airfields on the continent,
and then engage enemy aircraft as they either took off, or landed. The RCAF squadrons were also involved in the defence of
Southern England against the V1 flying bomb menace, 409 Sqdn downing 10 of these, and 418 Sqdn is quoted as having
destroyed a staggering 82 V1 flying bombs.
There were 9 seperate sites that made up the entire airfield site of
Hunsdon. No 1, to No 8, were technical or living accomodation sites, and were to the West of the flying field to which I refer
to as site No 9, the original airfield plans lists sites 1 to 8, each containing around 20 to 33 or so buildings, mostly Maycrete,
Thornycroft, and Nissen hutting.
These buildings housed the camp cinema (350 seats), canteens, ablution
blocks, motor transport sheds, and road fuel storage compounds.
Other sites contained the NCO barracks, and Officers quarters, with
the main Officers Mess at the large country house of "Bonningtons". The DF station was to the West of the field , with the
VHF station to the North. A seperate sewage works, with four buildings, was also included within the sites.
Aircraft hangers were of the "blister" type, of which there were 16
placed around the perimeter tracks, with one large "Bellman" hanger in the main technical site on the Northern side of the
flying field. The runways were concrete with ashphalt topping.
In total there were 448 individual huts and buildings that made up
the airfield. Today, you will find almost none; the last remaining Blister hanger that I photographed some years ago has gone,
not even the base remaining. The only seemingly unmoveable structures, are the "Pillbox" type, airfield defences. The parachute
store is ,sadly, due to be demolished soon , its demise down to 'Health and Safety' reasons.
Former Station Commanders were:
Wing Commander Harvey. DFC.
W/Cdr Peter Townsend .DFC
W/Cdr Harvey. DFC
W/Cdr J R A Peel .DSO. DFC
W/Cdr J S Maclean. DFC
W/Cdr J Hamblin
W/Cdr John Cunningham .DSO .DFC
W/Cdr H M Kerr .AFC
S/Ldr J G Saunders
W/Cdr A L Mortimer.
Station Radio
Callsign's were "Bemax" and "Miser",
There were on average around 100 officers, 140 NCO's, 2,000 other
ranks, with 268 WAAF's, 5 officers and 3 NCO's, based at Hunsdon during its operational life, and
was defended, first, by the army , and then by the RAF Regiment, consisting of 2728 , 2727, 2734, and 2715 squadrons. Ground
to Air defence was provided by 517 Troop of 119 Battery, Light (LAA) anti - aircraft with bofors guns. 334 Battery
and 33 Searchlight Regiment were also stationed here.
