Old airfields near Watford
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Old airfields near Watford
I must be getting a little long in the tooth but as a boy I would cycle to Leavesden, Hatfield, Radlett, Bovingdon and Elstree. All five airfields were separated by only a few miles and well within the range of my little legs. I think only Bovingdon was actually built as a RAF base while only Elstree remains open today. Anyone remember these airfields when they were open?
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Ahhhhmmmmmmm...... yes... well...
In me spotting days (waaaaaayyyyy back in 1979) I visited Elstree by train and foot, and then walked to Leavesden. Navigation was, er, tenuous to say the least - these days I'd have an appropriate map handy - but I made it and even got to Watford safely, to tube it home for tea and medals.
Elstree? Well, Spencer Flack was there then with the ex Haydon Bailiey Sea Fury and, I think, the up and coming G-HUNT. G-FURY and G-FiRE were but then a glint on the horizon... Leavesden was Beech City then - King Airs and Duchesses as I recall...
Hatfield? Twice in the early 80s when the 146 was king, plus the Comet Racer, the late and very lamented Mossie and a low run by a Super Guppy!
Happy days!
In me spotting days (waaaaaayyyyy back in 1979) I visited Elstree by train and foot, and then walked to Leavesden. Navigation was, er, tenuous to say the least - these days I'd have an appropriate map handy - but I made it and even got to Watford safely, to tube it home for tea and medals.
Elstree? Well, Spencer Flack was there then with the ex Haydon Bailiey Sea Fury and, I think, the up and coming G-HUNT. G-FURY and G-FiRE were but then a glint on the horizon... Leavesden was Beech City then - King Airs and Duchesses as I recall...
Hatfield? Twice in the early 80s when the 146 was king, plus the Comet Racer, the late and very lamented Mossie and a low run by a Super Guppy!
Happy days!
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Used to travel to Leavesden quite often in the 70’s. Seem to remember Huntings having a DC3 parked up there for a while by the hangar south of the runway together with a Dove. What happened to all the aircraft and companies that were based there?
By comparison Handley Page Radlett was a large airfield with its 3 runways, the longest runway having a length of 6910ft. I don’t ever remember seeing a single movement from the airfield. I think Radlett closed in 1969. There are still a few signs that it was once an airfield with the hangars at Park Street still intact. Are there any Radlett built aircraft still flying?
A few old photos taken in 1973 and 2003 can be found at http://www.handleypage.com/Menu_page.html
As for Bovingdon I have an old photo of a Middle East Airlines Hermes parked at Bovingdon. Apart from being an RAF and American AF base there was a time when the airfield did take civil airliners but I guess these were mainly freighters. Bovingdon can be still seen on TV today. The opening title scene in the 60’s series The Prisoner was part filmed on Bovingdon’s runway. Also scenes for The Avengers were also filmed there.
By comparison Handley Page Radlett was a large airfield with its 3 runways, the longest runway having a length of 6910ft. I don’t ever remember seeing a single movement from the airfield. I think Radlett closed in 1969. There are still a few signs that it was once an airfield with the hangars at Park Street still intact. Are there any Radlett built aircraft still flying?
A few old photos taken in 1973 and 2003 can be found at http://www.handleypage.com/Menu_page.html
As for Bovingdon I have an old photo of a Middle East Airlines Hermes parked at Bovingdon. Apart from being an RAF and American AF base there was a time when the airfield did take civil airliners but I guess these were mainly freighters. Bovingdon can be still seen on TV today. The opening title scene in the 60’s series The Prisoner was part filmed on Bovingdon’s runway. Also scenes for The Avengers were also filmed there.
Last edited by Pain in the R's; 12th Aug 2006 at 06:12.
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I used to live in Hatfield....
One of my grandfathers was the workshop foreman in the engine section, my other grandfather worked on the comet. My Grandmother was Sir geoffrey Dehavilland's house keeper. My father was an apprentice at astwick manor, and now runs an engineering company in Hatfield to this day. I've heard many stories.
