RAF Fairlop

RAF Fairlop near Ilford, Essex, was first used during the First World War as a Royal Naval Air Station Training School. A small flying club used the site between the wars and there were plans to build a commercial airport, but these were later abandoned.
The airfield was brought back into military use in late 1940 when three concrete runways in the familiar A pattern were constructed. The Airfield became operational in September 1941 with the arrival of No: 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron, flying spitfires, previously stationed at Hornchurch. Hainault Lodge was used as accommodation for some of the officers. In June 1944 RAF Fairlop became home to No. 24 Balloon Centre with four squadrons forming part of the balloon barrage around London. The balloons were manned by members of the WAAF. No 24 Balloon Centre was disbanded in February 1945 and the airfield closed in August 1946.
The site was used for gravel extraction and became a country park known as Fairlop Waters with sailing facilities and a golf course.
Squadrons stationed at RAF Fairlop

No: 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron
No: 64 Squadron
No: 81 Squadron
No: 411 Squadron
No: 313 Squadron
No: 122 Squadron
No: 182 Squadron
No: 193 Squadron
No: 247 Squadron
No: 164 Squadron
No. 24 Balloon Centre

8th June 1942 Relocated

29th June 1942 Moved on

July 1942 On the move

15th July 1942 Three Spitfires shot down

24th July 1942 On the move

30th July 1942 Spitfires lost on raid

19th August 1942 Dieppe Raid

21st August 1942 Stood down from Operations

8th September 1942 Relocated

5th October 1942 Withdrawn from ops

16th November 1942 On the move

2nd December 1942 Lost over the Irish Sea

9th December 1942 Return to Hornchurch

2nd January 1943 Return to Essex

5th April 1943 Moved to new base

7th April 1943 Gales

10th April 1943 On ops at last

13th April 1943 182 Squadron's first raid over the Channel

15th April 1943 Rhubarb Attack

16th April 1943 Pilot lost over France

18th April 1943 Airfield and Trains attacked

23rd April 1943 Invasion hopes damped

25th April 1943 Pilot lost attacking railway targets

28th April 1943 Railway targets attacked

29th April 1943 Inadequate accommodation

18th May 1943 Tactical Airforce

22nd September 1943 Relocated

24th September 1943 Typhoon squadron moves on

26th September 1943 Escort duty

22nd October 1943 Not much activity

26th October 1943 Royal cover

7th November 1943 Baled out over France

9th November 1943 Ops from Manston

11th November 1943 Escort duty

25th November 1943 Bombphoon ops

29th November 1943 Walk back to base

4th December 1943

30th December 1943 Hurricane crashes in the Channel

4th January 1944 Christmas at Hutton Cranswick

7th January 1944 Noball attack cancelled

10th January 1944 Ditched pilot missing

18th January 1944 Poor spirits

27th January 1944 New C.O.

1st February 1944 Typhoons handed over

8th February 1944 No aircraft

15th February 1944 Typhoon Squadron disbanded

February 1944 Re-equipped with Typhoons

20th February 1944 Move to join 2TAF

28th February 1944 Attacked by Thunderbolts

15th March 1944 Radio programme for Brazil

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.

Those known to have served at
RAF Fairlop
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

Whitcombe DFC.. Sydney.

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

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Want to know more about RAF Fairlop?

There are:50 items tagged RAF Fairlop available in our Library

These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.

Sydney Whitcombe DFC. 195 Squadron

My father Sydney Whitcombe did not talk much about his experiences of his service in the RAF. He was a navigator for the 195 Squadron and received the DFC for his bravery.
Interestingly enough he was at first a conscientious objector when war broke out, later joining the RAF having spent most of the initial years dragging bodies from bombed buildings in London. I have a photograph of him and some of his crew with their names but would love to find out more about anyone connected to the 195 squadron and any other photographs.
The names of the crew members were: Frank Wilcock (wireless operator) Len Parsons (bomber) ‘Paddy’ (air gunner) Stan Renaut (air gunner)

Sally Childs

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RAF Station Fairlop

The Wartime Memories Project - RAF Fairlop during the Second World War -

RAF Fairlop

Those known to have served at RAF Fairlopduring the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements

Want to know more about RAF Fairlop?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- RAF Fairlop during the Second World War -

Those known to have served at
RAF Fairlop
during the Second World War 1939-1945.