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RAF Chailey
Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
Chailey, East Sussex in England
RAF Chailey is located in East Sussex
RAF Chailey
RAF Chailey
Shown within East Sussex
Coordinates 50°57′19″N 000°03′20″W / 50.95528°N 0.05556°W / 50.95528; -0.05556
Type Advanced Landing Ground
Code AJ
Site information
Owner Air Ministry
Operator Royal Air Force
Controlled by RAF Second Tactical Air Force
* No. 84 Group RAF
RAF Fighter Command
No. 11 Group RAF
Site history
Built 1943 (1943)
Built by RAF Airfield Construction Service
In use June 1943 - January 1945 (1945)
Battles/wars European theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation 32 metres (105 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00/00  Sommerfeld Tracking
00/00  Sommerfeld Tracking
Polish War Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 1509578
The RAF Chailey memorial at The Plough pub in Plumpton.

RAF Chailey was a special kind of airfield used by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. It was located near the village of Chailey in East Sussex, England. This airfield was known as an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG). ALGs were simple, temporary airfields. They were built quickly to help support the invasion of Europe.

History of RAF Chailey

This airfield was built on land that used to be Bower Farm. The idea for an airfield here started in 1942. At first, it was planned to be a fighter base. This was part of a bigger plan to expand the air force after the Battle of Britain.

Building the Airfield

Construction of RAF Chailey began in 1943. By then, the war strategy had changed. The airfield was then given to the RAF Second Tactical Air Force. Its new purpose was to support the invasion of mainland Europe. This huge invasion was secretly called Operation Overlord.

To build the airfield, a local pub called 'The Plough' had to be moved. It was right at the end of the runway! The pub was taken down and rebuilt about half a mile away. Today, this new pub location is where you can find the RAF Chailey memorial.

Who Served at RAF Chailey?

RAF Chailey became home to No. 131 Airfield RAF. This unit later became known as No. 131 (Polish) Wing. It included three important squadrons:

These squadrons were made up of brave Polish pilots. The highest-ranking Polish officer in the RAF, Group Captain Aleksander Gabszewicz, was in charge of the station. The airfield also hosted No. 1312 Mobile Wing RAF Regiment.

After the War

After the war ended, RAF Chailey was no longer needed for military use. In 1945, the land was given back to its original owners. It then went back to being used as farmland.

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