Kent Past
The History of Kent
Copyright Kent Past 2010
Memories of Kingsnorth Airfield
By Frank Beckley
The Advanced Landing Ground at Kingsnorth near Ashford, Kent was
built in June 1943. I was 14 years old and lived about half a mile away from the
airfield. I have no photographs of the airfield as I had neither a camera, nor permission
from the station commander.
The excitement of the Battle of Britain was long gone
with less enemy activity there were a few sneak raids on the airfield and Ashford
Railway Works, which was an important target. My mother was in hospital at about
the time the 2nd Tactical Air Force Squadrons arrived at the airfield, and I would
write telling her about the movements of the aircraft. I recall the letters MT and
YT, although, it was a long time ago, and could be wrong. The flying ace Paddy Finucane
was a wing commander with one of the squadrons, and was killed just before they were
due to move to Kingsnorth.
On top of Colyers Hill, which was about half a mile from
the airfield, there was an army post with a tall wooden look-
I often spent time talking to the soldiers who
would sell me cheap cigarettes for my father. One day when I was there an enemy plane
came over and I had to dive into a dugout. I do not remember the Bofors gun ever
being fired in anger.
One of the Guard positions was at the top of Gill Lane, Mersham
and I frequently went there to chat with the RAF men who were on guard. It was close
to the runway often used by the Spitfires to take off. When the Americans took over,
I would talk with their soldiers. I was there one day when an American came along
the road on a bicycle, and stopped by the junction because he could hear a Thunderbolt
running up its engines. The Guard told him it was O.K. to proceed along the road
and across the runway. The man on the cycle was not convinced and stayed still, with
a worried look. He asked again if the guard was sure, it was O.K. `Yeah, go for it
man’ replied the guard. The man still sat there, before finally deciding to go. He
had not gone far when the Thunderbolt revved it`s engine -
Often in the evening,
I watched as Flying Fortress’ and Liberators circled the airfield waiting to make
emergency landings. They would have one or two engines stopped or pieces of the wings
or tail planes missing. Occasionally red flares were fired to signal there were injured
on board. On one occasion I had the opportunity to look round a B17 Flying Fortress,
which had landed in an emergency. There were many bullet holes in it and most of
its rudder had been shot away. Both tyres had blown, although the undercarriage was
still intact. I was not allowed inside as it was in a restricted area. It had just
been pulled off the runway and left, however it was gone when I returned a couple
of weeks later.
When the Americans moved out they left a B25 Mitchell bomber parked
on the grass and a friend and I would climb inside and pretend to be flying it.
On
one occasion, I was sitting on my bicycle at Cheesemans Green, which was near the
end of one of the runways, when two P47 Thunderbolt aircraft with a bomb under each
wing took off. As they lifted off they touched wings and both crashed. I remember
there was dead silence immediately afterwards, although I am glad to say both pilots
survived.
The airfield has now been returned to farmland, although sometimes, I can
still see that airfield. My interest in Second World War aircraft has stayed with
me from those exciting days and in my twilight years; I have retained that interest
with involvement of the Aeronautical Museum on Romney Marsh, of which I am the chairman.
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