Airport History

The airfield was constructed between mid 1940 and early 1941 for use by the Royal Air Force, being initially named RAF Bobbington. The name was changed on 1 September 1943 to RAF Halfpenny Green, to avoid confusion with RAF Bovingdon in Hertfordshire.

The first RAF unit to be based was No.3 Air Observer & Navigator School which flew Blackburn Bothas and later Avro Ansons. The unit disbanded on 13 November 1945.

After a lengthy gap, RAF flying resumed on 5 May 1952 by No.2 Air Signallers School, again equipped with Avro Ansons, the unit disbanding on 13 September 1953. A ground-based equipment sub-unit of No.25 Maintenance Unit occupied much of the airfield from 1 March 1946 until 15 November 1956.

Following closure of this unit, the airfield lay disused for several years before it was taken over during 1961 by the Halfpenny Green Flying Club. In 1967 the planning of a permanent airfield on the Halfpenny Green site was given official approval.

The airport today is a thriving base for general aviation. It is home to fixed wing and rotary flying schools and an ever increasing resident community of pilots and their aircraft. While the airfield is proud of it's historical past planned improvements starting in 2009 will see the future of this great airfield secured for decades to come.