Tag: Hawkinge

RAF Hawkinge was the closest airfield to France.

Lysanders of 2 Sqn support troops defending Calais

Sunday 26th May 1940 12:00

Flying from Hawkinge eight Lysanders took off at ten minute intervals without fighter cover to drop supplies to troops defending Calais. Canisters containing water, food and ammunition were dropped from 50 feet but this exposed the aircraft to ground fire - two were lost and, whilst the remaining six returned to Hawkinge, they were all damaged.

Dynamo Air operations run from Hawkinge

Monday 27th May 1940 00:00

AVM C.H.B. Blount arrives at Hawkinge and starts running the RAF operations in support of Dynamo from the Haskard Target Building - this HQ was called 'Back Component'. It was collecting evidence to assist with evacuation, as a lot of the wireless equipment was inadequate it relied heavily on debriefs from returning aircrew supplemented with information from German short wave radio traffic intercepted by WAAFs of the experimental wireless section based in Maypole Cottage.

Aircraft of all types returning from action were landing at Hawkinge, many to be refuelled then immediately moving on to inland airfields but those that were too damaged to fly were patched up before being moved on.

OPERATIONS RECORD BOOK of (Unit or Formation) RAF. Station Hawkinge

Place Date Time Summary of Events References to Appendices
Hawkinge May 1940
27th		 WEATHER. Fine, some cloud in thick patches. S.Q.FC Staff Engineer visted the station in connection with the formation of Maintenance, re-fuelling and re-arming party which has now assembled. A.V.M.C BLOUNT visited the station.

Radar plots appear

Monday 12th August 1940 07:20

As the dawn mist burns off, radar picks up aircraft over Cap Griz Nez. (6+ over Cap Griz Nez and 3+ in the Straights.)

54 Sqn (Spitfires) are scrambled from Manston to deal with fighters and 610 Sqn (Spitfires) are scrambled from Hawkinge to deal with bombers.

The 6+ raid are Do 17 from KG 2 targeting Lympne.