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.

Infobox

Role

Defence of Great Britain

Branch

Royal Air Force

Country

United Kingdom

Engagements

Battle of Britain

Tables

· Organisational structure › 10 Group

RAF Box

Station name

RAF Box

BoBrole

Gridreference

ST843707

Stationopened

1940

Flyingceased

N/A

RAF stationclosed

2000

Current use

Decommissioned, in use by Defence Equipment & Support

RAF Middle Wallop

Station name

RAF Middle Wallop

BoBrole

Gridreference

SU306385

Stationopened

1940

Flyingceased

RAF stationclosed

1 September 1957

Current use

2 (Training) Regiment Army Air Corps and School of Army Aviation

RAF Filton

Station name

RAF Filton

BoBrole

Gridreference

ST590802

Stationopened

1916

Flyingceased

2012

RAF stationclosed

1960s

Current use

Bristol Filton Airport

RAF Boscombe Down

Station name

RAF Boscombe Down

BoBrole

Gridreference

SU176393

Stationopened

1939

Flyingceased

Current use

MoD Boscombe Down

RAF Colerne

Station name

RAF Colerne

BoBrole

Gridreference

ST800712

Stationopened

1940

Flyingceased

Current use

21st Signal Regiment, Bristol University Air Squadron, 3 AEF

RAF Exeter

Station name

RAF Exeter

BoBrole

Gridreference

SY002937

Stationopened

1937

Flyingceased

Current use

Exeter International Airport, The Hunter Flying Club

RAF Pembrey

Station name

RAF Pembrey

BoBrole

Gridreference

SN403042

Stationopened

1939

Flyingceased

RAF stationclosed

1957

Current use

Pembrey Airport, Pembrey Sands AWR Support, Pembrey Circuit

RAF Roborough

Station name

RAF Roborough

BoBrole

Gridreference

SX504902

Stationopened

1931

Flyingceased

2011

Current use

Plymouth City Airport

RAF St Eval

Station name

RAF St Eval

BoBrole

Gridreference

SW873685

Stationopened

1939

Flyingceased

1959

RAF stationclosed

6 March 1959

Current use

RAF St Eval HIVE, MOD Ariel Field

RAF Warmwell

Station name

RAF Warmwell

BoBrole

Gridreference

SY756887

Stationopened

1937

Flyingceased

1945

Current use

Crossways village

Station name	BoBrole	Gridreference	Stationopened	Flyingceased	RAF stationclosed	Current use
RAF Box	HQ	ST843707	1940	N/A	2000	Decommissioned, in use by Defence Equipment & Support
RAF Middle Wallop	SS	SU306385	1940	-	1 September 1957	2 (Training) Regiment Army Air Corps and School of Army Aviation
RAF Filton	SS	ST590802	1916	2012	1960s	Bristol Filton Airport
RAF Boscombe Down	SA	SU176393	1939	-		MoD Boscombe Down
RAF Colerne	SA	ST800712	1940	-		21st Signal Regiment, Bristol University Air Squadron, 3 AEF
RAF Exeter	SA	SY002937	1937	-		Exeter International Airport, The Hunter Flying Club
RAF Pembrey	SA	SN403042	1939	-	1957	Pembrey Airport, Pembrey Sands AWR Support, Pembrey Circuit
RAF Roborough	SA	SX504902	1931	2011		Plymouth City Airport
RAF St Eval	SA	SW873685	1939	1959	6 March 1959	RAF St Eval HIVE, MOD Ariel Field
RAF Warmwell	SA	SY756887	1937	1945		Crossways village

· Organisational structure › 11 Group

RAF Uxbridge

Station name

RAF Uxbridge

BoBrole

Gridreference

TQ061836

Stationppened

1918

Flyingceased

N/A

RAF stationclosed

31 March 2010

Current use

Battle of Britain Bunker remains open. Hillingdon House, the HQ of 11 Fighter Group, to be refurbished as restaurant

