Marden Airfield RAF Marden Pagehurst Emergency Landing Ground | |||||||||||
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| Airport type | Private/Military | ||||||||||
| Serves | Marden /Staplehurst | ||||||||||
| Location | Staplehurst, Kent | ||||||||||
| Built | 1917 | ||||||||||
| In use | 1917–1935 | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 90 ft / 27 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 51°10′N000°31′E / 51.167°N 0.517°E /51.167; 0.517 | ||||||||||
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  Marden Airfield Location in Kent | |||||||||||
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Marden Airfield was an airfield inMarden, Kent,United Kingdom. It was operation from 1917 to 1935. Initially aRoyal Flying Corps airfield during theFirst World War it was used post-war as an Emergency Landing Strip,RAF Marden by theRoyal Air Force. It was also known asPagehurst Emergency Landing Ground. Later serving as a civil Emergency Landing Ground, the airfield closed in 1935. The site housed a Royal Air Force transmitter station during theSecond World War.
Marden Airfield was located east of Marden and west of Staplehurst, and south of theAshford - Tonbridge railway line, inOrdnance Survey grid squareTQ7643. (51°10′N000°31′E / 51.167°N 0.517°E /51.167; 0.517), thus north east ofMarden Thorn. Although known as Marden Airfield, most of the site lies within the parish of Staplehurst. The site is 90 ft (27 m) above sea level and was 900 by 350 yd (820 by 320 m).[1]
Marden Airfield was established in January 1917.[2] It was a Second Class Landing Ground. Facilities were limited to aBessonneau hangar located in the south east corner of the airfield.[1] It was used as an Emergency Landing Ground. One example of such use was on 16 March 1917 when aRoyal Aircraft Factory BE2c of50 SquadronRoyal Flying Corps landed at Marden following engine trouble. In 1918, pilots of141 Squadron,Royal Air Force, who were taking part in ground-to-airradio telephony exercises were in the habit of making "precautionary" landings at RAF Marden. The pilots did this in order to enjoy the food served at the Station Hotel, Staplehurst. This practice continued until the Commanding Officer of 49 Wing had a genuine problem and landed at Marden. On seeing six Bristol fighters lined up, he made enquiries and discovered the truth. The practice was stopped.[3]
Marden was still in use by the RAF in 1919, whenGroup CaptainCharles Eaton landed on 4 July at Marden inAirco DH.4 F5759 following engine trouble. Eaton was returning fromParis where he had been attending theVersailles Peace Conference. After repairs had been made, Eaton departed forRAF Kenley, but his engine failed nearGodstone,Surrey where the aircraft crash-landed and was written off.[4]
In civil use, the longest available runway was 2,100 ft (640 m) long. The western part of the airfield was separated from the main landing ground by a ditch, which was bridged over a 100 ft (30 m) length to allow access for aircraft. The Bessonneau hangar had been removed by the RAF. Awindsock was located in the north eastern corner of the airfield. The airfield was identified by a circle ofwhitewashed stones 60 ft (18 m) diameter with the wordMARDEN spelled out in the centre. It was lit at night. Telegraph wires at a height of 25 ft (7.6 m) were an obstacle at the west end of the airfield.[5] A navigational beacon was installed at Marden. It was powered byclockwork and had to be wound daily. Lighting at Marden progressed from Chance lights to Gooseneck flares and Money flares over the years.[6] In the latter years of operation, night landing was possible by giving four hours notice toLympne Airport not later than 4pm.[5]
Marden remained in use as a civil Emergency Landing Ground. On 27 October 1919, aHandley Page O/400 ofHandley Page Transport landed at Marden due to strong winds preventing it reachingCroydon.[7] On 13 August 1923,de Havilland DH.34 G-EBBW ofInstone Air Line landed at Marden due to a broken oil pipe. The aircraft was repaired and returned to Croydon.[8] One Wednesday in September 1927, anAir Union aircraft on a flight fromParis to Croydon landed at Marden due to engine trouble. Another aircraft was sent from Croydon to collect the 11 passengers and take them to their destination.[4] Marden was still in operation in 1934, when it was mentioned inKelly's Directory for Kent.[6] In August 1934, ade Havilland Leopard Moth on a flight fromHeston toSt Inglevert, France made a landing at Marden as a child passenger was suffering fromairsickness. The flight was resumed after the child had recovered.[9] Marden closed on 24 June 1935,[2] and the land then reverted to farmland. A RAF wireless station was based on the site during theSecond World War.[10] The last aircraft to land at Marden was on 10 October 1940, during theBattle of Britain, when aHawker Hurricane of253 Squadron made a forced landing and overturned, the pilot escaping with a cut thumb.[11]
Marden Airfield was active again from the mid-1980s until 1998 and was home to a small collection of vintageDe Havilland aeroplanes owned by Roger Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes who lived at Great Pagehurst on a site adjacent the former Marden Airfield. Due to hangarage space he rotated his collection between Marden andHeadcorn Aerodrome; Fiennes collection of aeroplanes included:De Havilland DH.82 Tiger MothG-BALX;De Havilland DH.83 Fox MothG-ACDD (ZK-AEK, C-FYPM);De Havilland DH.87 Hornet MothG-ADNE;Jodel D.140 MousquetaireG-TOAD.
Roger Fiennes disappeared over the English Channel on 19 April 1998 while flying from Dieppe toHeadcorn Aerodrome. Neither Fiennes nor the wreckage of his Tiger MothG-BALX were ever found, following his disappearance all flying at Marden Airfield ceased.