Henlow
HENLOW: Military aerodrome
Henlow pictures by the author taken in June 2015.
Note: This Hunter is claimed to be the oldest example of the type serving in recent years as a 'Gate Guardian'.
Military users: WW1: Aircraft Repair Depot and Engine Repair Depot
Note: These two pictures from postcards were kindly sent by Mike Charlton who has an amazing collection, see www.aviationpostcard.co.uk
The first picture shows Avro 504s, presumably 504Ks (?) and, I believe, Avro 621 Tutors. As the Tutor was introduced in 1933 to replace the 504K this seems to fairly accurately date this picture as being around 1933 to 1935, during the period when the Tutor was being introduced.
The second picture is perhaps trickier to date? It shows two de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moths which appear to me to be early examples, so possibly from 1934 to 1939?
MORE PICTURES
In February 2018 Mike Charlton very kindly sent be these fabulous images from postcards, which appear to be paintings. Or perhaps, heavily hand 'tinted' B&W photographs.
Third picture: The first aircraft, (a Hawker Demon?/Fury? or Hart?) appears to have '926M' on its tail. So presumably it was serving as an instructional airframe. The fourth picture serves to confirm this.
Fifth picture: I think a wee bit of history might be of interest, especially to younger visitors? The Vickers Virginia was a development of the WW1 Vickers Vimy, and looked very similar. It first flew in November 1922 and entered service with the RAF as a heavy night-bomber in 1924. And, incredible though it might seem today, it appears it remained as a frontline bomber until 1938.
Plus, can you believe, it wasn't retired from the RAF until 1941, two years into WW2 - according to experts. I don't think it would have had much to fear from a marauding Luftwaffe fighter pilot in those days, as he would have been laughing so much, he'd probably be struggling to control his fighter, let alone trying to shoot it down.
In fact, this may well have been not so far from the truth of matter. For example, it appears that when Fairey Swordfish were launched to attack the German battleship Bismark, the range-finding equipment didn't work. It hadn't been calibrated to this extent because the very sensible German designers did not believe that an aircraft flying this slowly would attack the Bismark.
Between the wars: Parachuting training (Vickers Virginias)
19 Sqdn (Gloster Gauntlets)
23 Sqdn [Reformed here in 1925]: (Sopwith Snipes, later with Hawker Demons?)
43 Sqdn [Reformed here in 1925] (Sopwith Snipes, later Gloster Gamecocks. From 1928 Armstrong-Whitworth Siskins and in 1931 Hawker Furys)
80 Sqdn [From 1937]. (Gloster Gauntlets, later Gloster Gladiators)
Note: Did 80 Squadron fly the Gladiator here?
WW2: RAF Maintenance Command 43 Group Repair Depot
Note: It appears that Hawker Hurricanes manufactured in Canada were unpacked and assembled here. It is said that some of the packing cases were used to construct the 'control' or 'watch' tower.
Operated by: 2000: Royal Air Force
Other users: Post 1945: RAF and civil GA training and flying club 616 VGS
Flying school: Post 1945: Delta Aviation, Henlow Flying Club
Location: W of A6001, NNW of Lower Stondon, 5nm N of Hitchin, 4nm NW of Letchworth
Period of operation: 1918 to -
Site area: WW1: 288 acres 1463 x 1097
Note: This map is reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014.
Runways: WW2: 03/21 1417x46 grass 10/28 1052x46 grass
15/33 1189x46 grass
Note: During WW2 the grass runways were reinforced with ‘Somerfeld Track’ steel matting.
2000: 02/20 959x46 grass 09L/27R 762x23 grass
09R/27L 966x46 grass 13/31 800x46 grass
NOTES: As HENLOW is still today a well known RAF aerodrome today encompassing civilian PPL training duties it seems fitting to describe just how hopelessly incompetent, generally speaking, the RAF was during the 1920s to 1930s in nearly all aspects of flying, and this continued well into WW2. The average private pilot in recent years, taught at a competent flying school, receives much better training.
