On June 24th 1940, Hugh Dowding agreed a scheme with the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff by which thirty airfields belonging to other Commands could be used if Fighter Command stations had to be evacuated. The scheme was aimed at keeping Fighter Command flying in the event of invasion - but could also be actioned if stations were forced out of operation. The idea was that a party from the "home" unit would be sent to get the reserve field up and running, while the rest stayed behind and kept up the defence of the landing ground; it would consist of whatever fitters and maintenance staff could be spared from the parent unit. Ideally, POL and ammunition would have been laid down at the alternative fields - but a shortage of petrol bowsers prevented anything much being done in this respect during the three months of the BoB. I only have a partial list of the thirty, those for the larger stations - Biggin Hill's alternate was Heathrow, borrowed from Bomber Command Tangmere's was Odiham, borrowed from No.22 Group Kenley's was Worthy Down, borrowed from the Admiralty Hornchurch's was Hatfield, borrowed from No.22 Group North Weald's were Henlow and Cranfield, borrowed from Flying Training Command Middle Wallop's was Upavon, borrowed from Flying Training Command Filton's was Hullavington, borrowed from Flying Training Command Northolt's were Benson and Abingdon, borrowed from Bomber Command ..which means I have ten out of the thirty alternates. Can anyone supply the full list?
I can add one more combination... Martlesham Heath in Suffolk would evacuate to Debden or Castle Camps.
