▁ ▁R AF ▁F ighter ▁Command ▁use ▁The ▁air field ▁was ▁built ▁on ▁a ▁new ▁site ▁by ▁John ▁La ing ▁& ▁Son ▁in ▁the ▁late ▁ 1 9 3 0 s . ▁It ▁opened ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁as ▁a ▁F ighter ▁Command ▁Station ▁covering ▁the ▁NE ▁of ▁England ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II . ▁Many ▁Def i ant ▁and ▁Sp it fire ▁Squad rons ▁rest ed ▁here ▁for ▁a ▁short ▁time ▁during ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Britain . ▁ ▁S gt ▁Ian ▁Cl ens h aw ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁pilot ▁cas ual ty ▁during ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Britain , ▁when ▁he ▁fle w ▁on ▁a ▁dawn ▁pat rol ▁from ▁here ▁on ▁ 1 0 ▁July ▁ 1 9 4 0 , ▁and ▁was ▁killed ▁in ▁what ▁is ▁generally ▁regarded ▁as ▁a ▁dis orientation ▁accident . ▁ ▁The ▁air field ▁was ▁home ▁of ▁Number ▁ 7 1 ▁Squadron ▁of ▁the ▁R AF ' s ▁F ighter ▁Command . ▁ ▁The ▁squad ron ▁was ▁made ▁up ▁of ▁mostly ▁American ▁pil ots ▁and ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁" E agle ▁Squad rons " ▁of ▁American ▁volunte ers ▁who ▁fought ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁prior ▁to ▁the ▁American ▁entry ▁into ▁the ▁war . ▁▁ 7 1 ▁Squadron ▁was ▁assigned ▁the ▁squad ron ▁code ▁X R . ▁ ▁The ▁squad ron ▁arrived ▁at ▁the ▁station ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁and ▁ ▁by ▁January ▁the ▁squad ron ▁was ▁declared ▁combat ▁ready . ▁They ▁began ▁flying ▁con voy ▁esc ort s ▁over ▁the ▁North ▁Sea