RAF Hunsdon Hertfordshire history

Hunsdon was designed as a specific airfield to house nightfighter squadrons and work commenced on the 9th May 1940. It officially opened for flying on the 4th may 1941.

The runways, perimeter track and aircraft hardstands were constructed by George Wimpey & Sons Ltd. Many of the airfield and dispersed site buildings were built by HJ Janes of Luton. Another construction company called Kent & Co took over from HJ Janes after the building work dropped behind schedule. Some contruction work was still being undertaken nearly 10 months after the airfield opened for flying. The station cinema was not completed until as late as May 1943.

The airfield became home first to 85 Squadron and its charismatic leader, Group Captain Peter Townsend, who, in later years, was linked, romantically, with H.R.H. The Princess Margaret. Ironically Princess Margaret's ancestor Queen Elizabeth 1st stayed at Hunsdon House plotting the downfall of the Spanish Armada 400 years previously.

After a successful, and fruitful, campaign during the Battle Of Britain, 85 Squadron reverted to the nightfighter role in 1941 with their black painted Hurricanes. This was to try and combat the increasing Luftwaffe raids on London and the midlands at night. At first they were guided by ground radar with experienced controllers. The process was known as "Ground Control Intercept" or GCI.

85 Squadron were to change their faithful Hurricanes, briefly for the Boulton - Paul Defiant and then again for the twin - engined Douglas Havoc fitted with early model of airborn radar. These aircraft were originally sent from the USA to be used by the French Air Force, but were diverted to England after France capitulated. 85 Squadron later converted to de Havilland Mosquito aircraft and enjoyed success as a fully fledged nightfighter squadron before moving to West Malling, Kent .

No 3 (F) Squadron operated Hawker Hurricanes, converting to Hawker Typhoons, and shared Hunsdon with 85 Squadron for some time, 3(F) were one of the oldest Squadrons formed in the RAF.

Airfield details.

The main runway at Hunsdon was 1450 yards long by 50 yards wide and orientated East / West on 260°/080 °. The secondary runway NNE/SSW was to a length of 1250 yards aligned on 210°/030°. The main was later extended by a further 300 yards to the east to a total length of 1,750 yards . The secondary runway was extended by 200 yards to the South to make a total length of 1,450 yards.

New perimeter track extentions were laid at the same time. It was deemed necessary to add a new perimeter track section on the north western side of the airfield creating additional aircraft hardstands. All of this extention work shows up easily by the difference in the concrete mix, The latter containing large amounts of flint. The new long term maintenance contractor for the airfield was Charles Chaston & Co Ltd.

Full night flying capabilites were installed using C2 Drem lighting as standard, with an angle of approach indicator system installed.

There were 8 domestic sites attached to the airfield site of Hunsdon and were to the West of the actual airfield. The original plans lists sites 1 to 8, each containing around 20 to 33 buildings, mostly Temporary Brick, Thornycroft, and Nissen hutting. Hardly any trace of these dispersed sites remain except for site 1,3,4,and site 8.

Site 1 (The Wilderness) housed Barrack huts, the camp cinema (350 seats), canteens, ablution blocks, motor transport sheds, and road fuel storage compounds.

The other sites contained the NCO barracks, Officers quarters, and the WAAF living area, this not completed until 9th July 1943. The main Officers Mess was located at the large country house of 'Bonningtons'. The DF station was sited to the West of the airfield with the VHF station to the North. A seperate sewage works, with four buildings, was also included at the rear of site 1.

Aircraft hangers were of the blister type, of which there were 16 placed around the perimeter tracks, with one large Bellman hanger in the main technical site on the northern side of the flying field.

In total there were 448 individual huts and buildings that made up the airfield. Only a handful remain today, the last remaining Blister hanger and the combined Gymnasium/Chapel that were photographed some years ago have gone. The only seemingly unmoveable structures, are the Pillboxes of the airfield defence system.

On the airfield, the parachute store, having survived a recent death sentence still stands along with the following:

Fire tender hut. two sleeping shelters, Small arms ammunition store, one 20mm ammunition store, six pillboxes, one FC type 'mushroom' gun post, slit trenches and gun pits can be found

Of the dispersed sites, Site 1 has only the sewerage works remaining. Site 2 has only two stanton shelters left. Site 3 has three barrack hut bases, three stanton shelters and a latrine/drying room. Site 4 at Fillets farm has two Stanton shelters. Site 5, 6 and 7 have totally disapeared. Site 8 contains four BCF barrack huts.

