Several historic aircraft collections are also based at North Weald. Most recently the airfield has become home to the Essex Air Ambulance and Met Police Helicopters. It is also the home of Aero Legends who offer flights in historic heritage aircraft including the iconic Spitfire.
The airfield continues to be a home to many vintage and veteran aircraft, such as Spitfire, Mustang, Kittyhawk, Hurricane, Dakota, Skyraider, Seafire and Harvard. Also North Weald is home to a Vampire, Gnats and Jet Provosts.
The Hawker Hunters of the last front line combat unit (No. 111 Squadron RAF) left North Weald in 1958 and the RAF withdrew from the airfield completely in 1964. It was sold to Epping Forest District Council in 1979.
Epping Forest District Council commenced the plan at North Weald Airfield after it sold 52 acres of land to Google. A new facility, planned to open in 2025, would incorporate both a control tower and fire station serving the aerodrome.
Google last year acquired a 52-acre site at North Weald Airfield, east of London, from the Epping Forest District Council, for a potential data center development.
Epping Forest District Council has today announced the sale of land at North Weald Airfield to Google for the potential development of a new data centre campus. The 52 acres of land has been allocated for employment use and is located within the UK Innovation Corridor.
North Weald Airfield dates from 1916 and is famous as one of the main fighter bases in the Battle of Britain. It is a historic, well maintained site of almost 400 acres, which hosts a wide range of activities throughout the year.
Visitors can see veteran and classic aircraft based on the airfield, such as the Spitfire, land and take-off. They can also visit the impressive RAF North Weald Memorial dedicated to all who served at North Weald. The museum has a room dedicated to the Battle of Britain.
During the interwar period, the RAF built large hangars and accommodation for the RAF personnel. North Weald Airfield played an vital part in the air defence strategy for the United Kingdom during the Second World War. Initially Hawker Hurricanes were deployed at the airfield, alongside Bristol Blenheim night fighters.
RAF Spadeadam is the only electronic warfare tactics facility in Europe used by NATO and British aircrews to practice tactics. It is the largest RAF base by area, at 9,600-acre.
RAF Northolt is the oldest airfield in the UK still in operational use. It is also home to 600 (City of London) Squadron, During the Second World War, Northolt was home to No. 303 (Polish) Fighter Squadron—one of the most successful Allied squadrons of the Battle of Britain.
The UK received its first F-35B in 2012 and made RAF Marham the primary base for the aircraft. Squadron Leader Steve Long became the first British pilot to fly an F-35, on January 26, 2010 and in July 2012 the government announced its decision to purchase an initial batch of 48 aircraft.
B-17 Flying Fortress G-BEDF Sally B is the last remaining airworthy B-17 in Europe. She is based in the UK from where she flies regularly at air shows, memorial flypasts and commemorative events as a memorial to the USAAF in Europe.
No. 303 Squadron became the most successful Fighter Command unit in the Battle, shooting down 126 German machines in only 42 days. With 17 confirmed victories, Sergeant Josef Frantisek, a Czech national serving with No. 303 Squadron, was one of Fighter Command's most successful pilots.
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. It was the only British fighter produced continuously throughout the war. The Spitfire remains popular among enthusiasts.
At the beginning of World War II in 1939, most pilots serving in the Royal Air Force (RAF) were British-born. As the war continued, airmen came from many different countries. Foreign-born RAF pilots sometimes flew as independent units and other times they were mixed in with British-born aircrews.
With little justification for continuing to run it, London Underground finally closed Ongar and North Weald in 1994, bringing an end to the operational history of this remote branch of the Underground network.
During the Second World War, North Weald played host to Squadrons made up of many foreign nationals, including Americans, Czechs, Poles and also Norwegians, to which the airfield and village maintain special links to this day. Hurricanes, Spitfires and Blenheims were the most common types to be seen at North Weald.
Google has acquired a 52-acre airfield in Essex which could become a new data centre campus. The tech giant has bought the bulk of North Weald Airfield in North Weald Bassett which has been allocated for employment use, but which has had previous plans for an industrial estate refused.
A large stretch of the wilderness north of Twin Elms, Northweald lies on the edge of the area affected by the War of Black Trees, with half of it still bearing the scars of the war, and the other pristine, kept safe by the river and the Sentinel's Waterfall.
Debden Airfield was used by the RAF before the Second World War. It is situated two miles south-east of Saffron Walden, south of the A130. All sites are now private property and you will need permission before you visit.
