FROM MOTHS TO MERLINS by Robin J. Brooks ( 9781781553350 ) - Books & Audio Books at Pickabook.co.uk

Item Details

Title:

FROM MOTHS TO MERLINS
RAF WEST MALLING: PREMIER NIGHT FIGHTER STATION

By:

Robin J. Brooks

Format:

Paperback

List price:

£14.99

Our price:

£10.94

Discount:

27% off

You save:

£4.05

ISBN 10:

1781553351

ISBN 13:

9781781553350

Availability:

Usually dispatched within 1-3 weeks.

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Stock:

Currently 0 available

Publisher:

FONTHILL MEDIA

Pub. date:

1 October, 2013

Pages:

160

Description:

RAF West Malling was not among the more well known military airfields of the Second World War. However its contribution to the destruction of enemy aircraft in the night skies above the UK was immense. In 1944 it became the foremost anti-diver airfield in the destruction of the V1 'Doodlebug'. This is the story of a lesser famous Kent airfield.

Synopsis:

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.

Illustrations:

132 black and white

Publication:

Imprint:

Fonthill Media

Returns:

Returnable

Some other items by this author:

AERODROMES OF FIGHTER COMMAND THEN AND NOW (HB)

BERKSHIRE AIRFIELDS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR (PB)

COUNTY OF KENT SQUADRONS

FIGHTING HIGH - WORLD WAR TWO - AIR BATTLE EUROPE (HB)