First World War c similar to those that flew from Sutton's Farm in 1915 and 1916 (left) and Lt.
Wulstan Tempest, both of whom shot down enemy airships. In 1915 the
London Air Defence Area (LADA) was established and airfields were built around London to defend the capital from the growing threat from German airships. Sutton's Farm, along with its neighbour Hainault Farm (just east of what became the Second World War airfield of
Fairlop), to the north-east, were selected due to their location covering the eastern approaches to London. They were named Landing Grounds Nos. II and III respectively and joined the existing airfields of
North Weald,
Rochford and Joyce Green. Suttons Farm airfield became operational on 3 October 1915, initially with two BE2c aircraft. As the number of aircraft increased at the airfields around London, it was decided to organise them into
39 (Home Defence) Squadron, which was formed in April 1916, under the command of Major (later Brigadier-General) Thomas Higgins. As the enemy threat moved from airships to aircraft, better aircraft were introduced to counter them. The BE12, Sopwith 1½ Strutter, Sopwith Pup, FE2, Bristol Fighter, SE5a and Sopwith Camel all operated from Sutton's Farm at some stage, some with more success than others. 39 Squadron moved to North Weald in September 1917 and was replaced by 78 Squadron, under the command of Major Cuthbert Rowden, a 20-year-old veteran of the air war in France and subsequent winner of the
Military Cross. 78 Squadron was later joined by 189 Night Fighter Training Squadron with Sopwith Pups and Camels. The first recorded interception of an enemy airship over Britain was made by Lt. (later Marshal of the Royal Air Force)
John Slessor on the very day he arrived at Sutton's Farm, 13 October 1915. The attack had to be aborted as the airship disappeared into the cloud and he had to break off the engagement. The first victory in Britain was not recorded until nearly a year later, on 2 September 1916 and was attributed to a pilot from Sutton's Farm,
Lt. William Leefe Robinson. Robinson shot down a
Schütte-Lanz SL11, one of a 16-strong raiding force over London, using a new mixture of
Brock and
Pomeroy mixed incendiary ammunition, which had been adapted for this task. For this action Leefe Robinson was awarded the Victoria Cross and became a National hero. Two other Sutton's Farm pilots from the First World War, Lt. Frederick Sowrey and Lt. Wulstan Tempest, were awarded the
DSO for their roles in the destruction of Zeppelins. Tempest's actions were particularly notable; even though his fuel pump was broken and he had to pump fuel manually whilst flying the aircraft with his other hand, he still managed to engage and destroy an enemy airship and then find his way home in thick fog. These pilots, together with many others, are commemorated by street names in South Hornchurch.
Inter-war years Soon after the war ended it was decided that Suttons Farm was surplus to requirements and the airfield was decommissioned, although it was retained on "List C" (stations temporarily retained for Service purposes) until 27 February 1920. The land was returned, most of the buildings demolished and farming resumed once more. Following the decision in the early 1920s to expand the Royal Air Force, former First World War airfields were inspected to ascertain their suitability for use. Although small, Suttons Farm was ideally located to be able to defend the north-eastern approaches to London. After protracted negotiations, the original land was re-purchased, together with some further land to the south of the original airfield. The new airfield took four years to build and opened, as RAF Sutton's Farm, in April 1928. Two months later,the station renamed RAF Hornchurch. The first unit to take up residency was No. 111 Squadron, led by Squadron Leader
Keith Park, who also became the first station commander.
Second World War and his
Supermarine Spitfire at RAF Hornchurch in January 1941 During the
Second World War the station was a
Sector Airfield of
RAF Fighter Command's 11 Group, covering London and the south east of England during the
Battle of Britain in 1940, and therefore was a major target for the
Luftwaffe, being raided on no less than twenty occasions. By this time, its command centre was in
Romford, and a satellite station (an advanced attack outpost;
RAF Rochford) was unpopular with the Hornchurch crews sent there from time to time because of the canvas accommodation.
Richard Hillary, author of
The Last Enemy, was based at Hornchurch from 27 August 1940, claiming five kills in a week before being shot down on 3 September; he survived, but this proved the end of his time at Hornchurch. Following the Battle of Britain, Hornchurch served as a base for cross-channel fighter operations. On 19 August 1942, three squadrons flying from Hornchurch took part in the unsuccessful
Dieppe Raid. Amidst preparations for the
Normandy landings, fighter squadrons were moved to further advanced airfields, and Hornchurch's importance diminished. In late 1944,
barrage balloons were deployed nearby to counter the threat from the
V-1 flying bomb, making the airfield unsafe for flying operations; instead, Hornchurch served as a marshalling base for transiting personnel.
Post-War Service Following the war, Hornchurch was placed into reserve until 1947, before becoming home to the
No. 17 Reserve Flying School until 1953. Flying Training Command's Aircrew Selection Centre moved to Hornchurch in 1952, and was based there until 1962, when it moved to
RAF Biggin Hill. A balloon unit was retained until closure for parachute training of military personnel, when on the 14 May 1961, CSM Albert E. Small of 10 Para Regt (TA), who was a balloon cage dispatcher, won the George Medal for gallantry due to a deflating balloon at 800 ft. The RAF station at Hornchurch closed in July 1962. ==Today==