Units known to have operated from Hunsdon.

85 Squadron,( Hawker Hurricane, Boulton-Paul Defiant, Douglas Boston/Havoc)

287 Squadron (Boulton Paul Defiant 2's)

1451 flight (Turbinlite flight, Douglas Boston/Havoc)

29 Squadron (Mosquito's)

3 Squadron(F) (Hawker Hurricane 2c's)

1530 flight (Airspeed Oxford's)

157 Squadron (Mosquito's)

515 Squadron (Bristol Beaufighters and Boulton-Paul Defiant's)

406 (RCAF) Squadron (Mosquito's)

409 (RCAF) Squadron (Mosquito's),

410(Cougar) Squadron RCAF (Mosquito's)

418 (RCAF) Squadron (Mosquito's)

21(City of Norwich) Squadron, 464 (Australia), and 487 (New Zealand) Squadrons all equipped with Mosquito's and forming 140 wing of the 2nd Tactical Air Force.

264 Squadron ( Mosquito's)

488 (New Zealand) Squadron (Mosquito's)

151 Squadron (Mosquito's)

501 (county of Gloucester) Squadron (Hawker Tempest's)

530 Squadron (Turbinlight,formed from 1451 flight, Boston/Havoc)

611(Mustang 4's) and 154 (Mustang 4's and Spitfire Mk6) Squadrons forming the Hunsdon Wing , 442(RCAF) using the now disbanded 154 Squadrons aircraft.

Several other Squadrons paid brief visits lasting only a few days, these included, 242, 56, 2, 605 , 4 (B flight only), and 219 (Belgium) Squadrons.

Several aircraft types operated from Hunsdon, but by far the most numerous were the Mosquito's of the Royal Canadian Air Force, initially as Nightfighter squadrons and then on "Intruder" operations. This type of operation involved aircraft to orbit at a small distance, from known German nightfighter airfields on the continent, and then engage enemy aircraft as they either took off, or landed. The RCAF squadrons were also involved in the defence of Southern England against the V1 flying bomb menace, 409 Sqdn downing 10 of these, and 418 Sqdn is quoted as having destroyed a staggering 82 V1 flying bombs.

The airfield saw many other types landing there for many reasons. RAF and USAAF bombers and fighters short on fuel or damaged by enemy action took advantage of Hunsdons hospitality.

Hunsdon was one of the airfields that hosted a new type of nightfighter under trial in early 1941. Shrouded in secrecy, the Turbinlite equipped aircraft of 1451 flight were kept away from the other squadrons and posted to the other side of the airfield at Tuck Spring Wood dispersals.

The author J Rickard wrote:

The Douglas Havoc was an impromptu conversion of lower powered French DB7's which achieved a certain amount of success as a night fighter and intruder in 1941 and 1942.

It may seem odd that the DB-7, having been rejected as a bomber because of its short range, would then be used as a night intruder, but with its bomb load reduced to 1,000lb the Havoc I (Intruder) could reach German air bases in northern France, Belgium and Holland. No.23 Squadron was the first to receive the Havoc. From March 1941 until August 1942 it flew low level night time missions, harassing the Germans while suffered very low losses. The Havoc was joined by the Boston III (Intruder) in July 1942, before converting to the Mosquito in August 1942. The Havocs moved on to No.605 Squadron, which operated the Havoc (Intruder) from 14 July 1942, before replacing them with the Boston in October and the Mosquito in August 1943.

No.85 Squadron was the only squadron to use the Havoc I (Night Fighter)and Havoc II (Night Fighter) exclusively, receiving its first aircraft in February 1941. The Havoc I (Night Fighter) replaced the Boulton-Paul Defiant, with which it had achieved a single night time victory. The Havoc went operational on 7 April, and only two days later the squadron scored one confirmed, one probable and one damaged.

The Havoc I remained in use to the end of 1941, while the Havoc II (Night Fighter), with twice the firepower, arrived in July 1941. The squadron operated the Havoc for eighteen months, before replacing them with the Mosquito in September 1942. No.25 Squadron also operated a number of Havocs alongside its Bristol Beaufighters. The Beaufighter IF was more heavily armed and had twice the range of the Havoc I, although the Havoc was slightly faster.

