Royal Air Force Swingate Down or more simply RAF Swingate Down is a former Royal Air Force Chain Home Low radar station operational during the Second World War located north of Dover, Kent, England.
The site was situated on alongside RAF Dover, another Radar section together on the removed First World War landing ground of RAF Dover.
History First World War Swingate Aerodrome was first established in 1910 by Charles Rolls (of Rolls-Royce). With the increasing possibility of war, the site was further developed as a military airfield, becoming Dover (St. Margaret's) Aerodrome in July 1913, although still also known as 'Swingate'. At the outbreak of war in August 1914, all four squadrons of the RFC were posted to Swingate, and on 8 August 1914, the entire strength, a total of 56 aircraft, set out to cross the English Channel, bound for Amiens in France.
For the duration of the war, Swingate served as a training centre, and as a stopping-off point for aircraft before flying over the English Channel to France. The following units used Swingate in one way or another: No. 2 Squadron RFC No. 3 Squadron RFC No. 4 Squadron RFC No. 5 Squadron RFC No. 7 Squadron RFC No. 9 Squadron RFC No. 12 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron RFC No. 13 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron RFC No. 15 Squadron RFC No. 20 Reserve Squadron RFC No. 27 Squadron RFC No. 49 Squadron RFC No. 50 Squadron RFC No. 58 Squadron RFC No. 62 Training Squadron RFC No. 64 Reserve Squadron RFC No. 65 Training Squadron RFC No. 110 Squadron RFC No. 212 Squadron RFC 141st Aero Squadron (Pursuit), Air Service, United States ArmySeries "E", Volume 17, History of the 141st Aero Squadron. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C. Machine Gun School
Second World War RAF Dover was re-established as a Chain Home radar station during 1938.Action Stations No. 9 - Chris Ashworth pg. 79
RAF Swingate Down was located to the east of RAF Dover but within the confines of the old landing ground as Chain Home Low radar station.
Current use
The site is a transmitting station.
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