Initially a military airfield, after the First World War it was used as an alternate destination to Croydon Airport, with some civil flying taking place.

The airfield closed following the crash of a Flying Flea at an air display in 1936, and was converted to a polo ground.

[7] A large house, Knotley Hall, which stood to the south of the airfield was requisitioned for use as the officer's accommodation.

[10] In September 1919, it was announced that Penshurst had been disposed of by the Royal Air Force, and that it could be considered as an emergency landing ground for civil aircraft.

He was eventually forced to land at Penshurst due to a combination of the weather and running low on fuel.

[17] On 10 June 1922, Alan Cobham was forced to land his de Havilland DH.9 at Penshurst owing to poor weather conditions at Stag Lane Aerodrome, Edgware.

He was attempting a 1,200 mi (1,900 km) flight from Belgrade, Yugoslavia bringing photographs of the Royal Wedding between King Alexander and Princess Maria for publication by the Daily Mirror.

The site originally chosen, a field about a mile outside Tunbridge Wells was deemed unsuitable as there were obstacles surrounding it.

The pageant was to promote the proposed Tunbridge Wells Flying Club, whose President was to be Sir Robert Gower.

A de Havilland DH.60 Gipsy Moth was exhibited at a car showroom in Tunbridge Wells, causing severe traffic congestion due to the number of people visiting the town to see it.

[25] By October 1930, Mr Waters, the manager of Home Counties Aircraft Service Ltd had formed the Surrey Aero Club, based at Gatwick Racecourse Aerodrome.

On 18 February 1932, Croydon and Penshurst were both fogbound, and Handley Page H.P.45 G-AAXE Hengist diverted to Heston Aerodrome.

As Customs facilities existed there, passengers were on their way in 10 minutes, as opposed to the three hour or longer delay when using Penshurst.

[27] The practice of having a Customs Officer attend Penshurst on a daily basis was instigated, but it was discontinued in February 1935.

[28] On 24 October 1932, a German and a French airliner diverted to Penshurst due to smog over London.

[32] In that year, Penshurst marked the south eastern corner of Croydon's controlled zone which came into effect during conditions of bad visibility.

Lindbergh made a speech to the Aero Club in Berlin which was reported in the Völkischer Beobachter.

15 Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Redhill as a relief landing ground.

[1] During the Battle of Britain, on 27 October 1940, a Messerschmitt Bf 109E flown by Fw Lothar Schieverhofer,[47] of 3 Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 52,[48] was damaged in a dogfight with Supermarine Spitfire IIa P7494 of No.

Chesters was forced to hand back Schieverhofer's Iron Cross, which he had snatched as a souvenir, and instead took the first aid kit from the Messerschmitt.

[7] On 13 January 1944, an Auster was presented to 653 Squadron in memory of Scottish aviation pioneer Bertram Dickson.

[7] LB264, one of 653 Squadron's Austers which operated from RAF Penshurst, is preserved at the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon.

[54] On 6 July 1944, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress 43–37527 N7-X The Prowler of the 603d Bombardment Squadron, USAAF made an emergency wheels-up landing at RAF Penshurst.

[1] On 10 July 1945 Douglas C-47A Dakota 42-108872 of the 23d Fighter Squadron USAAF crashed on landing at RAF Penshurst.