This was an age when the major airlines were seriously getting to grips with running scheduled services around Europe, let alone the Empire routes, with an enviable safety record. They were also dealing with rudimentary radio navigation techniques with considerable success. By comparison the RAF seemed hell-bent on killing as many pilots and aircrew as possible, and, they did quite a good job in this respect. Their aircraft made forced landings on every conceivable sort of terrain, frequently became so lost they couldn’t find any airfield to land on, often flew into high ground even though very few of their pilots could fly in IMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions), such as in cloud. They frequently suffered engine failures, and bird strikes, plus structural airframe failure. In WW2 they struck balloon cables, totally ‘cocked-up’ trying to land at unfamiliar airfields and sometimes disappeared without trace! The list of utter flying incompetence by many RAF pilots and aircrews could easily fill a book devoted to the subject.
Like the occasion when a pilot fell out of his aeroplane demonstrating a slow roll because he hadn't bothered to strap himself in.
At the start of WW2 some RAF aircrews in Bomber Command couldn’t even find the right country to bomb let alone a city! This is ineptitude on a very grand scale. But, against this view of the RAF, so often portrayed in recent years, the fact is that many plots and aircrews were far from inept and actually very good at the job given that the aircraft, techniques and facilities available were often hopelessly inadequate. And, we really do have to remember that nothing like the military regime the Nazi party had devised had previously been encountered before.
I think it is a disgrace that a national monument has not been erected in memory of all those who died in training for RAF service.
A MORE GENTLE NOTE
In 1927 F/O A F Scroggs became the proud owner of the unique Westland Woodpigeon built for the 1924 Lympe trials and apparantly based it at Henlow for three years, presumably flying it before selling it on?
SOMETHING SPECIAL?
There was obviously something rather special going on here at least in 1944 if official records can be relied upon. A truly staggering 8159 RAF personnel were listed as being on station including 1003 WAAFs. What on earth was the reason, and indeed what did they all do?
OTHER NOTES
In 1963 Avro 504K G-EBJE (E449) was rebuilt to airworthy condition at ABINGDON and it appears it was based at HENLOW for some time before being destined for the RAF Museuem at Hendon. Did it fly from Henlow?
In 1975 apparently HENLOW was still used by RAF communications aircraft and also housing the main store of aircraft for the RAF Museum, (HENDON presumably?) In recent years it seems that model aircraft flying also takes place.
In 2006 Henlow Flying Club were operating four Cessnas, two Pipers and a DHC.1 Chipmunk. One of possibly seven flying schools left in the UK operating this classic trainer in that period? The others I know about in 2006 being the British Airways Flying Club at WYCOMBE AIR PARK, the Chester Flying School at HAWARDEN, the Eaglescott School of Flying at EAGLESCOTT, (where else?), the Comed Group at BLACKPOOL, the Liverpool Flying School based at, (you’ve guessed it), plus, last but certainly not least - Jersey Aero Club. Who, were offering very cheap rates in 2006, just £107 per/hr dual, (£96 solo per/hr) with full annual membership for £64 and temporary membership for £2.
Purely out of interest, for those of us that wear our ‘anoraks’ with pride, Wickenby Aviation, (at WICKENBY of course), were advertising access for training purposes to a DHC.1 Chipmunk, an Auster J/1N and a Pitts S-2A. (Prices on application). In cases such as these, are they are usually privately owned aircraft whereby the owner(s) are trying to augment the costs of ownership by renting out to a flying school?
A COUPLE OF HENLOW PICTURES
THE FIRST PICTURE: It must be remembered that the Church of England has always supported the military and has no qualms about blessing the wholesale killing regimes in the wars fought on behalf of the UK.
THE SECOND PICTURE:I am no expert, but, I imagine these hangars were of the pre-WW2 era?
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
