Hatfield Airfield

Hatfield in its heyday - home of the DH Comet, control tower and Comet flight test hangar in the background 1960's (© Airfix Ltd)

Hatfield airfield

University of Hertfordshire, hangar now a sports centre and control tower used as offices

1. Pre-war/wartime flying control not known
2. Six storey tower built 1954

Other Buildings:

1930, Site purchased by de Havilland, factory and offices built 1934 producing Dragon, Tiger Moth, Rapide and Dominie aircraft.
de Havilland flying school trained civilian and RAF pilots with Tiger Moths. Became No.1 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School, renamed No.1 Elementary Flying Training School 9/39, moved to Panshanger 06/41.
25/11/40, The first flight of the Mosquito, built here from 1941 to 45.
/40 to /42, No.5 Ferry Pilot Pool, ATA. Amy Johnson was based here until here last flight from Squires Gate.
12/42 - 1/43, Hatfield was the scene of the double cross sabotage raid by Nazi secret agent 'Zigzag'. Eddie Chapman, a famous pre-war safe cracker made his spoof 'attack' on the power house 29/1/43.
Postwar the new runway was built 1947 and the Comet flight test hangar was built 1952-54. The hangar was the largest aluminium building in the world (measuring 200 by 330 feet with doors 45 feet high) with integral offices and fire station.
1960, de Havilland merged with Hawker Siddeley Group.
1977, Hawker Siddeley, British Aircraft Corporation and Scottish Aviation merged to become British Aerospace.

2002 (© Richard Francis)

Control tower and fire station 2004 (© Ian Cobb)

Aircraft factory and flight test, flying training, RLG

4 grass, 1 concrete

6 miles SW of Hertford

Photographs © as stated

2002 (© Colin Russell)

This is the original de Havilland design office that was relocated to Hatfield from Stag Lane
2002 (© Colin Russell)

Hatfield - de Havilland airfield

Hatfield airfield
Airfield Today:		University of Hertfordshire, hangar now a sports centre and control tower used as offices
Tower Type:		1. Pre-war/wartime flying control not known 2. Six storey tower built 1954
Tower:		Used as offices
Other Buildings:		Not known
History:		1930, Site purchased by de Havilland, factory and offices built 1934 producing Dragon, Tiger Moth, Rapide and Dominie aircraft. de Havilland flying school trained civilian and RAF pilots with Tiger Moths. Became No.1 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School, renamed No.1 Elementary Flying Training School 9/39, moved to Panshanger 06/41. 25/11/40, The first flight of the Mosquito, built here from 1941 to 45. /40 to /42, No.5 Ferry Pilot Pool, ATA. Amy Johnson was based here until here last flight from Squires Gate. 12/42 - 1/43, Hatfield was the scene of the double cross sabotage raid by Nazi secret agent 'Zigzag'. Eddie Chapman, a famous pre-war safe cracker made his spoof 'attack' on the power house 29/1/43. Postwar the new runway was built 1947 and the Comet flight test hangar was built 1952-54. The hangar was the largest aluminium building in the world (measuring 200 by 330 feet with doors 45 feet high) with integral offices and fire station. 1960, de Havilland merged with Hawker Siddeley Group. 1977, Hawker Siddeley, British Aircraft Corporation and Scottish Aviation merged to become British Aerospace.

de Havilland
Airfield:		Aircraft factory and flight test, flying training, RLG
Opened:		1930
Closed:		1993
ID Code:		??
USAAF Station:		N/A
Runways:		4 grass, 1 concrete
Hangars:		??
County:		Hertfordshire
Location:		6 miles SW of Hertford
OS Ref:		TL206090
Links:
©:		Photographs © as stated
Hatfield airfield