Hendon Aerodrome, Hendon, Greater London
In 1910-1911 this site was developed as a civilian airfield. It was used by aviation pioneers such as Louis Bleriot and Claude Graham-White. The latter bought the land and promoted it as London's Aerodrome, establishing a Bristol Aeroplane Company Flying School. It was then the base for the Grahame-White Aviation Company aircraft factory. The buildings shown are the remains of the Grahame-White's World War One aircraft factory. They are dated 1915. After World War One ownership was eventually passed to the Royal Air Force in 1925. In 1919 Claude Grahame-White and Francis Lewis Wills created Aerofilms Ltd a pioneering aerial survey company. During World War Two the airfield was mainly used for transport purposes because of its good road and rail links. During the war the airfield was repeatedly attacked, including hits by V1 "flying bombs". After the war use declined. Part of the site was sold for housing in 1968. The RAF station closed between 1987-1988, but a Royal Air Force Museum was opened here in 1972.
