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West Malling (Kings Hill) (Maidstone)

Major
Also known as: Kings Hill Landing Ground / Malling / RAF Kings Hill / RAF West Malling / RFC Kings Hill / West Malling Aerodrome
County: Kent
Current Status: Housing / Industry
Date: March 1917 - 1992
Current Use: Disused
Used By: RAF / RAF (Belgian) / RAF (Dutch) / RAF (Polish) / RFC / Civil / RCAF / RNZAF / US Navy
Prominent People: Ken Collier / Guy Gibson / George Harrison / John Lennon / Paul McCartney / Ringo Starr / Peter Townsend

The following organisations are either based at, use and/or have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield (as at 01/09/2011):

  • Capital Enterprise Centres
  • Kings Hill Parish Council
  • West Malling Library
  • West Malling Parish Council

Notable Past Associated Organisations:

  • Blackpalfrey Motor Club of Kent

Main unit(s) present:

  • No 1 AEF

  • No 3 Sqn

  • No 14 Sqn

  • No 19 Sqn

  • No 25 Sqn

  • No 26 Sqn

  • No 29 Sqn

  • No 32 Sqn

  • No 41 Sqn

  • No 50 Sqn

  • No 51 (Army Co-operation) Wing

  • No 64 Sqn

  • No 66 Sqn

  • No 80 Sqn

  • No 85 Sqn

  • No 91 Sqn

  • No 96 Sqn

  • No 98 Sqn

  • No 124 Sqn

  • No 130 Sqn

  • No 133 Sqn

  • No 141 GS

  • No 141 Sqn

  • No 148 Airfield

  • No 148 (Night Fighter) Wing

  • No 153 Sqn

  • No 157 Sqn

  • No 234 Sqn

  • No 247 Sqn

  • No 255 Sqn

  • No 264 Sqn

  • No 274 Sqn

  • No 287 Sqn

  • No 316 Sqn

  • No 322 Sqn

  • No 350 Sqn

  • No 409 Sqn

  • No 410 Sqn

  • No 421 (Reconnaissance) Flight

  • No 485 Sqn

  • No 486 Sqn

  • No 500 Sqn

  • No 531 Sqn

  • No 567 Sqn

  • No 610 Sqn

  • No 616 Sqn

  • No 618 GS

  • No 618 VGS

  • No 1452 (Fighter) Flight

  • No 1528 BAT Flight

  • No 2707 Sqn RAF Regiment
  • No 2710 Sqn RAF Regiment
  • No 2766 Sqn RAF Regiment
  • No 2769 Sqn RAF Regiment
  • No 2797 Sqn RAF Regiment
  • No 3203 Servicing Commando
  • No 3208 Servicing Commando
  • No 4085 Anti-Aircraft Flight RAF Regiment
  • No 4186 Anti-Aircraft Flight RAF Regiment
  • FASRON-200

  • Kent GC

  • National Aviation Day Ltd
  • RAF Central School of Aircraft Recognition

  • Silver City Airways

  • West Kent School of Flying

001Pickett-Hamilton Fort - 2 August 2006.png

A Pickett-Hamilton Fort at West Malling, 2 August 2006. © Richard Flagg

002geograph-1679294-by-Rob.jpg

The control tower at West Malling, 13 February 2009.

003Officers Mess - 9 February 2010.png

Officers Mess at West Malling, 9 February 2010. © Richard Flagg

004Control Tower : Watch Office with Met Section - 29 September 2013.png

Watch Office with Met Section at West Malling, 29 September 2013. © Richard Flagg

005Control Tower : Watch Office with Met Section 2 - 29 September 2013.png

Watch Office with Met Section at West Malling, 29 September 2013. © Richard Flagg

006Control Tower : Watch Office with Met Section 3 - 29 September 2013.png

Watch Office with Met Section at West Malling, 29 September 2013. © Richard Flagg

De Havilland Mosquitoes at West Malling, 1949. Courtesy of British Pathé

'Making I Am The Walrus' at West Malling. Courtesy of The Beatles

Gliding at West Malling in the 1970s, part one. Courtesy of maxcockatoo

Gliding at West Malling in the 1970s, part two. Courtesy of maxcockatoo

Gliding at West Malling in the 1970s, part three. Courtesy of maxcockatoo

Gliding at West Malling in the 1970s, part four. Courtesy of maxcockatoo

No 618 Gliding School at West Malling, 1974. Courtesy of Andrew Noctor

No 618 Gliding School at West Malling, 1991. Courtesy of 618wingtip

West Malling in December 1992. Courtesy of Gilbonaut

One of the last glider flights at West Malling, September 1994. Courtesy of Gilbonaut

Footage of West Malling, 2021. Courtesy of DEAN WATERS

Decoy Airfield(s):

Collier StreetHammer Dyke

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