RAF Northolt

England

51.5531, -0.4145 — view on OpenStreetMap ↗

About

RAF Northolt, in west London, opened in 1915 and is the oldest RAF airfield still in use, predating the Royal Air Force itself. In the Battle of Britain it was a key fighter station in No. 11 Group and is famous as the home of the Polish No. 303 Squadron, whose Hawker Hurricanes ran up the highest score of any squadron in the battle. It survived the great age of fighter airfields and remains an active RAF station today, home to No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron and serving as London’s airfield for government and VIP flights.

Photographs

Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. The first Canadian-built [Avro Lancaster](/aircraft/1/) B Mark X, KB700 "The Ruhr Express", taxying after landing at [Northolt](/airfields/6287/), Middlesex, following a delivery flight across the Atlantic. KB700 was the first of 300 aircraft built by Victory Aircraft of Malton, Ontario, and flew operationally with Nos. [405](/squadrons/42/) and [419](/squadrons/44/) Squadrons RCAF.
ⓘ licence & creditCrouch F W (F/O), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1942-1945._CH11041.jpgView source & full licence →
Aircraft of the Royal Air Force, 1939-1945- [Hawker Hurricane](/aircraft/19/). Hurricane Mark I, W9232, of the Station Flight at [Northolt](/airfields/6287/), Middlesex, in flight. This aircraft formerly served with Nos. [85](/squadrons/73/), [23](/squadrons/196/) and [247](/squadrons/104/) Squadrons RAF, and with No. 55 Operational Training Unit. It was subsequently shipped to India.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aircraft_of_the_Royal_Air_Force,_1939-1945-_Hawker_Hurricane._MH3186.jpgView source & full licence →
American Aircraft in Royal Air Force Service 1939-1945- [Consolidated Liberator](/aircraft/16/). The extra cabin fitted in LB-30 Liberator, AL504 "Commando", the personal transport aircraft of the Prime Minister, photographed at [Northolt](/airfields/6287/), Middlesex, on returning to the United Kingdom, following extensive modification and a complete overhaul by the Consolidated Aircraft Company at San Diego, California. The fuselage was extended by seven feet to accommodate an extra cabin and table for the Prime Minister, shown here.
ⓘ licence & creditBrock F J (Fg Off), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American_Aircraft_in_Royal_Air_Force_Service_1939-1945-_Consolidated_Liberator._CH18804.jpgView source & full licence →
American Aircraft in Royal Air Force Service 1939-1945- [Consolidated Liberator](/aircraft/16/). The main cabin interior of LB-30 Liberator, AL504 "Commando", the personal transport aircraft of the Prime Minister, photographed at [Northolt](/airfields/6287/), Middlesex, on returning to the United Kingdom, following extensive modification and a complete overhaul by the Consolidated Aircraft Company at San Diego, California. The fuselage was extended by seven feet and the interior was furnished to accommodate 20 passengers with bunks and a stewards galley. This view shows the main cabin with the bunks stowed.
ⓘ licence & creditBrock F J (Fg Off), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American_Aircraft_in_Royal_Air_Force_Service_1939-1945-_Consolidated_Liberator._CH18803.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. Percival Q.6 “Petrel”, P5634, of the [RAF Northolt](/airfields/6287/) Station Flight, parked at the head of a line of [Bristol Blenheim](/aircraft/8/) Mark IVs of No. 2 Group at [Wyton](/airfields/24/), Huntingdonshire. R3741 'VE-A' of [No. 110 Squadron](/squadrons/259/) RAF has been modified by the addition of gun mountings in the rear of the engine nacelles, while T1947 'LS' of [No. 15 Squadron](/squadrons/12/) RAF has been fitted with a long gun tray beneath the nose.
ⓘ licence & creditDaventry B J (Mr), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1939-1941._CH776.jpgView source & full licence →
A40 - short lights at [Northolt](/airfields/6287/) aerodrome
ⓘ licence & creditWhatlep / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A40_at_Northolt_aerodrome.jpgView source & full licence →
A group of pilots of No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron RAF stand by the tail elevator of one of their [Hawker Hurricane](/aircraft/19/) Mark Is at [Northolt](/airfields/6287/), Middlesex. They are (left to right): Pilot Officer Mirosław Ferić, Flying Officers Bogdan Grzeszczak, Pilot Officer Jan Zumbach, Flying Officer Zdzisław Henneberg and Flight-Lieutenant John Kent, who commanded 'A' Flight of the Squadron at this time.
ⓘ licence & creditStanley Devon / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:303_Squadron_pilots.jpgView source & full licence →
[RAF Northolt](/airfields/6287/) Night Shoot XXX 7th March 2024. A strong and bitterly cold wind blowing across the airfield did not help with the long exposure shots.
ⓘ licence & creditkitmasterbloke / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:126YUY_1956_Jeep.jpgView source & full licence →
Aerial Views in the United Kingdom, 1941 - 1942 [RAF Northolt](/airfields/6287/), Middlesex, from the north. Ruislip Manor and Ruislip Gardens are in the foreground.
ⓘ licence & creditNo 1 Camouflage Unit, Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aerial_Views_in_the_United_Kingdom,_1941_-_1942_MH27451.jpgView source & full licence →

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People connected to this base

9 persons cross-referenced to this airfield — through a posting here, a squadron based here, or aircrew who flew from it.

NameRankConnectionDates
Chaplin, Arthur Russel Flight Lieutenant Aircrew (squadron based here) —
Gosling, Leslie Cyril Flight Lieutenant Aircrew (squadron based here) —
Lundy, Martin Aloysius Flight Sergeant Aircrew (squadron based here) —
Magruder, Ernest Pendleton Francis L. T. Flight Lieutenant Aircrew (squadron based here) —
Miller, Ronald Flight Sergeant Aircrew (squadron based here) —
Parks, Walter Flight Sergeant Aircrew (squadron based here) —
Smart, Thomas Squadron Leader Aircrew (squadron based here) —
Veasey, Thomas Arthur Sergeant Aircrew (squadron based here) —
Wallace, Thomas Sergeant Aircrew (squadron based here) —