This article needs additional citations for verification .(February 2013) |
RAF Brenzett | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brenzett, Kent in England | |||||||||
Coordinates | 51°00′52″N000°52′45″E / 51.01444°N 0.87917°E | ||||||||
Type | Advanced Landing Ground | ||||||||
Code | ZT [1] | ||||||||
Site information | |||||||||
Owner | Air Ministry | ||||||||
Operator | Royal Air Force | ||||||||
Controlled by | RAF Second Tactical Air Force * No. 84 Group RAF RAF Fighter Command * No. 11 Group RAF [1] | ||||||||
Site history | |||||||||
Built | 1943 | ||||||||
Built by | RAF Airfield Construction Service | ||||||||
In use | March 1943–1944 | ||||||||
Battles/wars | European theatre of World War II | ||||||||
Airfield information | |||||||||
Elevation | 3 metres (10 ft) [1] AMSL | ||||||||
|
Royal Air Force Brenzett or more simply RAF Brenzett was a Royal Air Force Advanced Landing Ground close to the village of Brenzett near Romney Marsh in Kent during the Second World War. It was used as an airfield in 1944 for the Mustang Wing which comprised three squadrons including two Polish squadrons in exile and operated patrols against V-1 flying bombs.
The site was chosen for an advanced landing ground in July 1942 and construction work on the 300-acre (1.2 km2) site of flat marshland commenced in 1943, it was due to open on 1 March 1943 but was not ready for occupation until September and the airfield opened as RAF Brenzett as part of RAF Fighter Command on 14 September 1943 with two Sommerfeld Tracking runways. The locals referred to the airfield as Ivychurch after the nearest village. The airfield eventually had five blister hangars for the aircraft but most of the personnel were housed in a tented camp.
The first unit to use the airfield was No. 122 Squadron RAF with Supermarine Spitfires in August 1943 who used it relieve pressure on their home airfield of RAF Kingsnorth five miles (8 km) to the north. The airfield was not used to support the D-Day landings but in July 1944 No. 133 Wing RAF, with Polish-flown North American Mustangs, three squadrons strong, was based there, mainly on anti-flying bomb patrols. [2]
The United States Army Air Corps designated the airfield Station Number 438. The main American unit was Battery C, 635 AAA (Anti-aircraft Artillery), Automatic Weapons Bn, IX Air Defence Command. [3]
The Mustang wing left in October 1944 and the airfield was no longer needed, and closed on 13 December 1944, returning to agricultural use. In 1972 the Brenzett Aeronautical Museum, a military and aviation museum, was opened near the site in buildings formerly occupied by the Women's Land Army.
Unit | Dates | Aircraft | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
No. 122 Squadron RAF | 1943 | Supermarine Spitfire IX | Detachments from RAF Kingsnorth [4] |
No. 129 Squadron RAF | 1944 | North American Mustang III | [5] Part of No. 133 Wing RAF [6] |
No. 306 Polish Fighter Squadron | 1944 | North American Mustang III | [7] Part of No. 133 Wing RAF |
No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron | 1944 | North American Mustang III | [8] Part of No. 133 Wing RAF |
Royal Air Force Syerston, commonly known simply as RAF Syerston, is a Royal Air Force station in the parish of Flintham, near Newark, Nottinghamshire, England. Opened in 1940, it was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a bomber base during the Second World War, operating Vickers Wellingtons, Avro Manchesters, and the Avro Lancaster heavy bombers. Post-war, it became home to Jet Provosts of the 2 Flying Training School. It is now home to the Royal Air Force Central Gliding School.
No. 214 Squadron is a former unit of the Royal Air Force.
Royal Air Force Bottisham or more simply RAF Bottisham is a former Royal Air Force station located 5 miles (8 km) east of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.
Army Aviation Centre (AAC) Middle Wallop is a British Army airfield located near the Hampshire village of Middle Wallop, used for Army Air Corps training. The base hosts 2 (Training) Regiment AAC and 7 (Training) Regiment AAC under the umbrella of the Army Aviation Centre. 2 (Training) Regiment performs ground training; 7 (Training) Regiment trains aircrew on AAC aircraft after they complete basic training at RAF Shawbury.
