RAF Swingate Down explained

RAF Swingate Down
Ensign:	Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
Ensign Size:	90px
Pushpin Map:	Kent
Pushpin Map Caption:	Shown within Kent
Pushpin Label:	RAF Swingate Down
Ownership:	Air Ministry
Operator:	Royal Air Force
Built:	1938
Used:	1913-1920 1938-

Royal Air Force Swingate Down or more simply RAF Swingate Down is a former Royal Air Force Chain Home Low radar station operational during the Second World War located north of Dover, Kent, England.

The site was situated on alongside RAF Dover, another Radar section together on the removed First World War landing ground of RAF Dover.

History

First World War

RAF Dover was first established during August 1913, initially as stopping-off point before flying over the English Channel to France and was used by the following units:^[1]

• No. 2 Squadron RAF
• No. 3 Squadron RAF
• No. 4 Squadron RAF
• No. 5 Squadron RAF
• No. 7 Squadron RAF
  • • No. 9 Squadron RAF No. 12 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron RAF No. 13 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron RAF became No. 13 Reserve Squadron RAF became No. 13 Training Squadron RAF
• No. 15 Squadron RAF
• No. 20 Reserve Squadron RAF
• No. 27 Squadron RAF
• No. 49 Squadron RAF
• No. 50 Squadron RAF
• No. 58 Squadron RAF
• No. 62 Training Squadron RAF
• No. 64 Reserve Squadron RAF
• No. 65 Training Squadron RAF became No. 53 Training Depot Station RAF
• No. 110 Squadron RAF
• No. 212 Squadron RAF
• Machine Gun School

Second World War

RAF Dover was re-established as a Chain Home radar station during 1938.^[2]

RAF Swingate Down was located to the east of RAF Dover but within the confines of the old landing ground as Chain Home Low radar station.^[2]

Current use

The site is a transmitting station.^[2]

References

Bibliography

• Book: Jefford . C.G. . RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 . 1988 . Airlife . . 1-85310-053-6 .

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dover (St Margaret's) (Swingate) . Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. 15 June 2020.
2. Action Stations No. 9 - Chris Ashworth pg. 79