The former airfield at Detling, near to Maidstone in Kent, dates back to 1916 when it was RNAS Detling. It was closed to military flying in 1919 but was used by Short Bros for test flying. However, come 1938 the airfield was reactivated as RAF Detling under Coastal Command control. It suffered several heavy bombing raids during the Battle of Britain although it served mainly as a stopping off point for fighters rather than as an operational base but did become a Fighter Command airfield ahead of D-Day.
However, being a grass runway its operational days were numbered and flying ceased by the end of 1944. There was some use by RAF and civilian gliding schools post war but the RAF disposed of the field and all flying ceased in 1959. There is now some light industry at one end of the old airfield but the site serves mainly as a show ground for agricultural fairs and the like.
An impressive memorial to the airfield was erected near the village some years ago.
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
No comments:
Post a Comment