RAF Staplehurst

RAF Staplehurst is a former World War II airfield in Kent, England. The airfield is located approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of Staplehurst; about 38 miles (61 km) southeast of London.

Opened in 1943, Staplehurst was a prototype for temporary Advanced Landing Grounds built in France after D-Day, and as the Allied forces moved east across France and Germany. It was used by the Royal Air Force, Canadian and the United States Army Air Forces. It was closed in September 1944.

Today the airfield is a mixture of agricultural fields with no recognizable remains, except a memorial now near the site.

Overview

The USAAF Ninth Air Force required several temporary Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) along the channel coast prior to the June 1944 Normandy invasion to provide tactical air support for the ground forces landing in France.

USAAF use

Staplehurst was known as USAAF Station AAF-413 for security reasons by the USAAF during the war, and by which it was referred to instead of location. It's USAAF Station Code was "SH".

Staplehurst

Coordinates: 51°09′50″N 0°33′11″E / 51.164°N 0.553°E / 51.164; 0.553

Staplehurst /ˈsteɪpəlhɜːrst/ is a large village and civil parish, situated south of Maidstone in Kent, England. The name Staplehurst comes from the Saxon words staple (meaning post) and hurst (meaning wood or clearing in a forest). The village lies on the route of a Roman road, which is now incorporated into the course of the A229.

There are approximately 2,600 households and 6,000 residents, a population that brings the village on par with some small towns. However, Staplehurst does not have the large facilities, like a supermarket although planning permission has been granted to build one,and leisure centre or the feel of a town. There are a number of local shops at the Parade, which lies roughly at the centre of the village, and two public houses, the Railway Tavern, and the King's Head. It also has a small library and a newly built two-million-pound medical centre which contains numerous doctors and dentists. The building of the medical centre on the school field enabled the school to have a large sports hall built. During the last few years Hush Heath Estate has become renowned for its pink sparkling wine which has won awards.

Staplehurst (disambiguation)

Staplehurst can mean: