An emergency rescue and recovery taxiway at the former Manston Airport.

Located at the western end of the main runway at Manston Airport, “the loop” is a concrete aircraft taxiway added during World War Two to accommodate damaged or crippled aircraft after landing for salvage and recovery. The majority of the site is currently occupied by small businesses, though access to the concrete taxiways remains possible. (1)

A dispersal of Second World War date was visible as a structure in US/7PH/GP/LOC286 V 5010 19-APR-1944. It was constructed as part of RAF Manston's crash runway in 1943-44. It was recorded as a demolished structure on Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 07-APR-2021, although parts of the surface are extant. This feature was mapped as part of the Historic England Isle of Thanet project in 2024. (2-3)

<1> KCC, 2016, Survey of Buildings and Structures Associated with Manston Airport and the Surrounding Areas. (Unpublished document). SKE31558.

<2> Historic England Archive, 1944, Historic England Archive USAF vertical aerial photographs, US/7PH/GP/LOC286 V 5010 19-APR-1944 (Archive). SKE57114.

<3> Next Perspectives, 2003-2021, Next Perspectives APGB orthophotography, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 07-APR-2021 (Archive). SKE57110.