RAF Hornchurch

Don’t miss an Amazing Digital Exhibition now on at Havering Museum…the story of RAF Hornchurch from 1915 to the present day …when the squadrons operating from there were only equipped with the iconic Spitfire. The pilots, including the legendary Paddy Brendan Finucane, Raimund Sanders Draper, Alfred Sarre and more.

Exhibition on until Saturday 14th September 2019.

For the duration of the exhibition we will be selling Eric Smith’s book
First Things First: RAF Hornchurch and RAF Suttons Farm, 1915-62
at the reduced price of £10:00 (while stocks last).


Raimund Sanders Draper

Brendan Finucane
Alfred Sarre



3 Comments

  1. Malcolm Ritchie on 2nd August 2019 at 17:52

    Dear Sirs, I found your interesting site by chance on the spur of a moment.
    My father, Ian S. Ritchie, flew out of RAF Hornchurch with 603 City of Edinburgh Squadron in the Battle of Britain. I would like to know anything mentioned in archives about him and his colleagues as he never spoke about what happened. He survived and went on to train young pilots at St Andrews University. Which is why I was born there. Family legend had it that he parachuted into Hornchurch High Street, and I would like to know if that is true.
    He is pictured anonymously as the pilot on page 189 of Nigel Cawthorne’s excellent book ‘Spitfire’. Published in 2011 by Anness Publishing Ltd.
    I would also like a copy of Eric Smith’s book for my collection.
    Thanks for your help,
    Malcolm Ritchie

    • Pete Johnson on 3rd August 2019 at 08:02

      Hi Malcolm, I’ve never come across any mention of a parachutist landing in Hornchurch High Street but I’ll pass your query on to our contacts that have a far greater knowledge of the RAF to see if they can throw any light on the subject.
      I’ll email you separately about the book.

      Pete Johnson
      Havering Museum

  2. gus lauzon on 27th November 2020 at 17:27

    Would you have any info on a John Mulveney from Canada who flew a spitfire during the war. I’m inquiring for a friend. His dad ,(John) passed away and never spoke about his exploits during the war ,but only left behind a cache of photos . If you can find anything at all about Mr. Mulveney, it would be so much appreciated. Later moved to Windsor Ontario Canada after the war.

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