Headcorn Aerodrome (ICAO: EGKH) is a private airfield in Kent, England. The airfield is located 8 NM (15 km; 9.2 mi) south of Maidstone;[1] about 32 miles (51 km) southeast of London.
Headcorn Aerodrome (RAF Lashenden) (USAAF Station AAF-410)
Aerial photograph of RAF Lashenden (Headcorn) ALG Airfield oriented north, P-51 Mustangs of the 354th Fighter Group are parked on grass around the perimeter, 22 May 1944.
Opened in 1943 during the Second World War, it was named RAF Lashenden. It became a prototype for the temporary Advanced Landing Ground airfields that were built in France after D-Day, when the need for advanced landing fields became urgent as the Allied forces moved east across France and Germany. RAF Lashenden was used by the Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and United States Army Air Forces before closing in September 1945.
After the war, the airfield reverted to farmland until the present private grass airfield was opened in the late 1960s.
It was originally farmland, called Shenley Farm. Headcorn Aerodrome was first used for general aviation in 1927 when the local landowner flew with a group of friends.
In 1942 it was requisitioned by the Airfields Board. It was named RAF Lashenden in an attempt to confuse the enemy (Lashenden is to the southwest of the field). Flying started in 1943.
With the Americans having left, farming resumed in 1945 but this was not the end of the land's association with aircraft. In the late 1960s, the landowners started using part of the former wartime east-west runway site adjacent to the A274, for private flying. A grass airstrip was built aligned 10/28 with a grass parking area for light aircraft. This led to the formation of Weald Air Services Limited, a small charter company, and later a flying school was set up and the airfield became a busy centre for light flying in the area.
Current useedit
The airfield is host to Headcorn Parachute Club, the only skydiving club in Kent. The club operates a Cessna Caravan and regularly flies to altitudes between 10,000 and 12,000 ft (3,000 and 3,700 m) AGL. The club offers introductory training (tandem, static line/RAPs and AFF).
Headcorn Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P838) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee.[7] It is still also sometimes known as Lashenden Aerodrome (the non-directional beacon identifier is "LSH"). PPR (Prior Permission Required) is required to land.
^"Headcorn Aerodrome Kent". Aero Legends. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
^"The Club's History". The Tiger Club. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
^Civil Aviation Authority Aerodrome Ordinary Licences 28 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
Bibliography
Sturtivant, R.; Hamlin, J. (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN978-0851-3036-59.
Further readingedit
Freeman, Roger A. (1994) UK Airfields of the Ninth: Then and Now 1994. After the Battle ISBN0-900913-80-0
Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-89201-092-4.
British Automobile Association (AA), (1978), Complete Atlas of Britain, ISBN0-86145-005-1
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Headcorn Aerodrome.
Aerodrome website
Photographs of Lashenden (Headcorn) Airfield from the Geograph British Isles project
Headcorn Parachute Club
November 23, 2023
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Not to be confused with RAF Headcorn Headcorn Aerodrome ICAO EGKH is a private airfield in Kent England The airfield is located 8 NM 15 km 9 2 mi south of Maidstone 1 about 32 miles 51 km southeast of London Headcorn Aerodrome RAF Lashenden USAAF Station AAF 410 Aerial photograph of RAF Lashenden Headcorn ALG Airfield oriented north P 51 Mustangs of the 354th Fighter Group are parked on grass around the perimeter 22 May 1944 IATA noneICAO EGKHSummaryAirport typePrivateOperatorMr J P A FreemanLocationAshford KentElevation AMSL70 ft 21 mCoordinates51 09 24 N 000 38 33 E 51 15667 N 0 64250 E 51 15667 0 64250MapEGKHLocation in KentRunwaysDirection Length Surfacem ft10 28 1 100 2 621 Grass03 21Unlicensed n a n a n aSources UK AIP at NATS 1 Opened in 1943 during the Second World War it was named RAF Lashenden It became a prototype for the temporary Advanced Landing Ground airfields that were built in France after D Day when the need for advanced landing fields became urgent as the Allied forces moved east across France and Germany RAF Lashenden was used by the Royal Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force and United States Army Air Forces before closing in September 1945 After the war the airfield reverted to farmland until the present private grass airfield was opened in the late 1960s Contents 1 History 2 Current use 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory editIt was originally farmland called Shenley Farm Headcorn Aerodrome was first used for general aviation in 1927 when the local landowner flew with a group of friends In 1942 it was requisitioned by the Airfields Board It was named RAF Lashenden in an attempt to confuse the enemy Lashenden is to the southwest of the field Flying started in 1943 The USAAF Ninth Air Force required several temporary Advanced Landing Grounds ALG along the channel coast prior to the June 1944 Normandy Landings to provide tactical air support for the ground forces landing in France The following units were here at some point 2 No 17 Fighter Wing RAF August 1943 3 No 127 Airfield RAF June August 1943 4 No 403 Squadron RCAF 1943 No 421 Squadron RCAF 1943 354th Fighter Group 353rd Fighter Squadron 355th Fighter Squadron 356th Fighter Squadron 362nd Fighter SquadronWith the Americans having left farming resumed in 1945 but this was not the end of the land s association with aircraft In the late 1960s the landowners started using part of the former wartime east west runway site adjacent to the A274 for private flying A grass airstrip was built aligned 10 28 with a grass parking area for light aircraft This led to the formation of Weald Air Services Limited a small charter company and later a flying school was set up and the airfield became a busy centre for light flying in the area Current use editThe airfield is host to Headcorn Parachute Club the only skydiving club in Kent The club operates a Cessna Caravan and regularly flies to altitudes between 10 000 and 12 000 ft 3 000 and 3 700 m AGL The club offers introductory training tandem static line RAPs and AFF Aero Legends is also present offering Supermarine Spitfire experiences 5 The Tiger Club was also based at the airfield after moving from Redhill Aerodrome in 1990 before moving onto Damyns Hall Aerodrome 6 A small museum of aviation relics was established on the site the Lashenden Air Warfare Museum Headcorn Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence Number P838 that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee 7 It is still also sometimes known as Lashenden Aerodrome the non directional beacon identifier is LSH PPR Prior Permission Required is required to land See also edit nbsp World War II portalList of former Royal Air Force stationsReferences editCitations a b Lashenden Headcorn EGKH Lashenden Headcorn Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust Retrieved 15 June 2020 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 0287 Sturtivant amp Hamlin 2007 p 46 Headcorn Aerodrome Kent Aero Legends Retrieved 29 April 2023 The Club s History The Tiger Club Retrieved 27 August 2010 Civil Aviation Authority Aerodrome Ordinary Licences Archived 28 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine BibliographySturtivant R Hamlin J 2007 Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912 UK Air Britain Historians ISBN 978 0851 3036 59 Further reading editLashenden Air Warfare Museum Airfield Aerodrome History Freeman Roger A 1994 UK Airfields of the Ninth Then and Now 1994 After the Battle ISBN 0 900913 80 0 Maurer Maurer 1983 Air Force Combat Units of World War II Maxwell AFB Alabama Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 89201 092 4 USAAS USAAC USAAF USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers 1908 to present British Automobile Association AA 1978 Complete Atlas of Britain ISBN 0 86145 005 1External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Headcorn Aerodrome Aerodrome website Photographs of Lashenden Headcorn Airfield from the Geograph British Isles project Headcorn Parachute Club Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Headcorn Aerodrome amp oldid 1152378692, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
