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From moths to Merlins : RAF West Malling : premier night fighter station / Robin J. Brooks.

By: Material type: TextTextPublication details: Toadsmoor Road : Fonthill Media, 2013.Description: 124 pages : illustrations ; 24 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9781781553350 (pbk.)
Subject(s): Summary: As a small club airfield during the 1930s, West Malling was very popular with flyers. Taken over by the RAF in 1939 it became a forward landing airfield to Biggin Hill. Unfinished by the time the Battle of Britain began, it played no operational part during the conflict. However, due to faulty German intelligence it was bombed on several occasions delaying completion even further. From 1941 it became the home of many night fighter squadrons within the umbrella of No. 11 Group, Fighter Command. During the Dieppe operation it became a forward base for day fighter squadrons after which it reverted to its primary role. One of the main anti-diver bases during the V1 campaign during 1944, it continued in its defensive role during peacetime until 1960 when the MOD leased the airfield to the American Navy. After two years it returned to the MOD who sold the site to the Kent County Council for development as an industrial park together with housing. This entailed all civil flying and Air Cadet gliding to cease despite much local opposition to the plans.
Holdings
Item type Current library Collection Call number Copy number Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Non-Fiction Davis (Central) Library Non-Fiction Non-Fiction 940.5449 BRO 1 Available T00569551
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

As a flying club airfield during the 1930s, West Malling was well known and very popular. 1939 saw it requisitioned by the military and it became a forward landing ground to Biggin Hill and Kenley. Though out of use during the Battle of Britain due to non-completion of the building work, and heavy bombing by the Luftwaffe, from 1941 onwards it became the premier night-fighter station in No. 11 Group, Fighter Command. During the Dieppe operation the airfield was used by day fighter squadrons and in 1944 became the main anti-diver airfield for the aerial destruction of the V1 Flying Bomb. In peace it continued the night defense of our country until the RAF left in 1960.

Includes bibliographical references.

As a small club airfield during the 1930s, West Malling was very popular with flyers. Taken over by the RAF in 1939 it became a forward landing airfield to Biggin Hill. Unfinished by the time the Battle of Britain began, it played no operational part during the conflict. However, due to faulty German intelligence it was bombed on several occasions delaying completion even further. From 1941 it became the home of many night fighter squadrons within the umbrella of No. 11 Group, Fighter Command. During the Dieppe operation it became a forward base for day fighter squadrons after which it reverted to its primary role. One of the main anti-diver bases during the V1 campaign during 1944, it continued in its defensive role during peacetime until 1960 when the MOD leased the airfield to the American Navy. After two years it returned to the MOD who sold the site to the Kent County Council for development as an industrial park together with housing. This entailed all civil flying and Air Cadet gliding to cease despite much local opposition to the plans.

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