RAF Newchurch

Royal Air Force Newchurch or RAF Newchurch was a temporary Second World War airfield at Newchurch, Kent. It was a base for a Hawker Tempest wing that gave fighter cover over occupied France in the period up to and beyond D-Day and later defended south-east England against attack from V-1 flying bombs.

RAF Newchurch

Ground crew refuel and re-arm Hawker Tempest Mark V 'JF-G' of No. 3 Squadron RAF at Newchurch
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
LocationNewchurch, Kent
Built1943
In use1943–1944
Elevation AMSL3 ft 3 in ft / 1 m
Coordinates51°03′04″N 00°55′13″E
Map
RAF Newchurch
Location in Kent
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
00/00 0 0 Sommerfeld tracking
00/00 0 0 Sommerfeld tracking

History

Newchurch was one of a number of Advanced Landing Grounds (ALG) built in Kent during 1943. From July 1943 it became the base for three Supermarine Spitfire and one Hawker Hurricane squadrons.[1] In October 1943 the squadrons moved to RAF Detling while the airfield was improved.

In April 1944 it became the base of 150 Wing comprising three squadrons of Hawker Tempests. Commanded by Wing Commander Roland Beamont the Newchurch Tempest Wing provided air cover for the Normandy landings it was then tasked with defending against attacks by V-1 flying bombs. The Wing destroyed 638 V-1s before leaving Newchurch to support the advance through Belgium and the Netherland. No longer needed in December 1944 the airfield was restored to farmland.

Royal Air Force units and aircraft
Unit Dates Aircraft Variant Notes
No. 3 Squadron RAF 28 April 1944 – 21 September 1944 Hawker Tempest V [2]
No. 19 Squadron RAF 2 July 1943 – 18 August 1943 Supermarine Spitfire VB & VC [3]
No. 56 Squadron RAF 28 April 1944 – 23 September 1944 Hawker Tempest V [4]
No. 132 Squadron RAF 3 July 1943 – 12 October 1943 Supermarine Spitfire VB/IXB [5]
No. 184 Squadron RAF 17 September 1943 – 12 October 1943 Hawker Hurricane IV [6]
No. 486 Squadron RNZAF 29 April 1944 – 19 September 1944 Hawker Tempest V [7]
No. 602 Squadron RAF 13 August 1943 – 12 October 1943 Supermarine Spitfire VB [8]

The following units were also here at some point:[9]

  • No. 125 Airfield
  • No. 150 Airfield
  • No. 2749 Squadron RAF Regiment
  • No. 2800 Squadron RAF Regiment
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References

Citations
  1. Jefford 2001, p. 168.
  2. Jefford 2001, p. 24.
  3. Jefford 2001, p. 30.
  4. Jefford 2001, p. 43.
  5. Jefford 2001, p. 59.
  6. Jefford 2001, p. 66.
  7. Jefford 2001, p. 94.
  8. Jefford 2001, p. 98.
  9. "Newchurch". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 14 June 2020.

Bibliography
  • Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
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