Redhill Aerodrome

Infobox Airport
name = Redhill Aerodrome
nativename =
nativename-a =
nativename-r =


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IATA = KRH
ICAO = EGKR
type = Public
owner =
operator = Redhill Aerodrome Ltd
city-served =
location = Redhill, Surrey
elevation-f = 222
elevation-m = 68
coordinates = Coord|51|12|49|N|000|08|19|W|type:airport
website =
metric-elev =
metric-rwy =
r1-number = 18/36
r1-length-f = 2,792
r1-length-m = 851
r1-surface = Grass
r2-number = 08R/26L
r2-length-f = 2,943
r2-length-m = 897
r2-surface = Grass
r3-number = 08L/26R
r3-length-f = 2,241
r3-length-m = 683
r3-surface = Grass
stat-year =
stat1-header =
stat1-data =
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Redhill Aerodrome Airport codes|KRH|EGKR is located 1.6 nautical miles (2.8 km) southeast of Redhill, Surrey, England.

Redhill Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P421) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Redhill Aerodrome Limited) [ [http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/375/srg_asd_ordinarylicences.pdf Civil Aviation Authority Aerodrome Ordinary Licences] ] .

Early History

The airfield came into use in the 1930s for private flying and it was used as an alternate airfield to Croydon Airport by Imperial Airways.

An Elementary Flying Training School was formed at Redhill in July 1937. Training continued at the start of the Second World War using the Miles Magister. The Fairey Battle was also flown particularly for use with the Polish Grading and Testing Flight.

With the threat of a Germany attack on the airfield the Flying Training School moved to northern England in June 1940.

RAF Redhill

With the withdrawal of the Flying Training School the airfield became an operational RAF station. First to move in were 16 Squadron operating the Westland Lysander. The Lysander's did not stay long and RAF Redhill had many short-term deployments of mainly fighter squadrons.

In August 1942 the airfield had five squadrons based. By the end of 1943 the fighter squadrons had moved on and the airfield was used by support units until the end of the war.

Flying squadrons

* 1 Sqn - Hawker Hurricane
* 16 Sqn - Westland Lysander
* 66 Sqn - Supermarine Spitfire
* No. 110 Squadron RCAF - Lysander
* 116 Sqn - Airspeed Oxford and Avro Anson
* 131 Sqn - Spitfire
* 219 Sqn - Bristol Blenheim, Bristol Beaufighter
* 231 Sqn - North American Mustang
* 258 Sqn - Hurricane
* 287 Sqn
* 303 Sqn - Spitfire
* 310 Sqn - Spitfire
* 312 Sqn - Spitfire
* 340 Sqn - Spitfire
* 350 Sqn - Spitfire
* No. 400 Squadron RCAF - Mustang
* No. 402 Squadron RCAF - Mustang
* No. 414 Squadron RCAF - Mustang
* No. 416 Squadron RCAF - Spitfire
* No. 421 Squadron RCAF - Spitfire
* No. 452 Squadron RAAF - Spitfire
* No. 457 Squadron RAAF - Spitfire
* No. 485 Squadron RNZAF - Spitfire
* 504 Sqn - Spitfire
* 602 Sqn - Spitfire
* 611 Sqn - Spitfire

Post-War

The airfield returned to civilian use in 1947 but was suspended in 1954. In 1959 flying resumed at Redhill when the Tiger Club moved in. The following year Bristow Helicopters started to use Redhill as an operating base and carry out Helicopter maintenance for the next 40 years.

The grass airfield is still operated for private flying and training, with an emphasis on helicopter operators.

The airfield has also been the venue for the flying displays and aviation trade shows, including the annual Redhill Airshow, which was focused around a charitable cause.

References

*United Kingdom AIP

External links

* [http://www.redhillaerodrome.com/ Redhill Aerodrome official site]