Spitfire Prototype K5054 maiden flight from Eastleigh airfield – 5th March 1936
Not directly related to Manston at the time, but the birth of another aircraft closely linked to Manston's later history ...
The Valentine’s Day ‘Battle of the MTB’ – 14th February 1943
In the channel a Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB) had been disabled near the French coast between Dover and Cap Griz-Nez ...
Channel Dash – The Bravest of the Brave
12th February 2023 marked the 81st anniversary of the Channel Dash in 1942. Three of Germany's largest battleships ran the ...
F/Lt Baron Jean de Selys Longchamps’ Attack on Secret Police HQ and a hectic day for No.609 Squadron – 20th January 1943
F/Lt Baron Jean de Selys Longchamps DFC and dog (sometimes referred to as "Bullsh*t", sometimes "Spit") - Biggin Hill, October ...
Loss of F/O Henry “Harry” Hector MacKenzie (RCAF) – 3rd January 1944
No.198 Sqn Typhoon JR523 piloted by F/O Henry “Harry” Hector MacKenzie (RCAF) took off from Manston at 1143hrs as "Blue ...
A New Year’s Day present to the Germans of a Handley Page O/100 – 1st January 1917
Handley Page O/100 1463 "L’Amazone" flown by Flt Lt Henry Connell Vereker, accompanied by Handley Page O/100 1462 of Sub ...
Air Speed Record set at Reculver, 7th November 1945
On 7th November 1945, Group Captain Hugh Joseph Wilson, CBE, AFC, Royal Air Force, Commandant of the Empire Test Pilots’ ...
An unexpected passenger in a Handley Page O/100 on 4th November 1916
Published with permission from 'Bloody Paralyser - The Giant Handley Page Bombers of the First World War' by Rob Langham (Fonthill ...
Prime Minister, Winston Churchill visits Manston on 28th August 1940
The Prime Minister Winston Churchill inspects bomb damage caused by Luftwaffe night raids in Ramsgate, Kent, England on 28 August ...
Heavy Luftwaffe raids on Manston and Ramsgate on 24th August 1940 leaving the airfield unserviceable
Luftwaffe Recon photo some time after raids of 24/08/1940 Six heavy attacks, the first at 0600 hrs (TBC) when approximately ...
Gotha raid of 22nd August 1917 – Part of the first “Battle of Britain”
Please note that this post is very much still in development. If you have any additions or corrections, please let ...
The second large attack on Manston during the Battle of Britain, 14th August 1940
Bofors gun crew ready for action, November 1939. Location unknown. © IWM (H 145) At 1140hrs, a large formation of ...
Jet engine development, the Gloster Meteor and the V1 threat
RAF Manston yet again played its part in history when the jet engine age was born. In July 1944, the ...
US Author John Steinbeck visits No.609 Sqn, writes article on William de Goat, 29th June 1943
No.609 Sqn ORB: This morning’s Roadstead consists of aircraft of all 3 Sqdns: 609, 3 and 184. Taking off at ...
Manston’s role on D-Day, 6th June 1944
On this day, 6th June 1944, known as D-Day, more than 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of ...
USAF F-86D from Manston ordered to fire on UFO – May 20th 1957
Secret files are released In October 2008, a number of previously secret UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) files concerning UFO ...
Dambuster Bouncing Bomb Tests at Reculver and Manston
In May 1943, a top secret weapon was used against dams in the German Ruhr valley in an attempt to ...
No.600 Sqn Bristol Blenheim I crashes at Manston – 11th March 1940
Bristol Blenheim Mark I, L1295 in flight above the clouds. This aircraft commenced service in August 1938 with No. 107 ...
No.550 Sqn Avro Lancaster NF998 BQ-D Crash Landing – 24th February 1945
No.550 Sqn Lancaster I NF998 BQ-D crewed by Sgt. Melvin Tomas "Tom" Ditson RCAF (R.285781) - Mid Upper Air Gunner, ...
Avro Anson K6158 crashes near Ewell Minnis – 22nd February 1937
No.48 Sqn's Avro Anson K6158 flown by Sgt Plt Gwilym James Maurice (pilot, aged 23), Flt Lt George Edward Strangman ...
Hurricane Homecoming by Stephen Brown
Hurricane Homecoming by Stephen Brown A Hawker Hurricane Mk IIB in the markings of 174 (Mauritius) Sqn based at RAF ...
Last Round at Reculver by Paul’s Aviation Art
Last Round at Reculver by Paul’s Aviation Art. 8-14th May 1943. From the artist:Three Type 464 (Provisioning) Lancasters lead by ...
Evening Trials at Reculver by Paul’s Aviation Art
Evening Trials at Reculver by Paul's Aviation Art. 8-14th May 1943. From the artist:Local (Herne Bay and East Kent) Dambuster's ...
Valor over Ramsgate by Paul’s Aviation Art
Valor over Ramsgate by Paul’s Aviation Art. 8th August 1940. Notes from the artist:Blenheim IF L8665 BQ-A of 600 sqd ...
Defiants over Dunkirk by Mark Postlethwaite
'Defiants over Dunkirk', by Mark Postlethwaite, used with permission. Boulton Paul Defiants of 264 Squadron engage Heinkel 111s of III/KG51 ...
“Typhoon Attack” by Robert Taylor
This classic piece by Robert Taylor contains all that a true Typhoon enthusiast could ask for! The scenario was inspired ...
Hawker Typhoon RB396 Restoration Project Launch
It was a very interesting afternoon yesterday (29th Oct 2016) at the Hawker Typhoon RB396 Restoration project launch, held at ...
Restoration of Typhoon RB396 has links back to Manston
After following the Hawker Typhoon RB396 Restoration page for a little while, we were very interested to find the link ...
The Story of 609 Squadron: Under the White Rose
DETAILS First Edition Hardback: 336 pages.Publisher: TBS The Book Service Ltd (1 Jan. 1971).Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0356036413 ISBN-13: 978-0356036410 Product Dimensions: ...
