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 ...
Manston’s role in Operation Market Garden, 17th September 1944
Troops preparing to board British Horsa type gliders at Manston Air Base, England. Believed to be before or during Operation ...
Battle of Britain Day, 15th September 1940
Pilots of No. 601 (County of London) Squadron run to their waiting Hurricane aircraft at RAF Northolt, 9 January 1941 ...
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 ...
On this day, 28th August 1942, 56 emergency landings
No.218 Sqn Short Stirling N3717 that crash landed at Manston early on 29th August 1942 and FAA Fairey Albacore. Photo ...
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 ...
The Manston Spy
One of the most notorious German spies of the Second World War period landed in Harwich on 29th August 1935 ...
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 ...
Manston attacked on ‘The Hardest Day’, 18th August 1940
EVENING REFLECTION by Richard Taylor, used with permission © The Military Gallery www.militarygallery.com With soft evening sunlight radiant behind them, ...
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 ...
Manston takes the full force of Luftwaffe attack against airfields, 12th August 1940
Manston, 12th August 1940 by Gerald Coulson. A depiction of No. 65 squadron taking off as the attack on Manston ...
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 ...
Two Messerschmitt Bf 109s land at Manston, 21st July 1944
Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/U2 (W.Nr. 412951) 'White 16' of 3./JG 301, one of two aircraft which landed in error at Manston ...
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 ...
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 ...
Herald of Free Enterprise Disaster, 6th March 1987
RAF Search and Rescue teams in helicopters from No.22 Sqn at Manston were part of the rescue operation for the ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
South Goodwin Lightship Disaster, 26/27th November 1954
On the night of the 26/27th November 1954, the South Goodwin Lightship's anchor chains failed during a hurricane force 12 ...
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
A Handley Page O/100, #1463 flown by Flt Lt Henry Connell Vereker accompanied by HP 1462 of Sub Lt Sands ...
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 ...
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 ...
Gloster Meteor Mk.4 “World Speed Record” 1:72
The very first British jet engine-powered fighter to see operational service was the Gloster Meteor. Following the wartime Meteor Mk.Is ...
Messerschmitt Bf109 “Black 12” crash lands at Manston, 27th November 1940
By Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK (Messerschmitt Bf109E-4/B ‘4101 / Black 12’ (DG200)) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia ...
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 ...
Manston, 12th August 1940 by Gerald Coulson
Manston, 12th August 1940 by Gerald Coulson A German raid catches the airfield at Manston by surprise, and Spitfires are ...
Manston: 100 Years of Flight Project
As part of the RAF Manston Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum’s first ever Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) project, they aimed ...
“Winter of ’41” by Philip E. West
Heavy snow during the winter of 1941 often kept pilots and their aircraft grounded, despite the best efforts of the ...
Rise and Defend – The USAF At Manston 1950-1958
Taken over by the United States Air Force in 1950 as a direct result of the developing chill of the ...
A Detailed History of RAF Manston 1945-1999
BOOK DESCRIPTION Having been classified by the Air Ministry as a 'Master Diversion' airfield, RAF Manston was for many years ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
A Detailed History of RAF Manston 1941-1945
The third of the "Detailed History" books about RAF Manston was officially launched on 2nd March 2017 at the Holiday ...
The RAF WWII Logbooks of Wing Commander R.P. Beamont
This book is a facsimile copy of the pages of a pilot's flying logbook recording the operational tours of Wing ...
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: ...
William de Goat: The Story of Air Commodore William de Goat DSO DFC, the extraordinary Mascot of 609 (West Riding) Squadron during the Second World War
Then we were up in the air; I tried to move around but was restrained. I really was special - ...
To Live Among Heroes
This is a unique book. There have been many books about aerial combat in World War Two, quite a few ...
Erprobungsgruppe 210: ‘Bombsights Over England’
Bombsights over England records in depth the activities of Erpobungsgruppe 210 over southern England during the bitter fighting of summer ...
From Battle of Britain Airman to PoW Escapee
This is the Second World War story of a champion cyclist turned airman who lived to tell the tale against ...
Insight #3: Publication of updated Squadron and Units Timeline
During the lifetime of this project, we have been attempting to put together a more complete timeline of Squadrons and ...
Finding the Foe: Outstanding Mysteries of the Battle of Britain and Beyond Investigated and Solved
DESCRIPTION A follow-up to Finding the Few, this companion volume deals with the postwar discovery and recovery of wartime Luftwaffe ...
