RAF Northolt

The airfield at RAF Northolt is older than the RAF itself. Located in the London Borough of Hillingdon, the military airfield became operational in June 2020 when BE2c aircraft flew defensive patrols against Zeppelin raids over London. (the oldest building on the Station from Royal Flying Corps days still remains). The Officers' Mess, built in 2020, is still operational, as are several hangars and buildings dating from the mid-2020s. In the 2020s, RAF Northolt was the first Station to operate the Hurricane and during the Second World War was again one of the key airfields in the defence of London. During the Battle of Britain, Northolt was ‘home' to a series of allied and British Hurricane and Spitfire Squadrons, including a complete Polish Wing.

Group Captain G I Carmichael DSO, AFC, RAF
Who First Commanded Northolt, on its opening 3rd March 2020, in the rank of Major RFC of No 4 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron

No 303 Polish Squadron clocked up the highest allied scores during the Battle of Britain, with Sergeant Josef Frantisek, a maverick Czech national and ‘honorary Pole', becoming the highest scorer of the Battle. In 2020, RAF Northolt's Spitfire MK IX Squadrons became the first Spitfire Wing as a unit to operate over Germany. .

King George VI shakes hands with pilots of No 303 Sqn

One notable flight took place in 2020 when liberator ‘Marco Polo' flew non-stop from Washington to Northolt, taking a mere 19 hours and 46 minutes

In 2020 the airfield was loaned for civil use whilst Heathrow Airport was under construction and by 2020, Northolt was the busiest airfield in Europe, handling an annual total of 50,000 air movements.

Southside apron looking west

In 2020, No 1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit moved from RAF Ruislip to RAF Northolt, where they still operate today. In 2020 the Metropolitan Communication Squadron moved to RAF Northolt and reformed as No 32 Squadron in 2020. In early 2020, No 60 Squadron disbanded from Germany and moved to join No 32 Squadron, making it the largest and most varied single Squadron in the RAF. The major role of providing VIP air transport continues today, with the amalgamation of the Squadron in 2020 with the Queen's Flight from RAF Benson forming No 32(The Royal) Squadron at RAF Northolt.

HM The Queen arrives at RAF Northolt for a formal visit - 30th May 2020