RAF Throwley

Royal Air Force Throwley or more simply RAF Throwley is a former Royal Air Force (RAF) installation located 1.2 miles (1.9 km) south of Throwley, Kent and 7 miles (11 km) north of Ashford, Kent. The installation was also used by the Royal Flying Corps was previously called Throwley Aerodrome before being taken over the RAF during April 1918 and renamed to its current name.

RAF Throwley
Throwley Aerodrome
Near Throwley, Kent in England
RAF Throwley
Shown within Kent
Coordinates51°14′52″N 000°51′07″E
TypeRoyal Air Force base
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Royal Flying Corps
Site history
Built1917 (1917)
In use1917-1919 (1919)
Battles/warsFirst World War
Airfield information
Elevation112 metres (367 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00/00  Grass field

History

Land situated between Bells Forstal and Throwley Forstal, including Dodds Willows and the Bells Forstal farmhouse was acquired by the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 for use as a landing ground for home defence squadrons defending London and the Thames Estuary and Kent.[1] From October 1916 50 Squadron RFC detached aircraft to Throwley.[2] In July 1917 newly formed 112 Squadron was based with a variety of biplane fighters including the Sopwith Pup, Sopwith Camel and Sopwith Snipe.[3] In February 1918 143 Squadron was formed at Throwley flying the Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 but it moved soon after to nearby RAF Detling.[4]

188 Squadron was formed at Throwley on 20 December 1917 as a training unit with the Avro 504K, in June 1918 the squadron provided training for the units flying the Sopwith Camel. In March 1919 188 Squadron RAF was disbanded[5] and in June 1919 112 Squadron RAF was disbanded and the land was returned to agricultural use.[3]

Units and aircraft

References

Citations
  1. "Past Times- Throwley Airfield". Throwley Parish Council. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  2. Jefford 1988, p. 41.
  3. Jefford 1988, p. 56.
  4. Jefford 1988, p. 61.
  5. "188 Squadron". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 10 February 2014.

Bibliography
  • Jefford, C G (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
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