Bill's Belgian Medals

Bombs Away - Royal Air Force Station Hendon


Royal Air Force Station Hendon

I had the privilege to be the last Commanding officer of RAF Hendon and
closed this famous RAF Station on 1 April 1987.  It was a special day and
this is an article that appeared in the local paper in anticipation of its
closure.


7BOMBS AWAY - The Closure of Royal Air Force Station Hendon

by Richard Partridge

At Britain's most famous airfield, April Fools' Day 1987 will be more than just a day to play tricks.  On that day, Hendon Aerodrome will close
its hangar doors for the last time - and with them will close an era of aviation history.

In 1927 the former London Aerodrome once home to the famous Royal Air Force Aerial Pageants and displays, officially became RAF Station
Hendon.

There was flying at Hendon as early as 1909, but it was not until the following year that Claude Grahame-White put Hendon on the aviation
map.

Grahame-White entered a Daily Mail London to Manchester air race and despite being pipped to the post by Frenchman Louis Paulhan, he
became an instant celebrity.

Fame as a flyer let Grahame-White cross the Atlantic to take on the best of the Americans.  With the money he won, he bought the 207 acres
of Hendon fields, and set up the 'London Aerodrome' in late 1910.

There Britain's new hero set up a flying school.  Enthusiasts came from round the country to see the weekend races.  Periodic acrobatic
displays later became the RAF shows which were a feature at Hendon before 1937 when the planes became too fast and runways too short.

Loop the loop

During this period, Hendon played host to many of the landmarks in aviation history.  In September 1911, the first-ever British air mail service
was established, to celebrate the Coronation of King George V: 130,000 letters and cards were carried between Hendon and Windsor in only
11 days.

The very first 'loop the loop', as well as bombing and parachute displays, were other Hendon innovations of pioneering days.

Spitfires came to Hendon in 1936, and during the second World War a squadron of Hurricanes, their Battle of Britain partners, was stationed
for some time at the aerodrome.  And though Hendon was used mostly for transport during the war, both the King's flight and Winston
Churchill's aircraft were stationed at the base.

Heyday

By 1945 nearly all of Hendon's units had moved out.  Flying activity was falling away; Hendon's heyday was past.

In 1968 the last operational Blackburn Beverley flew into the base.  Hendon's last warplane now rests in the neighbouring museum.

The runways were torn up, and shortly afterwards Grahame Park Housing Estate appeared.

Since then, the base has had various uses.  It currently houses the Joint Service Air Trooping Centre and the Royal Air Force Supply Control
centre.

Glory days

These two units will be transferred to RAF Stanbridge near Leighton Buzzard.  RAF Hendon will revert to detachment status before finally
losing its RAF presence in 1988.

But before closing, RAF Hendon will be reliving its glory days - if only for an evening.  Officers will recreate Grahame-White's famous loop the
loop banquet of 70 years ago: the meal will be eaten backwards, and menus and invitations printed upside down.

Plans for Hendon's last big day are well underway.  Commanding Officer Bill Simpson, himself a one man history of the base, will be receiving
(on behalf of the unit) the Freedom of the Borough of Barnet from the Mayor.

The ceremony will be the climax of a military parade outside the Town Hall at Hendon.  Wing Commander Simpson will then present the Mayor
with a set of swords.

Memories

After a final fly by, the band will Beat the Retreat - and the RAF will say goodbye to Hendon.

When a team of relay-runners carry the Base's badges 33 miles to RAF Stanbridge - memories will be all that is left of Hendon's glory.

(Barnet Advertiser 5 Feb. '87)
Last Updated 5 May 2010
William George Simpson, Bill Simpson, William Simpson,
Simpson, author, William George Simpson, Bill Simpson,
William Simpson, author, William George Simpson, Bill
Simpson, William Simpson, author, William George
Simpson, Bill Simpson, William Simpson, author, William
George Simpson, Bill Simpson, William Simpson, author,
William George Simpson, Bill Simpson, William Simpson,
author, William George Simpson, Bill Simpson, William
Simpson, author,