As part of a News Shopper series exploring the military history of Biggin Hill, DAVID MILLS looks back at one of its darkest days.
AT noon on August 30, around 300 bombers and fighters came across the Channel and over Kent towards the airfields protecting London, with Biggin Hill firmly in their sights.
Spitfire pilots from 79 and 610 Squadrons were airborne immediately and fired from 300 yards range leaving themselves just one second to break away.
Despite severing the German formation, several raiders managed to break through and bomb Biggin Hill and Keston.
While the airfield had narrowly escaped, at 6pm the Luftwaffe would return – with deadly effect.
This time nine Junkers 88s followed the Ashford-Reigate railway at low level before taking the airfield by surprise.
Historian and author Bob Ogley said: “The cookhouse and workshops were destroyed. Airmen’s barracks, the sergeants’ mess and the Waafery were made uninhabitable.
“One hangar was blown up, two aircraft destroyed and most of the station’s transport was set on fire.
“Worst of all an air-raid shelter crammed with airmen received a direct hit and was reduced to a yawning crater full of rubble and mangled bodies. The death toll was more than 39.
“In the airwomen’s trench where steel-helmeted WAAFs were packed together, an explosion blew out the entrance and the concrete walls caved in.
“Those inside were buried under stones and earth. They lay in a heap in the dark waiting to be dug out.
“The WAAFs were brought out one by one, the rescuers tearing frantically at the earth with their hands.”
All of them survived except a nursing orderly from Tasmania, Corporal Lena Button.
After the women were rescued, a team of miners had to be drafted in to dig out the bodies in the airmen’s shelter.
The medical officer’s report to the station commander described the scene in horrific detail.
“An opening was found but it was plain the majority of occupants had been killed. Those who were living and within reach were given a dose of morphia, several having the injections into the face as this was the only part of them above the earth and concrete. Six living men were taken out but two died soon after. One of these had to have his wrist amputated to free him at all.”
Dr JC Colbeck of Downe and Drs Grant and Mansi of Orpington were also recognised in the report for spending hours performing amputations in cramped conditions with enemy aircraft still overhead.
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
Pictures in this article courtesy of Bob Ogley
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