List of Kent Military Airfields and Seaplane Bases

[Lutonman]

I remember flying Channel Airways from Rochester to Southend. Must be about 60 yrs ago.

[MartinR]

Yes according to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochester_Airport_(Kent)

[smiler]

Was Rochester airport ever used by the RAF during the war

[stuartwaters]

This list is not comprehensive and will probably be added to. It lists Military Airfields and Seaplane Bases. It should be borne in mind that on April 1st 1918, the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps were merged to form the Royal Air Force. During the Second World War, some airfields were loaned to the United States Army Air Forces (the modern-day United States Air Force not being formed until 1947). It says who occupied the site and the years between which the site was occupied. Sites are listed in alphabetical order.

Bekesbourne - RFC 1916 - 1918, RAF 1918 - 1919. Civil airfield 1919 - 1939. RAF 1939 - 1940
Biggin Hill - RFC 1917 - 1918. RAF 1918 - 1959. Civil airfield 1959 - present
Brenzett - RAF 1943 - 1944
Capel le Ferne - RNAS 1915 - 1918. RAF 1918
Detling - 1916 - 1918. RAF 1918 - 1919. 1919 - 1938 Civil Airfield. 1938 - 1956 RAF.
Dover - Various RFC/RNAS/RAF Stations during WW1.
Eastchurch - 1911 - 1918 RNAS. RAF 1918 - 1947.
Farningham - WW1 RFC/RAF
Grain - 1912 - 1918 RNAS. 1918 - 1919 RAF
Gravesend - 1932 - 1939 Civil Airfield. 1939 - 1948 RAF
Hawkinge - 1917 - 1918 RFC. 1918 - 1961 RAF
Headcorn - 1943 - 1945 USAAF. 1945 - present Civil Airfield
Hythe - 1915 - 1918 RFC. 1918 - 1919 RAF
Joyce Green - Civil Airfield (Vickers) 1911 - 1914. 1914 - 1918 RFC. 1918 - 1919 RAF.
Kingsnorth - 1914 - 1918 RNAS/RFC/RAF 1943 - 1945 USAAF
Lashenden - 1943 - 1944 RAF. 1944 - 1945 USAAF
Leysdown - 1908 - 1914 Early aviation then RNAS
Lydd - 1943 - 1954 RAF. 1954 - present Civil Airfield
Lympne - 1916 - 1918 RFC. 1918 - 1919 RAF. 1919 - 1939 Civil Airfield. 1939 - 1945 RAF. 1946 - 1974 Civil Airfield
Manston - 1915 - 1918 RFC. 1918 - 1999 RAF. 1999 - 2014 - Civil Airfield
New Romney/Newchurch - 1943 - 1945 RAF
New Romney - 1943 - 1945 RAF
Ramsgate - 1936 - 1939 Civil Airfield. 1939 - 1945 RAF. 1945 - 1969 Civil Airfield
Rochester (Shorts Works on the River Medway) - 1915 - 1947
Rochester (Airfield) - 1936 - 1939 Civil Airfield (Shorts). 1939 - 1945 RAF. 1945 - present Civil Airfield
Staplehurst - 1943 - 1945 USAAF
Swingfield - 1940 - 1945 RAF/Fleet Air Arm.
Throwley - 1916 - 1918 RFC. 1918 - 1919 RAF
Walmer - 1917 - 1918 RNAS. 1918 - 1919 RAF
Westgate - 1914 - 1918 RNAS Seaplane Base. 1918 - 1920 RAF Seaplane Base
West Malling - 1930 - 1939 Civil Airfield. 1940 - 1959 RAF. 1959 - 1964 United States Navy.
Wye - 1917 - 1918 RFC. 1918 - 1919 RAF.