Monument record TR 23 NW 215 - 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.

Location

Grid reference TR 213 393 (point) Estimated from sources
Map sheet TR23NW
District FOLKESTONE AND HYTHE, KENT
Civil Parish HAWKINGE, SHEPWAY, KENT

Map

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

<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 English Heritage, 2001, Hawkinge WWII airfield defences report (Unpublished document).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 Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage, KD169 (Unpublished document).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 Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage, KD169 (Unpublished document).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/Archives (4)

  • <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 Unpublished document: English Heritage. 2001.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 Unpublished document: Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders. 2001.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 Unpublished document: Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders. 2001.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.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (12)

Related Events/Activities (2)

  • Non-Intrusive Event: MPPA Site Visit to Hawkinge Airfield, Hawkinge (EKE5839)
  • Event - Survey: Survey of Hawkinge Airfield & Dispersed Site (Ref: KD205) (EKE5838)

Related Thematic Articles (2)

Record last edited

Jan 13 2012 2:06PM