As part of a News Shopper series exploring the military history of Biggin Hill, DAVID MILLS looks back to the declaration of war in 1939.
“As you will all have heard we are now at war with the Hun.”
But the noise of air raid sirens drowned out the rest of Wing Commander Richard Grice’s announcement over the loud speaker at Biggin Hill on the Sunday morning of September 3, 1939.
The 32 Squadron was on red alert – an unidentified aircraft was making its way across the Channel.
A short while later a French transport plane landed at Croydon – little did he know he was almost blown to smithereens.
The next alarm came when Maidstone Searchlight Control’s sound detectors picked up what was feared to be enemy aircraft.
Historian and author Bob Ogley said: “Anti-aircraft batteries were alerted and 601 Squadron was scrambled.
“It was another false alarm. The ultra-sensitive detectors had picked up the electric motor of a fridge. The door had been left open.”
He added: “Although all three squadrons put in many flying hours and some vigorous training exercises, many weeks of boredom were to follow. The Luftwaffe’s promised onslaught failed to arrive.”
But the so-called ‘phoney war’ would soon come to an end.
From May 27 to June 5, 1940, Biggin Hill Hurricanes provided aerial cover for the famous evacuation of Dunkirk.
Describing the scenes on the second day, Mr Ogley said: “213 Squadron found itself hopelessly outnumbered by Junkers 88s and Heinkel 111s covered by 109s.
“They were dropping bombs on beaches swarming with troops but in a battle lasting just five minutes seven German aircraft were shot down and several damaged. One Hurricane pilot, Pilot Officer Stone, was killed.
“The Hurricanes had played their part by constantly patrolling the skies and keeping the Luftwaffe at bay.”
However the rescue of 338,000 British and Allied troops wasn’t without any losses.
The Army had 68,000 men killed, missing or taken prisoner, 243 ships were sunk and the RAF lost 474 aircraft.
Biggin Hill lost eight pilots, eight Hurricanes and six Spitfires.
But the battle was far from over as Hitler was soon to turn his attention to Britain.
In the words of Winston Churchill in June 1940: “Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation.
“If we can stand up to (Hitler), all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands.
“But if we fail, then the whole world will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age, made more sinister and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science.”
BIGGIN HILL HERITAGE CENTRE
Campaigners are hoping to open a long overdue military heritage centre on a site next to Biggin Hill airfield to remember The Few who gave their lives for so many.
The centre will chart the groundbreaking development of radar and communication technology used by aircraft during the First and Second World War, as well as house a large collection of artefacts and memorabilia from pilots based at the airfield.
Visit the Biggin Hill Battle of Britain Supporters’ Club, which is backing the campaign, at bhbobsc.org.uk
Bob Ogley has written two books about the military history of Biggin Hill, ‘Biggin on the Bump’ (£11.99) and ‘Ghosts of Biggin Hill’ (£12.99). For more information and to obtain copies, call 01959 562972 or visit frogletspublications.co.uk
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