I remember the drab coloured 146's turning crosswind over my house... FANTASTIC, and seeing numerous interesting things. A friend of the family was also the fire chief at hatfield so had a few trips out in the appliances, and adventures in the fire services Trident!
My father always tells me about Radlett also. he remembers seeing the Victor tails hanging over the fence as you drove by...
I also used to fly out of panshangar, but have never heard much more than the RAF Tiger moth training link in WW2...
One of my grandfathers was the workshop foreman in the engine section, my other grandfather worked on the comet. My Grandmother was Sir geoffrey Dehavilland's house keeper. My father was an apprentice at astwick manor, and now runs an engineering company in Hatfield to this day. I've heard many stories.
I remember the drab coloured 146's turning crosswind over my house... FANTASTIC, and seeing numerous interesting things. A friend of the family was also the fire chief at hatfield so had a few trips out in the appliances, and adventures in the fire services Trident!
My father always tells me about Radlett also. he remembers seeing the Victor tails hanging over the fence as you drove by...
I also used to fly out of panshangar, but have never heard much more than the RAF Tiger moth training link in WW2...
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Found out some on the ex-RAF airfields:
Had a look-see in my book of Military airfields, Bovingdon was built in 1942 and used by the US Air Transport Command.
Hatfield was built in 1930 and is listed as an Elementary Flying Training School
and RLG to Panshanger
Had a look-see in my book of Military airfields, Bovingdon was built in 1942 and used by the US Air Transport Command.
Hatfield was built in 1930 and is listed as an Elementary Flying Training School
and RLG to Panshanger
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i used to live at raf northwood as a child. remember going to watford and radlett bovingdon etc.. on our bikes. c1961.
very sad to actually see bovingdon being used for car booting etc... c1990.
usaf bovingdon saw james stewart, clark gable and william holden serving there. glen miller was a visitor.
633 squadron and mosquito squadron were filmed there. also blakes 7 and the avengers.
i went to radlett to deliver some parts in about 1970. i saw some of the production areas. think they were building the Jetstream? then.
there were a few Victors parked up at the time.
all very sad now.
very sad to actually see bovingdon being used for car booting etc... c1990.
usaf bovingdon saw james stewart, clark gable and william holden serving there. glen miller was a visitor.
633 squadron and mosquito squadron were filmed there. also blakes 7 and the avengers.
i went to radlett to deliver some parts in about 1970. i saw some of the production areas. think they were building the Jetstream? then.
there were a few Victors parked up at the time.
all very sad now.
The opening scene for 'The Prisoner' was shot at Booker aka Wycombe Air Park; the runway is too narrow for Bovingdon, and I recognise the tarmac repair patch visible at one point.
Bovingdon was used in the early '50s for a film involving Lana Turner delivering a P51(don't know the name, but it must have been about '54 cos I remember seeing the aircraft parked unusually on the west side), then for 'The War Lover (B17's) in the early '60s; the two Mosquito films came next, followed by 'Hanover Street (B25s do fly in IMC) in '70s. The Flying car sequence for 'The Man With the Golden Gun' was also part filmed there.
Bovingdon was used in the early '50s for a film involving Lana Turner delivering a P51(don't know the name, but it must have been about '54 cos I remember seeing the aircraft parked unusually on the west side), then for 'The War Lover (B17's) in the early '60s; the two Mosquito films came next, followed by 'Hanover Street (B25s do fly in IMC) in '70s. The Flying car sequence for 'The Man With the Golden Gun' was also part filmed there.
