Hatfield Airfield – Roads to Remember
Many of the roads built as part of the redevelopment of the Hatfield airfield are named after people, planes and places linked to the site's aviation history. But if you're not familiar with that history then the names may not mean what you think they do.
Only one road outside of the airfield area is linked to Hatfield's aviation heritage and that is de Havilland Close. Incidentally, people producing the company's literature seem to have got round the problem of the lower case 'd' in de Havilland by either referring to it as The de Havilland Aircraft Company or writing the name in capitals.
Named after people
Barlow Close – named after Peter Barlow. DH test pilot killed along with George Errington, Edgar Brackston-Brown and Charles William Patterson when the HS.121 (originally DH.121) Trident G-ARPY crashed during a test flight from Hatfield in June 1966.
Bishop Square – named after Ronald Eric Bishop, designer of the DH.98 Mosquito and leader of the team on the DH.106 Comet Jet Airliner. He joined the company when he was 18. The square occupies the site where his office once stood.
Cunningham Avenue – named after John Cunningham. Joined de Havillands as an apprentice in 1935. Later WWII ace, DH Chief Test Pilot and board director.
Derry Leys – named after John Douglas Derry. DH test pilot and the first Briton to break the sound barrier. Killed in a crash, along with Tony Richards, and over 30 spectators at the 1952 Farnborough Air Show.
Errington Close – named after George Bertram Sainsbury Errington, former Airspeed chief test pilot. Died alongside Peter Barlow as co-pilot of the ill-fated HS.121 (originally DH.121) Trident G-ARPY, which took off from Hatfield.
Fillingham Way – named after William Patrick 'Pat' Ingram Fillingham. DH test pilot and winner of the King's Cup Air Race. Went across to Canada to test fly the DHC.1 Chipmunk.
Halford Court – named after Major Frank Bernard Halford. When it comes to sharing the glory engine designers are often overlooked but Major Halford was to aircraft engines what Sir Geoffrey de Havilland was to aircraft. They first met at Farnborough through the BHP (Beardmore, Halford and Pullinger) engine used to power early DH.4's.
Hearle Way – named after Francis Trounson Hearle, Sir Geoffrey de Havilland's close friend and earliest aviation associate (who married his sister Ione, called 'Onie' by her family). He helped him build his first aircraft in 1909. Was managing director of de Havillands during the crucial war years and later chairman.
Richards Street – named after Anthony 'Tony' Max Richards, flight test observer. Killed in a crash, along with John Derry, and over 30 spectators at the 1952 Farnborough Air Show. Their final flight started from Hatfield.
Tamblin Way – named after William Alban Tamblin who, among other things, designed the DH.98 Mosquito's wings. Also responsible for developing the DH. Heron, which was nicknamed 'Tam's Tram'. Later became the Chief Designer for Airspeed.
Waight Close – named after Robert John Waight who was killed while flying the TK.4 at Hatfield in October 1937. He joined de Havillands as an apprentice in 1928. Appointed Chief Test Pilot in 1935.
Walker Grove – named after Charles Clement Walker. One of Sir Geoffrey de Havilland's oldest friends and associates (they met at Airco in 1915). He was a founder director and Chief Engineer of The de Havilland Aircraft Company.
Please note: More details on some of the people named here has been published in the Claims to Fame section.
Aviation – Pioneers and Test Pilots
Named after planes
Albatross Way – named after the four-engine DH.91 Albatross.
Chipmunk Chase – named after the DHC.1 (de Havilland Aircraft of Canada) single-engine training aircraft. It became the RAF's standard basic trainer, and 111 examples were built at Hatfield.
Comet Way – runs past the Comet Hotel, which is named after the DH.88 Comet Racer, winner of the 1934 England-Australia Centenary Air Race (but the name also applies to the DH.106 Comet Jet Airliner. The Tiger Moth is the only other DH aircraft to share a name with an earlier model).
Devon Mead – named after the highly successful, twin-engine DH.104 Dove. Called the Devon in RAF service.
Dragon Road – named after the highly successful, twin-engine, biplane DH.84 Dragon.
Flamingo Close – named after the twin-engine DH.95 Flamingo. The company's first all metal design.
Gypsy Moth Avenue – named after the single-engine biplane that arguably ensured the success of the company, at least in its early years. Jason, G-AAAH, the example Amy Johnson used to fly solo to Australia is displayed at the Science Museum in London. Incidentally, in de Havilland advertising and literature it is spelt as 'Gipsy'.
Horsa Gardens – named after the Airspeed Horsa glider that played an important role in the D-Day landings and Operation Market Garden. Prototypes were built at Salisbury Hall. Later, a modified Horsa glider was used in cockpit visibility trials for the DH.106 Comet Jet Airliner.
Jetliner Way – named after the DH.106 Comet Jet Airliner. The world's first passenger jet aircraft to enter commercial service.
Mosquito Way – named after the twin-engine DH.98 Mosquito, affectionately called the Wooden Wonder.
Nimrod Drive – named after the BAe Nimrod still in service with the RAF (somewhat controversially). It is based on the design of the DH.106 Comet Jet Airliner.
Oxford Place – named after the twin-engine Airspeed Oxford (Airspeed being a company which de Havillands had taken over. The Airspeed Design Office was one of the buildings destroyed when the Hatfield site was bombed in 1940). 1,440 were produced at Hatfield during WWII.
Queen Bee Street – named after the DH.82B Queen Bee, a pilotless, radio-controlled version of the DH.82 Tiger Moth. Used primarily as a target trainer for anti-aircraft batteries. 320 were built at Hatfield.
Tiger Moth Way – probably named after the DH.82 Tiger Moth which was the standard Empire training aircraft. Most, if not all, Battle of Britain pilots would have learnt to fly on this type ('Probably' because the DH.71 was also known as the Tiger Moth – officially the company referred to aircraft by their design number).
Please note: More information on aircraft connected with Hatfield has been published in the Claims to Fame section.
Named after places
Salisbury Hall Drive – named after the birthplace of the DH.98 Mosquito, Salisbury Hall in London Colney. Salisbury Hall is still standing (now a private residence) with the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre (originally the Mosquito Aircraft Museum) adjoining it. The pride of their collection is the original Mosquito prototype W4050, which first flew at Hatfield. Incidentally, the hall is named after an earlier creation of the Salisbury title and not the Cecil family of Hatfield House who were ennobled under the name in the 17th Century (as the 5th creation). Indeed, it is quite possible that the hall's presence in the neighbourhood influenced Robert Cecil's choice of title.
The Runway – the name is self explanatory. But the road does not appear to align with what was the main runway.
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