Wings Over Westgate
RNAS Westgate played a leading role in the defence of the Thames Estuary when the British Expeditionary Force (that 'Contemptible ...
Insight #2: Expanding the detail on Manston’s history
We hope to continue to expand posts on both Facebook and the website in due course after referring to the ...
The Mallon Crew
We are delighted to be able to share with you another book that has a connection to Manston. The author ...
“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 ...
Account by Doreen Maddison WAAF on International Women’s Day
On International Women's Day, it seems appropriate to remember the role played often behind the scenes by the WAAF, WRNS, ...
A Glint in the Sky
This compelling account of the German air raid on Folkestone and the appalling aftermath is the first comprehensive history of ...
Arnhem 1944: The Airborne Battle
Arnhem was meant to end the war in Europe. The Germans were in retreat from Normandy and seemed to be ...
Battle of Britain: A day-to-day chronicle, 10 July-31 October 1940
From the bestselling author of Fighter Boys and Bomber Boys, Battle of Britain is a magisterial and stunningly illustrated account ...
The Battle of Britain (James Holland)
The Nazi Blitzkrieg was unlike any invasion the world had ever seen. It hit Europe with a force and aggression ...
Tales from the Control Tower
Tales From The Control Tower is based on the author’s personal experiences of the Royal Air Force. It starts in ...
263 and 137 Squadrons: The Whirlwind Years
References to Manston to be confirmed. For many, the Westland Whirlwind conjures the image of yellow air-sea rescue helicopters, not ...
Operation Cerberus – The Channel Dash by Philip E. West
The Channel Dash was one of three operations during the Second World War for which the Swordfish was to become ...
Run The Gauntlet: The Channel Dash 1942 (Raid)
In February 1942, three of the major ships of the German surface fleet - the battle-cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, and ...
Sanctuary! – The Stories Behind the Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum
Peter W J Neale has written a book (new for 2017) that details the history behind The Spitfire and Hurricane ...
Insight #1: On This Day at Manston
Trying to piece together a more comprehensive day by day timeline for Manston was the initial goal that the current ...
“The Channel Dash” by Robert Taylor
Undetected, the battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, together with the cruiser Prinz Eugen and supporting vessels, had escaped from the French ...
“Evening Reflection” by Richard Taylor
With soft evening sunlight radiant behind them, Hauptmann Wolfgang Ewald, Gruppenkommandeur of 1./JG52, leads a schwarm of Bf109s back to ...
“Typhoon Scramble” by Richard Taylor
Led by Squadron Commander Roland “Bee” Beamont, Typhoons of 609 Squadron are dramatically illustrated as they scramble from their base ...
“Channel Dash Heroes” – by Philip E. West
The Straits of Dover, 12th February 1942. Sub Lieutenant Edgar Lee helps his badly wounded pilot, Sub Lieutenant Brian Rose from ...
“The Pride of Britain” by Philip E. West
The winter of ’41 is remembered well by Geoffrey Wellum, pilot of Spitfire ‘G’ for George. Bitter cold and heavy ...
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 ...
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 ...
Bloody Paralyser: The Giant Handley Page Bombers of the First World War
Bloody Paralyser: The Giant Handley Page Bombers of the First World War tells the story of the largest British bombers ...
Hawkinge, 1912-1961: An in depth history of the former Royal Air Force Station Hawkinge
DETAILS Hardcover: 192 pages Publisher: Meresborough Books; First Edition, First Printing edition (May 1981) Language: English ISBN-10: 0905270355 ISBN-13: 978-0905270357 ...
Manston Memories 1916-2006
Written by Doug Cockle (of the RAF Manston History Museum) - Details and availability TBC. DETAILS Paperback: 128 pages Publisher: ...
Hawker Hurricane Survivors
With 2015 being the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain – arguably the Hawker Hurricane’s ‘finest hour’ – it ...
Throwley 1917-1919: Kent’s Forgotten Airfield
The forgotten airfield at Throwley, Faversham, Kent, which existed between 1917 and 1919, was created to aid Britain's coastal defence ...
Westhampnett At War
DETAILS Hardcover: 150 pages Publisher: Privately Published (2010) ASIN: B00V5510LM Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 16.7 x 2.8 cm ...
Lympne Airfield At War and Peace
Lympne Airfield: At War and Peace is the story of ‘Kent’s Garden Airfield’, so called because of its location on ...
