Hatfield Aerodrome

Hatfield Aerodrome

Company type	Airfield and aircraft manufacturing site
Industry	Aviation, aerospace manufacturing
Founded	1930
Defunct	1994
Fate	Closed and redeveloped
Headquarters	Hatfield , England, United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom

Hatfield Aerodrome Template:Airport codes was an exclusive airfield and aircraft manufacturing site situated in the town of Hatfield, Hertfordshire within Hertfordshire, operational from 1930 until its closure and subsequent redevelopment during the 1990s.

Early history

As urban expansion around London began to encroach on his existing facility at Stag Lane Aerodrome, Edgware, aviation pioneer and aircraft designer Geoffrey de Havilland, founder of the de Havilland Aircraft Company, acquired farmland near Hatfield. Although flight operations started in 1930, the construction of key infrastructure including the clubhouse, recreational amenities, fuel storage, and maintenance buildings was not finalised until 1933.

The ICAO identifier formerly assigned to Hatfield Aerodrome, EGTH, has since been transferred to Old Warden Aerodrome located in Bedfordshire.

1930s growth

In 1934, extensive developments were carried out at the location, including the construction of a substantial factory alongside striking Art Deco style administrative buildings. A flying school building was also established, incorporating flying control facilities. Subsequently, an experimental block was added to the factory's northern side. Aircraft manufacturing transitioned from Stag Lane during this period, focusing mainly on a series of small biplanes such as the Moth series, DH.84 Dragon, DH.86 Express, and DH.89 Dragon Rapide.

World War II era

Throughout the Second World War, de Havilland gained prominence for producing the Mosquito fighter-bomber, famously dubbed the 'Wooden Wonder'. This aircraft was developed discreetly at Salisbury Hall, situated outside Hatfield, to minimize exposure to German air raids. The main Hatfield facility itself was camouflaged but suffered bombing on 3 October 1940 by a Junkers Ju 88. Four bombs struck the '94 shop' building, resulting in 21 fatalities, over 70 injuries, and disruption to Mosquito production. The attacking Junkers Ju 88 was subsequently shot down by a Bofors gun crew led by Sgt 'Mont' Chapman stationed at the airfield; the aircraft crashed near East End Green a few kilometres away. The crew survived and were captured by local farmers.

Post-war developments

A paved runway was installed in 1947 to support advancing aviation needs. Rapid progress in military and civil jet aircraft such as the Vampire and Comet necessitated expansion of the facilities. The factory was enlarged, and new infrastructure including a flight test hangar and a control tower were erected. Additionally, a sizable design block was built adjacent to the existing administrative buildings.

Manor Road complex

Alongside airframe production, de Havilland had been engaged in developing and manufacturing propellers and piston engines. After the war, the engine division advanced into jet engine development, conducting tests at Manor Road with manufacturing operations located nearby at Leavesden. Meanwhile, the propeller division expanded into creating rockets, guided missiles, and Britain's ballistic missile program exemplified by the Blue Streak. The Manor Road site housed production facilities, testing installations, wind tunnels, water tanks, hangars, and an administration building on the opposite side of the primary runway from the aircraft factories.

1960s and 1970s

In 1960, de Havilland Aircraft Company was acquired by Hawker Siddeley, with the de Havilland brand being discontinued by 1963. During the early 1960s at Hatfield, development proceeded on the Trident airliner and the DH.125, with production of the latter occurring at de Havilland's other facility at Hawarden. Design efforts also focused on feederliners that would eventually evolve into the HS.146, alongside studies for a pan-European aircraft known as HBN.100 which later became the basis for the Airbus A300. Ownership of Hatfield shifted again when Hawker Siddeley merged with both the British Aircraft Corporation and Scottish Aviation under the provisions of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act, forming British Aerospace in 1978. This consolidation enabled continuation of the 146 programme, preserving numerous jobs at Hatfield and establishing it as a hub for commercial aircraft design and manufacturing throughout the following decade.

1980s and 90s

The initial flight of the 146 occurred in 1981, with the early to mid-1980s seeing production of certain parts, final assembly, and flight testing of the first two aircraft series centered at Hatfield. In 1987, a new assembly facility was constructed to accommodate the launch of the extended 146-300 model. Subsequent expansions led to the removal of the 1930s flying club structures, making space for the Bishop Square office complex, completed in 1991 and named in tribute to Comet designer R.E. Bishop.

By 1992, British Aerospace faced significant financial difficulties and declared that aircraft manufacturing at Hatfield would cease starting in 1993. At this point, operations at the Manor Road location—then part of BAe Dynamics—had already diminished and were the first to be cleared. The airfield’s final day was Friday, 8 April 1994; a DH Chipmunk, the same model that had made the inaugural landing on the new runway, was the last aircraft to depart from the main runway. Shortly after, a DH Tiger Moth bearing a De Havilland flag took off from the grass adjacent to the runway.

Though the airfield closed, it later served as a filming location for Saving Private Ryan and the TV miniseries Band of Brothers.

Redevelopment

In the late 1990s, Arlington Securities—then BAE Systems’ property division—initiated redevelopment of the primary airfield area. The only structures preserved were the Grade II* listed 1950s flight test hangar along with its associated administration buildings; all other hangars, taxiways, and runways were dismantled to allow for new offices, commercial spaces, and residential developments. Presently, the flight test hangar functions as a leisure centre while the remainder of the site is shared between the University of Hertfordshire, housing estates, and a business park.

Heritage Trail

The Hatfield Aerodrome History Trail officially opened on 24 November 2010 as part of a Heritage Lottery Fund initiative led by the University of Hertfordshire, commemorating 80 years since the airfield’s inauguration.

Spanning approximately 4 km and taking about 90 minutes to complete on foot, there is also a shorter route measuring around 3 km that takes roughly an hour. Along the trail are ten informational panels, with the starting point situated outside the University of Hertfordshire’s de Havilland Campus—reflecting its origins linked to the de Havilland Technical School. Visitors can obtain a leaflet containing a map of the trail at reception.

Units

The following formations were based at Hatfield:

• No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Calibration Flight
• No. 1 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School RAF
• No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School RAF
• No. 2 Squadron RAF
• No. 3 Ferry Pilots Pool
• No. 5 Ferry Pilots Pool
• No. 8 Maintenance Unit RAF
• No. 15 Maintenance Unit RAF
• No. 116 Squadron RAF
• No. 239 Squadron RAF
• ATA School
• ATA (Women's Section)

References

• Hatfield Aerodrome, a history, Philip J. Birtles, 1993, ISBN 0-9521613-0-3
• Airfield Focus: 45 Hatfield, Graham M. Simons, ISBN 1-870384-87-3