BUILDING 27
History on Our Doorstep The Historic Sir Keith Park Sector Operations building, ‘Building 27’, at RAF Northolt
Sqn Ldr Andy Reeve
Right under your nose as you travel to work every day, is a magnificent piece of RAF and national history being restored to its 1940, Battle of Britain, glory. Did you know that the unremarkable little building, sitting just opposite the QCS parade square made a vital contribution to the development of tactics which facilitated the Battle of Britain victory in September 1940? Little did they know at the time, but the men and women working there were to play such a telling part in one of the most decisive moments in British history.
The Early History
Building 27 was constructed in 1929 as a standardised sector operations building, and was allocated the code letter ‘Z’, thereafter becoming the Z-Sector Operations Building within 11 Group. Being the closest fighter station to Fighter Command Headquarters at RAF Bentley Priory, Building 27 was heavily involved in exercises between 1936 to 1939. Under the direction of Air Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding (Commander-in-Chief Fighter Command) the exercises produced standardise sector operational procedures, which would later become a template for all fighter bases throughout World War II. This became known as ‘The Dowding System’ of groundcontrolled interception networks, and in fact, some of the procedures are still used today. Building 27 is considered by many to be the birthplace of the Integrated Air Defence System. The Building got its official name from Air Vice Marshall Sir Keith Park ,who commanded RAF Northolt from 1931-1932. The connection strengthened when AVM Park, a New Zealander by birth, served as Air Officer Commanding 11 Group during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Fittingly on 15 September 2010, the building was officially re-opened by the Chief of the RNZAF, AVM Graham Lintott beginning its final service as a place to remember, celebrate and learn about the pivotal work of the men and women who served there 80+ years ago. Since then, it’s been visited by all serving RAF Chiefs, as well as a smattering of celebrities including James May and Alexei Sayle.
16 RAF Northolt Approach SPRING 2022
The Post-War Journey
After the war, Building 27 led a much less glamourous life, serving its time as British European Airways marketing department, followed by spells as the Station’s education centre & library, and Support Engineering Squadron offices. Latterly 32 Squadron used it in support of its fleet of communication aircraft, and its final official use before retirement in 2007 was the station accounts department. Rescued from the threat of demolition during the Project MODEL restructure of RAF Northolt,
