History of Aviation at Hendon - Part 5

The V1 flying bombs brought tragedy to Hendon. Four members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force were killed by a flying bomb which hit Colindale Hospital on 1 July 1944. The WAAF quarters were also affected. Just over a month later, on 3 August, another flying bomb destroyed a brick-built barrack block, killing all inside. RAF personnel had to be assisted by soldiers from the Army School of Physical Training billeted at the Police College. The damage was still being cleared at the end of the Second World War.

Hendon had held one of the last of the pre-war flying displays. On 15 September 1945 it held one of the first post-war displays. Over 20 aircraft took part in the flying display watched by tens of thousands of spectators. There were displays too in many of the buildings showing wartime developments including radar.

The end of World War II led to a reduction of units. When No.24 Squadron left in 1946 Hendon was without any flying units. Later that year No.601 and No.604 Squadrons returned.

The Metropolitan Communications Squadron of the RAF moved to Hendon for the transportation of VIPs and the US Navy stationed a transport squadron here. The airfield was considered unsuitable for jets so in 1949 No.601 and No.604 Squadrons had to move to North Weald. The US Navy left in 1956 and the last RAF flying unit, the Metropolitan Communications Squadron, departed for RAF Northolt on 4 November 1957.

There was still some flying at Hendon by a gliding school which provided training for air cadets and some hangars were used for the storage of the Nash Collection of aircraft. This collection now forms part of the RAF Museum Collection.