Moor, Anthony J. RAF West Malling

The RAF's First Night Fighter Airfield. WWII to the Cold War

This is the story of West Malling Airfieldfrom its origins and its role in the Second World Warduring which numerous dramatic and tragic events unfoldedto the era of the Cold War. Initially opened as a private landing ground after the First World Warand known at the time as "Kings Hill"West Malling Airfield became home to the "Maidstone School of Flying" in 1930. Subsequently, it was renamed "West Malling Airfield" and, in 1932, "Maidstone Airport." The airfield's significance to the RAF came to the fore in June 1940; by this time, the station had already been equipped with a concrete runway. The first aircraft arrived on June 8, 1940. As Britain's first designated night fighter base, RAF West Malling became home to numerous renowned pilots in the years that followedmen such as John Cunningham, Peter Townsend, Bob Braham, and even Guy Gibson, who later achieved fame through the "Dambusters" operation. In the summer of 1944, Mosquito, Spitfire, and Mustang Mk.3 aircraft successfully intercepted numerous V-1 flying bombs; furthermore, these units played a vital role in supporting the Allied landings on D-Day. After the war ended, units such as the 25th and 85th Squadrons were equipped with Meteor NF night fighters, as well as de Havilland Vampire and Venom aircraft, thereby ensuring West Malling's strategic importance as a night fighter base persisted well into the Cold War era. The 500th Squadron ("Kents Own") also chose RAF West Malling as its home base during this period. Additionally, in the 1960s, a US Navy "Facility Flight" unit was stationed at the airfield. Following its closure as an operational military airfield in 1969, West Malling reverted to a civilian character: throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the site hostedamong other thingsa gliding school, the aircraft manufacturer Short Brothers, and several major "Warbird" airshows, until the airfield was finally closed for good and cleared for urban redevelopment. Anthony J. Moors meticulously researched and richly illustrated book is the first work to recount the complete history of West Mallings role in the defense of the United Kingdom, detailing how the RAF airfield rendered faithful service over twenty-eight eventful years.