Today (15 September) is Battle of Britain Day. Cynical historians may remark its principal claim to that title is that it was the day the RAF's claimed "score" was furthest from the truth (185 German aircraft destroyed) but the post-war corrected total of 54 still underlines that this was the date upon which Germany recognised it had lost the attempt to win air superiority over Southern England as a precursor to invasion.
Accordingly yesterday my pilot brother suggested a tour and I took my camera along. We routed from Farnborough past Kenley, once part of the RAF's defensive ring round London and now a gliding field, to the legendary Battle of Britain fighter station now known as London Biggin Hill Airport, where a cup of tea refreshed while the odd Spitfire from the Heritage Hangar landed outside.
Leaving Biggin-on-the-bump we headed East then South to Beachy Head where on this very fine afternoon we encountered a Biggin Spitfire giving some lucky and moneyed punter the experience of flying in that great piece of aviation history.
We headed back West along the coast past Shoreham - home to Lysanders during 1940; Ford (a Naval Air Station heavily Stukaed during the Battle) along to Tangmere, one of 11 Group's forward airfields (and its satellite Westhampnett, now better known as Goodwood airfield) eventually to Thorney Island, from which the disastrous Defiants took off to be massacred by 109s.
From Thorney it was home to Farnborough, the Royal Aircraft Establishment in 1940, responsible for scientific research and trials of captured Luftwaffe aircraft among many other things: no longer a government establishment today.
Photos follow:
RAF Kenley (now glider airfield)
RAF Biggin Hill (now London Biggin Hill Airport)
Piper Cherokee Challenger G-BBKX
Spitfire T9 MJ627 landing at Biggin Hill
Heritage Hangar with five Spitfires outside
Eastbourne Pier (this is the place I think of when I watch Dad's Army)
Beachy Head
Spitfire over Seven Sisters
