Defending the Olympics from terror attack: Fighter planes at Northolt for first time since WWII as elite RAF say they will shoot down passenger jets to protect London

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DAILY MAIL

  • Missile defence systems stationed around London including on Blackheath Common and in Epping Forest
  • Chinook Helicopters on standby to take to the air over the Olympic Stadium in the event of a security alert
Elite fighter pilots say they are ‘trained and prepared’ to shoot down a hijacked passenger plane to prevent a 9/11-style suicide attack on the Olympics.

Four Typhoon jets will be on standby to intercept ‘rogue’ aircraft intent on causing carnage at London 2012.

Normally the RAF’s Quick Reaction Alert jets are based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and RAF Leuchars in Fife to defend UK airspace. But the 1,370mph planes will also be stationed at RAF Northolt, in west London, during the Olympics.

It is the first time fighters have been based at the airfield since the Second World War.


Ready and waiting: The Typhoon jets line up on the tarmac at RAF Northolt, west London, ahead of a nine-day military exercise to test security for the Olympic Games

 

A Royal Air Force Typhoon jet taking part in defence exercises in advance of the London 2012 Olympic Games lands at RAF Northolt in west London
An RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft flies at RAF base Northolt, where four of the aircraft will be based as part of the Olympics related security exercise in west London

Noisy neighbours: The jets take to the skies over west London as Exercise Olympic Guardian gets underway. The RAF has warned that residents in south-east England will notice an increase in air traffic this weekend

The £125million jets – which fought in battle for the first time in Libya last year – landed in London yesterday ahead of a major military exercise to test Games security.

They will provide a first line of defence against attack from the air and are capable of intercepting any aircraft that strays without permission into a ‘restricted’ zone 30 miles around the capital.

If a rogue aircraft refuses to turn back, Prime Minister David Cameron could give the order for the fighters to shoot it down – even if it was carrying civilians.

A smaller ‘no-fly zone’ will be in place over the Olympic Park, Heathrow Airport and London City Airport, into which only scheduled flights will be allowed.

 

Bird of prey: The jets will be seen in skies over south-east England until the exercise ends on May 10Bird of prey: The jets will be seen in skies over south-east England until the exercise ends on May 10

Lying in wait: Typhoon jets taxi to their hangars at the start of an exercise that will see them deployed alongside helicopters from the RAF and Royal NavyLying in wait: Typhoon jets taxi to their hangars at the start of an exercise that will see them deployed alongside helicopters from the RAF and Royal Navy

Squadron Leader Gordon Lovett, 37, said: ‘We would go out and identify the aircraft and try to establish contact with it.

‘Any decision to employ force is going to be taken at the highest political level, and we will carry out that task. If we are told to deploy ultimate force, we are trained and prepared for it.’

The Typhoons will take part in Exercise Olympic Guardian, a nine-day training operation running until May 10.

A ring of six Starstreak and Rapier missile sites around London could also be in place to protect the Games, each with the power to bring down a light aircraft.

But the Stop the War Coalition said such a heavy military presence in London was ‘unacceptable’ and warned it would create a ‘climate of fear’.

Primed: Two RAF technicians work on one of the four Typhoons that will lie in wait in case of an attack during the London 2012 gamesPrimed: Two RAF technicians work on one of the four Typhoons that will lie in wait in case of an attack during the London 2012 games

 

Rapid reaction: The supersonic fighter jets are capable of speeds up to 1,370mph, meaning nearby residents could hear sonic booms as the planes break the sound barrierRapid reaction: The supersonic fighter jets are capable of speeds up to 1,370mph, meaning nearby residents could hear sonic booms as the planes break the sound barrier

The group’s Lindsey German said: ‘Far from safeguarding Londoners as they go about their daily lives, they will bring a real fear of explosions and the prospect of these places becoming a target for terrorist attack.

‘If the Olympic Park needs security, this should be within the confines of the park and not forced on ordinary people in east and south London who have no say in the matter.’

Last month a sonic boom caused by two Typhoon aircraft responding to an emergency signal was reportedly heard as far afield as Bath, Coventry and Oxford.

Group Captain Tim O’Brien, station commander of RAF Northolt, said he hoped people living nearby would understand the need for the Typhoon jets, which can travel at up to 1,370mph.

Discussions have taken place with residents, and signs have been placed by roads to warn motorists of loud noises.

‘There’s very much a sense of cohesion with the local populace that they are in this with us, and they are going to reap the benefits of the mutual pride that we will gain from it as well,’ Group Capt O’Brien said.

