RAF Fairlop

Royal Air Force Station Fairlop or more simply RAF Fairlop was an Royal Air Force station situated near Ilford in Essex. Fairlop is now a district in the London Borough of Redbridge, England.

History
RAF Fairlop was first used during the First World War. At that time it was called "Hainault Farm". It saw service as a Royal Naval Air Station Training School. A small flying club used the site between the wars and there were plans to build a commercial airport there for London, but those plans were later abandoned. The airfield was brought back into military use in late 1940 when three concrete runways in the familiar "A" pattern were constructed. The airfield became operational in September 1941 with the arrival of No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron RAF, flying Supermarine Spitfires, previously stationed at RAF Hornchurch. Hainault Lodge was used as accommodation for some of the officers. In June 1944 RAF Fairlop became home to No. 24 Balloon Centre with four squadrons forming part of the balloon barrage around London. The balloons were manned by members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. No 24 Balloon Centre was disbanded in February 1945 and the airfield closed in August 1946.

The airfield was the first RAF airfield to trial underground hangers.

Squadrons
Squadrons stationed at RAF Fairlop:


 * No. 19 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 64 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 65 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 81 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 122 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 154 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 164 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 182 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 193 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 195 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 239 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 245 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 247 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 302 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 313 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 317 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 350 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 411 Squadron RCAF.
 * No. 602 Squadron RAF.
 * No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron.
 * No. 24 Balloon Centre.

Current use
The site was used for gravel extraction and became a country park known as Fairlop Waters with sailing facilities and a golf course.