RAF Deanland
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| RAF Deanland | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ripe, East Sussex in England | |||||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||||
| Type | RAF advanced landing ground | ||||||||||
| Code | XB[1] | ||||||||||
| Owner | Air Ministry | ||||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||||||||||
| Controlled by | RAF Second Tactical Air Force * No. 84 Group RAF[1] | ||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||
| Coordinates | 50°52′50″N 000°09′09″E / 50.88056°N 0.15250°E | ||||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||||
| Built | 1943/44 | ||||||||||
| Built by | RAF Airfield Construction Service Royal Engineers Airfield Construction Group | ||||||||||
| In use | April 1944 – January 1945 | ||||||||||
| Battles/wars | European theatre of World War II | ||||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||||
| Identifiers | ICAO: EGKL | ||||||||||
| Elevation | 18 metres (59 ft)[1] AMSL | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
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:
- No. 64 Squadron RAF[4]
- No. 91 (Nigeria) Squadron RAF[5]
- No. 234 (Madras Presidency) Squadron RAF[6]
- No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron[7]
- No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron[8]
- No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron[9]
- No. 322 (Dutch) Squadron RAF[9]
- No. 345 (GC II/2 'Berry') Squadron RAF[10]
- No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron AAF[11]
- No. 131 Airfield Headquarters RAF[12]
- No. 149 Airfield Headquarters RAF[12]
- No. 149 (Long Range Fighter) Wing RAF[12]
Along with the following ground units at some point:[12]
- No. 2719 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2750 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2768 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2823 Squadron RAF Regiment
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.
