The station was opened on 1 November 1942 as
RAF Hartford Bridge and it was used throughout the remainder of
Second World War for reconnaissance, defence and strike operations using
Supermarine Spitfires,
Douglas Bostons and
de Havilland Mosquitoes. It was also the home of the Free French Squadron (Lorraine). During the construction of the airfield, the already built runways were used for glider testing, including the massive
General Aircraft Hamilcar. A number of important people used the airfield including
King George VI and
Queen Elizabeth, Supreme Allied Commander U.S. General
Dwight D Eisenhower and British Field Marshal
Bernard Montgomery. Due to its geographical proximity to RAE Farnborough
Royal Aircraft Establishment the airfield was used to develop the
Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO) system to enable aircraft operations in heavy fog. The station was renamed to
RAF Blackbushe on 18 November 1944 and it became an airfield for the
Douglas Dakotas of
RAF Transport Command during the 1948 airlift during the
Berlin Blockade. The RAF Station was closed on 15 November 1946 and in February 1947 the airfield became
Blackbushe Airport under the control of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. During the 1950s the airfield saw increased used as a base for US Navy transport aircraft. Blackbushe was also considered during WWII in consultations to decide the site of London's post-war principal civil airport. It was only narrowly beaten by Heathrow; the winner was announced in 1944. ==Units and aircraft (RAF Hartford Bridge)==