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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 English Heritage, 2001, Hawkinge WWII airfield defences report (Unpublished document).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 Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage, KD169 (Unpublished document).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 Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage, KD169 (Unpublished document).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> SKE7937 Unpublished document: English Heritage. 2001. Hawkinge WWII airfield defences report.
- <2> SKE6956 Unpublished document: Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders. 2001. Kent's Defence Heritage. KD169.
- <3> SKE6956 Unpublished document: Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders. 2001. Kent's Defence Heritage. KD169.
- <4> SKE8330 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)
- Parent of: "B" Flight Dispersal Hut, Kent Battle of Britain Museum, Hawkinge Airfield (Monument) (TR 23 NW 249)
- Parent of: Former Armoury, Hawkinge Airfield (Monument) (TR 23 NW 246)
- Parent of: Hawkinge Airfield, Officers' Mess (Monument) (TR 23 NW 217)
- Parent of: Operations Block, Hawkinge Airfield (Monument) (TR 23 NW 247)
- Parent of: Perimeter Track Hawkinge Airfield (Monument) (TR 23 NW 245)
- Parent of: Picket-Hamilton Forts at Hawkinge Airfield (Monument) (TR 23 NW 254)
- Parent of: Reinden Wood (Hawkinge Airfield Dispersed Site) (Monument) (TR 24 SW 26)
- Parent of: Remains of Fighter Dispersal Pens, Near Killing Wood, Hawkinge Airfield (Monument) (TR 23 NW 250)
- Parent of: Type 22 Pillbox at Hawkinge Airfield (Monument) (TR 23 NW 251)
- Parent of: Type 22 Pillbox at Hawkinge Airfield (Monument) (TR 23 NW 253)
- Parent of: Type 22 Pillbox With Anti-Aircraft Emplacement at Hawkinge Airfield (Monument) (TR 23 NW 252)
- Parent of: Type 22 Pillbox, Hawkinge Airfield (Monument) (TR 23 NW 248)
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