London Air Defence Area

The London Air Defence Area (LADA) was the name given to the organisation created to defend London from the increasing threat from enemy airships during World War I. Formed in September 1915, it was commanded initially by Admiral Sir Percy Scott, a controversial figure, responsible for major advances in naval gunnery techniques, but also accused of insubordination and profiting from his inventions.

Airfields

At the end of the war, the following airfields came under the direct control of LADA:

Station Name	Branch	Grid Reference	Station Opened	Station Closed	Squadrons	Current Use	External Link
Stow Maries	RFC	TQ83189955	9/1916	1919	B Flt, 37 Sqn	Agriculture. Most buildings still present.	Stow Maries Airfield
Goldhanger	RNAS / RFC	TL90450885			C Flt, 37 Sqn
Hainault Farm	RFC	TQ46759105	10/1914		44 Sqn	Agriculture / light industry. Hangers still present.	Hainault Farm Airfield
Bekesbourne		TR20055545				Housing / agriculture
Mattishall		TG06801155				Agriculture	Mattishall Airfield
Tydd St Mary		TF458192	8/1917	5/1919	B Flt, 51 Sqn
Marham						Royal Air Force flying station
Rochford					A Flt, 37 Sqn
Hadleigh
Elmswell
Suttons Farm	RFC					Hornchurch Country Park and housing estate
Throwley
Biggin Hill						London Biggin Hill Airport
Detling

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Christopher Cole and E.F. Cheeseman, The Air Defence of Britain, 1914-1918, 1984, Hungry Minds Inc, ISBN 978-0370305387
• Peter G Cooksley, Aviation Enthusiasts' Guide To London & The South-East, PSL, 1982, ISBN 0-85059-533-9