Numerically the largest group of squadrons to operate the Havoc were the ten Turbinlite squadrons that had a brief existence from September 1942 to January 1943, when the entire idea was abandoned. The Turbinlite was a massive spotlight that was installed in the nose of a Havoc or Boston. A total of 21 Havoc I (Turbinlites), 39 Havoc II (Turbinlites) and at least three Boston III (Turbinlites) were produced.

The idea was that the Havoc would use its radar to find a German aircraft, then catch it in the spotlight and let a normal day fighter attack it. At first the Havocs operated in Turbinlite flights, starting with No.1422 Flight (Air Illumination Unit) working alongside Hurricane squadrons, but the two aircraft rarely met up, and so in September 1942 ten Turbinlite squadrons were formed, operating a mix of Havocs, Bostons and Hurricanes. This improved the cooperation between the two types of aircraft, but successes were still rare. As better radar equipped night fighters began to appear the Turbinlite concept was abandoned, and all ten squadrons were disbanded early in 1943.

Source: Rickard, J (5 September 2008), Douglas Havoc in RAF Service , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_douglas_havoc_raf.html

Former Station Commanders were:

Wing Commander Harvey. DFC.

W/Cdr Peter Townsend .DFC

W/Cdr Harvey. DFC

W/Cdr J R A Peel .DSO. DFC

W/Cdr J S Maclean. DFC

W/Cdr J Hamblin

W/Cdr John Cunningham .DSO .DFC

W/Cdr H M Kerr .AFC

S/Ldr J G Saunders

W/Cdr A L Mortimer.

The Station used the radio callsigns of 'Bemax' and 'Miser'.

There were on average around 100 RAF officers, 140 NCO's and 2,000 other ranks, with 268 WAAF's with 5 officers and 3 NCO's, based at Hunsdon at any given time during its operational life.

The airfield was defended, first of all by the Army then later by the RAF Regiment consisting of 2728 , 2727, 2734, and 2715 squadrons RAFR. Pillbox type fortifications defended the airfield perimeter and village approaches, while others on the airfield defended the flying field. Of these, eight examples can still be found today and are listed structures.

Ground to air defence by means of anti-aircraft guns was provided by 517 Troop of 119 Battery, Light anti aircraft (LAA)with Bofors guns. 334 Battery (LAA) and 33 Searchlight Regiment were also stationed here. A 'Q' site existed just outside of Braughing village. This was a night time decoy using the standard airfield lighting system to attract enemy bombers away from Hunsdon itself.

RAF Hunsdon and 'Operation Jericho'

On the 31st of December 1943, 140 wing comprising of 21, 464 and 487 Squadrons of the recently formed Second Tactical air force or 2 TAF moved to Hunsdon from Sculthorpe in Norfolk. Operating the FB Mk VI fighter bomber variant of the Mosquito. Unknown to them at this time they were soon to take part in one of the most well known raids in RAF history

"Operation Jericho".

Early in 1944, Word had been received from the French Resistance that the Germans were to soon execute 180 of their captured colleagues at the Gestapo prison at Amiens in occupied Northern France. The formidable prison held up to 700 french people, including resistance fighters, political prisoners as well as common criminals. It was surrounded by a high stone wall and was deemed escape proof.

Plans were quickly drawn up and were put into place, the British had limited time to act as the day of execution was to be in a few days time. The walls of the prison and the surrounding high walls were to be breached without causing too much loss of life among the incarcerated Resistance fighters.

Bombs were to be dropped at a height of 15 feet with buildings to be avoided seconds later. This fact did little to ease the aircrews minds, there could only be one attempt at this extremely difficult task. The raid was to be led by Group Captain Pickard and his navigator flight Lieutenant Broadley.

Born on the 16th May 1915, in Handsworth Sheffield south Yorkshire, Percy Charles 'Pick' Pickard was one of the well known RAF officers of the war. He had a long career on "ops", and saw action many times in aerial combat, he took part in some of the most dangerous operations flown by the Royal Air Force. he was admired for his leadership, strengh and determination.

