The site was split between a commercial airport Kent International Airport (KIA), since closed, and a continuing military use by the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre (DFTDC), following on from a long-standing training facility for RAF firefighters at the RAF Manston base.

At the outset of the First World War, the Isle of Thanet was equipped with a small and precarious landing strip for aircraft at St Mildreds Bay, Westgate, on top of the chalk cliffs, at the foot of which was a promenade which had been used for seaplane operations.

In the winter of 1915–1916 these early aircraft first began to use the open farmlands at Manston as a site for emergency landings.

Its location near the Kent coast gave Manston some advantages over the other previously established aerodromes and regular additions in men and machinery were soon made, particularly, in these early days, from Detling.

Shortly after such formation raids and in consequence the Cabinet recommended the creation of a separate Air Ministry.

At the start of the Second World War, Manston hosted a School of Air Navigation but this was quickly moved out.

During an eventful Battle of Britain, Manston was heavily bombed; at its height (August 1940) diary entries recorded a steady stream of damage to aircraft and buildings.

For example, WAAFs (members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force) stationed at Manston were billeted at the nearby Ursuline Convent in Westgate-on-Sea.

These airfields were intended for use by returning bombers suffering from low-fuel and/or suspected damage to their pneumatic (wheel brake) and/or hydraulic (undercarriage) systems.

Being close to the front line, the airfield became something of a magnet for badly damaged aircraft that had suffered from ground fire, collisions, or air attack but retained a degree of airworthiness.

The 7th AD expanded Manston by building concrete bunkers suitable for nuclear weapons and upgrading the support facilities for long-term use.

The 12th, however, only remained at Manston until 30 November when it was replaced by the 123rd Fighter-Bomber Wing, with the 12th being transferred to Japan for combat duty during the Korean War.

The 123rd was an umbrella wing that was formed from several Air National Guard squadrons activated for federal service during the Korean War.

In July 1952 the Air National Guard squadrons were returned to State control, and USAFE assumed the fighter escort role.

In June F-86D's arrived from CONUS to equip the 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron which was transferred to the 406th from the 81st FBW assigned to RAF Shepherds Grove.

1 Air Experience Flight RAF flying de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunks was also based there.

The flight was withdrawn in 1969, but the outcry led to the RAF contracting Bristow Helicopters from 1971 to 1974 to provide a continued service (also using MK3 Whirlwhinds).

[8][9] The following units were here at some point:[10] For some years two commercial airlines operated out of Manston, Invicta Airways and Air Ferry.

From 1989 Manston became styled as Kent International Airport, and a new terminal was officially opened that year by the Duchess of York.

In 2007 the Army took over responsibility for firefighting across the armed services[citation needed] (except the Royal Navy whose Aircraft Handling Branch are the fire fighters at Naval Air Stations and are trained at RNAS Culdrose at the School of Flight Deck Operations) and the school became the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre (DFTDC).

In the vehicular combat multiplayer video game War Thunder, the 'Britain' map centers around RAF Manston.