In the lead up to D-Day, RAF Deanland in Sussex was an incredibly busy base for Spitfires Mk V/XI. In 1943 it also bore witness to many emergency landings, including on one day alone, a large number of B.17’s from the USAAF 303rd BG landing on their return from a raid over Stuttgart.
A one-day exhibition is being held at Laughton Village Hall (BN8 6AH) on Wednesday 8th June from 11am – 5pm which will contain many photographs, plans and stories from the airfield which was only in RAF use until October 1944. For more information, contact Peter Waring on 01323 811546.
Peter is collating information for a second edition of his book entitled Deanland ALG and has already amassed many interesting snippets of what life was like under the path of the V1’s for the various squadrons who camped there (which included 302, 308, 317, 64, 234, 611, 91, 322 and 345).
Pictured is Spitfire AA936 ‘Bluebird’ (234 Sqd) at Deanland and its pilot Dennis Sims.
By: NorfolkJames - 10th June 2011 at 22:24
V1
Yeah, there were still rolls of sommerfield tracking in the woods surrounding Deanland in the early 90’s, and we found several old Naafi items too. What did you find? Best thing we discovered was the 6ft section of V1 still in its crater in woods just North of Deanland. The Spits at Deanland were well practised in V1 ‘tipping’, and Jean Maridor (91Sqn) is one of the more famous Deanland pilots whose attack against such a V1 over Benenden was to end in tragedy.
By: NorfolkJames - 10th June 2011 at 00:45
Pics
PS: I’ll get some pics up here as soon as I can
By: NorfolkJames - 10th June 2011 at 00:42
Deanland
Hi Paul
Glad u enjoyed the exhibition. As you say, Peter is still collecting information and it’s amazing who is still out there and the little extracts of info they provide really help in putting the jigsaw back together about this airfield. There was someone there on wednesday who was telling him the location of local searchlights and AA guns!
As for the Spit picture, don’t worry he knows it’s not vintage. It was picked up from a boot fair some years back I think (in the rather poor condidtion that it is in) and added to the exhibition just for interest, nothing more.
Cheers!
By: bazv - 9th June 2011 at 23:11
Shame it was midweek…not that far from me and would love to have attended…any pics Paul ??
rgds baz
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May 31, 2011 at 2:13 pm