RAF Detling

The closure was a result of the post-World War II military drawdown and the changing strategic needs of the Royal Air Force. The airfield's grass runways were unsuitable for the heavier and faster jet aircraft of the new era, and it was declared surplus to requirements.

The site of the former airfield is now completely redeveloped and unrecognizable as an aviation facility. The M2 motorway cuts directly across the southern portion of the original airfield. The majority of the remaining land is occupied by the Kent County Showground, which hosts the annual Kent County Show and other events, and the Detling Aerodrome Industrial Estate. A memorial stone is located near the showground entrance, dedicated to all the personnel who served at RAF Detling between 1915 and 1959.

RAF Detling has a rich military history dating back to World War I. It was established in 1915 as a Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) station for anti-Zeppelin patrols and coastal defence. During World War II, it became a crucial frontline station. Although primarily a Coastal Command base responsible for protecting shipping convoys in the English Channel and the North Sea, it also served as a Sector Airfield for No. 11 Group, Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. The station was a prime target for the Luftwaffe and suffered a devastating raid on 13 August 1940 ('Adlertag' - Eagle Day). The attack by Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers destroyed numerous aircraft on the ground, heavily damaged infrastructure, and resulted in 67 casualties, including the station commander, Group Captain E. P. M. Davis. Despite the damage, the station was repaired and remained operational. Throughout the war, it hosted various squadrons flying aircraft such as the Bristol Blenheim and Lockheed Hudson. After the war, it was briefly used by the Fleet Air Arm as HMS Peregrine II before its final closure.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening RAF Detling as an airport. The site has been extensively redeveloped with major permanent infrastructure, including a motorway, a large showground, and an industrial estate, making any return to aviation use impossible.