RAF Kingsnorth

The airfield was a temporary Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) built specifically to support the D-Day invasion of Normandy. It was closed and dismantled once Allied forces had advanced far enough into France to establish airbases there, rendering the UK-based ALGs redundant. Its closure was part of the planned decommissioning of temporary wartime infrastructure.

The site of the former airfield has been completely redeveloped and bears no visible resemblance to its wartime configuration. The land has been returned to agricultural use and is also occupied by the Kingsnorth Industrial Estate, housing developments, and major road infrastructure, including the M20 motorway and the A2070 link road which bisect the former airfield. There are no physical remnants of the runways or airfield buildings. A memorial stone dedicated to the USAAF personnel who served at the station is located nearby on the A2070, commemorating the site's history.

RAF Kingsnorth, also known as USAAF Station AAF-418, was a crucial Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) during World War II. Constructed rapidly in early 1944 using pierced steel planking for its two runways, its primary purpose was to support the Allied invasion of Europe. It was operated by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Ninth Air Force. The airfield hosted several fighter groups, most notably the 36th Fighter Group flying Republic P-47 Thunderbolts and later the famous 352nd Fighter Group, the 'Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney', flying North American P-51 Mustangs. These units flew missions providing fighter escort for bombers, conducting fighter sweeps over occupied territory, and offering vital close air support to ground troops during and after the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944. Its existence was temporary by design, representing the massive logistical effort required for the liberation of France. The ICAO code GB-1089 is a modern, unofficial identifier for a historical site and was not in use during the airfield's operational period.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening RAF Kingsnorth as an airport. The site was a temporary military installation that was decommissioned almost 80 years ago. The land has since been fully repurposed for major industrial, agricultural, and residential use, making any future aviation activity impossible.