RAF West Malling




















RAF West Malling


Air Force Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg


RAF West Malling.jpg

PORTAM CUSTODIMUS (We Guard the Gate)

  • IATA: WEM

  • ICAO: EGKM

Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Location
West Malling, Kent
Built1917
In use1917–1918
1930-1969
Elevation AMSL
308 ft / 94 m
Coordinates
51°16′16″N 000°24′09″E / 51.27111°N 0.40250°E / 51.27111; 0.40250Coordinates: 51°16′16″N 000°24′09″E / 51.27111°N 0.40250°E / 51.27111; 0.40250
Map


RAF West Malling is located in Kent

RAF West Malling

RAF West Malling



Location in Kent


Runways



















Direction
Length
Surface
ft
m
00/00
0
0

Asphalt
00/00
0
0
Asphalt
00/00
0
0
Asphalt

Royal Air Force West Malling or RAF West Malling is a former Royal Air Force station located 1.6 miles (2.6 km) south of West Malling, Kent and 5.2 miles (8.4 km) west of Maidstone, Kent, England.


Originally used as a landing area during the First World War,[1] the site opened as a private landing ground and in 1930, then known as Kinghill, home to the Maidstone School of Flying, before being renamed West Malling Airfield, and, in 1932, Maidstone Airport.[2]


During the 1930s many airshows and displays were held by aviators such as Amy Johnson and Alan Cobham, flying from a grass runway.


As war approached, the airfield was taken over by the military, to become RAF West Malling in 1940, serving in the front line against the Luftwaffe. The station saw further service after the war, first with some of the RAFs first jet squadrons, and later as a US Naval Air Station.


After closure as an operational air station in 1969, West Malling acquired a more civilian guise, hosting several major Great Warbirds Air Displays during the 70s and 80s, until eventually closing completely as an airfield. The site is now developing into a new village community of mixed residential, commercial, and civic amenities, but still retains several features of its military aviation heritage.




Contents





  • 1 First World War


  • 2 Second World War

    • 2.1 Tally Ho! July 1940


    • 2.2 Dambuster, April 1941


    • 2.3 Beaufighters 1942


    • 2.4 Emergency Landing, April 1943


    • 2.5 Doodlebugs, 1944



  • 3 After the war

    • 3.1 Night fighters, 1950s and 1960s


    • 3.2 United States Navy until 1967


    • 3.3 Care & Maintenance



  • 4 Civilian use


  • 5 Development


  • 6 Squadrons and aircraft

    • 6.1 In popular culture



  • 7 See also


  • 8 References

    • 8.1 Citations


    • 8.2 Bibliography



  • 9 External links




First World War


The airfield was as a landing area during the First World War.[1]



Second World War


RAF West Malling was not fully operational during the Battle of Britain, suffering from several damaging bombing raids,[3] but did play an active part in the later stages of the air campaign, becoming a premier night-fighter base.


Maidstone Airport was taken over in the prelude to the Second World War, and the RAF station was formed in June 1940, now with a concrete runway. Designated as one of two RAF Fighter Command stations assigned to C Sector, and designated as an advanced aerodrome for RAF Kenley and RAF Biggin Hill. The first aircraft arrived on 8 June 1940. These were Lysanders of No. 26 (Army Cooperation) Squadron, used for photo-reconnaissance sorties over occupied Europe. No. 51 Wing arrived at the same time, and the airfield was provided with anti-aircraft and searchlight batteries for airfield defence.



Tally Ho! July 1940


On 12 July, No. 141 Squadron arrived from RAF Turnhouse, Scotland, equipped with Defiant Mk.1 turret-fighters. The squadron's first engagement with the enemy occurred a week later, when 6 out of 9 Defiants were destroyed by a superior force of Me.Bf 109s over the Channel. The three surviving aircraft were rescued only when the fight was joined by Hurricanes from No. 111 Squadron.[4] The remainder of the unit returned north to RAF Prestwick on 25 July due to the ineffectiveness of the Defiant against single-seat fighters.[3]



Dambuster, April 1941


No. 29 Squadron flying Bristol Beaufighters arrived for its first tour of duty on 27 April 1941. One of the Squadron's pilots, Guy Gibson VC, later officer commanding 617 Squadron on the Dambusters Raid, said of the station "Of all the airfields in Great Britain ... we have the most pleasant".[1]


A regular and long-standing inhabitant, 29 Sqn. left for the last time on 25 November 1950.



Beaufighters 1942


In September 1942 Squadron Leader Cathcart Wight-Boycott was promoted to Acting Wing Commander and posted to RAF West Malling as Officer Commanding 29 Squadron who were still flying Bristol Beaufighters. Between December 1942 and January 1943 Wight-Boycott took the additional temporary role of Station Commander at West Malling.



