Monument record TR 03 SW 130 - Newchurch Advanced Landing Ground

Newchurch Advanced Landing Ground, Kent, TR 048 314. It was opened in 1943 and was de-requisitioned by the end of 1944. The willis and Holliss gazetter states that the airfield was actually closed in 1945. A sketch map accompanying source shows that the airfield was situated west of Newchurch around the area occupied by Brooker Farm and Will's Farm. It consisted of two intersecting runways made of Sommerfeld Track steel matting. Personnel were housed in a tented camp. There were 4 Blister Aircraft hangars. (1)

RAF Newchurch is described by the commerative web site Wartime Memories. Initially it was used by 19 and 132 Squadrons. The airfield had improvements made to its tracks in October 1943- April 1944. Newchurch was fully used for D Day with fighter aircraft of Numbers 3 and 56 Squadrons and 486 (New Zealand) Squadron giving air cover for the Normandy landings. Their formation was known as the "Newchurch Wing". Subsequently they were engaged in intercepting V1 missiles. These units left for the Low Countries in September 1944. The site was de-requisitioned in December 1944. After the war the site returned to agriculture. According to the website, there are little remains of the former airfield, reportedly gaps in field boundaries and a concrete bridge are among the few traces. (2)

Denis J Corley's article on advanced landing grounds in Kent in Airfield Review contains details of the improvements made to Newchurch ALG during 1943. (3)

The site was derequisitioned in December 1944 leaving no remains of the busy military activity at the ALG. Source 4 includes a sketch map of the area. (4)

<4> Ken Delve, 2005, The Military airfields of Britain; Southern England, Kent, Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex (Monograph). SKE31935.

<1-3> The Military Airfields of Britain. Southern England: Kent, Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex (Unspecified Type). SWX22295.