Deanland was planned as an Advanced Landing Ground in order to provide support for the D-Day Landings on 6^th June 1944. Construction was started in the Spring of 1943, and the first aircraft to take to the air on D-Day flew from Deanland, providing top-cover over the Omaha and Gold beach-heads.

Copies of the original War Department maps of the Airfield, and photographs of the construction phase may be seen at Deanland, and an extensive history of the Airfield, with full details of resident Squadrons, and the aircraft which they operated, has been compiled. The Airfield operators hold much of this information, and will supply details upon request.

On 6^th June 1994, the 50^th Anniversary of D-Day, Deanland held a special day when Air Marshall Sir Neil Wheeler, who was with Churchill on D-Day, presented a plaque, to be hung in Ripe Parish Church. Pictured above left, is Gerry Price, Sir Neil and the Vicar of Ripe during the presentation. Pictured above right, is a photo of the plaque showing the  insignia of Deanland based squadrons. The plaque was commissioned by the owners of Deanland and drawn by Karl Suttner, a Firle resident. Also on the 6th, an oak-tree was planted at the Western end of the entrance-road - this tree commemorates the pilots who died in operations from Deanland. The Downlands Flying Group commissioned, and donated, a brass plaque to record the commemorative planting, and this is in place in front of the tree. Pictured is Karen Brook with Catharine Price and Sophie Brook during the planting ceremony. The climax of the day was when the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight gave two fly pasts over the airfield.

The Airfield was dormant for a time, post-war, but the land came into the ownership of Richard Chandless, a farmer, who reactivated the site as an airfield in 1963. Richard operated his own aircraft, and he was for a number of years the main U.K. agent for Avions Pierre Robin demonstrating and selling new and used aircraft from Deanland. Richard invited a number of other aircraft owners to keep their machines at Deanland. During Richards time Deanland became a very active airfield, both day and night, lights were installed shortly after the runway was re-activated. It was used by a number of local business men, farmers and visitors to the area. With Glyndebourne Opera House close it was very normal to see both light aircraft and helicopters parked while their owners enjoyed the opera. It was from Richard that the present owners, bought the Airfield in 1991 and it is currently operated by Deanland Airfield LLP. It has been the present operators stance that Deanland should remain the premier home for light aviation in East Sussex, if not the south of England!