RAF Hawkinge - Fuel Bunker June 2011

[tank2020]

I had a few spare hours so went for a drive down Folkestone way. I had heard that there was a derelict school around. I actually found 3 empty schools but was unable to get in any of them. Yet!
On the way home I remembered a place I had seen once whilst driving about, a green “Telly Tubby” type hill with pipes sticking out of the mound.

It turns out to be an old fuel bunker that served RAF Hawkinge, constructed in the 1930’s. Almost all of the old base has gone and is now part of a new housing estate. The "Battle of Britain Museum" remains in original buildings, and some industrial premises.

RAF Hawkinge was an airfield in Kent, near to the south coast and the closest airfield to the French coast. It took part in the Battle of Britain and it was home to No. 79 Squadron.

Active October 1915 – 8 December 1958
Country - United Kingdom
Branch - Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force
Type - Flying station
Role -Defence of London & South East England, Fighter Offensive, Heavy Bomber Escort Duty, Support, Flying Training
Part of - No. 11 Group RAF
Garrison/HQ - Hawkinge, Kent, England

Taken from - http://military-genealogy.forcesreunited.org.uk/596/RAF_Hawkinge

Cheers for looking

 

[godzilla73]

Jolly good that. One for the list when I am down there next!
GDZ

 

[chizyramone]

Cool, thanks for posting.

 

[oldscrote]

I like this,did it still have a vague smell of fuel oil?

 

[tank2020]

I like this,did it still have a vague smell of fuel oil?

I don't recall any odour, I actually thought it was a covered reservoir until i done a bit research. All the tanks are still there, they appear to go quite deep if you shine the torch down the tubes.

Word of advice, if you wear prescription sunglasses don't forget you normal ones, as it hard looking around in the dark with sunglasses on, or no glasses at all.