 

Back in action: Hurricane fighter planes at Northolt Airfield in March 1938. This week's exercise marks the first time since World War Two that fighter planes have been stationed at the baseBack in action: Hurricane fighter planes at Northolt Airfield in March 1938. This week’s exercise marks the first time since World War Two that fighter planes have been stationed at the base

Patrol: Police officers outside the Olympic Stadium as security measures are put in place ahead of the GamesPatrol: Police officers outside the Olympic Stadium as security measures are put in place ahead of the Games

Chinook helicopters fly over the Olympic Stadium
A Chinook helicopter is seen flying over the women's International Invitational Hockey Tournament at the Riverbank Arena on the Olympic Park

Watching over the capital: Chinook helicopters are seen flying over the Olympic Stadium in London (left) and over the women’s International Invitational Hockey Tournament at the Riverbank Arena on the Olympic Park (right)

 

Dummy run: Gunners from Sphinx Battery, 16 Regiment Royal Artillery, fit a practice missile to a Rapier anti-aircraft system stationed at Blackheath, south-east London, as part of this week's military exerciseDummy run: Gunners from Sphinx Battery, 16 Regiment Royal Artillery, fit a practice missile to a Rapier anti-aircraft system stationed at Blackheath, south-east London, as part of this week’s military exercise

Poised: An Army Rapier missile defence battery is deployed at Blackheath, London, in sight of the Canary Wharf financial centre  

The firepower and where it will be deployed

AN AIR BASE OLDER THAN THE RAF: THE CHANGING FACE OF NORTHOLT

The Prince of Wales lands at RAF Northolt following the death of his grandmother, the Queen Mother in March 2002The Prince of Wales lands at RAF Northolt following the death of his grandmother, the Queen Mother in March 2002

In 1912 a proposal was made for the area around what is now RAF Northolt to be developed as ‘Harrow Aerodrome’.

The outbreak of the First World War necessitated a new airbase for the Royal Flying Corps. Major Sefton Brancker of the War Office settled on a site near Northolt Junction railway station but it was not until January 1915 that the British government officially requisitioned the land.

Construction of the aerodrome, to be named RFC Military School, Ruislip, began in January 1915. It opened on 3 May 1915, and became known as ‘Northolt’ despite actually being situated in South Ruislip, because the nearest station was Northolt Junction.

In the same year the airfield was extended westwards and aircraft began flying sorties in defence of London against Zeppelin raids.In 1918 the RAF was founded, replacing the RFC.

The Officers’ Mess was built around 1920, and is still operational today as is one hangar and several barrack blocks dating from the mid-1920s to the 1930s.

In the 1930s, RAF Northolt was the first station to operate the Hurricane and during the Second World War was again one of the key airfields in the defence of London.

During the Battle of Britain, Northolt was ‘home’ to a series of allied and British Hurricane and Spitfire squadrons, including a complete Polish Wing.

In 1943, RAF Northolt’s Spitfire Mk IX Squadrons became the first Spitfire Wing as a unit to operate over Germany.

One notable flight took place in 1944 when liberator ‘Marco Polo’ flew non-stop from Washington to Northolt, taking a mere 19 hours and 46 minutes.

In 1946 the airfield was loaned for civil use while Heathrow Airport was under construction and by 1952, Northolt was the busiest airfield in Europe.

In December 1946, after taking off during a heavy snowstorm, a Douglas DC-3 operated by British European Airways, flying from Northolt to Glasgow, crashed onto the roof of a house in South Ruislip.

All the crew and passengers escaped unharmed by climbing through the loft of the house and leaving via the front door.

Civil flights ceased when the central area at Heathrow opened in 1954 with Northolt reverting to sole military use in May that year.

A Douglas DC-3 Dakota crashed on the roof of a house in Ruislip shortly after taking off from Northolt in December 1946. Everyone escaped and left the house by the front doorA Douglas DC-3 Dakota crashed on the roof of a house in Ruislip shortly after taking off from Northolt in December 1946. Everyone escaped and left the house by the front door

By the 1980s movements of privately-owned aircraft, mainly corporate jets, outnumbered military aircraft. Civil flights were limited to 28 per day, with a maximum of 7,000 a year. This limit remains to this day.

Much media attention focused on the airfield when the body of Diana, Princess of Wales, arrived there from Villacoublay airfield, in Paris after her death on 31 August 1997.

The Queen’s Colour Squadron, then based at neighbouring RAF Uxbridge, acted as the bearer party.

Four years later attention again focused on Northolt when the seriously ill fugitive Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs was flown from Brazil to the airfield to be arrested by waiting police officers.

Biggs was taken straight to Belmarsh Prison to complete the remainder of his sentence.

Over the past 60 years it has been used to welcome foreign dignitaries to the country.

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