Royal Air Force Kingsnorth or more simply RAF Kingsnorth is a former Royal Air Force Advanced Landing Ground in Kent, England. It was at Bliby Corner approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of Ashford; about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of London. It is not to be confused with RNAS Kingsnorth, later RAF Kingsnorth, which was an airship station in operation during and after the First World War.
Royal Air Force Woodchurch, or more simply RAF Woodchurch, is a former Royal Air Force Advanced Landing Ground located in Kent, England. The airfield is located approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Ashford; about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of London.
Royal Air Force Ashford or more simply RAF Ashford is a former Royal Air Force Advanced Landing Ground in Kent, England. The landing ground is located approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Ashford just south of the A28 near the junction with Old Surrenden Manor Road; about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of London.
Royal Air Force Staplehurst or more simply RAF Staplehurst is a former Royal Air Force Advanced Landing Ground located in Kent, England. The airfield is located approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of Staplehurst; about 38 miles (61 km) southeast of London.
RAF Caistor is a former Royal Air Force Relief Landing Ground located 6.2 miles (10.0 km) south east of Brigg, Lincolnshire and 9.1 miles (14.6 km) north west of Binbrook, Lincolnshire, England, the site is now used for farming.
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.
Royal Air Force Swingfield or more simply RAF Swingfield is a former Royal Air Force Advanced Landing Ground located 5.5 miles (8.9 km) north west of Dover, Kent and 4.5 miles (7.2 km) south of Aylesham, Kent. The airfield was operational between February 1917 and 28 April 1945.
Royal Air Force Needs Oar Point or more simply RAF Needs Oar Point is a former Royal Air Force advanced landing ground located near Lymington in Hampshire, England. Constructed in 1943 it was used from April 1944 as a base for Hawker Typhoon fighter-bomber squadrons of No. 146 Wing of the 2nd Tactical Air Force supporting the Normandy landings. All four operational squadrons moved to RAF Hurn for two weeks before moving on to France by July 1944 and the airfield was returned to agricultural use in 1945.
Royal Air Force Bradwell Bay or more simply RAF Bradwell Bay is a former Royal Air Force station located 9.5 miles (15.3 km) east of Maldon, Essex, England and 3.1 miles (5 km) south west of West Mersea, Essex.
RAF Appledram is a former Royal Air Force Advanced Landing Ground 2.3 miles (3.7 km) southwest of Chichester, West Sussex and 12.2 miles (19.6 km) east of Portsmouth, Hampshire.
RAF Deanland is a former Royal Air Force advanced landing ground located 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Hailsham, East Sussex and 13.4 miles (21.6 km) north east of Brighton, East Sussex, England
Royal Air Force Wellingore or more simply RAF Wellingore is a former Royal Air Force fighter relief landing ground located 1.9 miles (3.1 km) south of Navenby, Lincolnshire and 10 miles (16 km) south of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England.
Royal Air Force New Romney or more simply RAF New Romney is a former Royal Air Force Advanced Landing Ground located 3.9 miles (6.3 km) north east of Lydd, Kent, England.
Royal Air Force Macmerry or more simply RAF Macmerry is a former Royal Air Force satellite station located 4.5 miles (7.2 km) west of Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland and 11.4 miles (18.3 km) east of Edinburgh. It was situated immediately to the north east of Macmerry on the north side of the A1 road. It has also been called RNAS Macmerry and unofficially RAF Tranent and RAF Penston during its life.
Royal Air Force Headcorn or more commonly known as RAF Headcorn is a former Royal Air Force Advanced Landing Ground located 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of Headcorn, Kent, England.
Royal Air Force Funtington or more simply RAF Funtington is a former Royal Air Force Advanced Landing Ground located in West Sussex, England.
Media related to RAF Brenzett at Wikimedia Commons