After the War, Manston became a Transport Command staging post. Between 1950 and 1958, Manston was under the control of the USAAF. The 60s were dominated by aircraft using the Foam Landing system which became operational in 1964. Until it closed in 1999 RAF Manston remained an important front-line station with a long history going back to 1916.
Having been classified by the Air Ministry as a ‘Master Diversion’ airfield, RAF Manston was for many years open twenty-four hours a day and available to both civil and military aircraft 365 days a year. It was also later equipped with the Pyrene foam system, which both civil and military aircraft could use when they had problems with their undercarriage: there is no doubt that the foam carpet saved many lives. The most spectacular occasion that it was used was on 20 April 1967 when a British Eagle Britannia made a complete wheels-up landing. It is claimed that Manston was the only station to serve in every command of the RAF and until its closure in 1999; it probably dealt with more diverse types of aircraft than any other station. During its eighty-three years as a Royal Naval/RAF airfield, it played host to the Sopwith Camel, Spitfire, Bf 109, He 111, B-29, B-47, Tu-104, F-84 and Concorde, plus many other types that are too numerous to mention.
After the War Manston became a Transport Command staging post. Between 1950 and 1958 Manston was under the control of the USAAF. The 60s were dominated by aircraft using the Foam Landing system which became operational in 1964. Until it closed in 1999 RAF Manston remained an important front-line station with a long history going back to 1916.