Emergency Landing, April 1943


On 16 April 1943 a single-engined aircraft was heard approaching the airfield by the crew of a Beaverette Mk III armoured car of 2769 Field Squadron RAF Regiment, which was on routine patrol. The plane circled twice, then landed. The driver of the vehicle, AC Wilding immediately swung his vehicle into the path of the aircraft to prevent it from taking off again. The pilot, Feldwebel Otto Bechtold,[citation needed] immediately gave himself up. Driving back to the airfield from the Guardroom, they saw a second Focke-Wulf Fw 190 land, but before the armoured car could reach it, the pilot realised his mistake and turned his aircraft round to begin a take-off run. The car commander, LAC Sharback, at once opened fire with his twin Vickers machine guns and the aircraft slewed off the runway and caught fire. The pilot, wounded in the shoulder and leg and with his flying suit in flames, was thrown clear of the aircraft as it overturned. The two gunners ran to the pilot's rescue, extinguished his burning clothing and dragged him clear of the aircraft. Unfortunately, when one of the Station's fire trucks was attempting to extinguish the flames, the aircraft exploded in a ball of fire, scattering debris over a radius of 300 yards and seriously injuring several of the RAF Firemen. Within a few minutes, another Fw 190 crashed on the approach to the runway and a fourth aircraft ploughed into a nearby orchard and burst into flames.[5]


The serviceable aircraft was flown to Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough the next day for detailed examination, and was eventually repainted in RAF livery, designated as a prototype or experimental aircraft.[citation needed]


The German pilots revealed that they had become lost in thick fog, thought they were over France, and had been directed to the airstrip by a searchlight at Detling.[citation needed]



Doodlebugs, 1944


From 20 June to 21 July 1944, No. 322 Squadron, equipped with Spitfire Mk XIVs was stationed at West Malling, tasked with intercepting VI "doodlebug" flying bombs launched from the Dutch and French coasts towards London.[6]



After the war



Night fighters, 1950s and 1960s


In use throughout the 1950s and early 1960s as Britain's premier night fighter station,[7]



United States Navy until 1967


RAF West Malling then became home to several squadrons of the US Navy, until 1967.



Care & Maintenance


It was then placed on Care & Maintenance, used by several air-industry related businesses.


In March 1965, Air Cadet 618 VGS (Volunteer Gliding School) moved to West Malling from RAF Manston, setting up its headquarters in the old dispersal area near the runway threshold. Its aircraft (cable-launched Vanguard TX1 gliders) and equipment were stored into one of the large T.2 Type hangars where they remained until 1992.


From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, new build Saab 340 were sent to an aircraft finishing company established here, routing via London Southend Airport, in order to be sprayed into the colour schemes of customer airlines.



Civilian use




A line-up of aircraft at the Great Warbirds Air Display at RAF West Malling, in August 1987.


Following the issue by Idi Amin of Uganda 4 August 1972, of a decree ordering the expulsion of the 60,000 Asians who were not Ugandan citizens, around 30,000 of those with British passports emigrated to Britain. The unused accommodation blocks at the airfield were converted for use as temporary homes throughout 1973 until the refugees were resettled around the country. Other RAF stations involved in this exercise were RAF Honington and RAF Stradishall, both in Suffolk.



Development


RAF West Malling is now the site of Kings Hill, a mixed development of residential and business developments, including over 2,000 homes, two schools, local retail units and 18-hole golf course.


The former Officers Mess (now the Gibson Building, and used as Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council offices) was built in 1939, and is now a Grade II listed building. The Officers' Mess itself is used as the Council Chamber. A common layout was used at all RAF stations, so that visiting officers were able to find their way around easily.


The brick-built building still shows remnants of the painted camouflage pattern used during the war.


A number of H-block accommodation buildings are also in use as offices.


The control tower - also listed - is largely complete in the form it was in 1942, now surrounded by modern housing, and has been restored for use as a coffee shop.


Situated near the site of the old guard house, a memorial to the personnel stationed at RAF West Malling was unveiled on 9 June 2002. Otto Bechtold, the F w 190 pilot, was a guest of honour at the ceremony.


Road names in Kings Hill pay homage to the site's past use as a RAF aerodrome, with names such as Typhoon Road, Mosquito Road, Hurricane Road, Spitfire Road, Beaufighter Road, Javelin Road, Lancaster Way, Lysander Road, Meteor Road and Mustang Road, and finally Tower View running past the Control Tower.


Kings Hill Cricket Club is located on what was the main runway and the team are known as the Mosquitos. The club's pavilion bar is also known as the hangar. The club badge is the RAF roundels with a Mosquito aircraft. The junior teams are all named after other aircraft that operated out of West Malling.



