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Monument details

HER Number:TR 23 NW 215
Type of record:Monument
Name:Hawkinge Airfield

Summary

Key front-line fighter station during the Battle of Britain and Operation Diver in 1944 against V1 flying bombs. The airfield began life as a private venture in 1912 but was soon adopted as a base for the RFC (Royal Flying Corps) later the RAF. It was abandoned for a short period after the war but was reactivated in 1920 and later expanded during the 1930's. After WW2 it was again run down, becoming a glider school for the Air Training Corps and a Technical Training School for the WAAF. The airfield was finally abandoned in 1961. In 1968 it was used for the filming of the motion picture "The Battle of Britain" starring Sir Michael Caine. Since then part of the site has been used for the Kent Museum of the Battle of Britain and more recently a large housing development has encroached on the site involving the gradual reduction of the grass field and the destruction of some buildings. 1.5 km to the north was the dispersed site for the station in Reinden Wood.

Images

Entrance to the museum at Hawkinge airfield   © Kent County CouncilMuseum buildings at Hawkinge airfield   © Kent County Council
Grid Reference:TR 213 393
Map Sheet:TR23NW
Parish:HAWKINGE, SHEPWAY, KENT

Monument Types

Full description

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Key front-line fighter station during the Battle of Britain and Operation Diver in 1944 against V1 flying bombs.

The airfield began life as a private venture in 1912 by a Dutchman W. B. Megone, but was soon adopted as a base for the RFC (Royal Flying Corps) later the RAF in 1915. Initial tents and canvas hangar gave way to more permanent sheds and huts built in 1916. Due to the unreliability of early compasses two crosses were cut in the turf so that when lined up pointed to the French aerodrome of St Omer.

It was abandoned for a short period after the war but not before it was used for an air parcel service to Ghent after the Belgium government had requested help in alleviating shortages of food and clothing.

It was reactivated in 1920 when No 25 Squadron was reformed, the only fighter squadron in the country at the time, and based at Hawkinge for most of the following years until 1938. In 1931 the site was expanded with two new barracks blocks, a NAAFI, Officers Mess, Sergeants Mess and Airmens Dining Hall constructed along with married quarters. On the outbreak of war the buildings were re-camouflaged (initially begun in 1938) and hedges painted over the field. The first air raid on Hawkinge took place on 12th August 1940 when the airfield was attacked by 15 Ju 88's. During the war the air field was used as a forward fighter station, a base for air-sea rescue and Operation Diver. During February 1940 two radio specialists were based at Hawkinge as part of the Y Service intercepting enemy radio transmissions but moved away from the aitfield after the fall of Francein June. In September 1940 a decoy Q-site for Hawkinge (night-time lights mimicing an airfield) were constructed at Wootton althought the location is not known.

After WW2 it was again run down, becoming a glider school for the Air Training Corps and a Technical Training School for the WAAF. The airfield was finally abandoned in 1961. In June 1968 it was used for the filming of the motion picture "The Battle of Britain". Since then part of the site has been used for the Kent Museum of the Battle of Britain and more recently a large housing development has encroached on the site involving the gradual reduction of the grass field and the destruction of some buildings. Some of the barrack blocks have been turned into flats and the Officers Mess used as a hostel. 1.5 km to the north was the dispersed site for the station in Reinden Wood.(1-3)


<1> English Heritage, 2001, Hawkinge WWII airfield defences report (Unpublished document). SKE7937.

<2> Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage, KD169 (Unpublished document). SKE6956.

<3> Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage, KD169 (Unpublished document). SKE6956.

<4> Ashword, Chris, 1985/1990, Action Stations 9: Military Airfields of the Central South & South East (Monograph). SKE8330.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>Unpublished document: English Heritage. 2001. Hawkinge WWII airfield defences report.
<2>Unpublished document: Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders. 2001. Kent's Defence Heritage. KD169.
<3>Unpublished document: Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders. 2001. Kent's Defence Heritage. KD169.
<4>Monograph: Ashword, Chris. 1985/1990. Action Stations 9: Military Airfields of the Central South & South East.

Related records

TR 23 NW 249Parent of: "B" Flight Dispersal Hut, Kent Battle of Britain Museum, Hawkinge Airfield (Monument)
TR 23 NW 246Parent of: Former Armoury, Hawkinge Airfield (Monument)
TR 23 NW 217Parent of: Hawkinge Airfield, Officers' Mess (Monument)
TR 23 NW 247Parent of: Operations Block, Hawkinge Airfield (Monument)
TR 23 NW 245Parent of: Perimeter Track Hawkinge Airfield (Monument)
TR 23 NW 254Parent of: Picket-Hamilton Forts at Hawkinge Airfield (Monument)
TR 24 SW 26Parent of: Reinden Wood (Hawkinge Airfield Dispersed Site) (Monument)
TR 23 NW 250Parent of: Remains of Fighter Dispersal Pens, Near Killing Wood, Hawkinge Airfield (Monument)
TR 23 NW 251Parent of: Type 22 Pillbox at Hawkinge Airfield (Monument)
TR 23 NW 253Parent of: Type 22 Pillbox at Hawkinge Airfield (Monument)
TR 23 NW 252Parent of: Type 22 Pillbox With Anti-Aircraft Emplacement at Hawkinge Airfield (Monument)
TR 23 NW 248Parent of: Type 22 Pillbox, Hawkinge Airfield (Monument)

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