Jump to content

RAF Uxbridge

Edit links
Coordinates: 51°32′29″N 0°28′19″W / 51.5415°N 0.4719°W / 51.5415; -0.4719
This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Harrison49 (talk | contribs) at 20:58, 15 October 2011 (Non-breaking space). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Royal Air Force Uxbridge
Station crest
Active1917–2010
CountryUnited Kingdom
BranchRoyal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force
Garrison/HQUxbridge, Middlesex
Motto(s)Latin: Juventutem formamus
("We form youth")
Royal Air Force Ensign
EngagementsBattle of Britain
Evacuation of Dunkirk
Preparation for D-Day
Normandy Campaign

RAF Uxbridge was a non-flying Royal Air Force (RAF) station in Uxbridge within the London Borough of Hillingdon. Its grounds covered 44.6 hectares (110 acres), made up from the land of Hillingdon House, which was purchased by the British Government in 1915, three years before the founding of the RAF. Until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the station was open to the public, and a public footpath was open across the site until 1988.

The station is best known as the headquarters of No. 11 Group RAF commanded by Air Vice Marshal Sir Keith Park during the Battle of Britain, when it was responsible for the defence of the main area of combat around London and the South-East of England. Hillingdon House served as the group's headquarters. An underground bunker, subsequently known as the Battle of Britain Bunker, was built nearby to handle the control of fighter squadrons, primarily from the 11 Group Operations Room. The base was responsible for controlling the evacuation of Dunkirk in May 1940 (Operation Dynamo) and the D-Day landings during the latter stages of the Second World War (Operation Overlord). It was also the location where Prime Minister Winston Churchill first made his comment "Never was so much owed by so many to so few", which he later repeated in a speech to Parliament.

Uxbridge closed on 31 March 2010 as part of a reduction in the number of Ministry of Defence properties in the Greater London area. Many of its remaining military units were relocated to the nearby station RAF Northolt the next day. Plans for redevelopment, consisting of a mixture of residential and commercial property allowing for the retention of all listed buildings, were approved in January 2011.[1] A small enclave of the station incorporating the Battle of Britain Bunker will retain the RAF Uxbridge name.

The River Pinn runs through the site from north to south, passing Hillingdon House and the Operations Room and through the wooded land within RAF Uxbridge. The land around the river is designated as greenbelt, and Hillingdon Golf Course borders the south of the station.[2]

History

Early years

The southern entrance to Hillingdon House, circa 1900, later to become St Andrew's Gate

Hillingdon House, the country estate that eventually became RAF Uxbridge, was built in 1717 by the Duke of Schomberg,[3] a German-born general serving under William of Orange (later King William III) who was knighted for his part in the 1690 Battle of the Boyne. The Grade II listed[4] mansion was completely rebuilt after it burned down in 1844 and stood on the site of a previous house, also occupied by the Duke and reputed to have been built in 1617.[3]

The Marchioness of Rockingham, widow of Prime Minister Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, purchased the house from the Chetwynd family in 1786 for £9,000[5] following her husband's death and lived there until her own death in 1804. She left the estate to her stepsister Elizabeth, widow of William Weddell MP, who sold it to Josias Du Pré Porcher in 1805 as she had no need of it.[6]

In 1810 the estate was sold to Richard Henry Cox, grandson of Richard Cox, founder of the travel company Cox & Kings.[3] Cox & Co, as the company was then known, was formed after Richard Cox was appointed agent to the Foot Guards (later the Grenadier Guards). By the end of the 18th century, the company provided banking services for many regiments of the British Army.[7]

First World War

In 1914 the mansion was put on the market by the estate of Frederick Cox, Richard Henry Cox's grandson. It was described as "a brick and stone building, partly stuccoed, with extensive outbuildings and ornamental gardens."[5] The house and gardens, together with the surrounding parkland and an artificial lake created by damming a section of the River Pinn, amounted to over 81 ha (200 acres).[3]

The British Government purchased the estate in 1915, planning to establish a prisoner of war camp. The local population strongly opposed the plan, causing the government to relent, and the site instead became the Canadian Convalescent Hospital to care for troops evacuated from the front line during the First World War.[8] The hospital opened on 20 September 1915 and closed on 12 December 1917.[8]

