RAF Hawkinge was an airfield in Kent, near to the south coast and the closest airfield to the French coast.

It took part in the Battle of Britain

Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...

 and it was home to No. 79 Squadron RAF

No. 79 Squadron RAF

-World War I:It was first formed at Gosport on 1 August 1917 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. It was equipped with Sopwith Dolphin fighter aircraft in December that year, moving to France in February 1918. It specialised in low-level ground-attack operations, mainly in support of the...

. After the war, the station hosted the Home Command Gliding Centre, and is fondly remembered by many Air Cadets as the place where they first learned to fly in Slingsby Mk III and Sedbergh gliders. The site has been largely built over, but part is occupied by the Kent Battle of Britain Museum

Kent Battle of Britain Museum

The Kent Battle of Britain Museum is located on the former RAF Hawkinge, a World War II airfield 4 miles inland from Folkestone, England. It is privately operated and is the oldest museum dedicated to the Battle of Britain...

.

See also

• Battle of Britain
  Battle of Britain
  The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
  
  
• Battle of Britain Airfields
  Battle of Britain airfields
  During the Battle of Britain, the defence of the UK's airspace was divided up within RAF Fighter Command into four Groups, each comprising several airfields and squadrons....
  
  
• Battle of Britain Squadrons

External links

• Kent Battle of Britain Museum
• Hawkinge Village Website