Preparing for war

In October 1952, Exercise ‘Ardent’ put the UK’s offensive and defensive capabilities to the test. Some of its results made for sobering reading The scene at Biggin Hill on 5 October 1952 during Exercise ‘Ardent’, as a No 600 (City of London) Squadron Meteor F8 is readied for an air defence sortie, its pilot already in the cockpit. ALL PHOTOS AEROPLANE It was described as the largest air exercise mounted in Britain since the end of the Second World War.