On 19 November 1917, 114 officers and 1156 men of the Royal Flying Corps Armament School moved into Hillingdon House and made a donation of £2289 12s 9d to the Canadian Red Cross. Needing a site for the training of recruits in ground gunnery, the RFC used parts of the estate not required by the Canadian hospital, and established a firing range.[8] A total of eight of these ranges were built along the River Pinn; one remains today.[9]

On 1 April 1918, the Uxbridge site came under control of the Royal Air Force, which had been formed by amalgamating the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. The following month it became the first RAF station to receive a royal visit, from King George VI.[10]

Inter-war years

The Recruits Training Depot and a detachment of the RAF Depot from RAF Halton arrived in August 1919, merging to form No. 1 Depot, RAF Uxbridge. The station itself was designated RAF Central Depot, Uxbridge. The site was then split to form two new RAF stations, the area to the east of the River Pinn heading uphill to Hillingdon House becoming RAF Hillingdon and the remainder RAF Uxbridge. That year, the building that would later become the station cinema was opened, serving as a lecture hall for new recruits.[11] The RAF School of Music moved to RAF Uxbridge from Hampstead in September 1919. Headquarters Southern Area, Southern Area Medical Headquarters, Southern Area Barrack Stores, and the Southern Area and South Eastern Area Headquarters of the Air Construction Service moved into Hillingdon House in October 1919.[12] T. E. Lawrence, better known as "Lawrence of Arabia", underwent initial training at the Uxbridge Depot in 1922 after enlisting in the RAF under the assumed name John Hume-Ross.[13] He recounted his experiences in The Mint.[14]

The Officers' Mess building at RAF Uxbridge

Uxbridge Football Club was provided with the use of the station stadium from 1923 and played evening matches there.[15] Ten barrack blocks designed by A. Gilpin were built around the parade ground in 1925,[16] as was the RAF Officers' hospital and the original Operations Room, controlled by the Fighting Area of Air Defence of Great Britain (ADGB). The Air Ministry chose RAF Uxbridge as the new base for ADGB on 14 January 1926 due to its proximity to Whitehall. The site had the added advantage of lying on the fringes of London and would therefore be difficult for an enemy to locate and bomb.[17] Having also housed a gymnasium, the lecture hall building became the station cinema in 1927.[11] Initially available for the sole use of station personnel, the cinema soon became open to the general public until the outbreak of war in 1939. At this point the football club was also required to stop its use of the stadium.[15]

On 1 March 1929, the Headquarters of the Royal Observer Corps (ROC) was established at Hillingdon House with Air Commodore Edward Masterman appointed as its first commandant. The Observer Corps remained at RAF Uxbridge until 1 March 1936 when it transferred to RAF Bentley Priory.[18]

Due to its wooden construction the original Operations Room could only be used during the summer months; maintenance of the signalling and communications equipment became difficult under damp winter conditions. A memo dated 16 January 1933, sent to the senior Air Staff Officer, Wing Commander Modin, stated:

"... Uxbridge Royal Air Force buildings would provide an easy bombing target from all points of view, I feel that our Operations Room at least must go underground ... and the sooner it is put there the better, as not only will the re-installation of communications and apparatus generally take time, but if that machinery is to function smoothly in a sudden emergency, installation must have been completed and the whole layout repeatedly worked and tried out before the danger of such emergency arises."[18]

Douglas Bader arrived at the military hospital in 1932 to recover from the amputation of his legs following an air crash. During his stay at the hospital, Bader met the Desoutter brothers, who were beginning to make lightweight artificial legs from aluminium.[19] Once fitted with artificial legs, Bader fought hard to regain his former abilities and in time his efforts paid off. He was able to drive a specially modified car, play golf and even dance. During his convalescence, Bader fell in love with Thelma Edwards, a waitress at a nearby pub called the Pantiles.[20]

