As a flying club airfield during the 1930s, West Malling was well known and very popular. 1939 saw it requisitioned by the military and it became a forward landing ground to Biggin Hill and Kenley. Though out of use during the Battle of Britain due to non-completion of the building work, and heavy bombing by the Luftwaffe, from 1941 onwards it became the premier night-fighter station in No. 11 Group, Fighter Command. During the Dieppe operation the airfield was used by day fighter squadrons and in 1944 became the main anti-diver airfield for the aerial destruction of the V1 Flying Bomb. In peace it continued the night defense of our country until the RAF left in 1960.