RAF Deanland

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RAF Deanland
Ripe, East Sussex in England
Site information
TypeRAF advanced landing ground
CodeXB[1]
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byRAF Second Tactical Air Force
* No. 84 Group RAF[1]
Location
RAF Deanland is located in East Sussex
RAF Deanland
RAF Deanland
Shown within East Sussex
RAF Deanland is located in the United Kingdom
RAF Deanland
RAF Deanland
RAF Deanland (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates50°52′50″N 000°09′09″E / 50.88056°N 0.15250°E / 50.88056; 0.15250
Site history
Built1943 (1943)/44
Built byRAF Airfield Construction Service
Royal Engineers Airfield Construction Group
In useApril 1944 – January 1945
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Airfield information
IdentifiersICAO: EGKL
Elevation18 metres (59 ft)[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
06/24 457 metres (1,499 ft) Grass
00/00 (WW2)  Sommerfeld Tracking
00/00 (WW2)  Sommerfeld Tracking

Royal Air Force Deanland or more simply RAF Deanland is a former Royal Air Force advanced landing ground located 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Hailsham, East Sussex and 13.4 miles (21.6 km) north east of Brighton, East Sussex, England

RAF Deanland was planned as an Advanced Landing Ground in order to provide support for the D-Day Landings on 6 June 1944, with construction started in Spring 1943. The first aircraft to take to the air on D-Day flew from RAF Deanland, providing top-cover over the OMAHA and GOLD landing beaches.

The airfield was heavily involved in the fight against the V-1 flying bombs (with 185 destroyed) and during D-Day[2] in which it is believed to have been the home of the first Supermarine Spitfire squadron to provide air cover.[3]

The landing ground was used by multiple units:

Along with the following ground units at some point:[12]

On 6 June 1994, an oak-tree was planted at the western end of the airfield entrance-road. This tree is a memorial to those pilots who flew from Deanland and died in operations.

Current use

References

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