Formed on 1 May 1936, No. 11 Group RAF was headquartered at RAF Uxbridge under the command of Air Vice Marshal Philip Joubert de la Ferté, who was succeeded by Sir Ernest Gossage in January 1937. Following the ADGB's reorganisation on 13 July 1936, the new RAF Fighter Command moved to RAF Bentley Priory. The following day, the ADGB became RAF Bomber Command, headquartered in Hillingdon House.[21] Planning for the new No. 11 Group Operations Room (later to become known as the Battle of Britain Bunker) began in August 1937. Initially it was to be buried 66 feet (20 m) below ground but problems with the local London Clay on the site meant it was eventually built by McAlpine at a depth of 60 feet (18 m), although it was still able to withstand being hit by a 500-pound (230 kg) bomb. The bunker was designed by Bob Creer of the Air Ministry.[22] Work began in February 1939 and finished in August the same year, ten days before the outbreak of the Second World War. The original operations room on the surface remained as a back-up but was not required for this purpose and was later renamed Building 76.[23] In August Bomber Command moved to Iver and on 2 September 1939, the new Operations Room and RAF Uxbridge reached operational war readiness.[24]

Second World War

The plotting table within the Battle of Britain Bunker

During the war RAF Uxbridge was tasked with despatching personnel to and from training and operational units in Northern France. It also housed the RAF Uxbridge Language School, where Polish Air Force pilots were taught key RAF codewords.[25] Pilots practised formation flying on the station football pitch, using tricycles fitted with radios, compasses and speed indicators.[26] British Expeditionary Force troops returning from Dunkirk were processed at Uxbridge. In mid-1940, staff at the station processed an average of 2,500 recruits and experienced troops per week.[27]

During the Battle of Britain, fought between July and October 1940, RAF Fighter Command at RAF Bentley Priory received air threat warnings that it filtered to remove duplication, doubt and confusion. These were then forwarded to the group operations rooms at RAF Uxbridge, which would allocate appropriate defence resources and pass orders to No. 11 Group sector airfields.[28] No. 11 Group personnel doubled to 20,000 between April and November 1940. The RAF Officers' hospital was converted to the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) hospital early in 1940. A series of one-day training courses for pilots in the organisation of Group Control took place throughout November.[29]

Prime Minister Winston Churchill visited the station on 16 August 1940, to monitor the battle from the Operations Room. He later made his well-known comment, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few" to General Ismay as they got into their car to leave.[30] Churchill repeated the quote in a speech to Parliament four days later.[31]

Doorway to the former Park House, used by Air Vice Marshall Sir Keith Park

Wing Commander Willoughby de Broke received the Air Force Cross on 11 July 1940 for his service as a Senior Operations Officer for No. 11 Group, working within the operations room.[32] King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the station on 6 September. Churchill was again present at RAF Uxbridge on the fiercest day of fighting of the entire battle – Battle of Britain Day – 15 September 1940. As the last squadrons were sent into battle, Churchill asked Air Vice Marshal Sir Keith Park, "How many reserves have we?" Park answered "There are none".[30] The King and Queen returned on 1 November 1941, by which time a "Royal Box" had been installed from which to observe the plotting room.[30] During 1942, General Charles de Gaulle, Sir Anthony Eden and Lord Mountbatten all visited the 11 Group Operations Room.[30] The actors Rex Harrison (then a squadron leader liasing with Bomber Command), Cyril Raymond and Ronald Adam all worked within the Operations Room.[33]

While overseeing the operations at RAF Uxbridge, Air Vice Marshall Park stayed in a house opposite the entrance to the bunker. He used a small door to reach the bunker from the house each day. In 1996, the house, named Park House after the war in his honour, was demolished; only the garden wall and door was retained.[34]

A delayed action landmine fell on the station on 26 September 1940 between the police school and WAAF Quarters, where it remained until it was defused the following day. On 28 September a bomb fell into a tree 50 yards (46 m) from the Operations Room and was later defused in Harefield.[35] A Junkers Ju 88 attacked the station on 6 October 1940, dropping a bomb beside the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) grocery shop. The device damaged water and gas mains but caused no casualties.[29] The Lowe & Shawyer plant nursery to the west of the station served as an unplanned decoy, since from the air, the glass greenhouses resembled a large body of water. Luftwaffe pilots became confused at this unexpected landmark that was not on their maps, and so it is believed this contributed to the small number of bombs which fell on the station.[35]