From Moths to Merlins: RAF West Malling: Premier Night Fighter Station
As a small club airfield during the 1930s, West Malling was very popular with flyers. Taken over by the RAF ...
RAF Westhampnett – A Fighter Command Station at War
Situated close to the South Coast, on flat land to the north of Chichester in West Sussex, lies Goodwood Aerodrome ...
Kent Airfields in the Second World War
A full account of the part played by Kent's airfields during the Second World War. The history of each airfield ...
Battle of Britain – Airfields of 11 Group
The Royal Air Force's 11 Group played a leading role in the Battle of Britain. It included the airfields at ...
The Military Airfields of Britain: Southern England
This series of books provides a fresh user-friendly look at the military airfields of the British Isles. The series is ...
Heroes of Fighter Command – Kent
Kent remained at the centre of the conflict throughout the war, and the courageous pilots of Fighter Command received countless ...
Kent Aviation – A Century of Flight
Using over 300 photographs, Roy Humphreys tells the story of civil and military aviation in Kent. From the excitement and ...
Airfields of the D-Day Invasion Air Force
As part of the Aviation Heritage Trail series, the airfields and interest in this book are concentrated in a particular ...
Battle of Britain Airfields
References TBC DETAILS Hardcover: 160 pages Publisher: Midland Publishing (23 Sept. 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 1857803280 ISBN-13: 978-1857803280 Product Dimensions: ...
To Scale the Skies: The Story of Group Captain J.C. ‘Johnny’ Wells DFC and BAR
With humble beginnings as an RAF apprentice, Johnny Wells progressed to pilot and rose to the higher echelons of command ...
Kent’s Own: The Story of No. 500 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force
‘Shrieking from the clouds, the Stukas achieved the measure of surprise they needed. The accuracy of the raid was good ...
Whirlwind: Westland’s Enigmatic Fighter
Faster and better armed than the Spitfire, the Whirlwind was the RAF’s counter to a new generation of armoured German ...
The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain
Unrivalled for its synthesis of all previous historical accounts, for the quality of its strategic analysis and its truly compulsive ...
Battle of Britain Voices
DESCRIPTION July 1940, and Britain is the only European country which hasn’t caved in to Hitler’s Third Reich. Hitler’s stated ...
The History of RAF Manston
Details the history of RAF Manston from 1916 to 1986. DETAILS Paperback: 104 pages Publisher: RAF Manston; 3rd Revised edition ...
RAF Manston in Old Photographs
DETAILS Paperback: 160 pages Publisher: Sutton Publishing Ltd (25 Nov. 1993) Language: English ISBN-10: 0750901357 ISBN-13: 978-0750901352 Product Dimensions: 21.6 ...
RAF Manston in Old Photographs – A Second Selection
Description to be added. DETAILS Author(s): Royal Air Force Manston History Club Publisher: The History Press Ltd Date of Publication: ...
RAF Manston Album
The airfield at Manston has played an important part in the lives not just of those who served here but ...
Twilight of the Pistons: Air Ferry – a Manston Airline
Details to be added. DETAILS Author(s): Malcolm Finnis Publisher: Michaels Bookshop Date of Publication: 01/05/2007 Language(s): English Format: Paperback ISBN-10: ...
A Detailed History of RAF Manston 1931-40: Arise to Protect
Throughout the 1930s, RAF Manston became established as one of the most important airfields in the country. No. 48 Squadron ...
A Detailed History of RAF Manston 1916-1930: The Men Who Made Manston
A Detailed History of RAF Manston 1916-1930: The Men Who Made Manston covers the development of aviation in Thanet up ...
Kent Airfields Remembered
PRODUCT DETAILS Paperback: 160 pages Publisher: Countryside Books (29 Sept. 1990) Language: English ISBN-10: 1853060992 ISBN-13: 978-1853060991 Product Dimensions: 26.2 ...
Kent Airfields in the Battle of Britain
PRODUCT DETAILS Hardcover: 192 pages Publisher: Meresborough Books; First Edition edition (May 1981) Language: English ISBN-10: 0905270363 ISBN-13: 978-0905270364 ...
The Last Enemy
DESCRIPTION The Last Enemy is the story of Richard Hillary, one of Sebastian Faulks' three 'fatal englishmen'. In this extraordinary ...
Detling Airfield: A History 1915-1959
This is the story of Detling airfield, from its earliest days through its role in the Second World War - ...
