Abstract
RAF Fighter Command airfields were central to Britain’s defensive response during the Battle of Britain, now providing a rare physical historical link to its air battles. Many have undergone dramatic change since 1940, often built over with housing, industrial units, or simply returned to agriculture. Several have been formally protected, whilst others are the site of memorials to those who fought in the Battle. This chapter describes the physical layout, buildings and organisation of an operational fighter station, with a more detailed assessment of RAF Hawkinge in Kent, a front-line airfield during the Battle. Also considered is the significance of airfields as they resonate with aviation enthusiasts and popular memory.
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Campion, G. (2019). An Enduring Legacy?: Battle of Britain Airfields. In: The Battle of Britain in the Modern Age, 1965–2020. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26110-8_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26110-8_7
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Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-26109-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-26110-8
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