In 1941, a division of the Meteorological Office was established at RAF Uxbridge as part of the Intelligence Branch. On 1 July that year the station Sick Quarters were merged with the WAAF hospital to create the RAF Station Hospital.[29] No. 11 Group was involved in providing air support for the Dieppe Raid (Operation Jubilee) on 19 August 1942.[31] Air Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory commanded participating Allied air forces from the 11 Group Operation Room. The air operations section of Operation Overlord, the 6 June 1944 Normandy landings (D-Day), was also controlled from RAF Uxbridge. Orders from the station were the only ones issued to Allied air units on the day.[36] The headquarters of the 2nd Tactical Air Force and 9th Tactical Air Force of the USAAF were stationed at Uxbridge while preparations were made for the invasion. On D-Day, the 11 Group Controller became responsible for ensuring sufficient air patrols of the United Kingdom, the main shipping routes and the beach landing areas.[37]

Post-war years

Memorial to the No. 11 Group Operations Room, with the Royal Air Force Ensign

RAF Uxbridge served as an athlete's village for the male competitors in the 1948 Summer Olympics. Swimmers trained at nearby Uxbridge Lido, and female athletes were housed at RAF West Drayton.[38] In 1949, the RAF Cricket Association opened its ground in Vine Lane on the western boundary of the station.[39] The station's crest was approved in April 1953, incorporating a drill sergeant's pace stick to symbolise the training of recruits, and a bugle to represent the Central Band of the RAF. RAF Uxbridge was the first RAF station in Middlesex to have a crest approved.[40]

The ceremonial entrance to the north-west of the station, St Andrew's Gate, was officially opened on 16 December 1957 to mark the link between Uxbridge and the Royal Air Force.[41] A memorial to the personnel of No. 11 Group, made of Cornish granite, was placed in the ground above the Operations Room in 1957. No. 11 Group moved to RAF Martlesham Heath on 14 April 1958 and the room was soon sealed in its original condition. The memorial was unveiled by Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding on 23 April 1958 in a ceremony attended by Group Captain Douglas Bader, Wing Commander Lord Willoughby de Broke and their wives, among others, and marked by a flypast of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.[42] Control of RAF Hillingdon passed from Fighter Command to Technical Training Command that year, from which time the entire site became known as RAF Uxbridge. The RAF School of Education moved into Hillingdon House from RAF Spitalgate on 10 November 1958.[42] The station later became part of No. 22 Group RAF.[43]

Personnel at the station were granted the freedom of entry into the London Borough of Hillingdon on 19 March 1960, an honour allowing them to march throughout the borough in uniform. On 1 November that year, the Queen's Colour Squadron of the RAF Regiment moved to Uxbridge and the Southern Region Air Traffic Services headquarters moved into Hillingdon House. After the war, the station was already home to the London Area Control Centre, renamed the London Air Traffic Control Centre in 1948 and the Uxbridge Air Traffic Control Centre in 1957.[42] This eventually transferred to RAF West Drayton but remained under the parentage of RAF Uxbridge.[44]

St. Andrew's Gate, the ceremonial entrance to RAF Uxbridge

Sequences for the 1969 film Battle of Britain were photographed in the 11 Group Operations Room, as were scenes in the 1996 television miniseries Over Here. An episode of Richard Holmes' War Walks series was also filmed in the Operations Room.[45]

The reinforced Uniter building was built on the site in the 1970s to house communications equipment. Although no longer used for this purpose, the building contains two fuel storage tanks.[46] The main entrance to the station was moved in 1972 from beside the station cinema to its present location roughly 50 yards (46 m) south.[47]

Over nine months in 1975, the 11 Group Operations Room was restored by No. 9 Signals Unit.[48] The original map was repaired and returned to the table by the RAF Cartography unit, while the board detailing the readiness and activities of each sector squadron was rebuilt to resemble its status on 15 September 1940. A museum was created within the bunker and the operations room became open for group visits.[49] After the closure of the station in 2010, the operations room and museum were preserved for future public visits.[50] The Royal Air Force Ensign flew over the parade ground until it was lowered as part of the closure ceremony.[31]

In January 1981, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) planted a bomb in the Suvla barrack block at RAF Uxbridge. The device was discovered and the 35 RAF musicians and 15 airmen living there were evacuated before it exploded. Following the incident, an enquiry began and security at all RAF stations was reviewed.[45] The following year, many RAF personnel from the station were deployed during the Falklands War.[51] The station went on to celebrate its 70th anniversary in 1987 by staging several events which raised £30,000 for the RAF Benevolent Fund.[52]