RAF Biggin Hill

Station name

RAF Biggin Hill

BoBrole

Gridreference

TQ416610

Stationppened

1916

Flyingceased

RAF stationclosed

1992

Current use

London Biggin Hill Airport, Planned heritage site & conservation area

RAF Debden

Station name

RAF Debden

BoBrole

Gridreference

TL562350

Stationppened

1937

Flyingceased

1960

RAF stationclosed

21 August 1974

Current use

33 Engineer Regt EOD, NATS Radar Station

RAF Hornchurch

Station name

RAF Hornchurch

BoBrole

Gridreference

TQ532846

Stationppened

1915

Flyingceased

1962

RAF stationclosed

July 1962

Current use

Hornchurch Country Park, Housing Estate, Conservation Area

RAF Kenley

Station name

RAF Kenley

BoBrole

Gridreference

TQ329579

Stationppened

1917

RAF stationclosed

1959

Current use

Housing and conservation area

RAF Northolt

Station name

RAF Northolt

BoBrole

Gridreference

TQ097850

Stationppened

1915

Flyingceased

RAF stationclosed

Current use

Current RAF Station, HQ Music Services, 63 Squadron, RAF Regt (QCS)

RAF North Weald

Station name

RAF North Weald

BoBrole

Gridreference

TL488047

Stationppened

1916

Flyingceased

RAF stationclosed

1964

Current use

North Weald Airfield

RAF Tangmere

Station name

RAF Tangmere

BoBrole

Gridreference

SU909060

Stationppened

1917

RAF stationclosed

16 October 1970

Current use

Tangmere Military Aviation Museum

RAF Croydon

Station name

RAF Croydon

BoBrole

Gridreference

TQ310636

Stationppened

1939

Flyingceased

30 September 1959

RAF stationclosed

1946

Current use

Business park, museum

RAF Detling

Station name

RAF Detling

BoBrole

Gridreference

TQ813597

Current use

Light industry, agriculture

RAF Eastchurch

Station name

RAF Eastchurch

BoBrole

Gridreference

TQ982701

Current use

HM Prison Swaleside

RAF Ford

Station name

RAF Ford

BoBrole

Gridreference

SU993028

Current use

HM Prison Ford

RAF Gosport

Station name

RAF Gosport

BoBrole

Gridreference

SU592006

Current use

HMS Sultan, Rowner Housing Estate

RAF Gravesend

Station name

RAF Gravesend

BoBrole

Gridreference

TQ670716

Current use

Riverview Housing Estate, Golf Course, Cascades Leisure Centre

RAF Hawkinge

Station name

RAF Hawkinge

BoBrole

Gridreference

TR211395

Current use

Kent BoB Museum, Housing

RAF Hendon

Station name

RAF Hendon

BoBrole

Gridreference

TQ217905

Stationppened

1908

Flyingceased

1957

RAF stationclosed

1987

Current use

RAF Museum, Hendon Police College, Grahame Park Housing Estate

RNAS Lee-on-Solent

Station name

RNAS Lee-on-Solent

BoBrole

Gridreference

SU561020

Stationppened

1917

Flyingceased

RAF stationclosed

29 March 1996

Current use

HM Coastguard, Unlicensed Private Airfield, Maritime & Aviation Industry

RAF Lympne

Station name

RAF Lympne

BoBrole

Gridreference

TR114353

Stationppened

1916

Flyingceased

1984

RAF stationclosed

1 January 1946

Current use

Industrial Park

RAF Manston

Station name

RAF Manston

BoBrole

Gridreference

TR334663

Stationppened

1916

Flyingceased

RAF stationclosed

31 March 1999

Current use

Kent International Airport, Defence Fire Training and Development Centre

RAF Martlesham Heath

Station name

RAF Martlesham Heath

BoBrole

Gridreference

TM242454

Stationppened

1917

RAF stationclosed

1963

Current use

Major 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 Rochford

Station name

RAF Rochford

BoBrole

Gridreference

TQ866308

Stationppened

1939

Flyingceased

RAF stationclosed

1946

Current use

Now London Southend Airport

RAF Stapleford Tawney

Station name

RAF Stapleford Tawney

BoBrole

Gridreference

TQ491399

Current use

Stapleford Aerodrome

RAF Thorney Island

Station name

RAF Thorney Island

BoBrole

Gridreference

SU762025

Stationppened

1938

RAF Westhampnett

Station name

RAF Westhampnett

BoBrole

Gridreference

SU873180

Current use

Goodwood Circuit

RAF West Malling

Station name

RAF West Malling

BoBrole

Gridreference

TQ680555

Stationppened

1930

RAF stationclosed

1969

Current use

Kings Hill a mixed development of (eventually) around 2,500 homes and 1 million square feet (93,000 m2) of commercial space.

