Biggin Hill

Images taken during 609 Squadrons various stays at Biggin Hill. Whilst here on their first posting, arriving on 22nd February 1941 under the command of Squadron Leader Michael Robinson (Wing Commander Adolph 'Sailor' Malan was station commander) 609 began operating offensive sweeps over the continent on the new Supermarine Spitfire MKII's that they had received on arrival, having not flown together as a squadron for three months, and taking part in hardly a single combat over that same period. By April, the first of the many Belgian pilots to serve with 609 arrived - due to Robinson requesting them directly from the Belgian government-in-exile in London. Also on the squadron at the time were Americans, Poles and Canadians, making the squadron one of the most cosmopolitan in the Royal Air Force at this time. By the end of May, the Spitfire MKII's  were being replaced by Vb's equipped with four 20mm cannons instead of eight .303 inch machine guns. These were put to good use over the following weeks as the RAF continuously took the war across the Channel in small bombing raids and fighter sweeps - harrassing the enemy and increasing morale at home. Apart from two months spent at Gravesend, (28th July - 24th September) 609 stayed at Biggin Hill until 19th November, when they moved to Digby in Lincolnshire.

Ten months later to the day, on 19th September 1942, 609 (West Riding) Squadron returned to Biggin Hill, this time flying their new Hawker Typhoons and under the Command of Paul Richey - Michael Robinsons brother-in-law.

Situated on a plateau, 'Biggin on the Bump' originally opened in February 1917 as a signals unit for the Royal Flying Corps, but later that year became part of the inner patrol zone of the London Air Defence Area. 141 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps flew from here with Bristol Fighters, and by the end of the war, fighters from Biggin were able to claim at least one German raider - shot down on Harrietsham aerodrome in Kent. When hostilities ceased, Biggin Hill  became home to the Instrument Design Establishment before its move to Farnborough in 1922, whereupon the stations role returned to that of air defence, incorporating the Searchlight Experimental Establishment, the Army School of Anti-Aircraft Defense, and 56 Squadron and the Night Flying Flight of the Royal Air Force.

In 1927 56 Squadron moved to North Weald, and two years later the Night Flying Flight also left, leaving Biggin Hill practically deserted until 1929 when major rebuilding began. The new buildings and hangars were deemed ready for occupation in 1932, and 23 and 32 Squadrons were posted here from Kenley Airfield to the south. The Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Flight was also formed at Biggin Hill to help train the numerous Anti-Aircraft sites now ringing the capital. In December 1936, 23 Squadron left for Northolt, leaving 32 on their own until 79 Squadron arrived the following year. In 1938, 601 (County of London) Auxiliary Squadron temporarily joined  32 and 79 Squadrons during the Munich Crisis, but returned to Hendon until war started in September 1939.

79 Squadron opened the batting, being the first to claim an enemy aircraft with the shooting down of a Dornier Do 17 on 2nd November. By 1943, Biggin Hill and its surrounding sector airfields of Gravesend, Hawkinge, Lympne, and West Malling, had become the first to claim a thousand enemy aircraft destroyed. During the emergency evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from the beaches around Dunkirk, aircraft from 242 and 79 Squadrons flew Hawker Hurricanes in constant patrols over the battle area. Biggin Hill later became a Spitfire station, with 72, 74,  92,  and 610 Squadrons operating from here during the Battle of Britain. As an important target for the Luftwaffe, Biggin was bombed twelve times between 18th August 1940 and 7th January 1941. During an attack on 30th August German bombers badly damaged the aerodrome, killing 39 and destroying a hangar and many buildings. Further damage was caused the following day, including the destruction of the Operations block. On lst September, an attack damaged runways and the Sector Operations Room. Three WAAF's received the Military Medal during this attack for continuing to work as long as possible. This spirit kept Biggin Hill operational throughout the course of the Battle. With the the battle now drawing to a close, 141 Squadron (Biggins original residents) flew in to help defend against the Luftwaffes Blitz on London. The following year, the Royal Air Force went onto the offensive, with Spitfires from Biggin Hill regularly flying fighter sweeps over mainland Europe.

A week after the D-Day invasion, on the 13th June 1944, the Germans began striking against England with the first of the 'victory weapons'  - the V1 'Doodlebug'. Due to Biggin Hill's location on the flightpath of these on their way to the main target - London - it was evacuated until September. It's next role, in addition to escorting Bomber Command on raids over Germany, began when 168 Squadron arrived, flying mail to the continent, the first of the Transport Command units to operate from here. With the cessation of hostilities, it was to move over entirely to Transport Command - becoming part of 46 Group, and leaving behind 11 Group for which it had fought so well. A year later, in August 1946, it was to begin its three-year service with Reserve Command - before once again returning to the control of Fighter Command in 1949 - with two Auxiliary Squadrons, 600 (City of London) and 615 (County of Surrey) reforming.  In 1951 they were joined by 41 Squadron. This lasted until 1957 and the disbandment of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, shortly followed by that of 41 Squadron. Thus Biggin Hill became non-operational.

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Copyright © 2002 609 (West Riding) Archives
Last modified: April 11, 2003