Jazmin Li
In 1952, London Airport, now known as Heathrow Airport, was located near the hamlet of Heathrow. The airport was first established in 1929 as a small airfield, and its development into a large airfield began in 1944 to accommodate long-distance military aircraft. By the mid-1950s, the airport had expanded significantly, with three additional runways completed, and it served as a hub for both civil and military aviation. London Airport witnessed historical moments, such as the arrival of Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, and it played a crucial role in shaping the aviation landscape of the city and the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | London Airport |
| Year | 1952 |
| Location | Near the hamlet of Heathrow |
| History | Began in 1929 as a small airfield; development of the whole Heathrow area as a large airfield started in 1944 |
| Purpose | Served as a civil airport |
| Notable Events | Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh's flight to Nairobi, Kenya, on 1 February 1952; First commercial flight of the DH 106 Comet jetliner from London to Johannesburg, South Africa, on 2 May 1952 |
| Expansion | Runway expansion and construction of acoustic walls to mitigate noise pollution |
| Ownership | Government-owned; later transferred to the British Airports Authority (BAA) in 1965 |
| Renaming | Officially renamed Heathrow Airport in 1966 to distinguish it from other airports serving London |
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What You'll Learn
- London Airport was previously known as Heathrow Airport
- It began in 1929 as a small airfield near Heathrow hamlet
- Development of Heathrow as a large airfield began in 1944
- Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh landed at London Airport in 1952
- Croydon Airport was London's primary airport before Heathrow
London Airport was previously known as Heathrow Airport
In 1952, what is now known as Heathrow Airport was previously referred to as London Airport. The airport, which is located near the hamlet of Heathrow, began in 1929 as a small airfield. However, the development of the Heathrow area into a large airfield started in 1944 to accommodate long-distance military aircraft. By the time the airfield was nearing completion, World War II had ended.
The government continued to develop the airfield as a civil airport, initially known as London Airport. This name can be seen in references from 1952, such as in the "London Airport" booklet from June 1952 and in the Hansard publication from October 1952, which mentions "London Airport" multiple times.
The name "Heathrow" originates from the hamlet of Heathrow, which was located near the airport. In 1966, the British Airports Authority (BAA) officially renamed the airport Heathrow to avoid confusion with other airports serving London, such as Gatwick and Stansted.
London Airport, as it was known in 1952, played a significant role in aviation during that time. It witnessed important historical moments, such as the arrival of Princess Elizabeth (who later became Queen Elizabeth II) on the BOAC Argonaut Atalanta in February 1952. Additionally, the airport saw the presence of special aircraft like the BOAC De Havilland Comet, the world's first production commercial jetliner, in June 1952.
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It began in 1929 as a small airfield near Heathrow hamlet
In 1929, Fairey Aviation, founded by British aero-engineer and plane builder Richard Fairey, purchased 71 acres of land just southeast of Heathrow hamlet, with the intention of establishing an airfield for flight testing. Over time, Fairey Aviation enlarged the aerodrome to about 240 acres. This area became known as the Great West Aerodrome.
Heathrow, or Heath Row, was a wayside hamlet along a minor country lane called Heathrow Road in the ancient parish of Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England. The lane divided the hamlet of Harmondsworth from the highwaymen's lair of Hounslow Heath. Heathrow was comprised of three main agricultural settlement clusters with orchards and fields worked by teams of labourers – Heathrow Hall, Perrotts Farm, and Perry Oaks. Agriculture was the main source of income for residents in the hamlet, as the brickearth soil in the area made farming ideal.
In 1944, the development of the whole Heathrow area as a large airfield began, to cater to long-distance military aircraft. However, by the time the airfield was nearing completion, World War II had ended. The government continued to develop the airfield as a civil airport, known as London Airport. In 1952, Princess Elizabeth returned to the United Kingdom as Queen Elizabeth II, arriving at London Airport on the BOAC Argonaut Atalanta. The airport was officially renamed Heathrow Airport in 1967.
In the early 1950s, three more runways were completed, ensuring that two runways would always be within 30 degrees of the wind direction. The early circular concrete tanks at the airport were supplemented with large rectangular tanks and later by a series of lagoons.
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Development of Heathrow as a large airfield began in 1944
Heathrow Airport, known as London Airport until 1966, is the primary and largest international airport serving London. It is located 14 miles (23 kilometres) west of Central London. The airport was founded as a small airfield in 1929 or 1930 and was developed into a much larger airport after World War II.
The development of Heathrow as a large airfield began in 1944. During the war, the Air Ministry, headed by the Secretary of State for Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair, developed plans to requisition Fairey Aviation's Great West Aerodrome and the adjacent small, quiet farming and market gardening village of Heathrow. The plan was to build a big airfield with long runways to accommodate long-range bombers. However, the project was actually based on recommendations for a new international airport for London.