Station name	BoBrole	Gridreference	Stationppened	Flyingceased	RAF stationclosed	Current use
RAF Uxbridge	HQ	TQ061836	1918	N/A	31 March 2010	Battle of Britain Bunker remains open. Hillingdon House, the HQ of 11 Fighter Group, to be refurbished as restaurant
RAF Biggin Hill	SS	TQ416610	1916	-	1992	London Biggin Hill Airport, Planned heritage site & conservation area
RAF Debden	SS	TL562350	1937	1960	21 August 1974	33 Engineer Regt EOD, NATS Radar Station
RAF Hornchurch	SS	TQ532846	1915	1962	July 1962	Hornchurch Country Park, Housing Estate, Conservation Area
RAF Kenley	SS	TQ329579	1917		1959	Housing and conservation area
RAF Northolt	SS	TQ097850	1915	-	-	Current RAF Station, HQ Music Services, 63 Squadron, RAF Regt (QCS)
RAF North Weald	SS	TL488047	1916	-	1964	North Weald Airfield
RAF Tangmere	SS	SU909060	1917		16 October 1970	Tangmere Military Aviation Museum
RAF Croydon	SA	TQ310636	1939	30 September 1959	1946	Business park, museum
RAF Detling	SA	TQ813597				Light industry, agriculture
RAF Eastchurch	SA	TQ982701				HM Prison Swaleside
RAF Ford	SA	SU993028				HM Prison Ford
RAF Gosport	SA	SU592006				HMS Sultan, Rowner Housing Estate
RAF Gravesend	SA	TQ670716				Riverview Housing Estate, Golf Course, Cascades Leisure Centre
RAF Hawkinge	SA	TR211395				Kent BoB Museum, Housing
RAF Hendon	SA	TQ217905	1908	1957	1987	RAF Museum, Hendon Police College, Grahame Park Housing Estate
RNAS Lee-on-Solent	SA	SU561020	1917	-	29 March 1996	HM Coastguard, Unlicensed Private Airfield, Maritime & Aviation Industry
RAF Lympne	SA	TR114353	1916	1984	1 January 1946	Industrial Park
RAF Manston	SA	TR334663	1916	-	31 March 1999	Kent International Airport, Defence Fire Training and Development Centre
RAF Martlesham Heath	SA	TM242454	1917		1963	Major 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 Rochford	SA	TQ866308	1939	-	1946	Now London Southend Airport
RAF Stapleford Tawney	SA	TQ491399				Stapleford Aerodrome
RAF Thorney Island	SA	SU762025	1938
RAF Westhampnett	SA	SU873180				Goodwood Circuit
RAF West Malling	SA	TQ680555	1930		1969	Kings Hill a mixed development of (eventually) around 2,500 homes and 1 million square feet (93,000 m2) of commercial space.

· Organisational structure › 12 Group

RAF Watnall

Station name

RAF Watnall

BoBrole

Gridreference

SK 506 454

Stationopened

1940

Flyingceased

N/A

Current use

Housing / industrial / Nature Reserve

RAF Church Fenton

Station name

RAF Church Fenton

BoBrole

Gridreference

SE 530 380

Stationopened

1 April 1937

Flyingceased

19 December 2013

Current use

Leeds East Airport

RAF Digby

Station name

RAF Digby

BoBrole

Gridreference

TF 048 560

RAF Duxford

Station name

RAF Duxford

BoBrole

Gridreference

TL 458 460

Stationopened

1918

Flyingceased

1961

Current use

Imperial War Museum Duxford

RAF Kirton in Lindsey

Station name

RAF Kirton in Lindsey

BoBrole

Gridreference

SK 943 970

RAF Wittering

Station name

RAF Wittering

BoBrole

Gridreference

TF 031 027

Stationopened

1916

Current use

Expeditionary Engineering and Logistics. Flying training with elements of 3 Flying Training School and 6 Flying Training School.

RAF Collyweston

Station name

RAF Collyweston

BoBrole

Gridreference

TF 014 016

Stationopened

1916

RAF stationclosed

1942

Current use

Merged with the neighbouring RAF Wittering when a 2-mile long grass runway was built linking the two airfields in 1942

RAF Coltishall

Station name

RAF Coltishall

BoBrole

Gridreference

TG 270 225

Current use

HM Prison Bure, industrial use, solar farm

RAF Fowlmere

Station name

RAF Fowlmere

BoBrole

Gridreference

TL 410 447

Stationopened

1918

Current use

Fowlmere Airfield

RAF Leconfield

Station name

RAF Leconfield

BoBrole

Gridreference

TA 030 435

Current use

Defence School of Transport (part of Defence College of Logistic, Policing, and Administration)

