1917 |
Flat area near industrial Luton chosen for an Eastern
Command repair depot |
1918 |
First RAF personnel moved in from Farnborough on 10th May
to establish No.5 Eastern Area Aircraft Depot. By the end of the year 300
women clerks and fabric workers employed. With the Armistice, fighters were
sold off for 10/- and bombers for £1. |
1919 |
On 1st April airmen awaiting demob mutinied over increased
working hours. Long jail sentences imposed by a Court
Martial. |
1920 |
Another 161 acres purchased for a flight testing
airfield. Became Inland Area Aircraft Depot on 16th March. An apocryphal
story circulated that a large building used to repair Handley Page aircraft was
intended for a pickle factory at Hendon, but that the destination names got
mixed. |
1924 |
The Officers' Engineering School moved from Farnborough in
April. |
1925 |
Fighter Squadrons No.23 and No.43 reformed at Henlow on 1st
July under home defence changes. Parachute Test Section formed in
September. |
1926 |
Became Home Aircraft Depot, 21 Group, on 4th April. The
Parachute Training Section moved in from Northolt in October, and with the Test
Section became the Parachute Test Unit. The test method was to stand on the wing
of a Vimy bomber, pull the rip cord, and if the 'chute didn't open, hopefully
not to let go. Squadron No. 43 left for Tangmere in
December. |
1927 |
Squadron No.23 left for Kenley in
February. |
1930 |
Personnel assisted with handling of the ill-fated airship
R101 at Cardington. |
1935 |
Under the Expansion Scheme, No.1 Wing trained Fitters 1 and
m/c tool operators, and No.2 and No.3 Wings trained Flight Riggers and Flight
Mechanics. New accommodation built. |
1936 |
Became the School of Aeronautical Engineering in
December. The Pilotless Aircraft Section (Queen Bee targets) moved in from
Farnborough in October. |
1937 |
MT Driver training began in January. Cookery course
opened. No.80 Squadron moved in from Kenley on 15th March, but moved out
again to Debden on 9th June. Basic Training to supplement the Uxbridge depot
started in July, with 1000 men housed in tents. Within months they were moved
to huts at Cardington. |
1938 |
The training roles had superseded the original repair
functions. In anticipation of the war, two thirds of the Training Wing moved
to St.Athan, and No.2 Mobilisation Pool was formed with a view to returning to
the repair role. The Home Aircraft Depot became No.13 MU in
October. |
1939 |
No.1 Wing moved to Halton in April. |
1940 |
The Pilotless Aircraft Section moved to Hawkinge on 22nd
February. After Dunkirk, 3000 men of No.21 Aircraft Depot were withdrawn to
Henlow, where they worked on unpacking, assembling, testing, modifying and
repairing Hurricanes. Two bombs fell on the station with little damage, but
three servicemen were killed by a bomb in Lower Stondon. |
1941 |
Operation "Quick Force" involved 50 to 100 fitters serving
on HMS Furious, and other carriers, dismantling Hurricanes for transport to
Malta. About 30 men sailed with each ship to reassemble them for take off,
when 300 miles west of the island. During the last voyage on 14th November,
Ark Royal was torpedoed by U81, and seven survivors returned to Henlow on the
22nd. |
1943 |
In March, a Whitley IV was modified to snatch personnel
from the ground on a long line. A mobile Link Trainer was devised for use by
squadrons on the continent. |
1947 |
The School of Aeronautical Engineering became The Technical
College on 15th August. On 19th October, The Signals Development Unit moved
in, from West Drayton which was to be used to accommodate 1948 Olympic Games
competitors. |
1949 |
The Empire Radio School at Debden became the Signals
Division of the Technical College, but didn't move until 1960. |
1950 |
The Signals Development Unit was renamed Radio Engineering
Unit on 1st January. |
1951 |
The Armament Division of the Technical College moved in
from Lindholme in February, and was renamed Engineering and Armament
Division. From April, the College offered courses in guided missile
technology. |
1953 |
Henlow raised to Group status in June, the Technical
College consisting of a HQ plus 5 wings: Basic Studies, Mechanical
Engineering, Electrical Weapons Systems, Engineering, and Cadet
Wing. |
1960 |
Signals Division of the Technical College, moved from
Debden to Henlow on 8th April. |
1965 |
The Technical College was amalgamated with RAF College,
Cranwell. |
1966 |
Officer Cadet Training Unit moved in from
Feltwell. |
1980 |
Henlow reduced to being the Radio Engineering
Unit. Officer Cadet Training Unit ceased on 24th April. |
1983 |
Camp now shared with the Land Registry. |