The restored Operations Room in the No. 11 Group Battle of Britain Bunker

RAF Uxbridge also became involved in Operation Granby following the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. Personnel at Uxbridge were prepared for service in the Gulf at that time, and deployed that year in December. During the aerial assault on Iraq in January 1991, support group meetings began at the station for the families of servicemen serving during the Gulf War. Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex visited one of these groups in February 1991.[53]

The station church, St Luke's, became structurally unsound on 21 November 1990 after the foundations failed. The building dated back to 1933 and had been constructed of wood; the walls were pushed out and the floor rose by 4 inches (100 mm). In March 1993, the Leigh-Mallory bridge was opened across the River Pinn, and the church moved into a new permanent home, Building 231, in March 1995.[53]

The Royal Observer Corps stood down from operational duties in December 1995. The link with RAF Uxbridge was renewed in 2008 with the closure of RAF Bentley Priory and the relocation to Uxbridge of ROC memorabilia from the Priory Officers' Mess for safekeeping and display.[54]

RAF Uxbridge personnel were once more prepared for action in the Gulf in 2003 in readiness for Operation Telic in Iraq. A support network for the families of servicemen and women sent into action was again established at the station. In March 2003 RAF Uxbridge was also responsible for preparing the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for a visit to the Gulf.[55]

The station paraded through Uxbridge town centre on 28 November 2007, exercising the Freedom of the borough, granted to it in 1960.[56] RAF Uxbridge became a satellite station of RAF Northolt on 1 April 2008, in preparation for the eventual closure.[57] In the final years of RAF ownership, the tri-service Service Prosecuting Authority and Civil Aviation Authority's Air Proximity (AIRPROX) Board was based in Hillingdon House.[58] The final of the national Carnegie Champions schools rugby tournament was held at the station in August 2008.[59]

The Queen's Colour Squadron returned from a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2009, with a homecoming parade through Uxbridge town centre held on 5 August 2009. Over 20,000 people watched the parade, which started from Uxbridge Magistrates Court, passing through the High Street to the RAF station.[60]

RAF units

Sign at the entrance to 1083 (Uxbridge) Squadron Air Training Corps

Sources: RAF Uxbridge 90th Anniversary 1917–2007[61], RAF Uxbridge – A Fond Farewell[62] and Ministry of Defence[63]

Unit Dates
RAF Depot October 1918–
HQ, No. 2 Group RAF 7 July 1919 – 31 March 1920
No. 1 Squadron RAF 19 September 1919 – 21 January 1920
No. 24 Squadron RAF 19 September 1919 – 1 February 1920
No. 4 Squadron RAF 20 September 1919 – 30 April 1920
HQ, Southern Area 20 September 1919 – 1 April 1920
No. 39 Squadron RAF 20 December 1919 – 12 April 1920
No. 3 Squadron RAF 27 October 1919 – 21 January 1920
No. 207 Squadron RAF 16–20 January 1920
HQ, Inland Area 1 April 1920 – 1 June 1926
HQ, Air Defence of Great Britain 1 June 1926 – 13 July 1936
HQ Fighting Area 7 July 1926 – 1 May 1936
HQ, Bomber Command 14 July 1936 – 13 March 1940
HQ, No. 11 Group RAF 1 May 1936 – 1948
No. 1 Personnel Transit Centre 23 August – 6 September 1939
No. 8 Aviation Candidates Selection Board 3 September 1939 – 4 May 1941
No. 1 Aviation Candidates Selection Board 4 September 1939 – 4 May 1941
No. 2 Aviation Candidates Selection Board 4 September 1939 – 2 February 1941
HQ, No. 256 Wing 23–28 April 1940
HQ, 2nd Tactical Air Force 1 February – 20 August 1944
HQ, No. 28 Group RAF 24 February 1949 – 6 March 1950
No. 6 Trials Unit 15 July 1954 – 5 January 1955
No. 28 Trials Unit 21 April 1975 – 1976
Queen's Colour Squadron November 1960 – January 2010

Closure and redevelopment

Replica Spitfire gate guardian outside the Battle of Britain Bunker

Prior to the closure of RAF Uxbridge, Queen Elizabeth II sent a message to the station in February 2010, via her equerry, Wing Commander A.D. Calame, who had served as Officer Commanding the Queen's Colour Squadron between 10 August 2005 and 16 July 2007:

