THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE HISTORICAL AVIATION SOCIETY

On Tuesday, 9 June, 13 society members met at the Battle of Britain Bunker and visitors centre at the former RAF Uxbridge, just before the doors opened at 10.00. Our time slot for the bunker tour was for 12.00 so we had time to have a good look around the exhibits at the centre. A full size replica of a Spitfire and Hurricane suspended from the roof immediately catch the eye when you walk on to the upper gallery, which looks down over the main exhibits on the main floor consisting of artefacts connected with the Battle of Britain and the defence of UK airspace.

The underground bunker itself, is 60 feet underground, and is only accessible by 76 steps, and all utilities in and out of the bunker, including electricity, comms, water and sewage are carried by pipes and cables down the staircase. It was constructed, in 1938, by Sir Robert McAlpine under strict security, and in fact the enemy never knew of it’s existence, throughout the war.

It would become the hub for 11 Group Fighter Command operations from the Battle of Britain to the D-Day operations, and was responsible for coordinating and organising the operations of the seven sector stations in the group. It effectively became the prototype for similar operations rooms in the five other Group headquarters of fighter command. The bunker was connected to the sector stations by telephone and teleprinter, together with Radar installations, the Royal Observer Corps, anti aircraft gun units, barrage balloon units, all of which had representatives in the Bunker, as well as the Army and Royal Navy.

All this information would have been displayed on the plotting table showing a map of the South of England. The plotting table was operated predominately by members of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) updating the plots on the table with a croupier stick, and the “tote board” on the wall would display the readiness state of the Squadrons in the Group, using a series of coloured lights.

After reaching the top of the stairs at the surface, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, after one of several visits, and witnessing one of the hardest fought days during the Battle of Britain, is said to have spoken for the first time those immortal words “Never in the field of …………….”. He would later repeat them in a his famous speech in the House of Commons several days later.

Today the Bunker is historically significant as being the only complete and restored example, and together with the visitors centre, is managed by Hillingdon Council.

Well worth a visit, and if unable to negotiate the 76 steps down in to the bunker itself, an audio visual presentation can bee seen, on request, in the visitors centre.

On arriving at the main gate at RAF Northolt we met our host, Phil Dawe, and after receiving the necessary security passes we followed Phil in small convoy to the rather unassuming single storey “Building 27”. This was once the Sector Operations Room at Northolt, and the purpose of our visit. Together with a small group of volunteers Phil has been the principal force behind saving the building from demolition, securing a Grade II listing, setting up the popular, now twice yearly, night photo-shoots at Northolt to fund raise, and not least restore the building and reconstruct and install as accurate as possible the equipment as it would have appeared in the early 1940’s. It soon became apparent to all of us listening, that this has been a real passion project for Phil, and I am sure we could have all easily spent the whole day listening to Phil’s extensive knowledge of the Ops room and RAF Northolt history.

Please Note - As RAF Northolt is an active and busy military base access to the operations room is by strict prior permission only.

These two structures undoubtedly are just as important in the history of the defence of the Realm as any stone castle or fortification from our rich historical past, and deserve equally to be preserved.

All of those who attended I am sure came away that little more educated and inspired by the men and women who served in these buildings, who contributed enormously to the final outcome of world war 2.

Undoubtedly a very successful, enjoyable and educational day. A big thank you to John for organising and coordinating the visits, and a personal thank you to Richard for the car share lift on the day.

If anyone who attended the visits would like to contribute their own words or photos of the day, please don't hesitate to contact me. Thank you to Richard Marchant for the group photos.

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Thank You.

A Visit To RAF Uxbridge Bunker and

RAF Northolt Ops. Room.

9 June 2026