Kent International Airport started its aviation days as a Royal Naval Station in 1916 with a base at Westgate for sea planes.

By 1917 Manston airfield had grown to include four underground hangars, its own railway line and barracks for 3,000 men.

After WW1 the airfield was used to train airmen in air frame maintenance.

It served as a fighter station during WW2 and was also used by Barnes Wallis to test his Bouncing bombs at near by Reculver.

The first jet fighter arrived at Manston in 1944 to attack the V1 flying bomb.

1950 the Americans Air force arrive and stay for eight years.

Manston remained a Royal Air Force station until 1999 when it changed from military to civilian ownership.

Today Manston is now known as Kent International Airport and is owned by Infratil Airports Europe and covers Aircraft category from Cat 2 to Cat 9 both Passenger and Freight airlines.

The Rescue and Fire Fighting Service has twenty one personnel which is currently structured in two watches of ten headed by Divisional officer Paul Condon, there are two Watch commanders, three deputy Watch Commanders, two Crew Commanders and fifteen fire-fighters.

To date the service attends a wide variety of calls including aircraft full emergency to road traffic accidents and first aid /medical calls.

We are also proud to serve as Community Co-Responders for South East Coast Ambulance Service responding to local calls around the Airport with life saving equipment.

The department maintains a fleet of three major foam tenders, two Cobras 2 and one Chubb Protector additionally there is a Vauxhall bravo which carries our emergency shelter.

All personnel are required to obtain the identified qualifications for there role, these are achieved through attending crew training days and refresher courses at the International Fire Training College Teesside Airport.

In 2003 several of our ranks received the Queens Golden Jubilee medal and this year nine members of our ranks will receive the Fire Service Long Service medal accounting for some nearly 200 years of Fire experience.

Divisional Officer Paul Condon 10 years

Station Officer Julian Williams 17 years

Station Officer Paul Dale 20 years

Sub Officer Malcolm Mallett 20 years

Sub Officer Justin Nicolson 17 years

Sub Officer Carl Davies 16 years

Leading Fire-fighter Frederick Costen 17 years

Leading Fire-fighter Scott Williams 10 years

Fire-fighter David White 18 years

Kent International Airport Fire Service

Long Service Awards 2006.