- ICAO Code: X2HU
- Location: Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
- Type: Operational Night Fighter
- Parent: RAF Fighter Command
- Current Version: 1.0
- Download link: Download
- Required Libraries: IJP, IJP SODE
Situated right in the middle of the swathe of airfields built to house the United States Army Air Corps as they arrived in the United Kingdom, RAF Hunsdon was something of an rarity – it was actually an operational Royal Air Force station.
There are also a couple of other unusual things about the airfield, which opened in 1941 near the town of Ware; it only has two runways unlike the usual triangular arrangement and soon after opening it became home to the Havoc Night Fighters of 1451 Flight. Not unusual in itself, until you discover that 1451Flt flew “Turbinlite” aircraft, radar and spotlight equipped Havocs which operated in conjunction with 85 Squadron’s more standard aircraft in this unusual and ultimately unsuccessful attempt at improving night kill ratios. In essence, the Turbinlite aircraft carried radar, which it used to hunt down enemy aircraft, which it would then illuminate using the Turbinlite mount in the nose and the accompanying night fighters would down the enemy. The theory is good… but as often happens, the operational reality was significantly less effective than the theory would suggest.
Hunsdon has one other primary claim to fame which is steeped in myth and legend when, in February 1944, deHavilland Mosquitos of 140 Airfield Wing, based at Hunsdon from November ’43 until April ’44, departed and flew to Amiens, led by Group Captain “Pick” Pickard. Their target was the French town’s jail, being used by the Gestapo to hold French Resistance and SOE personnel, amongst others. The strike was called Operation Jehrico and, as you can read much more about that elsewhere, including all the claims and counter claims regarding its cause and effect, I won’t go any more deeply into it here!
Following the departure of 140 Airfield Wing to Gravesend, night fighter Mosquitos moved in, reverting Hunsdon to its more associated role, before being replaced by long range escort Mustangs and Tempests until the end of hostilities. The final aircraft left in May 1945 and very quickly Hunsdon was placed on the “Care and Maintenance” list. It was pretty normal that being on the list absolutely did not mean that any “care” or “maintenance” was carried out and the airfield soon fell into disrepair.
Officially closed in July 1947, Hunsdon was returned to agriculture, although a small corner in the North of the airfield site is still operational, with the buzz of Rotax engines from microlight aircraft instead of the roar of Merlins. Most of the layout is still clearly visible from the air and many structures still survive to this date, a number of which are now scheduled monuments.
This scenery is a slightly important one for me, as it is the first scenery I have created where no library objects at all come from any other developer than myself. The operating surfaces and fencing are default to FSX/P3D, but other than that, I can’t blame a single other person for errors and omissions. Also included is a SODE file, providing runway control caravans, a windsock and a working runway “T”, showing which runway direction is active.
Images:
Note: The aircraft included in the screenshots is the dH98 Mosquito FB Mk.VI from JustFlight.