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the lana turner film may have been,, the lady takes a flyer. c1958.
strange that the film had 4 different titles!
this link may be of interest.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051839/
strange that the film had 4 different titles!
this link may be of interest.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051839/
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Hatfield HTF (Closed)
Hi,
I was lucky enough to be based in Hatfield for the final year of Operations right up until the 17/4/1994 when the last official departure was made. Although, even after the airfield was closed, it was common for Flying school light singles to pitch up with puzzled looking QFIs and students - despite the huge 'X' on the runway and the various NOTAMS
The final few months were very interesting with lots of visits from all kinds of Executive Aviation up to and including private 727s. There were always lots of 146s and variants in for maintenance and painting. I awoke most mornings to the sound of RR Darts being spooled up as the BAe Woodford shuttle HS748 was warmed up and departed as 'Avro99'.
I also woke up a couple of years after the airfield closed to the sound of full reversers being applied but couldn't get down to the airfield to find out what had arrived; it was reputedly Spielberg's jet that had tipped in to work on the filming of 'Saving Private Ryan' - never had that confirmed though ! seems a tad unlikely - but something had landed !
One of my favourite memories was watching an A300-B4 Freighter lumbering down the ILS to 24 and with about 2d to go, a slightly nervous pilot asks:
A300: 'Ah could you confirm landing length available?'
ATC: '6000ft'
A300: 'Well, ok, If you say so'
Cheers
I was lucky enough to be based in Hatfield for the final year of Operations right up until the 17/4/1994 when the last official departure was made. Although, even after the airfield was closed, it was common for Flying school light singles to pitch up with puzzled looking QFIs and students - despite the huge 'X' on the runway and the various NOTAMS
The final few months were very interesting with lots of visits from all kinds of Executive Aviation up to and including private 727s. There were always lots of 146s and variants in for maintenance and painting. I awoke most mornings to the sound of RR Darts being spooled up as the BAe Woodford shuttle HS748 was warmed up and departed as 'Avro99'.
I also woke up a couple of years after the airfield closed to the sound of full reversers being applied but couldn't get down to the airfield to find out what had arrived; it was reputedly Spielberg's jet that had tipped in to work on the filming of 'Saving Private Ryan' - never had that confirmed though ! seems a tad unlikely - but something had landed !
One of my favourite memories was watching an A300-B4 Freighter lumbering down the ILS to 24 and with about 2d to go, a slightly nervous pilot asks:
A300: 'Ah could you confirm landing length available?'
ATC: '6000ft'
A300: 'Well, ok, If you say so'
Cheers
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I did my first solo, and all my solo circuits, at Leavesden in August of 1977 in a C-150 from Luton Flying Club. I had an RAF flying scholarship.
I think I may have been the first to get an Air Cadet Soaring certificate (BGA C Certificate)at Bovingdon in '66; we were operating a detachment of 613 GS from Halton there; this was before 618 GS were moved to Bovingdon from Hendon.
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Originally Posted by LTNman
I must be getting a little long in the tooth but as a boy I would cycle to Leavesden, Hatfield, Radlett, Bovingdon and Elstree. All five airfields were separated by only a few miles and well within the range of my little legs. I think only Bovingdon was actually built as a RAF base while only Elstree remains open today. Anyone remember these airfields when they were open?
Aviate1138 says....
Don't forget Panshanger!
*Sigh* Memories.....
My school in St Albans was slap bang beneath the circuits to both Hatfield and Radlett.
Back then (1960's) Hatfield was turning out Tridents, to be seen flying there were also 125's, Comets, the odd Sea Vixen and trials (I believe) Hunter.
Radlett wasn't as busy, but was ripe with Heralds (I especially remember the Malaysian Air Force ones), the odd Victor, and a Hastings used to turn up fairly regularly (well it seemed that way)
Also travelling in to London from Harpenden, the main line ran straight past Radlett and there was a long row of lovely white Victor B1s (I think that was the correct mark) parked in the dispersals right alongside the railway line.
And the first black hangar proudly boasted "Handly Page Ltd" in huge white letters across the doors.
Nice line the Midland - went straight past Hendon too
*Sigh*
My school in St Albans was slap bang beneath the circuits to both Hatfield and Radlett.
