A Look Back at Headcorn’s Aviation Heritage
10 Oct 2025
Before it became home to the Headcorn International Airshow, Headcorn Aerodrome played a crucial role in the Second World War. Known at the time as Lashenden Advanced Landing Ground, the site was one of several temporary airfields built across Kent to support Allied operations during the campaign in Europe.
From Farmland to Airfield
The site was surveyed in 1941–42 and by July 1943 had been accepted as suitable for an Advanced Landing Ground. A few months later it was designated as a light bomber base, with final plans approved in December of that year. Construction was carried out by the 5003rd and 5004th Airfield Construction Squadrons, who transformed farmland into a fully operational military site.
The work created two Sommerfeld track runways, the main measuring 4,800 feet parallel to the River Beult and a secondary 4,200-foot strip crossing Shenley Road. Eighty aircraft hard standings were laid out, along with a Butler combat hangar and a 74,000-gallon aviation fuel store. Local farms and buildings were requisitioned for use as workshops, stores, and living quarters.
The Canadian Arrival
In August 1943, Lashenden welcomed 403 and 421 Squadrons of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Equipped with Supermarine Spitfire IXs, they were part of 127 Wing of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, commanded by Wing Commander J.E. Johnson, who would go on to become the highest-scoring RAF fighter ace of the war. Although their time at Lashenden was brief, it marked the beginning of the aerodrome’s role as a staging post for the forthcoming invasion of Europe.
The Americans Take Command
On 15 April 1944, Lashenden became the headquarters of the 100th Fighter Wing of the United States Army Air Forces’ XIX Tactical Air Command. From there it controlled four fighter groups across Kent, including the 354th Fighter Group which was based on site. Flying the new P-51B Mustang, the 354th became renowned for long-range escort missions into Germany.
During their time at Lashenden, the group flew missions as far as Mannheim and Magdeburg, claiming dozens of enemy aircraft destroyed and earning a Distinguished Unit Citation. On D-Day they were held in reserve until late afternoon, before joining the effort over France. By July 1944, more than 1,000 American personnel had departed Lashenden for forward bases in Normandy.
American Squadrons at Headcorn
In April 1944, RAF Headcorn – then known as Lashenden Advanced Landing Ground (AAF-410) – became home to the U.S. Ninth Air Force’s 354th Fighter Group, part of the 100th Fighter Wing under the XIX Tactical Air Command. Flying the new North American P-51B Mustang, the group earned the nickname “The Pioneer Mustang Group” as the first American unit to fly the Mustang in combat.
The 354th Fighter Group comprised three squadrons:
353rd Fighter Squadron – Bomber-escort and ground-attack missions deep into occupied Europe.
355th Fighter Squadron – Pre-invasion strikes and air cover during the Normandy landings.
356th Fighter Squadron – Escort operations and fighter sweeps across northern France and Germany.
During their time at Lashenden, the group flew as far as Mannheim and Magdeburg, destroying numerous enemy aircraft and earning a Distinguished Unit Citation. A memorial plaque at Headcorn honours the American airmen who served here.
By July 1944, over a thousand U.S. personnel of the 354th Fighter Group had moved to forward bases in Normandy as the Allied advance continued.
Legacy and Modern Day
After the war, the 354th Fighter Group was redesignated several times, continuing today as the 354th Fighter Wing, based at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia (previously Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina). The Wing has flown aircraft from the F-100 Super Sabre to the A-10 Thunderbolt II, and its motto “Valor in Combat” preserves the heritage of the Mustang pilots who once flew from the Kentish fields of Lashenden.
A Legacy Remembered
In January 1945, the airfield was returned to its original owners and the land reverted to agriculture. Its wartime role, however, left an indelible mark. From the roar of Spitfires to the thunder of Mustangs, Lashenden became part of the story of the Allied victory in Europe.
Today, the Headcorn International Airshow keeps this heritage alive. Visitors can once again see Spitfires, Mustangs and other aircraft in flight over the same Kentish fields, ensuring the story of Lashenden continues to be remembered.
Experience History in Flight
On 27–28 June 2026, the skies above Headcorn will once again be filled with the aircraft that defined the 20th century, alongside modern display teams and family attractions. Tickets for the Headcorn International Airshow 2026 are on sale now.
