X-Nico

8 unusual facts about RAF Northolt


Fairey F.2

Built at Harlington the F.2 was transported by road to Northolt Aerodrome where it first flew on 17 May 1917; however, by then Admiralty interest in the project had waned.

Fairey Long-range Monoplane

The first built, J9479, flew for the first time on 14 November 1928 from RAF Northolt.

Hawker Siddeley Andover

The squadron had these for six months before being disbanded when the aircraft went to 32 Squadron at RAF Northolt, designated the Metropolitan Communications Squadron.

Highgrove House, Eastcote

During the Second World War, she made Highgrove available to the military, and British and American personnel from RAF Northolt stayed there.

Jay Wynne

In 1999 he joined the Met Office undertaking a 14-month training programme, including a spell at RAF Northolt for six months.

Kennedy Giant

Following the unimpressive test flight, the design was cancelled and the prototype was left derelict at Northolt Aerodrome for a number of years.

Martin-Baker MB 2

The MB2 also spent some time at the AFDU, RAF Northolt, before returning to Martin-Baker late in 1939, where it still survived in December 1941, although probably flown little or not at all after the outbreak of war.

St. Paul's Church, Munich

On 17 December 1960, a Convair C-131D Samaritan crashed on a flight from Munich to RAF Northolt, west London, United Kingdom shortly after take-off from Munich-Riem Airport and hit the 318 feet steeple of St. Paul's Church ( 1960 Munich Convair 340 crash).


Northolt Rugby Football Club

The club was founded in the 1950s and originally played at the Polish War Memorial in Ruislip near to RAF Northolt aerodrome.

Queen's Colour Squadron

The unit has mounted the guard at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and The Tower of London on several occasions, and has formed guards of honour for various visiting heads of state at Heathrow Airport, near its former base of RAF Uxbridge and its current base of RAF Northolt.

Richard Belmar

He was flown into RAF Northolt on 25 January 2005, along with Moazzam Begg, Martin Mubanga and Feroz Abbasi, where he was arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 and briefly questioned at Paddington Green police station, before being released.


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