Royal Air Force Stanmore Park or more simply RAF Stanmore Park is a former
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
station in
Stanmore
Stanmore is part of the London Borough of Harrow in London. It is centred northwest of Charing Cross, lies on the outskirts of the London urban area and includes Stanmore Hill, one of the highest points of London, at high. The district, whi ...
,
Middlesex
Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a historic county in southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the ceremonial county of Greater London, with small sections in neighbour ...
(now the
London Borough of Harrow
The London Borough of Harrow () is a London borough in northwest London, England; it forms part of Outer London. It borders four other London boroughs Barnet to the east of ancient Watling Street (now the A5 road), Brent to the southeast, Ea ...
).
History
The unit was opened in 1939 and closed in 1997. In 1939
RAF Balloon Command
Balloon Command was the Royal Air Force command which was responsible for controlling all the United Kingdom-based barrage balloon units during the Second World War.
History
Prior to the establishment of Balloon Command, a balloon group was b ...
was established at Stanmore Park.
The unit was built on the grounds of Stanmore Hall that was purchased by the Air Ministry in 1938 and the hall was demolished during the station development programme.
RAF Stanmore Park formed part of
No 11 Group, which was originally at
RAF Uxbridge
RAF Uxbridge was a Royal Air Force (RAF) station in Uxbridge, within the London Borough of Hillingdon, occupying a site that originally belonged to the Hillingdon House estate. The British Government purchased the estate in 1915, three years ...
and then transferred to nearby
RAF Bentley Priory
RAF Bentley Priory was a non-flying Royal Air Force station near Stanmore in the London Borough of Harrow. It was the headquarters of Fighter Command in the Battle of Britain and throughout the Second World War. During the war, two enemy bomb ...
until its closure. The station closed in April 1997,
with housing built on much of the site. One building was retained for the use of 2236
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps (ATC) is a British volunteer-military youth organisation. They are sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Air Force. The majority of staff are volunteers, and some are paid for full-time work – including C ...
The building currently in use is the converted / extended NAAFI building which was between the Married Quarters and Junior Ranks Mess. The Community Centre now houses Army Youth Services, Nursery School, a Mums and Tots group and 2236 ATC Sqn. A number of activities now take place at the centre when not in use by these organisations.
See also
*
List of former Royal Air Force stations
This list of former RAF stations includes most of the stations, airfields and administrative headquarters previously used by the Royal Air Force.
The stations are listed under any former county or country name which was appropriate for the du ...
References
External links
http://www.battle-of-britain.com/BoB2/local_defences/AAA/aaa.htm2236 (Stanmore) Squadron, Air Training Corps
{{Royal Air Force
Stanmore Park
History of the London Borough of Harrow
Military installations established in 1939
Military installations closed in 1997
Stanmore Park
Stanmore