List of 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.
The groups involved, 10, 11, 12 and 13, saw very different levels of activity during the battle. No. 11 Group, responsible for the defence of London and the south-east saw the heaviest fighting, and pilots were often rotated among the groups to allow them to rest and recuperate after several weeks of fierce contact with the enemy. Each group was commanded by an Air Vice-Marshal, who served under the head of Fighter Command during the battle, Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding.

Organisational structure

Key:
defended Wales and the West Country and was commanded by Air Vice-Marshal Sir Quintin Brand.
Station NameBoB
Role		Grid
Reference		Station
Opened		Flying
Ceased		RAF Station
Closed		Current UseExternal Link
RAF BoxHQ1940N/A2000Decommissioned, in use by Defence Equipment & Support
RAF Middle WallopSS1940-1 September 19572 Regt Army Air Corps and School of Army Aviation
RAF FiltonSS1916-Bristol Filton Airport
RAF Boscombe DownSA1939-MoD Boscombe Down
RAF ColerneSA1940-21 Signal Regt, Royal Signals, Bristol UAS, 3 AEF,
RAF ExeterSA1937-Exeter International Airport, The Hunter Flying Club,
RAF PembreySA1939-1957Pembrey Airport, Pembrey Sands AWR Support, Pembrey Circuit, ,
RAF RoboroughSA19312011Plymouth City Airport
RAF St EvalSA193919596 March 1959RAF St Eval HIVE, MOD Ariel Field
RAF WarmwellSA19371945Crossways Village


Image:Warmwell-16aug43.jpg|RAF Warmwell in 1943

11 Group

covered the southeast of England and the critical approaches to London and was commanded by Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park.
Station NameBoB
Role		Grid
Reference		Station
Opened		Flying
Ceased		RAF Station
Closed		Current UseExternal Link
RAF UxbridgeHQ1918N/A31 March 2010Battle of Britain Bunker remains open. Hillingdon House, the HQ of 11 Fighter Group, to be refurbished as restaurant
RAF Biggin HillSS1916-1992London Biggin Hill Airport, Planned heritage site & conservation area,
RAF DebdenSS1937196021 August 197433 Engineer Regt EOD, NATS Radar Station,
RAF HornchurchSS19151962July 1962Hornchurch Country Park, Housing Estate, Conservation Area,
RAF KenleySS19171959Housing and conservation area
RAF NortholtSS1915--Current RAF Station, HQ Music Services, 63 Squadron, RAF Regt
RAF North WealdSS1916-1964North Weald Airfield
RAF TangmereSS191716 October 1970Tangmere Military Aviation Museum
RAF CroydonSA193930 September 19591946Business park, museum
RAF DetlingSALight industry, agriculture
RAF EastchurchSAHM Prison Swaleside
RAF FordSAHM Prison Ford
RAF GosportSAHMS Sultan, Rowner Housing Estate
RAF GravesendSARiverview Housing Estate, Golf Course, Cascades Leisure Centre
RAF HawkingeSAKent BoB Museum, Housing
RAF HendonSA190819571987RAF Museum, Hendon Police College, Grahame Park Housing Estate, ,
RNAS Lee-on-SolentSA1917-29 March 1996HM Coastguard, Unlicensed Private Airfield, Maritime & Aviation Industry
RAF LympneSA191619841 January 1946Industrial Park
RAF ManstonSA1916-31 March 1999Kent International Airport, Defence Fire Training and Development Centre,
RAF Martlesham HeathSA19171963Major British Telecom site. Control Tower Museum – 14.00 to 16.45 each Sunday April until October, 3 Memorials at Barrack Square. see www.mhas.gov.uk or Facebook – Martlesham Heath Aviation Society and Control Tower Museum.
RAF RochfordSA1939-1946Now London Southend Airport
RAF Stapleford TawneySAStapleford Aerodrome
RAF Thorney IslandSA1938
RAF WesthampnettSAGoodwood Circuit
RAF West MallingSA19301969Kings Hill a mixed development of around 2,500 homes and 1 million square feet of commercial space.

12 Group

defended the Midlands and East Anglia and was led by Air Vice-Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory.
Station NameBoB
Role		Grid
Reference		Station
Opened		Flying
Ceased		RAF Station
Closed		Current UseExternal Link
RAF WatnallHQ1940N/AHousing / Industrial / Nature Reserve
RAF Church FentonSS1 April 193719 December 2013
RAF DigbySS
RAF DuxfordSS19181961Imperial War Museum Duxford
RAF Kirton in LindseySS
RAF WitteringSSTF 031 0271916Expeditionary Engineering and Logistics. Flying training with elements of 3 Flying Training School and 6 Flying Training School.
RAF CollywestonSA19161942Merged with the neighbouring RAF Wittering when a 2-mile long grass runway was built linking the 2 airfields in 1942
RAF Coltishall
SABure
RAF Fowlmere
SA1918Fowlmere Airfield
RAF Leconfield
SADefence School of Transport
RAF Tern Hill
SA

13 Group

covered the north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland and was commanded by Air Vice-Marshal Richard Saul.
Station NameBoB
Role		Grid
Reference		Station
Opened		Flying
Ceased		RAF Station
Closed		Current UseExternal Link
RAF NewcastleHQHousing Estate
RAF AcklingtonSS19381972HMP Acklington
RAF DyceSSAberdeen airport
RAF TurnhouseSS1916Edinburgh Airport
RAF UsworthSS1916Factory for Nissan cars
RAF WickSS19391978Wick Airport
RAF CatterickSA1914Part of the Catterick Garrison complex.
RAF DremSA19171946Decommissioned
RAF GrangemouthSA19391945
RAF KirkwallSA
RAF SumburghSASumburgh Airport
RAF CastletownSA194019441945