RAF Tern Hill

Station name

RAF Tern Hill

BoBrole

Gridreference

SJ 640 305

Station name	BoBrole	Gridreference	Stationopened	Flyingceased	RAF stationclosed	Current use
RAF Watnall	HQ	SK 506 454	1940	N/A		Housing / industrial / Nature Reserve
RAF Church Fenton	SS	SE 530 380	1 April 1937	19 December 2013		Leeds East Airport
RAF Digby	SS	TF 048 560
RAF Duxford	SS	TL 458 460	1918	1961		Imperial War Museum Duxford
RAF Kirton in Lindsey	SS	SK 943 970
RAF Wittering	SS	TF 031 027	1916			Expeditionary Engineering and Logistics. Flying training with elements of 3 Flying Training School and 6 Flying Training School.
RAF Collyweston	SA	TF 014 016	1916		1942	Merged with the neighbouring RAF Wittering when a 2-mile long grass runway was built linking the two airfields in 1942
RAF Coltishall	SA	TG 270 225				HM Prison Bure, industrial use, solar farm
RAF Fowlmere	SA	TL 410 447	1918			Fowlmere Airfield
RAF Leconfield	SA	TA 030 435				Defence School of Transport (part of Defence College of Logistic, Policing, and Administration)
RAF Tern Hill	SA	SJ 640 305

· Organisational structure › 13 Group

RAF Newcastle

Station name

RAF Newcastle

BoBrole

Current use

Housing Estate

RAF Acklington

Station name

RAF Acklington

BoBrole

Gridreference

NU230010

Stationppened

1938

RAF stationclosed

1972

Current use

HMP Acklington

RAF Dyce

Station name

RAF Dyce

BoBrole

Current use

Aberdeen Airport

RAF Turnhouse

Station name

RAF Turnhouse

BoBrole

Gridreference

NT156734

Stationppened

1916

Current use

Edinburgh Airport

RAF Usworth

Station name

RAF Usworth

BoBrole

Gridreference

NZ340585

Stationppened

1916

Current use

Factory for Nissan cars

RAF Wick

Station name

RAF Wick

BoBrole

Gridreference

ND363527

Stationppened

1939

RAF stationclosed

1978

Current use

Wick Airport

RAF Catterick

Station name

RAF Catterick

BoBrole

Gridreference

SE250968

Stationppened

1914

Current use

Part of the Catterick Garrison complex.

RAF Drem

Station name

RAF Drem

BoBrole

Gridreference

NT505810

Stationppened

1917

RAF stationclosed

1946

Current use

Decommissioned

RAF Grangemouth

Station name

RAF Grangemouth

BoBrole

Gridreference

NS946820

Stationppened

1939

RAF stationclosed

1945

RAF Kirkwall

Station name

RAF Kirkwall

BoBrole

RAF Sumburgh

Station name

RAF Sumburgh

BoBrole

Current use

Sumburgh Airport

RAF Castletown

Station name

RAF Castletown

BoBrole

Gridreference

ND220668

Stationppened

1940

Flyingceased

1944

RAF stationclosed

1945

Station name	BoBrole	Gridreference	Stationppened	Flyingceased	RAF stationclosed	Current use
RAF Newcastle	HQ					Housing Estate
RAF Acklington	SS	NU230010	1938		1972	HMP Acklington
RAF Dyce	SS					Aberdeen Airport
RAF Turnhouse	SS	NT156734	1916			Edinburgh Airport
RAF Usworth	SS	NZ340585	1916			Factory for Nissan cars
RAF Wick	SS	ND363527	1939		1978	Wick Airport
RAF Catterick	SA	SE250968	1914			Part of the Catterick Garrison complex.
RAF Drem	SA	NT505810	1917		1946	Decommissioned
RAF Grangemouth	SA	NS946820	1939		1945
RAF Kirkwall	SA
RAF Sumburgh	SA					Sumburgh Airport
RAF Castletown	SA	ND220668	1940	1944	1945

References

From 1915–1918 Hillingdon House (the estate of which became RAF Uxbridge) was used as a convalescence home for Canadian
Opened as a wireless testing station. Flying commenced in 1918.
Some underground buildings still exist, but are inaccessible.
"RAF Fighter Command Stations of the Battle of Britain"
https://web.archive.org/web/20110806031257/http://www.raf.mod.uk/Bob1940/stations.html
Biggin Hill Airport Website
Subterrannea Britannica
http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/w/watnall/index.html