Airfields Used By NZ Squadrons During WW 2, RAF Hunsdon

RAF Hunsdon

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51^43’26” M, 00^04’16” E

RAF Hunsdon is near Hunsdon, Hertfordshire and 2.8 miles [4.5 km] north of Harlow, Essex.

The land once formed part of a hunting estate, this being part of the nearby Hunsdon House.

King Henry V111 had the original building that had been built for Edward V11 enlarged.

The hunting lodge for the estate exists on the Airfield as Hunsdon Lodge Farm.

The land was surveyed by the Air Ministry in 1938, and they selected a site on a natural plateau about 240 feet above sea level.

The Station was originally built as a satellite Fighter Station to North Weald, with Drem Landing Lighting System being fitted.

When completed there were 16 blister hangers, 18 hard standings, 1 Bellman Hanger, 2 Aviation fuel stores [one of 24,000 gallons, the other 30,000 gallons]

The main runway, 09/27, was originally 1,450 yards, this was extended to the East to reach 1,750 yards.

The Cross Runway, 03/21, was originally 1,250 yards, this was also extended to the South, to reach 1,450 yards.

There were 8 dispersed sites within a mile of the airfield for accommodation, ablutions, and catering.

Work commenced in October 1940, over seen by Wing Commander Pike.

The runways and perimeter track were built by George Wimpet & Sons, the Perimeter track was 15 yards wide, while the runways were the usual 150 feet wide.

Most of the Airfield buildings were constructed by H C James of Luton, but after some problems regarding the speed and quality of the work, Kent & Co took over and built the remaining Airfield and dispersed buildings.

When complete, there was accommodation for 100 Officers, 140 NCO’s and 200 other ranks of airmen, and 5 officers, 3 NCO’s and 268 other ranks of WAAF’s, these were constructed at Hunsdonbury.

The airfield was used from 1941 to 1945, and now is used by a local Microlight Club.

The airfield was opened on 4th May 1941 to welcome No 85 Squadron, flying Boston Havocs.

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Havoc

These were led at the time by Group Captain Peter Townsend.

In June 1941 No 1451 Flight was formed, this experimental Squadron flew Boston Havocs with searchlights fitted into the nose of the aircraft.

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The experiment was not successful and the unit was reformed as No 530 Squadron in September 1952.

Numerous Squadrons and Wings used the Airfield during its operational life, but Hunsdon is most closely associated with the De Havilland Mosquito’s that arrived in 1943.

One of the better known raids from the Station was the Mosquito raid called
‘Operation Jerico’, the raid on the Amiens Prison on the Rue de Albert, Amiens, Northern France, on 18th February 1944.

The prison held 700 French prisoners that included common criminals, political prisoners and Resistance Workers from Northern France.

With the plans being made for the invasion of Mainland Europe in Operation ‘Overlord’ it was suspected that some of the Resistance Workers may have been privy to sensitive information and would be tortured and shot.

Back in Britain, it was decided to mount a daring low level raid that would have to be flown with utmost precision.

It was decided to skip bomb the walls of the prison. The walls would have to be breached without causing huge loss of life among those incarcerated in the Jail.

There would only be one attempt at this task, so it was placed on No 140 Wing, as they had current experience with low level operations against the German V1 flying bomb sites.

This was carried out by No 21 Squadron RAF, No 464 Squadron RAAF and No 487 [NZ] Squadron, which was known as No 140 Wing, under the command of Group Captain P C Pickard DSO, DFC, and 2 Bars.

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487 [NZ] Squadron

The raid was planed for the 10th February, but weather prevented the raid for some days, and the weather on the 18th was little better, some of the covering Tempest escort was unable to find the Wing.

The Wing pressed on as the weather was forecast as getting worse for the next few days.

The Wing, with No 487 [NZ] Squadron leading, flew in to the attack at approx 60 feet.

No 487 [NZ] Squadron was tasked to breach the walls, No 464 RAAF Squadron to breach the actual prison walls and No 21 Squadron to bomb the prison if the other two Squadrons were unsuccessful.

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G/C Pickard, who was flying as No 12 in the formation and was shot down by two FW 190’s from a nearby Airfield.

Lt Mayer shot the tail of Pickards Mosquito off, and it landed in an orchard, killing both Pickard and his Navigator Broadley.

The recall “Red, Red. Red”, was given from the photographic Mosquito who had been flying higher and after the first two Squadrons.

The other loss was Squadron Leader Ian McRitchie and his Navigator Flight Lieutenant Richard Sampson.

They were hit by flak on their return from the target and bellied in. S/L McRitchie survived the crash and was taken Prisoner of War, while Sampson was killed by the Flak.

He is buried in St Denis Eglise Cemetery at Poix de Picardie, about 25 km South West of Amiens,

Pickard and Broadley are buried in St Pierre Cemetery, just 300 Meters away from the Ameins Gaol, on Rue de Albert

It is said that a French girl cut the wings and medal ribbons from Pickards uniform and sent them to his Widow, Dorothy, at the end of the war.

No 487 [NZ] Squadron flew from Hunsdon from 31st December 1943 to 18th April 1944, using Mosquito FB5’s [Squadron code = EG]

They were followed shortly thereafter by No 488 [NZ] Squadron, from 9th October 1944 to 15th November 1944, flying Mosquito NF XX Squadron code = ME]
In the night fighter role.

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488 [NZ] Squadron

Today only a few building remain, one of these is the Underground Battle HQ, designed to provide emergency organization of Airfield Defenses should the Airfield come under attack.

Other buildings include some of the defensive pill boxes, a brick slit trench, intended for a defense position.

The Fire Tender building is now used as a store for the local shooting club.

A Memorial was unveiled on 22nd May 2005 and dedicated to the Ground Crew, the Aircrew and Support Staff who were Stationed at RAF Hunsdon from 1941 to 1945.

In June 2012 a new Memorial was unveiled, commemorating the 126 Air and Ground Crew who died while flying from, or serving at RAF Hunsdon

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