RAF Horne Advanced Landing Ground

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Reference WMO/179579

Address:

Bones Lane

Horne

RH17 6HR

England

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Status: On original site
Type: Freestanding
Location: External
Setting: Roadside
Description: Rock
Materials:
  • Metal Metal (any)
  • Stone Sandstone
Lettering: Inscribed on a plaque
Conflicts:
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
About the memorial: Geographical Marker: After four and a half years of war, the prospects in 1944 that the end of World War II could be in sight, was in evidence all around. The military were being mobilised everywhere in England in preparation for D-Day – the day that the allies would invade mainland Europe. The RAF were heavily involved in this and sought out flat areas of countryside in southern England to use as temporary airfields as bases for the attack. One such piece of land identified was located in the far south east corner of Surrey on a small parcel of farmland across Bones Lane in the village of Horne. An RAF airfield was constructed here over three months and used for just seven weeks in May and June 1944. The airbase was a temporary home, under canvas and in primitive conditions, for 300 RAF personnel from at least five Allied nationalities. The local community could not farm or use some of its land for over a year and many did not know what was going on at the site as it was part of the confidential strategy for the end of the war. Sixty Spitfires were stationed at Horne’s airfield. Several RAF personnel who flew the aircraft lost their lives, were injured or captured as prisoners of war after flying over mainland Europe from the airfield. Horne Parish Council (HPC) continues to be proud of the amazing achievements from the construction of the airfield to the dedication of the RAF personnel who committed their lives to support the invasion that led to D-Day and final victory. In particular HPC remembers 130 (UK) Squadron, 303 (Polish) Squadron and 402 (Canadian) Squadron. In 1994 HPC marked this by erecting a memorial in their memory, exactly where one of the taxi-ways crossed Bones Lane. Horne Parish Council has been informed that one of the aircraft, Spitfire AB 910, still flies to this day for the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a lasting legacy to its pilot and the many allied pilots who flew from Horne on our behalf. The Spitfire was piloted by Flying Officer George Lawson, of 402 (Canadian) Squadron, which he flew from Horne on D-Day the 6th June 1944. F/O Lawson lived to the grand old age of 86 but sadly died on 15th September 2008. Australian Armed Forces, Canadadian Armed Forces, Polish Armed Forces New Zealand Armed Forces
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Spitfires of the Royal Air Force arrived on the airfield sited to the north of this point on 30 April 1944 and flew on offensive operations until they left on 19 June that year. This plaque commemorates the stay of these 3 Squadrons, which formed 142 Wing and all the airmen who served here, including those from Australia, Canada, Poland, New Zealand as well as from the British Isles and elsewhere. Their fighter aircraft were among the first over the beaches on D-Day 6 June 1944. We will continue to remember them.

130 (Punjab) Squadron 303 (Kosciuszko) Squadron 402 (City of Winnipeg) Squadron

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Horne Parish Council

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