North Weald

North Weald Airfield is familiar with most Harlow-ites for its regular Saturday and Bank Holiday markets - but it has a place in history far more important than that.

Airfield Memorial & Former Station Office - now a museum

Royal Flying Corps Station North Weald Bassett first opened in 1916, and played a part in protecting London from the Zepellin raids of World War I, but found its finest hour acting as a frontline airfield during World War II and the Battle of Britain, with Hurricanes, Blenheims and Spitfires operating.

In the course of WW2 the now RAF North Weald station played host to many Squadrons including those made up of Foreign nationals - Americans, Czechs, Poles and also Norwegians. There is still a strong link maintained to this day with the people of Norway and part of the Airfield Memorial is a stone obelisk given by the Norwegians.

After the war NW continued as an operational airfield, with Gloster Meteors and De Havilland Vampires being commonly seen in the skies overhead in the late 1940's, and later the Hawker Hunters of 111 squadron moved in - known as the Black Arrows. Interestingly one of the aircraft you are most likely to see flying from North Weald these days is a black Hawker Hunter!

In early 1958, rather fittingly, the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial flight (then known as the RAF Historic Aircraft Flight) was moved to it's new home at North Weald, sadly its stay was to be cut short as in May of that year the RAF decided to take the step of re designating the airfield as non-operational, before eventually pulling out completely in 1964.

Hangar 11 collection Kittyhawk

Today the airfield is once more alive to the sound of aviation - from the the Gnat Display Team, and Hangar 11 Collection with their Hurricane, Spitfire, Mustang & Kittyhawk - all to be seen at airshows throughout the summer months - to the Army using the field for operational training with their Apache Helicopters - now a regular sight over Harlow. The Hertfordshire Air Ambulance is also based there.

Temporary Herts Air Ambulance G-ESCI

Sources are mainly credited via links in the text. Information also from Wikipaedia.