610 Squadron RAF Gravesend 1940

610 (County of Chester) Squadron were stationed at RAF Gravesend from May to July 1940. During that relatively short time, the squadron lost eight pilots while defending our Country and supporting the allied evacuation from the Dunkirk beaches.
2015 being the 75th anniversary of those events; the 610 Squadron Association has arranged to install a commemorative plaque to those eight pilots, at Cascades Leisure Centre, Gravesend. (The leisure centre stands on part of the extended site of the former wartime RAF fighter station and already has a memorial plaque to the pilots of 501 and 66 Squadrons, killed whilst stationed at Gravesend during the later Battle of Britain.)
This video was produced as a tribute to the members of the Squadron lost at that time and also, to further explain the events that led to their deaths.

[@wildernessactivitiescanada1030]

I lived near the bottom of Thong Lane. The Gravesend Aerodrome (as we called it) was about a mile up the lane where the land became level
I was a boy 7 years old in 1940. I remember the pilots going to have a drink in the cellar of the White Hart pub in the village of Chalk. The cellar was known as Daniels den the name of he landlord.

[@JohnT38T]

Apologies - only just noticed this comment - thank you. Your recollections are of course absolutely spot-on. I don't know if you have seen it yet, but we have an excellent Facebook Group relating to the airport, that you might be interested in facebook.com/groups/RAFGravesend/

[@simonkynaston6751]

Any chance you could share some memories on the Gravesend Airport Facebook Page?

[@ianrobert6239]

Thank you for sharing.

[@ijg4427]

I was 7 years old at that time living on Lower Higham Road just at the bottom of the hill about a mile from the airport
I can remember walking up Thong Lane to the guards at the airport

[@ZarniwoopVannHaarl]

Excellent tribute video. Curious could you list the music you used for this? Thank you

[@RotorHead2652]

Hey nice video I was wondering if you could shine some light on any ace pilots in this squadron ? I have just finished building a radio control model Supermarine mrk 8 and my friend told me about 610 squadron as I myself live in chester I was wonjdering if you could recommend a 610 squadron paint scheme and tail marking. thanks.

[@JohnT38T]

Hi Carl - maybe you would like to join the RAF Gravesend & Gravesend Airport Facebook Group? We have a 610 Squadron Association member, and numerous others who may be able to assist... facebook.com/groups/RAFGravesend/