Kent Airfields in the Second World War (Second World War Aviation History) - Softcover

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Get ready to travel back in time to the days when Kent was known as 'Hell-fire Corner'; when the skies above the once-peaceful 'Garden of England' hummed with the sound of departing and returning aircraft.

This illustrated, action-packed book contains a full account of the part played by Kent's airfields during the Second World War. The history of each airfield is described, with details of the squadrons and aircraft based at them and the main operations flown. 

The subject is brought vividly to life with detailed accounts, alongside photos of the airmen themselves and their aircraft. 

In most minds, Kent will forever be associated with the 1940 Battle of Britain - the greatest aerial conflict in history, when the massed bombers of Hitler's Luftwaffe were denied air supremacy by a few young Hurricane and Spitfire pilots of Fighter Command.

But the county's proximity to the coast of France ensured that, right to the end of the war, Kent remained in the front line of the conflict with her skies constantly alive with smoke and circling vapour trails. 

In this meticulously researched book, author Robin Brooks describes the history of airfields that retain a legendary reputation, including Biggin Hill, Detling, Hawkinge, and West Malling.

Civilians are not forgotten, for this was equally a people's war. The author describes the role of the civilians who worked alongside the RAF, and recalls the horrors of the Blitz, with particular reference to raids on the Medway towns; the 1942 Baedeker attack on Canterbury; and the later campaign of terror from the V1 Doodlebug and the V2 rocket.

The book will bring back vivid memories for many, recalling days of danger and menace, and nights filled with the boom of guns, the stab of searchlights and the glow of distant fires.

CONTENTS

• Introduction 
• Map of the Kent Airfields 
• 1. Setting the Scene
• 2. Biggin Hill 
• 3. Detling 
• 4. Eastchurch
• 5. Gravesend
• 6. Hawkinge 
• 7. Lympne 
• 8. Manston 
• 9. Rochester 
• 10. West Malling
• 11. The Advanced Landing Grounds
• 12. Civilians at War 
• Postscript 
• Appendix - The Squadrons & Units based at Kent airfields
• Glossary
• Acknowledgements
• Bibliography
• Index

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