History Of Hounslow's Airports

A talk by local historian Andrea Cameron

The History of Hounslow’s Airports is the subject of the meeting of the Hounslow and District History Society at the United Reformed Church Hall, Chapel Road, Hounslow on Tuesday 26 th November 2013 at 8pm. The lecturer is well-known local historian, Andrea Cameron.

Hounslow is at the start of Aviation History and is first recorded in 1910 on Hounslow Heath. Throughout the First World War the Royal Flying Corps trained on the Heath. In 1919 Hounslow Aerodrome opened with a daily service to Paris, which operated until Croyden Airport opened and Hounslow closed.

In 1929 Heston Airport opened and became world renowned, when in 1938, the Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, flew from Heston for his meeting with Adolf Hitler.

Hanworth Airpark, known as the London Airpark, functioned from the mid 1920s. Throughout the 1930s Annual Airshows attracted large crowds. In 1931 and 1932 the Graf Zeppelin Airship landed at Hanworth.

Andrea Cameron ends her talk with the early days of Heathrow Airport, which caused both Heston and Hanworth to close. As always, everyone is welcome to this lecture of which the subject is very local and topical.

November 23, 2013