Nno... 11
Nno... 11 A look into Historical Landscapes
“ What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over the Battle of Britain is about to begin � - Winston Churchill
Preface During the Summer of 1940 Adolf Hitler decreed “The English Air Force must be so reduced morally and physically that it is unable to deliver any significant attack” thus thrusting the Royal Air Force into action. Over the next three months Spitfires and Hurricanes would engage against Stukas and Messerschmitt’s in a beautifully desperate dance for superiority in the skies above the English Channel. The dogged determination of the Commonwealth personnel enlisted in the RAF, whether their given
rolls were Pilots, Plotters or Rearming, these fighters enabled a great nation to win the Battle of Britain swiftly and effectively. 80 years on, No.11 looks to represent these once critical airfields in their 21st century guises. Whether country parks or supermarkets stand in their places, these images look to honour and remember the selflessness and bravery of the RAF personnel once stationed at these locations.
The remains of an original blast pen situated on the outskirts of the runway at RAF Kenley
An Air-raid shelter that has now been reclaimed by nature
A shot of the runway at RAF Kenley, still used by gliders and dog walkers a like
The new perimeter fence that surrounds the main runway at Kenley
This is the view that many young pilots leaving Kenley would have seen as they departed to defend the Island
This is the new memorial put up to remember these brave pilots who flew from Kenley
Now a country park, RAF Hornchurch is all but gone. Here we look across what would’ve been the grass runway 80 years ago
Type 22 bunker, this would’ve defended Hornchurch if an enemy landed at the airfield
A group of trees now grow where the runway would’ve been at Hornchurch
Another type 22 Bunker nestled in amongst reeds on the boundaries of Hornchurch
These towers once former part of the Chain home radar system. The two you see here are some of the only original towers still standing today
Aerodrome Road is now one of the only nods to RAF Hawkinge still visible. Once a vital part of the nations defence
Spitfire Way, another way recent developments in Hawkinge now pay homage to where they are built
If this Lidl was about in 1940 it would have stood in the middle of the runway, It is on Hurricane way
A striking new monument to the Polish airmen from 303 Squadron once based at RAF Northolt
Looking down the runway of RAF Northolt
A road sign outside of what used to be RAF Biggin Hill, probably one of the best known war time aerodromes
Runway marker 03 H1 on what used to be RAF Biggin Hill, behind you can see one of the modern hangers now occupied by Bombardier jets
Side profile of the original control tower at RAF West Malling, nowadays it’s a Costa Coffee shop
RAF North Weald control tower and Hurricane gate guardian
“ Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few “ - Winston Churchill