RAF Northolt night photoshoot 16 March 2023
Report by Colin Coulthard
RAF Northolt’s Night Photoshoots started in January 2009 as a way to help fund raise for the restoration of Building 27 at RAF Northolt. Building 27 was built in 1928/9 and became RAF Northolt’s Sector Operations Building, part of the Dowding system of Air Defence.
Between 1936 and 1939 ACM Hugh Dowding used the building to develop what was to become the world’s first Integrated Air Defence System. It closed as an operational operations building on 17th June 1940 due to its vulnerability to air attack Post WW2 it became offices, initially as the marketing department of embryonic British European Airways (BEA) who were based at Northolt between 1946 and 1954. It later served as various admin. offices for 32 Squadron.
This building was scheduled for demolition in 2007 as part of the modernisation of RAF Northolt. Fortunately the building was reprieved from demolition and became listed as Grade II by English Heritage. Once its future had been secured it was decided that the Ops Room be restored to as it was in its final form in June 1940. The work to be carried out by volunteer labour and the restoration materials paid for by donations. No public funding was to be used in its restoration. Since the first Nightshoot back in 2009 over £200,000 has been raised for the project and still the work continues…
The photoshoots happen twice a year in March and October and are usually well attended by aircraft and photographers, about 150 photographers this year. Unfortunately due to operation requirements the tarmac was a little empty this year.
- CC-130J, 436 Sqn Royal Canadian Air Force from Prestwick.
- Westland Scout AH1.
- 2 x Pilatus PC-21, French Air Force from Salon.
- Both the London Air Ambulance MD900.
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