It was a base for a Hawker Tempest wing that gave fighter cover over occupied France in the period up to and beyond D-Day and later defended south-east England against attack from V-1 flying bombs.

Newchurch was one of a number of Advanced Landing Grounds (ALG) built in Kent during 1943.

[2] In October 1943 the squadrons moved to RAF Detling while the airfield was improved.

Commanded by Wing Commander Roland Beamont the Newchurch Tempest Wing provided air cover for the Normandy landings it was then tasked with defending against attacks by V-1 flying bombs.

The Wing destroyed 638 V-1s before leaving Newchurch to support the advance through Belgium and the Netherland.