A rectangular tablet set into a brick wall inscribed in English in white lettering. The US Airforce and Royal Canadian Airforce Wings are depicted on the left and right sides of the plaque.

Headcorn Aerodrome was originally farmland, called Shenley Farm. Headcorn Aerodrome was first used for general aviation in 1927 when the local landowner flew with a group of friends.

In 1942 it was requisitioned by the Airfields Board. It was named RAF Lashenden in an attempt to confuse the enemy (Lashenden is to the southwest of the field). Flying started in 1943.

The USAAF Ninth Air Force required several temporary Advanced Landing Grounds (ALG) along the channel coast prior to the June 1944 Normandy Landings to provide tactical air support for the ground forces landing in France.

The following units were here at some point:

• No. 17 (Fighter) Wing RAF
• No. 127 Airfield
• 353rd Fighter Squadron
• 354th Fighter Group
• 355th Fighter Squadron
• 356th Fighter Squadron
• 362nd Fighter Squadron
• No. 403 Squadron RAF
• No. 421 Squadron RAF

 With the Americans having left, farming resumed in 1945 but this was not the end of the land's association with aircraft. In the late 1960s, the landowners started using part of the former wartime east-west runway site adjacent to the A274, for private flying. A grass airstrip was built aligned 10/28 with a grass parking area for light aircraft. This led to the formation of Weald Air Services Limited, a small charter company, and later a flying school was set up and the airfield became a busy center for light flying in the area.

Source of information: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, en.wikipedia.org

Source of photos: Google Map, www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk

TO THE MEMORY OF ALL WHO

SERVED FROM THIS AIRFIELD

1943-1944