In April 1944, Harold Balfour, the Under-Secretary of State for Air, deliberately deceived a government committee into believing that the requisition was necessary to use Heathrow as a base for long-range transport aircraft in support of the war with Japan. Balfour later wrote that he always intended the site to be used for civil aviation and used a wartime emergency requisition order to avoid a lengthy and costly public inquiry. This took over about 1,300 acres of land from twenty farmers and market gardeners.
In May 1944, eviction notices were issued, and construction work began. This involved the demolition of Heathrow domestic and farm buildings, as well as the removal of trees, hedges, and fruit orchards. By May 1945, when World War II ended, the new airfield was still under construction. Plans changed from wartime military use to the development of an international airport.
In January 1946, ownership of the site was transferred from the military Air Ministry to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The airport was known as London Airport and later renamed Heathrow Airport in 1966 to avoid confusion with other airports serving London, such as Gatwick and Stansted.
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![Historic Framed Print, The Ag-1, 1st airplane designed exclusively for agricultural use [spraying and crop dusting] in flight demonstration at National Airport by the Civil Aeronautics Administration, Wash., D.C. June 27, 1952, 17-7/8" x 21-7/8"](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31hVvroGH2L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh landed at London Airport in 1952
In 1952, London Airport referred to what is now known as Heathrow Airport. The airport began in 1929 as a small airfield near the hamlet of Heathrow, and its development as a large airfield started in 1944. The name was changed to Heathrow Airport in 1966 to avoid confusion with other airports serving London, such as Gatwick and Stansted.
During this time, London Airport was undergoing significant development. By the mid-1950s, three additional runways had been completed, forming a hexagram design that ensured that two runways would always be within 30 degrees of the wind direction. The airport was also facing issues with aircraft noise, with plans to construct an experimental acoustic wall by the beginning of November 1952.
London Airport was not the only airport serving London in 1952. Croydon Airport, which was Britain's main airport in the early 20th century, was still operational until its closure in 1959. However, by the 1950s, it faced limitations due to a lack of available land for expansion, leading to its role as London's primary international airport being passed on to Heathrow Airport.
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Croydon Airport was London's primary airport before Heathrow
London's aviation history dates back to the early 20th century, with Croydon Airport playing a pivotal role. Croydon Airport, established in 1920, was London's primary airport before Heathrow. It was built in a Neoclassical style and boasted several innovations, including the world's first air traffic control system, the first airport terminal, and the Gate Lodge – the world's first airport hotel. Croydon Airport was also home to Imperial Airways, Britain's first national airline. During World War II, the airport was renamed RAF Croydon and served as a fighter airfield during the Battle of Britain.
Following the war, as air travel evolved with larger aircraft and increasing traffic, Croydon Airport faced limitations due to its enclosed location within the expanding urban landscape of south London. This lack of available land for expansion led to the search for a new site to serve as London's primary international airport. Heathrow Airport, which began as a small airfield near the hamlet of Heathrow in 1929, was then significantly developed starting in 1944 to cater to long-distance military aircraft.
During the early 1950s, Heathrow Airport underwent further development, with the completion of three additional runways to form a hexagram layout, ensuring that two runways would always be within 30 degrees of the wind direction. This development, coupled with the limitations at Croydon Airport, solidified Heathrow's designation as London's primary airport. By the mid-1950s, Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire and Northolt Aerodrome in Middlesex had already begun accommodating European flights, further reducing Croydon Airport's relevance.
Croydon Airport, despite its rich history, closed its doors in 1959. The terminal building and Gate Lodge have since been granted protection as Grade II listed buildings, with the terminal's status being elevated to Grade II* in 2017. Today, the Croydon Airport Visitor Centre, established in 2000, keeps the legacy of this historic airport alive.
In summary, Croydon Airport was London's primary airport before Heathrow, playing a significant role in the development of global air travel during the interwar period. However, as aviation needs evolved and Croydon faced expansion constraints, Heathrow Airport emerged as the designated primary airport for London, solidifying its position through continuous development and expansion.
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Frequently asked questions
London Airport, now known as Heathrow Airport, was located near the hamlet of Heathrow.
London Airport was a civil airport that was rapidly expanding in 1952. It had been developed as a large airfield starting in 1944 to cater to long-distance military aircraft.
London Airport served as London's primary international airport in 1952. It handled flights to and from various destinations, including Nairobi, Johannesburg, Paris, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam.
Yes, there were a few notable events at London Airport in 1952. Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth II, arrived at the airport on February 7, 1952, on her honeymoon flight with the Duke of Edinburgh. On June 28, 1952, the royal couple again departed from London Airport on an extended tour of Commonwealth countries. Additionally, the airport saw the presence of a special aircraft, the BOAC De Havilland Comet, which was the first production commercial jetliner.
Yes, there were concerns and developments regarding London Airport in 1952. There were discussions about building blast walls and acoustic walls to mitigate the noise of engines. Additionally, there were considerations about installing F.I.D.O. at London Airport to prevent delays due to fog, but this idea was ultimately rejected.
