









Kenley Fighter Station 1940.



The airspace over Britain was divided up into 4 groups, with air fields in each area, all with the task to repel invading forces and enemy aircraft. 11 Group was the largest of the groups, as this covered London and the South East, both the most densely populated part of the UK, and closest to the European mainland, where Luftwaffe planes were attacking from.



The fighter stations of the Battle of Britain have all changed since the war in different ways. Whilst some are museums dedicated to telling the story of the Battle of Britain others are now housing estates, where it is hard to believe such dramatic events took place there, just 75 years ago. Of the four Group HQ's; RAF Box (10 Group HQ) is used by the MoD for Defence equipment. RAF Uxbridge (11 Group HQ) still has the underground operations room as it was during the war and is open to visitors. RAF Watnell (12 Group HQ) is now a mix of housing and industrial units as well as a nature reserve. RAF Newcastle (13 Group HQ) is now a housing estate in the northern suburbs of the city. However, a group do have access to the underground tunnels and there is potential for it to open to visitors in the future if funds were provided for restoration work and make them safe for public access.



Some of the airfields continue to have an aviation use, with some even being large civilian airports. For example RAF Exeter is now Exeter International Airport, RAF Rochford is now London Southend Airport. RAF Dyce is now Aberdeen Airport and RAF Turnhouse is now Edinburgh International Airport. A few continue as RAF bases, such as RAF Northolt.



Other more unusual uses include RAF Acklington and RAF Ford, now both HMP, rather than RAF. For those not in the UK reading this, this stands for HER MAJESTY'S PRISON! RAF Westhampnett is now Goodwood Motor Circuit. RAF Usworth in 13 Group is now home to a huge Nissan car factory. RAF Martlesham Heath in 11 Group, is now a key British Telecom site.



Below is the full list of fighter plane airfields in the four groups. Any fighter station which has a museum that is open to the public is linked to their visitor website.



10 Group

Area covered - Wales and the West Country

Commander - Air Vice Marshall Sir Quintin Brand



AIRFIELDS



RAF Box HQ

RAF Middle Wallop

RAF Filton

RAF Boscombe Down

RAF Colerne

RAF Exeter

RAF Pembrey

RAF Roborough

RAF St Eval

RAF Warmwell





11 Group

Area covered - South East England & London

Commander - Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park.



AIRFIELDS

RAF Debden

RAF Hornchurch

RAF Kenley

RAF Northolt

RAF North Weald

RAF Tangmere Tangmere 1985 documentary about the WWII airfield. HERE

RAF Detling

RAF Eastchurch

RAF Ford

RAF Gosport

RAF Gravesend

RAF Hendon (Main RAF museum in the UK, located in North London.)

RAF Lympne

RAF Manston

RAF Martlesham Heath

RAF Rochford

RAF Stapleford Tawney

RAF Thorney Island

RAF Westhampnett

RAF West Malling



12 Group

Area covered - Midlands and East Anglia

Commander - Air Vice-Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory.



AIRFIELDS



RAF Watnall HQ

RAF Church Fenton

RAF Digby

RAF Duxford (Best preserved WWII air base in Europe. Imperial War Museum branch)

RAF Kirton in Lindsey

RAF Wittering

RAF Coltishall

RAF Fowlmere

RAF Leconfield





RAF Tern Hill



13 Group

Area covered - Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Commander - Air Vice-Marshal Richard Saul.



AIRFIELDS



RAF Newcastle HQ (Not currently open to the public. It could be in the future if conserved.)

RAF Acklington

RAF Dyce

RAF Turnhouse

RAF Usworth

RAF Wick

RAF Catterick

RAF Drem

RAF Grangemouth

RAF Kirkwall

RAF Sumburgh

RAF Castletown



