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RAF Fairlop
Fairlop, London in England
RAF Fairlop is located in Greater London
RAF Fairlop
RAF Fairlop
Shown within Greater London
Coordinates51°35′16″N 000°06′10″E / 51.58778°N 0.10278°E / 51.58778; 0.10278
TypeSatellite Station 1941-44
CodeFP
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byRAF Fighter Command 1941-44
* No. 11 Group RAF
RAF Balloon Command 1944-46
* No. 24 Balloon Centre
Site history
Built1940 (1940)/41
In useNovember 1941 – August 1946
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation26 metres (85 ft)[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
02/20 1,006 metres (3,301 ft) Concrete
06/24 1,465 metres (4,806 ft) Concrete & Asphalt
11/29 1,006 metres (3,301 ft) Concrete

Royal Air Force Fairlop or more simply RAF Fairlop is a former Royal Air Force satellite station situated near Ilford in Essex. Fairlop is now a district in the London Borough of Redbridge, England.

History

First World War

A site to the east of RAF Fairlop called "Hainault Farm" was used during the First World War, and saw service as a Royal Air Force Home Defence Flight Station.

A number of airmen died at Fairlop during and shortly after the war. In 1919, Sergeant Russe J. Cound was killed and Captain Starbuck seriously injured when their plane stalled and crashed from a height of 200 feet.[2]

Between the wars

A small flying club used another nearby site between the wars and there were plans to build a commercial airport in the Fairlop area for London,[3] but those plans were later abandoned due to the realization that smog and haze from the residential and industrial areas nearby would be a hazard to operations. A further three sites just to the north of Fairlop and Hainault Farm were used as civilian aerodromes mid-war.

Second World War

The airfield at Fairlop was built in late 1940 when three concrete runways in an "A" pattern tilted 45 degrees anti-clockwise were constructed. The airfield became operational in September 1941 with the arrival of No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron RAF, flying Supermarine Spitfires, previously stationed at RAF Hornchurch. The adjacent Hainault Lodge was used as officer accommodation. In June 1944 RAF Fairlop became home to No. 24 Balloon Centre with four squadrons forming part of the balloon barrage around London. The balloons were manned by members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. No 24 Balloon Centre was disbanded in February 1945 and the airfield closed in August 1946.[citation needed]

After the wars

In 1947, plans we revived to build a commercial airport at Fairlop. At the time, it was reported that Fairlop could become the "No. 1 continental airport",[4] but again the plans fell through.[5] By 1950, the airfield was disused.[6]

Squadrons

Squadrons stationed at RAF Fairlop:[7][8]

The following units were also here at some point:[25]

Current use

Commemorative sculpture, unveiled in 2013

The site was used for gravel extraction and became a country park known as Fairlop Waters with sailing facilities and a golf course. In November 2013 a sculpture was unveiled commemorating those who served at the Fairlop and Hainault airfields in wartime.[26][27]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ Falconer 2012, p. 91.
  2. ^ "Aerodrome Fatality". Chelmsford Chronicle. 17 January 1919.
  3. ^ Ward, Charles (22 December 1937). "Plans For Future Air Travel". The Bystander.
  4. ^ "Big civil airport". Essex Newsman. 27 June 1947.
  5. ^ "To put it briefly". Western Daily Press. 13 December 1947.
  6. ^ "Model aircraft enthusiasts". Essex Newsman. 15 August 1950.
  7. ^ Halpenny 1993, p. 92.
  8. ^ Halpenny 1993, p. 93.
  9. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 30.
  10. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 45.
  11. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 49.
  12. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 58.
  13. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 63.
  14. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 64.
  15. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 66.
  16. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 67.
  17. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 76.
  18. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 77.
  19. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 83.
  20. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 84.
  21. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 86.
  22. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 88.
  23. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 90.
  24. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 98.
  25. ^ "Fairlop". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  26. ^ "Fairlop Waters Commemorative Sculpture". Art UK. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  27. ^ "Fairlop Waters Commemorative Sculpture | Redbridge and the First World War". Redbridge and the First World War. Redbridge Museum. Retrieved 12 November 2022.

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Fairlop.
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