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Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 1385361

Hob Uid: 1385361
Location :
Greater London Authority
Bromley
Non Civil Parish
Grid Ref : TQ4150061300
Summary : World War Two type "E" fighter aircraft pens (blast pens) at former RAF Biggin Hill. The pens take the form of protective earthworks with brick or concrete dwarf retaining walls and revetments, with a floor of concrete or tarmac. Type "E" pens differ from other types in that the earthwork traverses have straight rather than curved arms. The purpose of the structure was to afford protection to fighter aircraft and personnel.
More information : An English Heritage report, produced in May 2003 records that some of the fighter pens were still extant at that date. (1)

The standard work by Paul Francis on military airfield architecture notes that Biggin Hill had type "E" fighter pens. The source describes the construction methods of fighter pens and includes a generic plan. (2)

An article in Airfield Review by Denis J Corley includes an explanation of the part that the pens at Biggin Hill played in the policy of parking aircraft in a dispersed manner, rather than concentrating them in large hangars, in order to prevent them making an easy target for enemy action . The article states that the pens were located on the north, east and south sides of the landing ground. (3)

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Source details : English Heritage Thematic Listing Programme, May 2003: "Survey of Military Aviation Sites and Structures Summary Report", unpaged.
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Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : World War II
Monument End Date : 1945
Monument Start Date : 1939
Monument Type : Blast Pen
Evidence : Structure, Earthwork

Components and Objects:
Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TQ 46 SW 59
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Related Warden Records :
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