Back then (1960's) Hatfield was turning out Tridents, to be seen flying there were also 125's, Comets, the odd Sea Vixen and trials (I believe) Hunter.
Radlett wasn't as busy, but was ripe with Heralds (I especially remember the Malaysian Air Force ones), the odd Victor, and a Hastings used to turn up fairly regularly (well it seemed that way)
Also travelling in to London from Harpenden, the main line ran straight past Radlett and there was a long row of lovely white Victor B1s (I think that was the correct mark) parked in the dispersals right alongside the railway line.
And the first black hangar proudly boasted "Handly Page Ltd" in huge white letters across the doors.
Nice line the Midland - went straight past Hendon too
*Sigh*
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Originally Posted by NtB
And the first black hangar proudly boasted "Handly Page Ltd" in huge white letters across the doors.
Not forgetting some open fields in the area were used by Sir Alan Cobham for his 'National Aviation Days'. I remember a tale of my father flying with one of his joyriders from a field on the eastern outskirts of Chesham, Bucks, about 3nm west of Bovingdon.
I've also always wondered about the history of the blister hangar in a field next to the main Chesham - Berkhamstead road about a mile south of Ashley Green; was it anything to do with a USAAF landing strip which briefly existed in this area in 1944?
I've also always wondered about the history of the blister hangar in a field next to the main Chesham - Berkhamstead road about a mile south of Ashley Green; was it anything to do with a USAAF landing strip which briefly existed in this area in 1944?
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Just got Richard Riding's excellent pictorial history of Elstree... great stuff! (Also Peter Campbell's "Tales of the Fifites" trilogy... ahhhh!)
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My grand mother lives in Park St, opposite the garage (was Toyota), but might have changed recently. From her front room I recall seeing the Victors parked where the garage is today and a Hastings. I can never recall seeing anything flying from Radlett though.
Most folk living in Park St worked at the factory, so when it closed, the village died too. The village shop was close to the 'new' Jetstream production facility.
I would love to know what the light aircraft was hangared at the southern end of the airfield, a few months after the factory closed and the whole area resembled a ghost town? PM me if you know, been bugging me for years since!
An episode of the Professionals shows Radlett airfield, some of the cast arriving in a Jetstream, then views of the airfield as it makes its way to a hangar.
The last movements there were probably by microlights, a fly in occurred in 1990 I believe?
The whole area is earmarked for housing or a giant rail/road freight terminal.
Most folk living in Park St worked at the factory, so when it closed, the village died too. The village shop was close to the 'new' Jetstream production facility.
I would love to know what the light aircraft was hangared at the southern end of the airfield, a few months after the factory closed and the whole area resembled a ghost town? PM me if you know, been bugging me for years since!
An episode of the Professionals shows Radlett airfield, some of the cast arriving in a Jetstream, then views of the airfield as it makes its way to a hangar.
The last movements there were probably by microlights, a fly in occurred in 1990 I believe?
The whole area is earmarked for housing or a giant rail/road freight terminal.
There was also a film about a traction engine that showed lots of scenes taken at Radlett, made - I seem to remember - in 1961, although I cannot recall the name of the film.
It also featured a Victor, marketted as a supposed airliner.
Now there's a thought !
It also featured a Victor, marketted as a supposed airliner.
Now there's a thought !
EGTH
I worked at hatfield from 1982-88 'The (rest) Home of the 146' and they were good fun years. I got to fly on at least six delivery flights, 4 PSA 1 Presidential and 1 Air Wisconsin. Lots of 'pull up a sandbag tales' from the shop floor and product support section.
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Originally Posted by Buster the Bear
I would love to know what the light aircraft was hangared at the southern end of the airfield, a few months after the factory closed and the whole area resembled a ghost town? PM me if you know, been bugging me for years since!
It was quite odd landing there and pushing them into the now huge empty hangar as I had worked there for a while as a Flight Test Eng on the Jetstream project.
A missed opportunity as Radlett would have made an ideal airport for commuter/domestic travel.