Her Majesty was interested to hear that, in this anniversary year, the historic Number 11 Group Operations Rooms Bunker has been listed and will be preserved as a Royal Air Force asset. Hopefully, the facility will continue as a permanent reminder of those who fought and won the Battle of Britain.
Her Majesty hopes that the relocation to Royal Air Force Northolt will continue to progress well, and wishes all personnel at Uxbridge best wishes for the future.[64]

The station closed on 31 March 2010 as part of the Ministry of Defence's Project MoDEL, a programme to reduce the number of defence sites in Greater London in favour of a core site at RAF Northolt. The closure ceremony was overseen by the Mayor of Hillingdon and involved parades and the final lowering of the Royal Air Force Ensign over the parade ground. A Supermarine Spitfire conducted a flypast of the station.[43] The final units marched to their new station at RAF Northolt the following day.[65] The station, which had received the Freedom of the Borough of Hillingdon, returned the award to the London Borough of Hillingdon as part of the ceremony,[66] though this was returned on 4 September to be stored in the museum of the Battle of Britain Bunker.[67] A commemorative blue plaque dedicated to Douglas Bader was unveiled by the Mayor of Hillingdon at the entrance to the Officers' Mess.[66]

The Grade II listed Hillingdon House will be renovated

The Middlesex Wing Headquarters of the Air Training Corps (ATC) had been based at the station together with No. 1083 Squadron ATC, which met on Mondays and Thursdays for parade nights.[44] As part of the closing ceremony, personnel of No. 1083 Squadron were presented with the station crest to adopt as their own.[31] The squadron continued to meet at the station until July 2010, when a newly refurbished building at RAF Northolt became available to use.[68]

The Grade I listed Battle of Britain Bunker is now preserved as a museum open to the public, while the Grade II listed Hillingdon House will be partially converted into a restaurant.[69] The station cinema is also Grade II listed.[70] The Battle of Britain War Memorial is a scheduled protected monument.[2] While not listed, several other buildings on the site were identified within the plans for possible retention. These are the Sick Quarters, the Officers' Mess, the gymnasium, the carpenters' block in the grounds of Hillingdon House and a building near the Battle of Britain Bunker. St. Andrew's Gate will be retained, as will one barrack block (Mons) adjacent to the parade ground.[71]

Plans to develop the remaining 44.6 hectares (110 acres) of the site were approved by the London Borough of Hillingdon in January 2011 for 1,340 homes, shops, a theatre and a primary school to be built over 10 years.[1] The council intends the development to become an extension of Uxbridge town centre.[72] Early suggestions from the Leader of Hillingdon Council included a theatre with a statue of T.E. Lawrence outside, and a new museum built around the Battle of Britain Bunker.[73] MP for Uxbridge John Randall called in 2009 for Hillingdon Hospital to be relocated to the site as an alternative to a planned rebuilding project on its existing site.[74] The hospital trust ruled out such a move due to the projected costs.[75]

Hurricane gate guardian in the colours of No. 303 Squadron

The area around the Battle of Britain Bunker, including the No. 11 Group memorial, will retain the RAF Uxbridge name and be maintained by RAF Northolt as an enclave.[36] The Royal Air Force Ensign was moved to the area, together with the Supermarine Spitfire gate guardian, a fibreglass replica of aircraft BR600.[44] The Spitfire was refurbished and painted in the D-Day invasion colours of No. 33 Squadron as aircraft BS239, funded by the London Borough of Hillingdon.[76] Uxbridge's first gate guardian was a real Supermarine Spitfire which was unveiled on 23 May 1973. This was sold to a collector for restoration and replaced by the current guardian in 1988.[44] At a service commemorating the Battle of Britain in September 2010, a new Hawker Hurricane gate guardian in the markings of No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron was unveiled, also near the bunker.[67] The guardian is a fibreglass replica of the aircraft flown by Witold Urbanowicz during the Battle of Britain.[77]

The South Hillingdon branch of the St. John Ambulance service was based at RAF Uxbridge until the closure in 2010 led to a period of uncertainty over its relocation. Eventually, RAF Northolt provided the charity with new premises, which were available from January 2011.[78]

