Following the outbreak of World War II the airfield was requisitioned by the Airfields Board in 1942 and prepared for operational service as an Advanced Landing Ground. In fact there were two ALGs established near the village of Headcorn, both very close together, and about the same distance from the village.
The present Headcorn Aerodrome was in fact originally named Lashenden (with the other airfield named Headcorn – just to confuse things - which has led to much misunderstand for historians ever since). Two Sommerfeld Track runways were laid, the main one being some 1,600 yards in length with a secondary runway of 1,400 yards. Construction commenced in early 1943, and was fairly straightforward, although one significant road (the one currently running past the main gate) had to be closed to make way for the second runway.
On the 6th August 1943, 127 Wing Royal
Canadian Air Force comprising of 403 and 421 Squadrons, flying Spitfire
IXb's under the command of Wing Commander 'Johnny Johnson' moved to
Headcorn from RAF Kenley. Their stay was short lived however, and they
moved on at the end of the month when the airfield was passed over to
the United States 9th Air Force for upgrading.
On the 15th April 1944, the airfield was taken over by the 100th Fighter
Wing 19th Tactical Air Command 9th Air Force using, taking up accommodation
in tents on the airfield, and using Shenley Hall as its headquarters.
On the 17th April the operational aircraft arrived in the form of the
354th Fighter Group comprising of the 353rd, 355th and 356th Fighter
Squadrons flying North American P51B Mustangs. The 354th Fighter Group’s
major task was that of fighter-bomber attacks on targets in and around
Normandy, although it still flew bomber escort missions, from time to
time, as far as the Polish border from Headcorn, and escort for a glider
mission on D-Day itself. Immediately afterwards it reverted to ground
attack. The 354th Fighter Group left Headcorn on 18th June when they
moved to Criqueville on the French coast.
At the end of the war the airfield was closed and handed back to the
owners being initially used for agriculture.
With the resurgence of interest in civil aviation in the 1950's the
airfield was re-opened as a base for private aviation and has been thriving
ever since.
As well as flying lessons, Headcorn offers balloon and helicopter flights, plus a variety of special events including open air concerts. It is hometo the Tiger Club, whose Tiger Moths take us back to the early days of aviation. Headcorn's flying past is remembered at the Lashenden Air Warfare Museum which is an important part of Headcorn Airfield.