Hunsdon was planned as a satellite landing field for nearby
RAF North Weald with work commencing on the 9th May 1940. It officially opened on the 4th may 1941. The runways,
perimeter track and aircraft hardstands were constructed by George Wimpey & Sons Ltd with most of the buildings built
by HJ Janes of Luton. It soon became a significant airfield for the fledgling night - fighter squadrons
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.
After a successful, and fruitful, campaign during the Battle
Of Britain, 85 Squadron reverted to the nightfighter role in 1941 with their black painted Hurricanes. This was to
try and combat the increasing Luftwaffe raids on London and the midlands at night. At first 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
originally sent from the USA 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, 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.
Airfield details.
The main runway at Hunsdon was 1450 yards long by 50 yards
wide and orientated East /West on 260°/080 °. The secondary runway NNE/SSW was to a length of 1250 yards aligned on
210°/030°. The main was extended by a further 300 yards to the east to
a total length of 1,750 yards some months later. The secondary runway was also extended by 200 yards to the South to make
a total length of 1,450 yards.
New perimeter track extentions were laid at the same time.
It was deemed necessary to add a new perimeter track section on the north western side of the airfield thus creating additional
aircraft hardstands. All of this extention work shows up easily by the difference in the conctrete mix, The latter containing
large amounts of flint.
Full night flying capabilites were installed using Drem lighting
as standard, with an angle of approach indicator system installed.
There were 8 domestic sites attached to the airfield
site of Hunsdon and were to the West of the actual airfield. The original plans lists sites 1 to 8, each containing
around 20 to 33 buildings, mostly Temporary Brick, Thornycroft, and Nissen hutting. Hardly any trace of these
dispersed sites remain except for site 1,3,4,and site 8.
Site 1 (The Wilderness) housed Barrack huts, the camp cinema
(350 seats), canteens, ablution blocks, motor transport sheds, and road fuel storage compounds.
The other sites contained the NCO barracks, Officers quarters,
and the WAAF living area. The main Officers Mess was located 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 at the rear of site 1.
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.
In total there were 448 individual huts and buildings that made up
the airfield. Only a handful remain today, the last remaining Blister hanger and the combined Gymnasium/Chapel that
were photographed some years ago have gone. The only seemingly unmoveable structures, are the Pillboxes of the airfield
defence system.
On the airfield, the parachute store, having survived a recent
death sentence still stands along with the following:
Fire tender hut. two sleeping shelters, Small arms ammunition
store, one 20mm ammunition store, six pillboxes, one FC type 'mushroom' gun post, slit trenches and a gun pit.
Of the dispersed sites, Site 1 has only the sewerage works remaining.
Site 2 has only two stanton shelters left. Site 3 has three barrack hut bases, three stanton shelters and a latrine/drying
room. Site 4 at Fillets farm has two Stanton shelters. Site 5, 6 and 7 have totally disapeared. Site 8 contains four
BCF barrack huts.
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.
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.
The Station's
radio callsign's were 'Bemax' and 'Miser'.
There were on average around 100 RAF officers, 140 NCO's and
2,000 other ranks, with 268 WAAF's with 5 officers and 3 NCO's, based at Hunsdon at any given time during
its operational life.
The airfield was defended, first of all by the Army then
later by the RAF Regiment consisting of 2728 , 2727, 2734, and 2715 squadrons RAFR.
Ground to air defence by means of anti-aircraft guns was provided
by 517 Troop of 119 Battery, Light anti aircraft (LAA)with Bofors guns. 334 Battery (LAA) and 33
Searchlight Regiment were also stationed here.
