Did you know that in WW2 there was a Radar Station in Hooe?
The masts were situated in the fields behind Dewby’s Farmhouse, Dewby’s Barn and Manor Cottage. The image attached, taken in 1942, show the then farmer, one of the Clifton family, horse ploughing as was usual in our village up to the late 1940’s.
Did you know that in WW1 there was an airfield in Hooe?
Also known as: RFC Hooe Date: December 1916 (earliest known date) – 1 February 1918 (last known date) Used By: RFC
Main unit(s) present: No 39 Sqn & No 78 Sqn
Two of the Home Defence squadrons, No 39 and No 78 were formed for operations against Zeppelins and later Gotha bombers until November 1918, No 39 squadron initially flew with BE2s and from September 1917, Bristol F2Bs while No 78 also flew BE2’s and BE12 aircraft.
This was situated where Green Lane (Lower Road) meets the marsh Road. At the time the Marsh road did not exist and the aircraft would have operated from the flat area in front of the higher field opposite Bell House. Parish Councillor Robert Pilbeam, who lives in Bell House, and whose family farms this area, well remembers a large chalk guidance cross, now rarely visible being carved in this field, known as ‘Big Field’.
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