London Biggin Hill Airport
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London Biggin Hill Airport, formerly RAF Biggin Hill, is an airfield at Biggin Hill in London Borough of Bromley.
It opened in 1917 as a communications base, and was later a Royal Air Force station during the Battle of Britain during the Second World War. In World War II, RAF Biggin Hill was one of the commanding bases for the air defence of London with both Spitfires and Hurricanes being based here. The first 'kill' of the war was claimed by a squadron based there.
After the war, Biggin Hill became the Officers and Aircrew Selection Centre for the RAF which was then relocated to RAF Cranwell. Biggin Hill was also the location of an annual airshow, on Battle of Britain Day (15 September).
The RAF station was closed in 1992, and the site was bought by Formula One magnate Bernie Ecclestone.
It also became a small-scale civilian airport and has continued as such. There is an ongoing dispute about whether scheduled passenger services should be allowed to use the airport.
External link
- Airshow official site (http://www.airdisplaysint.co.uk/bigginhill.html)