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When the German Airship raids on London and the South-East arrived from across the Channel in 1915, bringing terror for the first time to a civilian population, Sutton's Farm was established as one of the first Home Defence airfields to counter this threat. Its early RFC pilots achieved notable successes, to be hailed as heroes, the knights of the air.
In the 1930s, now known as RAF Hornchurch, the airfield and personnel were in the forefront of many new aviation technology firsts, including ground-to-air wireless communications. And as the RAF expanded, many of the new pilots who would later become aces and household names in the War, began their careers here, the likes of 'Sailor' Malan, Bob Stanford Tuck, Brian Kingcome, Alan Deere, Paddy Fincuane, Eric Lock.
But it was to be as a main Sector Station of No. 11 Group in both the Dunkirk evacuation, and the Battle of Britain, that Hornchurch achieved its most lasting fame, with its squadrons initially taking on, and finally beating, the German fighter escorts to her lethal bombers.
So, Hornchurch's distinguished record stands second to none and after seven years of exhaustive research, interviewing commanders, pilots, ground crews and WAAFs, Richard Smith has produced the definitive history. They all tell their unique story. The triumphs, the tragedies, the laughter, the sadness and the all-important spirit of comradeship.
The photographs in this first volume are from private collections and many have never been published before.1
The Hornchurch Wing - the largest collection of RAF Hornchurch memorabilia on permanent display in the world.
1 From the dust jacket.
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