Squadrons and aircraft


[8]























































































































































































































































Squadron
Dates
Aircraft
Variant
Notes

No. 3 Squadron RAF
1943

Hawker Tempest
1B
[9]

No. 14 Squadron RAF
1947 & 1948

de Havilland Mosquito
B16 & B35
Based twice.[10]

No. 19 Squadron RAF
1941

Supermarine Spitfire
IIA
Detachments from Fowlmere.[11]

No. 25 Squadron RAF
1947–1951
de Havilland Mosquito
NF10
[12]
1951–1954

de Havilland Vampire
NF10
[12]
1954–1957

Gloster Meteor
NF12 & NF14
[12]

No. 26 Squadron RAF
1940

Westland Lysander
III
[13]
1942

North American Mustang
II
Based twice to/from Gatwick.[13]

No. 29 Squadron RAF
1941–1943

Bristol Beaufighter
IF and VIF
[14]
1944–1950
de Havilland Mosquito
XIII, XX and later NF36
Based on 11 separate periods.[14]

No. 32 Squadron RAF
1942

Hawker Hurricane
I, IIB and IIC
Based three times.[15]

No. 41 Squadron RAF
1944
Supermarine Spitfire
XII
Based for one week.[16]

No. 64 Squadron RAF
1943
Supermarine Spitfire
VC
[17]

No. 66 Squadron RAF
1940
Supermarine Spitfire
I & IIA
[18]

No. 80 Squadron RAF
1944
Supermarine Spitfire
IX
[19]

No. 85 Squadron RAF
1943, 1944, 1947, 1948
de Havilland Mosquito
XII, XVII, NF36
Based four times.[20]
1948–1957
Gloster Meteor
NF11, NF12 & NF13
[20]
1959-1960
Gloster Javelin
FAW2, FAW6, FAW8, T3
[20]

No. 91 Squadron RAF
1944
Supermarine Spitfire
XIV
[21]
1946
Supermarine Spitfire
XXI
[21]

No. 96 Squadron RAF
1943–1944
de Havilland Mosquito
XIII
[22]

No. 124 Squadron RAF
1943 & 1944
Supermarine Spitfire
VII
[23]

No. 130 Squadron RAF
1943
Supermarine Spitfire
VB
[24]

No. 133 Squadron RAF
1942
Supermarine Spitfire
VA and VB
Detachments from Kirton-in-Lindsey.[25]

No. 141 Squadron RAF
1940

Boulton Paul Defiant
I
[26]

No. 153 Squadron RAF
1955–1957
Gloster Meteor
NF12 & NF14
[27]

No. 157 Squadron RAF
1944
de Havilland Mosquito
XIX
[28]

No. 234 Squadron RAF
1943
Supermarine Spitfire
VI
[29]

No. 247 Squadron RAF
1946
de Havilland Vampire
F1
Based twice.[30]

No. 255 Squadron RAF
1941

Bristol Beaufighter
VIF
Detachments from Coltishall.[31]

No. 264 Squadron RAF
1941–1942
Boulton Paul Defiant
I & II
[32]

No. 274 Squadron RAF
1944
Supermarine Spitfire
IX
[33]

No. 287 Squadron RAF
1945–1946
Supermarine Spitfire
XVI
[34]

No. 316 Squadron RAF
1944
North American Mustang
III
[35]

No. 322 Squadron RAF
1944
Supermarine Spitfire
XIV
[36]

No. 350 Squadron RAF
1943
Supermarine Spitfire
VC
[37]

No. 409 Squadron RAF
1944
de Havilland Mosquito
XIII
[38]

No. 410 Squadron RAF
1943
de Havilland Mosquito
VI


No. 485 Squadron RAF
1942
Supermarine Spitfire
VB


No. 486 Squadron RAF
1942
Hawker Typhoon
IB


No. 500 Squadron RAF
1947–1948
de Havilland Mosquito
NF19 & NF30
[39]
1948
Supermarine Spitfire
F22
[39]
1948–1951
Gloster Meteor
F3
[39]
1951–1952
Gloster Meteor
F4
[39]
1951–1957
Gloster Meteor
F8
[39]

No. 531 Squadron RAF
1942–1943

Douglas Havoc
I (Turbinlite)
[40]

Douglas Boston
III (Turbinlite)
[40]
Hawker Hurricane
IIC
[40]

No. 567 Squadron RAF
1946
Supermarine Spitfire
XVI
[41]

No. 610 Squadron RAF
1942
Supermarine Spitfire
VB
[42]

No. 616 Squadron RAF
1944
Supermarine Spitfire
VII
[43]


In popular culture


Several films and TV programmes, including The Beatles' 1967 experimental film Magical Mystery Tour, the 1972 television series Pathfinders and the 1982 television drama series We'll Meet Again, used the airfield as a location during production.


