History of Manston Airfield 100 years of flight

Because of some of the detail for the daily posts, you can see today’s events on our timeline page

• #OnThisDay1939
• Three aircraft of 'Yellow Section' of No.79 Sqn ordered to patrol the channel near Folkestone. Only two took off due to engine failure. A lone Dornier 17 was attacked and crashed into the sea off Deal, the first enemy aircraft brought down over the channel.
• #OnThisDay1941
• No.401 Sqn Sptifire Vb AD255 piloted by Sgt. C.R. Golden was on convoy patrol, but crash landed at Manston. Pilot injured. Aircraft struck off on 29th.
• #OnThisDay1942
• No.150 Sqn Wellington III BK538 JN-U crewed by Sgt E.O. Booth, P/O T. Howell, Sgt. J.H.N. Lisson, Sgt. L.J. Somerville, and P/O Julian Frederic Sweet crashes at Manston after taking off from Kirmington at 1910hrs on the 20th for a mission over Torino. Sgt. Booth injured but rest of the crew killed. F/O Sweet is buried in Minster Cemetery.
• Two Whirlwinds of No.137 Sqn took off just before midnight to eventually attack seperately an electrical installation near Holque and a railway yard near Bourbourg.
• No.571 Sqn Mosquito XVI PF379 piloted by F/O J.N. Campbell left from Oakington for a Pathfinder mission over Stuttgart, crash landed at Manston.
• #OnThisDay1944
• No.425 Sqn Halifax III MZ364 KW-N crewed by F/O J.H. Bellinger RCAF and Sgt. C.R. Wilson (others unknown) took off from Tholthorp at 1511hrs for mission over Castrop-Rauxel. Attacked by an Fw-190 causing serious damage to the starboard wing and rear turret, seriously injuring Sgt Wilson the rear gunner. Over the target they were hit by flak, making the port inner engine unusable and the port tire flat. They crash landed at Manston on return with the rest of the crew uninjured.
• No.571 Sqn Mosquito XVI PF379 crewed by F/O J.N. Campbell and F/L A.A.B. Cleaver crash lands at Manston after taking off from Oakington at 1707hrs for Pathfinder operation over Stuttgart.

The History of Manston Airfield site is dedicated to the history of Manston Airfield, in Kent from its first official usage back in 1916.

It is intended to bring together the various sources of information at events, squadrons, aircraft and personnel that have been involved in the site.

The site and social media pages are currently all non-profit making. Obviously we do incur costs so any contributions via donations or online sales are appreciated to ensure this project continues.

We are not directly connected with either of the two museums currently at Manston, but may work alongside them.

Due to the amount of history, it is likely that this site will be continually updated and extended and is not intended to be a complete historical record for some time to come.