ALGs in United Kingdom
As preparation for D-Day advanced, it became clear that the existing Fighter Basses at Tangmere, Merson, Ford, Thorney Island, and Westhampnet in Sussex would not be able to cope with the very large number of aircraft expected to operate and provide air cover.
It was planned to have/build 72 Airfields in the Southern England, only 23 were constructed.
If you could sit on the top of Sussex’s Chichester Cathedral’s Spire in 1944 you could have seen 9 airfields laid out on the Sussex countryside.
The established airfields were Ford, Merson, Tangmere, Thorney Island and Westhampnett,
Sussex had 8 ALGs, Appledram [Apuldram] Bognor Regis, Chailey, Coolham, Deanland, Funtington, Hammerwood and Selsey.
Kent had 11 ALGs, Brenzett, Edgerton [near Headcorn], Great Chart [ near Ashford], Ham Street, High Haden, Kingsworth, Lashenden, Lydd, Newchurch, New Romney, Staplehurst, Woodchurch, plus Swingfield that was built but not used.
It had been recognized after the Dieppe Raid that Fighter Command had gained and held air supremacy over the town and the sea area offshore, but only by putting up vast numbers of fighters on a strict rota system.
To be confident of achieving air supremacy over the much larger area of the Normandy Landing Beaches and the Channel would require far more aircraft, even given the depleted state of the Luftwaffe.
It was to provide bases for these aircraft that the ALGs were constructed.
They were never intended to be a permanent airfield.
The runways were constructed of heavy-duty metal mesh laid down over the turf.
Usually, 2 runways were laid, while in Europe, for the speed of opening, only one runway was laid.
Due to their temporary nature, the airfields were torn up and the components re-used in France after the invasion.
The accommodation consisted of requisitioned houses and tents.
There were to be 4 hangers at each ALG, but these again were of a temporary nature known as ‘Blister Hangers’
Care was taken over selecting the sites, ideally being a flat area of poor-grade farmland, close to woodlands where stores could be hidden from prying Luftwaffe eyes.
There weren’t enough sites to be found in Sussex so some better quality land had to be sacrificed, much to the annoyance of the local farmers.
Some of the unsung heroes of Fighter command were the runway repair crews of the ALGs.
The metal spikes that kept the runway mesh in place were continually working loose, so the repairmen had to rush out and hammer the pegs back into position at short notice.
Sometimes they were still at work when the aircraft came into land causing the men to scatter for a few moments, then return to work hammering the spikes.
December 1942 saw the work start to clear the site at Bognor Regis, flattening out humps and demolishing any farm buildings in line with the runways.
In January work commenced on Chailey, and in February at Selesy, Apuldram and Coolham.
Cowdray Park had been a private airfield used by Lord Cowdray and his friends before the war, so this only needed to have the metal mesh laid down for it to become an ALG.
It was July 1943 before work commenced at Deanland.
A grass strip at Funtingdon had been cleared early in the war as an emergency landing strip for damaged aircraft and it was upgraded to an ALG in September 1943.
In November the old Army Base at Hammerwood began conversion to become an ALG.
The final ALG was planned to be built at Pulborough, but it was never constructed.
There were no less than 23 ALGs constructed in Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire prior to the landings on D-Day to shorten the flying time to and from the landing zones.
There were five Airfield Construction Wings landed in Normandy that established 20 airfields in the British landing zone, and then, following the Army into the continent.
It was desired that the tactical forces be based within a radius of 100 miles from the front line.
No 5357 Wing ACS [Airfield Construction Services] was dedicated for direct co-operation with the front line units, building and repairing airfields for the Fighter and Fighter-Bomber Squadrons as they advanced.
Later in the campaign, the front line could advance dozens of miles in a single day, keeping up with the front line was an arduous job.
The other four ACS Wings undertook wider ranging programs of airfield repair and construction work in support of RAF operations.
By September 1944 a total strength of over 20,000 men were in the ACS Wings in Europe, and they had constructed over 76 airfields by this time.
The stabilization of the front line in Holland and Belgium in mid-September 1944 allowed the ACS units a much need respite.
Air operations were to continue through the autumn and winter requiring the airfields to be repaired and improved to allow use during bad weather.
Many of the fields had to be rebuilt using stronger surface materials, another crisis was the thaw in early February 1945, which again made many airfields inoperable due to the mud and water.