In June 2011, it was announced that the public right of way from St Andrew's Gate in the north-west to Vine Lane in the north-east would be reopened, after work to fence off the pathway was completed. The path, 800 metres (2,600 ft) long, was the subject of a petition submitted to Hillingdon Council in 2010 and had been closed since 1988.[79] By early August 2011, the path had been reopened, remaining open each day between 06:00 and 20:30.[80]

See also

References

Citations
  1. ^ a b Coombs, Dan (25 January 2011). "Grand plans for RAF Uxbridge given green light". Uxbridge Gazette. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Environmental Statement: Site Description" (PDF). London Borough of Hillingdon. January 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d Crozier 2007, p.5
  4. ^ "Listed buildings" (PDF). London Borough of Hillingdon. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Cox family of Hillingdon". National Archives. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  6. ^ "Upper Brook Street". British History Online. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  7. ^ "Centuries of Experience". Cox & Kings. 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  8. ^ a b c Crozier 2007, p.6
  9. ^ "Rifle Range" (PDF). London Borough of Hillingdon. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  10. ^ Peacock, Michael (9 November 2010). "11 Group Operations Room" (PDF). The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK). Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  11. ^ a b Sherwood 2007, p.66
  12. ^ Crozier 2007, p.7
  13. ^ "A Short History Of The Queen's Colour Squadron of The Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  14. ^ "T.E. Lawrence". London Borough of Hillingdon. 23 October 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  15. ^ a b Skinner 2008, p.25
  16. ^ "Residential Barrack Block" (PDF). London Borough of Hillingdon. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  17. ^ Crozier 2007, p.8
  18. ^ a b Crozier 2007, p.9
  19. ^ "Sir Douglas Bader CBE, DSO, DFC". London Borough of Hillingdon. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  20. ^ Jackson 1983, p.29
  21. ^ "History of Royal Air Force High Wycombe". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  22. ^ "Group Operations Room, Uxbridge". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  23. ^ Crozier 2007, p.10
  24. ^ Crozier 2007, p.11
  25. ^ Crozier 2007, p.12
  26. ^ Bristow 2005, p.58
  27. ^ Crozier 2007, p.13
  28. ^ "RAF Uxbridge". Past Scape. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  29. ^ a b c Crozier 2007, p.15
  30. ^ a b c d Crozier 2007, p.29
  31. ^ a b c d "Farewell to RAF Uxbridge". Global Aviation Resource. 6 April 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  32. ^ Crozier 2007, p.28
  33. ^ Skinner 2008, p.70
  34. ^ Skinner 2008, pp.66–67
  35. ^ a b Skinner 2008, p.100
  36. ^ a b "Refurbished Spitfire Gate Guardian Unveiled at 11 Group Bunker". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  37. ^ Crozier 2007, pp.15–16
  38. ^ Skinner 2008, p.121
  39. ^ "RAF Vine Lane". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  40. ^ Symons, Roland (June 2000). "Royal Air Force heraldry in Middlesex" (PDF). Middlesex Heraldry Society. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  41. ^ "St Andrew's Ceremonial Gates" (PDF). London Borough of Hillingdon. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  42. ^ a b c Crozier 2007, p.20
  43. ^ a b Coombs, Dan (31 March 2010). "Spitfire flypast to mark closure of RAF Uxbridge". Uxbridge Gazette. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  44. ^ a b c d Crozier 2007, p.32
  45. ^ a b Crozier 2007, p.23
  46. ^ "Environmental Statement: Key Environmental Issues" (PDF). London Borough of Hillingdon. January 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2011. In the late 1970's, the Uniter building was constructed. This is a hardened concrete structure designed to withstand a missile attack and formerly contained fixed telecommunications equipment and links. The, now disused, building contains two fuel storage tanks (55,000 and 2,000 litres). {{cite web}}: line feed character in |quote= at position 203 (help)
  47. ^ Pearce 2009, p.88
  48. ^ Crozier 2007 p.22
  49. ^ Crozier 2007, p.23
  50. ^ "VSM estates takes its first step towards redeveloping RAF Uxbridge". Hillingdon & Uxbridge Times. 22 January 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  51. ^ Crozier 2007, p.24
