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RAF Hornchurch

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RAF Hornchurch was an airfield in the south of Hornchurch in what is now the London Borough of Havering. Its operational life spanned 47 years. It was opened in 1915 and closed in 1962. It was a key air force installation between both wars and in to the jet age.

During World War I it was called Suttons Farm Airfield (for the Royal Flying Corps) and it defended London against Zeppelin airships. The command centre in the latter days of the Great War (with the RAF now independent of the Army) was at RAF Upminster Hall (HQ 49 Wing), which also commanded RAF North Weald and RAF Hainault. At least one VC was earned by a Suttons Farm pilot (Lt.Leefe-Robinson), the first Zeppelin brought down was credited to the Station, and other First World War pilots such as Lt.Sowrey are commemorated by street names in South Hornchurch to this day.

The Station was renamed RAF Hornchurch in 1928 and during World War 2 was a Sector Airfield of Fighter Command's 11 Group, covering London and the south east of England during the Battle of Britain in 1940. By this time, its command centre was in Romford, and a satellite station (an advanced attack outpost; RAF Rochford) was unpopular with the Hornchurch crews sent there from time to time because of the canvas accommodation.

Situated 14 miles (22.5 km) east north-east of Charing Cross, the air base was in a key location (in bomb alley), being able to cover both London and the Thames corridor from German air attacks. With this strategic location in mind, the RAF increased the defences and fortifications of the base. Hornchurch was home to Flying Training Command's Aircrew Selection Centre for 10 years before it moved to RAF Biggin Hill and the RAF station at Hornchurch closed in April 1962.

RAF Hornchurch has the largest number of surviving Tett Turrets in the whole of England. RAF Hornchurch Battle of Britain artefacts and memorabilia are housed in the Purfleet Heritage & Military Centre.

Squadrons

During the Battle of Britain, RAF Hornchurch became home to many squadrons:

Land re-use

The land was reused to create Hornchurch Country Park and part of the land formerly occupied by the airfield is now a housing estate - the Airfield estate. The names of the streets of the estate commemorate the airfield and its pilots (such as Bouchier Walk, Kirton Close, Tempest Way, Robinson Close, Tuck Road, Bader Way and Malan Square).

A local school, The R. J. Mitchell School, was named after the man who designed the Spitfire, and a large monument to this effect, with wreaths placed on Remembrance Day, is within the school railings. Another local school (Suttons School) was re-named Sanders Draper School after an American pilot, Flying Officer Raimund (Smudge) Sanders-Draper, flying with the Royal Air Force at the time, had an engine failure on take-off and stayed at his controls to ensure his aircraft didn't crash on the building, which was full of children at the time.

A DVD movie about RAF Hornchurch, produced by Mike Jones, is available. The Good Intent pub, formerly with a large concrete, planetarium-like dome next door (used for training airgunners), still exists on the Hornchurch Road, was popular with the aircrews, and has an interesting collection of photos of the Station.

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