Appledram Sussex [Apuldram]
50^48’36”N, 00^48’31”W
Construction commenced Feb 1943
Opened April 1943
Closed 6 November 1944
Used by 175 Squadron RAF, flying Typhoon 1B
Used by 181 Squadron RAF, flying Typhoon 1B
Used by 182 Squadron RAF, flying Typhoon 1B
Used by 302 Polish Squadron RAF, flying Spitfire 1X
Used by 308 Polish Squadron RAF, Flying Spitfire 11A and 1X
Used by 310 Czechoslovak Squadron RAF, flying Spitfire 1X
Used by 312 Czechoslovak Squadron RAF, flying Spitfire VB and VC
Used by 313 Czechoslovak Squadron RAF, flying Spitfire VB, VC and 1X
Used by 317 Polish Squadron RAF, flying Spitfire 1X
A Typhoon Wing of 3 Squadrons June 1943
1 ‘EO Blister Hanger’ was erected, with tented accommodation
Runway Sommerfield Track
Ashford Kent
51^07’31”N, 00^48’58” E
Opened in 1943
Closed September 1944
Also known as AAF 417
Used from August 1943 to September 1944 by USAAF
Used by 65 Squadron RAF October 1943, Spitfire 1X
Used by 122 Squadron RAF October 1943, Spitfire 1X
Used by 414 Squadron RCAF August - October 1943, Mustang 1
Used by 430 Squadron RCAF August - October 1943, Mustang 1
[Both were part of a Canadian Reconnaissance Wing]
Used by 65 Squadron RAF October 1943 to Gatwick, Spitfire 1X
Used by 112 Squadron RAF October 1943 to, ? Spitfire
Used by USAAF 406th Fighter Wing 5 Apr 1943 to ? comprising
512nd Squadron [L3] in Yellow [P - 47]
513rd Squadron [4P] in Red [P - 47]
514th Squadron, [O7] in Blue [P - 47] [78 Aircraft in total]
These were part of 303rd Fighter Wing X1X Tactical Air Command
Their first operation was on 9 May 1943
A 1,000 lb bomb was dropped on the airfield 22 May 1944. 14 members of the Airfield Construction Squadron RAF were killed
Runway 15 / 33
Bognor Regis
Opened 1 June 1943
3 Spitfire Squadrons
Brenzett Romney Marsh
51^00’52” N, 00^52’45” E
Opened 14 September 1943
Closed 13 December 1944
Also known as AAF 438,
used for anti-V1 Operations
Used by 122 Squadron RAF August 1943, Spitfire 1X
Used by 133 Polish Wing comprising
129 Polish Squadron July 1944 to October 1944, Mustang 1
306 Polish Squadron
315 Polish Squadron
Used on anti - V1 missions
Castle Camps, Cambridgeshire
Construction started September 1939
Opened June 1940 [as a satellite of RAF Debden]
[became a satellite of RAF North Weald in July 1943]
Closed January 1946
Accommodation for 1,178 male and 184 female staff was built
Used by 85 Squadron RAF 23 May to 19 August 40, [a detachment] Hurricane
Used by 85 Squadron RAF 3 September to 5 September 1940, Hurricane
Used by 73 Squadron RAF 5 September to 6 November 1940, Hurricane
Used by 157 Squadron RAF 18 December 1941 to 15 March 1943, Mosquito 11
Used by 605 Squadron 15 March to 6 October 1943 Mosquito, 11 V1
Used by 456 Squadron RAF 29 March to June 1943 Beaufighter, 11F
And Mosquito 11 / V1
Used by 527 Squadron RAF 15 June 1943 to 28 February 1944, Blenheim 1V, Hurricane 1, Hornet Moth
Used by 91 Squadron RAF 29 February to 17 March 1944, Spitfire X11 X1V
Used by 486 [NZ] Squadron 6 March to 21 March 1944, Typhoon 1B
Used by 486 [NZ] Squadron 29 March to 29 April 1944, Typhoon 1B
Used by 410 Squadron RAF 30 December 1943 to 29 April 1944, Mosquito X111
Used by 68 Squadron RAF 23 June to 28 December 1944, Mosquito XV11 / X1X
Used by 151 Squadron RAF 8 October to 19 November 1944, Mosquito XXX
Used by 25 Squadron RAF 27 October 1944 to 14 July 1945, Mosquito XXX / V1
Used by 307 Squadron RAF 27 January to 31 May 1945. Mosquito XXX
Runway 7,800 feet long tarmac [approx]
Runway 3,300 feet long tarmac [approx]
Runway 3,300 feet long tarmac [approx]
By 1953 the majority of the concrete had been removed
Giving a useful indicator of scale, F/O. J. R. Cullen of No. 486 Squadron (RNZAF), poses with his Tempest Mk V at Castle Camps. Cullen became a successful Operation DIVER pilot, shooting down around 16 flying bombs.
Chailey Sussex
50^57’19” N, 00^03’20” W
Opened 1943
Closed 1945
Built on Bower Farm, surveyed and commenced in 1942, with the intention of creating another fighter station following the Battle Of Britain.
By 1943, when the airfield was laid out the strategy had changed and the airfield was passed to the 2nd Tactical Air Force to become an operating airfield for the invasion of Europe.
