Croydon aerodrome was the world's first international airport. It was closed to civil traffic at the start of WW2 to become an RAF fighter station. It was in the front line for the Battle of Britain. On 15 August 1940 it was targeted during the first major raid on the London area. In February 1946 it was handed back to civil control but with no room for expansion the decision was taken to close it and the last scheduled plane flew out on 30 September 1959.
We cannot find a picture of the airport from the wartime, but perhaps that's due to security preventing any being taken. Our undated picture is of the inside of the control tower.
