RAF Lympne

RAF Lympne HMS Buzzard HMS Daedalus II
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Operator	Royal Flying Corps (1916-18) Royal Air Force (1918-19) civil (1919-39) Fleet Air Arm (1939-40) Royal Air Force (1940-46) civil (1946-84)
Location	Lympne, Kent
Built	1916
In use	1919-19 (First World War) 1939-46 (Second World War)
Coordinates	51°05′N 001°01′E / 51.083°N 1.017°E / 51.083; 1.017Coordinates: 51°05′N 001°01′E / 51.083°N 1.017°E / 51.083; 1.017
Map
RAF Lympne Location in Kent
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 02/20 4,500 1,372 Grass 07/25 Grass
07/25 was used only during the Second World War.

RAF Lympne /ˈlɪm/ was a Royal Air Force station used during the First and Second World Wars. It opened in 1916 by the Royal Flying Corps as an acceptance point for aircraft being delivered to, and returned from, France. It was later designated as a First Class Landing Ground. In 1919, the airfield was turned over to civil use as Lympne Airport, serving until 1939 when it was requisitioned by the Fleet Air Arm as HMS Buzzard, later being renamed HMS Daedalus II.

In 1940, it was taken over by the Royal Air Force, becoming RAF Lympne once again. Lympne was heavily bombed during the Battle of Britain, putting the base out of action for a number of weeks. It was to have been the landing point for a German aircraft in a plot to kidnap Adolf Hitler involving the defection of pilot Hans Baur. Preparations were made by the Royal Air Force for his arrival. Later in the war, Lympne was used as an Emergency Landing Ground for bombers returning from raids in Europe. In 1946, RAF Lympne closed, returning to use as a civil airport which continued until 1984.

Work began on creating a landing ground at Folks Wood, Lympne in the autumn of 1915. This site soon proved unsuitable and another site was sought. Lympne was established in March 1916 as an Emergency Landing Ground for the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) home defence fighters defending London against Zeppelins and Gotha bombers. By October 1916 Bessonneau hangars and other technical buildings had been erected and Lympne Castle was being used as an officers mess and No. 1 Advanced School of Air Gunnery operated from Lympne during January and February 1917. In January 1917 it was designated as No. 8 Aircraft Acceptance Park for delivery of aircraft to, and reception from, France. A spur to Westenhanger railway station allowed delivery of aircraft for final assembly at Lympne and three pairs of permanent hangars were erected to enable aircraft assembly. A variety of aircraft were passed through Lympne including Handley Page O/100 and Handley Page O/400 bombers.