The local pub [Hotel], “The Plough” was at the end of the runway, so it was demolished and rebuilt about a half a mile away in Plumpton, where the RAF Chailey Memorial is now situated.
Used by 131 Polish Wing of 3 Squadrons
Used by 18 Fighter Section that controlled 3 Wings of 3 Squadrons
302 Polish Squadron RAF, Spitfire 1X
306 Polish Squadron RAF, Spitfire VB
308 Polish Squadron RAF, Spitfire 1X
315 Polish Squadron RAF, Spitfire VB
317 Polish Squadron RAF, Spitfire 1X
129 Mysore Squadron RAF, Spitfire 1X
Used by 135 Wing comprising
April to 22 June 1944 & 30 June to 5 July 1944
222 Natal Squadron RAF
349 Belgium Squadron RAF
485 [NZ]Squadron RAF. Spitfire
Coolham
Construction commenced August 1943,
Completed by the beginning of March 1944
13? Wing arrived in April 1944 and stayed until 22nd June 1944 when they were transferred to Holmsley South in the New Forrest.
They were replaced on 30th June by 135 Wing
[ 222, 349, 485 [NZ] Squadrons],
who had been at Selsey ALG, near Chichester.
The wing was only there 5 days before being transferred to Funtington ALG.
While 135 Wing was there it suffered no losses.
No other Squadrons operated from Coolham after that date, however, removal of equipment did not commence until Autumn 1945.
A memorial is situated near the Selsey Arms public house in Coolham.
Deanland East Sussex [aka Ripe]
50^52’50”N., 00^09’09” E
Opened
Closed
Used by 64 Squadron RAF, Spitfire 1X
Used by 91 Squadron RAF, Spitfire X11
Used by 234 Squadron RAF, Spitfire V1
Used by 302 Polish Squadron RAF, Spitfire
Used by 308 Polish Squadron RAF, Spitfire
Used by 317 Polish Squadron RAF, Spitfire
Used by 322 Dutch Squadron RAF, Spitfire 1XB
Used by 345 French Squadron RAF, Spitfire 1X
Used by 611 Squadron RAF, Spitfire VB, VC and 1X
131 Airfield
149 Airfield
Used by 149 Long Range fighter Wing
As well as
No 2750 Squadron RAF Regiment
No 2768 Squadron RAF Regiment
The station Aircraft were responsible for 185 V1 destroyed
Runway WSW / ENE, 4,300 feet approx grass
Runway SSW / NNE, 3,400 feet approx Grass
1420 Hrs on 26 Jul 1944 Spitfire RM 743 of 91 Nigeria Squadron while on a
‘Diver’ [anti-V1 mission] collided with a bomb which exploded,
killing 82162 F/Lt Eugene “Le Strops” Georges Archilles Seghers DFC RAFVR
Funtington Sussex
Opened June 1943
Closed 1944
15 September 1943, 2 Mustang equipped Squadrons moved into Funtington,
Used by a Canadian Wing flying Typhoons tasked with attacking the V1 sites [operation No Ball] April 1944
Used by 144 Wing Canadian 20 April 1944, Spitfire 1X B
On 30 June 1943, a US B - 17 Liberator [a 4 engined bomber] was seen orbiting over the airfield.
The aircraft made a safe landing.
One of the crew was the actor “Clark Gable” acting as a cameraman,
he was making a ‘Recruiting’ film and flew 5 missions in total,
including the one that ended at Funtington.
It is reported that he attended the local dances until the aircraft was
repaired and was able to return to its home base.
The actor Clark Gable was photographed in the left waist-gun position of a B17 during his time in England
The facilities at ALGs were basic and the food was prepared in field kitchens
Runway 08 / 26 1463 feet grass
Runway 16 / 34 1097 feet grass
RAF Headcorn
Opened April
Closed September 1944
Also known as AAF 412
High Halden Kent
51^07’17” N, 00^42’16” E
Opened 1943
Closed September 1944
Also known as AAF 411
Used by 358th Fighter Group comprising
365th Fighter Squadron [CH]13 April 1944 to29 June 1944
366th Fighter Squadron [IA]
367th Fighter Squadron [CP]
Part of 100th Fighter Wing, X1X Tactical Air Command
Started moving to France A 14 on 29 June 1944,
last of the support staff left on 18 July 1944
Runway 04 / 22
A memorial has been erected close to the Northern end of the runway.