  52. ^ Crozier et al 2010, p.21
  53. ^ a b Crozier et al 2010, p.22
  54. ^ "The ROC Museum". The Royal Observer Corps Museum. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  55. ^ Crozier 2007, p.26
  56. ^ Mistry, Manisha (28 November 2007). "RAF parade through Uxbridge". Hillingdon & Uxbridge. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  57. ^ Crozier et al 2010, p.23
  58. ^ Crozier 2007, p.3
  59. ^ Kirk, Tristan (29 August 2008). "RAF Uxbridge hosts rugby finals". Hillingdon & Uxbridge Times. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  60. ^ Sharp, Rachel (5 August 2009). "Crowds welcome home 63 The Royal Squadron RAF Regiment". Hillingdon & Uxbridge Times. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  61. ^ Crozier 2007, p.33
  62. ^ Crozier et al 2010, p.27
  63. ^ Williams, Rhian (27 January 2010). "Raising standards for the Queen's Colour Squadron". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  64. ^ Crozier et al 2010, p.43
  65. ^ "Units from RAF Uxbridge will march in to RAF Northolt". Ealing Times. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  66. ^ a b "Closing ceremony for historic RAF Uxbridge". Hillingdon & Uxbridge Times. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  67. ^ a b "Battle of Britain commemoration service held at RAF Uxbridge". Hillingdon & Uxbridge Times. 4 September 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  68. ^ "Cadets take command of new building". Air Cadet Headquarters London and South East Region (LaSER). Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  69. ^ Coombs, Dan (25 January 2011). "Historic approval for RAF Uxbridge". Uxbridge Gazette. Retrieved 30 May 2011. Hillingdon House will be renovated, with the ground floor to open as a restaurant.
  70. ^ "Cinema, RAF Uxbridge, Grays Road, Uxbridge, Hillingdon, Greater London". English Heritage. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  71. ^ "RAF Uxbridge" (PDF). VSM Estates. 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  72. ^ "RAF Uxbridge: have your say on its future". London Borough of Hillingdon. 6 July 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  73. ^ Sharp, Rachel (28 June 2007). "Theatre plan for RAF site". Hillingdon & Uxbridge Times. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  74. ^ Coombs, Dan (17 September 2008). "MP fears NHS will scupper calls for new hospital". Uxbridge Gazette. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  75. ^ Coombs, Dan (18 May 2009). "RAF Uxbridge plans go on show". Uxbridge Gazette. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  76. ^ "Restored Gate Guardian unveiled". Hillingdon & Uxbridge Times. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  77. ^ "RAF commemorates Battle of Britain with services at RAF Uxbridge and Polish War Memorial". This is Local London. 3 September 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  78. ^ Coombs, Dan (8 December 2010). "New base for St John ambulance after our appeal". Uxbridge Gazette. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  79. ^ Coombs, Dan (1 June 2011). "Path to be re-opened through RAF Uxbridge". Uxbridge Gazette. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  80. ^ Coombs, Dan (4 August 2011). "'Vital' footpath reopens after 23 years". Uxbridge Gazette. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
Bibliography
  • Bristow, Mark. (2005) A History of Royal Air Force Northolt. RAF Northolt: No. 1 AIDU
  • Crozier, Hazel. (2007) RAF Uxbridge 90th Anniversary 1917–2007. RAF High Wycombe: Air Command Media Services
  • Crozier, Hazel; Wren, Chris; Askew, Sam. (2010) RAF Uxbridge – A Fond Farewell. RAF High Wycombe: Air Command Media Services
  • Jackson, Robert. (1983) Douglas Bader: a biography. London: Littlehampton Book Services ISBN 978-0213168575
  • Pearce, K. R. (2009) Uxbridge From Old Photographs. Stroud: Amberley Publishing ISBN 978-1-84868-390-7
  • Sherwood, Philip. (2007) Around Uxbridge Past & Present. Stroud: Sutton Publishing ISBN 978-07509-4794-7
  • Skinner, James. (2008) Growing Up in Wartime Uxbridge. Stroud: Tempus Publishing ISBN 978-07524-4543-4

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Uxbridge.
Photographs
Videos

51°32′29″N 0°28′19″W / 51.5415°N 0.4719°W / 51.5415; -0.4719

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=RAF_Uxbridge&oldid=455745468"