Aerial sequences for an episode of the British police TV series Dempsey and Makepeace were filmed here in 1984, involving some spirited flying by a Topflite de Havilland Heron G-ANUO.


West Malling airfield served as a backdrop for the opening sequences of the 1989 "Agatha Christie's Poirot" episode "The Incredible Theft", where the T hangar formerly located behind the airfield's watch tower (today the site of the Kings Hill Asda store) was emblazoned with the name "Mayfield" and a secret prototype fighter plane, the "Mayfield Kestrel" was revealed and the demonstrated by the aircraft's builder to a government minister. Filmed with the famous Spitfire IXb MH434 flown by the legendary display pilot Ray Hanna, the sequence is one of the most-memorable of the television drama's 70 broadcast episodes.


More recently, the 2007 TV series Cape Wrath includes scenes shot at Kings Hill and other local areas.[44]


The airfield is also synonymous with ghost stories. The old officers mess is said to have various ghostly incidents, as do the H-shaped barrack blocks. Several buildings on the former site are also said to have supernatural events and once a year a ghostly aircraft is said to be heard taking off.



See also


  • Kings Hill

  • West Malling

  • List of former Royal Air Force stations


References



Citations




  1. ^ abc RAF West Malling Memorial Group From memorial plinth Retrieved 11 July 2007 Archived 10 October 2004 at the Wayback Machine


  2. ^ Murray, Dave. "A Short History of Kings Hill". Kingshill Parish Council. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-09-29..mw-parser-output cite.citationfont-style:inherit.mw-parser-output .citation qquotes:"""""""'""'".mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registrationcolor:#555.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration spanborder-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output code.cs1-codecolor:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-errordisplay:none;font-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-errorfont-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-maintdisplay:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-formatfont-size:95%.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-leftpadding-left:0.2em.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-rightpadding-right:0.2em


  3. ^ ab Battle of Britain Campaign Diary Official MoD Records, Retrieved 14 July 2007 Archived 14 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine


  4. ^ The Turret Fighters, Brew, 2002, p.65-66.


  5. ^ Oliver, Kingsley. The RAF Regiment at War 1942-1946. Pen & Sword.


  6. ^ Rafweb Retrieved 10 July 2007


  7. ^ SubBrittannia retrieved 10 July 2007


  8. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 176.


  9. ^ Halley 1988, p. 24.


  10. ^ Halley 1988, p. 47.


  11. ^ Halley 1988, p. 56.


  12. ^ abc Halley 1988, p. 67.


  13. ^ ab Halley 1988, p. 69.


  14. ^ ab Halley 1988, p. 74.


  15. ^ Halley 1988, p. 79.


  16. ^ Halley 1988, p. 95.


  17. ^ Halley 1988, p. 130.


  18. ^ Halley 1988, p. 133.


  19. ^ Halley 1988, p. 150.


  20. ^ abc Halley 1988, p. 157.


  21. ^ ab Halley 1988, p. 163.


  22. ^ Halley 1988, p. 169.


  23. ^ Halley 1988, p. 200.


  24. ^ Halley 1988, p. 205.


  25. ^ Halley 1988, p. 207.


  26. ^ Halley 1988, p. 214.


  27. ^ Halley 1988, p. 227.


  28. ^ Halley 1988, p. 229.


  29. ^ Halley 1988, p. 302.


  30. ^ Halley 1988, p. 316.


  31. ^ Halley 1988, p. 323.


  32. ^ Halley 1988, p. 331.


  33. ^ Halley 1988, p. 341.


  34. ^ Halley 1988, p. 349.


  35. ^ Halley 1988, p. 366.


  36. ^ Halley 1988, p. 369.


  37. ^ Halley 1988, p. 382.


  38. ^ Halley 1988, p. 339.


  39. ^ abcde Halley 1988, p. 389.


  40. ^ abc Halley 1988, p. 402.


  41. ^ Halley 1988, p. 411.


  42. ^ Halley 1988, p. 427.


  43. ^ Halley 1988, p. 435.


  44. ^ Kent Messenger regional weekly newspaper, edition of 6 July 2007



Bibliography


  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1981-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988.
    ISBN 0-85130-164-9.

  • Halpenny,B,B. Action Stations: Military airfields of Greater London v. 8. Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1993.
    ISBN 1-85260-431-X.

  • Jefford, C.G, MBE,BA ,RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988.
    ISBN 1-84037-141-2.


External links




  • 618 Volunteer Gliding School

  • Station Memorial

  • The Control Tower








Popular posts from this blog

How to check contact read email or not when send email to Individual?

Displaying single band from multi-band raster using QGIS

How many registers does an x86_64 CPU actually have?