Kingsnorth Kent
51^06’18”N, 00^53’20” E
Opened June 1943
Closed September 1944
Also known as AAF 418 August 1943 to September 1944
Used by 19 Squadron RAF August to September 1943, Spitfire 1X
Used by 65 Squadron RAF July to October 1943, Spitfire 1X
Used by 184 Squadron RAF August 1943, Hurricane 1V
Used by 602 Squadron July to August 1943, Spitfire VB
Used by USAAF 36th Fighter Group [1,500 men] comprising
22nd Fighter Squadron [3T] 1 April to 1 August 1944, [P - 47]
23rd Fighter Squadron [7U]
53rd Fighter Squadron [6V]
Part of 303rd Fighter Wing, X1X Tactical Air Command
Moved to A 16 in France first week of July, all gone by end of the first week of August 1944
RAF Lashenden
Opened August 1943
Closed July 1944
Also known as AAF 410
New Romney Kent
51^00’09”N, 00^ 56’39”E
Opened 1943
Closed 1944
Used by 181 Squadron RAF, Typhoon 1B
Used by 182 Squadron RAF, Typhoon 1B
Used by 247 Squadron RAF, Typhoon 1B
Lydd / Midley Romney Marsh Kent
Opened 25 June 1943
Closed
First of the four Romney Marsh Airfields to become operational
The site had been a WW1 airfield that was returned to agriculture in 1919
Used by 3 Typhoon Squadrons [121 Wing?] 1 July to October 1943
Runway 2 x Sommerfield Track
Newchurch Romney Marsh Kent
51^03’04” N, 00^55’13” E
Opened July 1943
Closed December 1944
Used by 19 Squadron 2 July to 18 August 1943, Spitfire V
Used by 132 Squadron 2 July to 12 October 1943, Spitfire VB, and 1XB
Used by 602 Squadron 13 August to 12 October 1943, Spitfire VB
Used by 184 Squadron 18 August to 12 October 1943, Hurricane 1V
Used by 150 Wing comprising 3 Squadrons of Tempests
56 Squadron 28 April to 23 September 1944 Spitfire & Tempests V
3 Squadron 28 April to 21 September 1944, Tempests V
486 [NZ] Squadron 29 April to 19 September 1944, Tempest V
Tasked with anti-V1 missions the Wing destroyed 638 V1s while as Newchurch
Perdannack Cornwall
Opened May 1941 as a satellite for RAF Portreath.
Personnel reached a peak strength of 3,600 by 1944
Used by 247 Squadron RAF 18 June 1941 to May 1942, Hurricane 11A, 11B
Used by 118 Squadron December 1941 to ?, Spitfire 11A
Used by 1457 Flight using Douglas Havoc with unsuccessful Turbo-light
Searchlights fitted, first operational flight 29 January 1942,
first contact 30 Jun 1942, illuminating a Ju 88, it disappeared before
the attacking Hurricane could take aim,
Next contact 4 Aug, again without success
Used by 600 Squadron RAF ? to September 1943, Beaufighter
Used by 406 Canadian Squadron September 1943 [3 months] Beaufighter
Used by Whirlwind, Beaufighter and Mosquito in anti-shipping roles over the Bay of Biscay
Used by 1 and 165 Squadrons in preparation for D - Day, to prevent the Luftwaffe attacking the Allied shipping, Spitfire 1X
As the convoy assembled at Falmouth they gave constant fighter cover over the area,
Used by 179 Squadron, Wellingtons
Used by Czechoslovak 311 Squadron, Liberators, gave anti-submarine patrols over the Bay of Biscay and approaches to the English Channel
Used by 485 [NZ] Squadron who were converting to Tempests,
supply and serviceability problems delayed the conversion/work up
so the Squadron was re-equipped with Spitfires and sent back to Europe
At its peak, there were 3,600 crew and support staff on Base
Runway 18 / 36 4,610 feet long asphalt
Runway 13 / 31 2,900 feet long asphalt
Runway 09 / 27 4,295 feet long asphalt
Runway 05 / 23 5,974 feet long asphalt
Selsey
Opened May 1943
Closed May 1944
RAF Staplehurst
Opened August 1943
Closed July 1944
Also known as AAF 413
St Mary In The Marsh. Romney Marsh Kent
Opened
2 July 1943
Closed
Used by 182 Squadron 2 July to 10 October 1943, Typhoon
Used by 181 Squadron 10 July to 9 October 1944, Typhoon
Used by 247 Squadron 10 July to 9 October 1944, Typhoon
Woodchurch Kent
51^05’34” N, 00^46’47” E
Opened 1943
Closed September 1944
Also known as AAF 419 July to September 1944
Used by Royal Engineers who established a Balloon section
Prior to 1913
Used by USAAF 373rd Fighter Group comprising
410th Fighter Squadron [R3] April 1944 to mid-July 1944
411th Fighter Squadron [U9] April 1944 to mid-July 1944
412nd Fighter Squadron [V5] April 1944 to mid-July 1944
Part of 303rd Fighter Wing X1X Tactical Air Command
On 29 July 1944 a 458th Bomb Group B24 Liberator landed without a nose wheel, the crew was OK, aircraft written off
On 19 Jul 1944, another B24 Liberator also landed without the front wheel with the same result.
For a description of the ALG's, see below
ALG
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