As "Sqd Ldr Dickson", he played the part of the Pilot of Vickers Wellington, 'F for Freddie', in the cinema film 'Target for Tonight' made by the government Crown Film Unit. Back on real operations he played a key role in the successful airborne raid called "Operation biting" against the German Wurzburg Radar Installation near Bruneval on the French coast near Le Havre, where parts of this radar were removed by British paratroops for examination by scientists back in England.

Pickard also flew numerous covert sorties, dropping supplies and agents for the S.O.E. into Nazi occupied Europe while with 161 Squadron flying Westland Lysanders from Tempsford Bedfordshire.

John Alan "Bill"Broadley was born at Richmond in the county of Yorkshire in 1921.he joined the RAF on leaving school, and trained as an Observer, and flew many operations over Germany during the first two years of war. He joined No.9 Squadron May 1941, and became Pick Pickards regular navigator. During June-August he flew with Pickard against major German targets all over germany and was awarded the DFM for ability and courage.

In August 1941 he was posted to 138 Squadron, a special duties unit, supplying the resistance and dropping and picking up agents.on November 18th 1941 he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and was posted to 51 squadron. on the night of February 27th/28th 1942, he flew with Pickard on the bruneval raid ,in July 1942 he was posted to 296 Squadron, a glider towing squadron.

During November, Broadley moved to 161 Squadron at Tempsford near Bedford, another special duties unit and while here he was awarded the DFC and the DSO and gained promotion to Flight Lieutenant. On 1st December 1943 he made his final move to 21 Squadron that was part of part of 140 Wing, 2nd Tactical Air Force.he was appointed as Wing Navigational Officer in January 1944, and flew low level raids with Pickard, ending with Operation Jericho.

The raid was planned for February the 17th 1944, but was postponed for 24 hours due to bad weather ,a morse code message was received from the Resistance 'strike now or never, The executions are imminent'.

February the 18th came and the weather was awful, by normal reasons the mission would have been aborted again, but time had run out, the raid had to go. Snow was falling, and gusts of wind swept across Hunsdon airfield, the 19 mosquito's lifted off of Hunsdons main NE/SW runway at 1100 hours and were to meet a fighter escort of Hawker Typhoon's of 174 ,198, and 245 squadron over the English channel. The entire raid was to be flown at very low level, just the sort of raid that Mosquito's were excellent at.

Things went slightly wrong when some of the Typhoon escort failed to meet up with the Mossies due to the bad weather conditions in the English channel. The mossies pressed on knowing that there would be no other chance, as the following days weather was forecast to be worse by the RAF Met office. The prisoners would be dead before dawn the next day if they did not act immediately.

Following the long Albert-Amiens road at a height to avoid the sixty foot tall poplar trees that lined it, the mossies bore down on the Gaol, so accurate was their attack that only one bomb went astray from the whole of the first 12 aircraft on target. The walls of the prison building and the outer perimeter walls were breached, and the timing was perfect.

Most of the German guards were having lunch and were killed when a bomb struck their dining hall, the prisoners were seen escaping across the frozen fields. They had been forewarned of the impending raid by an informer and were quick to act for themselves when the time came. Pickard sent the remaining aircraft home without dropping their bombs, and instructed the ones that had already bombed to leave as well.

The Mosquito flown by Squadron leader Ian Mc Ritchie, with Flt/Lt RW Samson as navigator was hit by flak and bellied in, Some reports say that upon seeing this, Pickard flew over the spot where the mossie had crashed to check for survivors, Other reports say he was circling the area of the prison for a last look. Whatever is true, he was bounced by two Fw190's of 11/JG26 that had come from a nearby airfield.

The tail of the mossie was severed, and it crashed into an apple orchard just outside the town of Amiens . Both Pickard and Broadley were killed, a French girl cut the medal ribbons and RAF wings from Pickards tunic and posted them to his widow at the end of the War. Flt/Lt RW Samson from McRitchies aircraft also lost his life on the raid.

The Germans buried them, and forbade the local french from attending the funerals, but that did not deter many from turning up, and to this day the graves of Group Captain Pickard and F/Lt Broadley are looked after by the local french people.

Of the escaping prisoners, some were shot and many were recaptured, but all together 250 of them got away,but alas 102 died either by bombs or being shot by the Germans, the germans themselves lost 50 of their guards in the attack.