RAF Kenley
The former Royal Air Force Station Kenley, more commonly known as RAF Kenley was an airfield station of the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War and the RAF in the Second World War. It played a significant role during the Battle of Britain as one of the three RAF stations specifically tasked with the defence of London. It is located near Kenley, Surrey, England.
History
Its main active phase commenced in 1917, and ceased in 1959 when RAF Fighter Command left the aerodrome. RAF Kenley now hosts 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, a Unit within the RAF 2 Flying Training School. RAF Kenley is classed as a Government aerodrome and is regulated by the Military Aviation Authority ; as such, all flying operations are governed by military regulations and safety standards. An Aerodrome Operator is appointed in accordance with MAA regulations, whose role is to actively manage the aerodrome environment to ensure it is safe for the operation of aircraft, and is the focal point for all aerodrome activity. This function, however, is undertaken remotely by an individual within the HQ of 2 FTS at RAF Syerston.During the Second World War RAF Kenley was one of the three main fighter stations responsible for the air defence of London. During the Battle of Britain, these three RAF stations became prominent because of their role in defending against the German Luftwaffe.
RAF Kenley suffered its worst damage in an attack on 18 August 1940. While 15 September is considered by many to be the climax of the Battle of Britain, 18 August is often cited as the costliest or hardest day — the British lost 68 aircraft and the Germans lost 69. At Kenley, two of the remaining three hangars, other buildings and ten aircraft, including six Hurricanes, were destroyed, while six more, including a Spitfire and two Hurricanes, were damaged. The runways were also heavily cratered by the bombing. The Sector Operations Room had to be moved to an emergency location away from the airfield.
Hammond Innes' book Attack Alarm, published in 1941, was based on his experiences as a Royal Artillery anti-aircraft gunner at RAF Kenley during the Battle of Britain. Innes' novels are marked by attention to accurate detail, and the book contains graphic descriptions of the station and attacks on it in 1940.
The pilots
Many famous pilots served at Kenley, including the famous South African fighter ace 'Sailor' Malan, Group Captain P.H. 'Dutch' Hugo, C. W. A. Scott who served there with No. 32 Squadron RAF from 1923 to 1926, and the British ace JE "Johnnie" Johnson, later Air Vice-Marshal, who took over the Canadian wing at Kenley in 1943.P/O Arthur Gerald Donahue, 64 Squadron, flew out of Kenley. Donahue was from St. Charles, Minnesota, USA, and was one of seven Americans to fly and fight in the Battle of Britain. He was shot down August 13, 1940, and suffered burns but later returned to service. Donahue described his experiences in the book, "Tally Ho! Yankee in a Spitfire" published by Macmillan in 1941.
Film location
The aerodrome was used as a location in the following films:Angels One Five and Reach for the Sky, the latter about Douglas Bader who was posted to RAF Kenley in 1930 No. 23 Squadron RAF shortly before his accident in 1931.
The present
Although few of the remaining buildings survive and the control tower was demolished after a fire in 1978 along with the remaining hangar, Kenley is thought to be the best preserved of all Second World War RAF fighter stations, with the runway still in its original configuration. English Heritage identified Kenley as "The most complete fighter airfield associated with the Battle of Britain to have survived". The respective councils of Croydon and Tandridge have designated the airfield site as a Conservation Area.The south-west corner, previously occupied by married quarters, has been redeveloped with modern high-density housing directly abutting the airfield. In December 2005, the former Officers' Mess building and surrounding land was sold to residential building developer, Comer Homes, and its future is uncertain as is that of the Royal Air Forces Association Portcullis Club.
Some of the original 12 E-shaped blast pens remain, as well as the shelters for the servicing personnel. One in particular — forming the background to the RAF memorial — has been fully restored. Since 2004 these structures are protected as Scheduled Monuments.
The airfield is still used today by flying the military Viking T Mk 1 glider. They provide gliding opportunities and training to members of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.
The land from the taxiway and inside is MOD land; however, outside this area is common land. It is therefore still possible to walk in the woods and on the common, meander around the airfield, and even go for a meal and a pint in the Wattenden Arms — a stone's throw from the airfield and said to have been a favourite with pilots during the war. The pub is decorated with pictures and artefacts associated with the airfield.
Part of the former air station is preserved as a tribute to the service personnel of the Commonwealth and Allied fighter squadrons who shared the honours with the RAF. In a former aircraft parking area in one of the blast pens a memorial was unveiled on 19 August 2000. Dedicated to the Royal Air Force and allied air forces, the inscription reads:
RAF Kenley Tribute in Honour of All Personnel Who Served Here 1917–1959.
At the foot of the memorial is inscribed the war-time quote commemorating the Battle of Britain:
Never in the field of human conflict, has so much been owed by so many to so few — Winston Churchill 1942.
The airfield is next to the HQ of .
The airfield is still in use by the Ministry of Defence and Surrey Hills Gliding Club for glider aircraft; however, the use of powered aircraft is currently prohibited.
Squadrons based at Kenley
| 1918 | No. 88 Squadron RAF No. 95 Squadron RAF No. 105 Squadron RAF No. 110 Squadron RAF No. 116 Squadron RAF No. 91 Squadron RAF |
| 1919 | No. 91 Squadron RAF No. 1 Squadron RAF |
| 1920 | No. 207 Squadron RAF No. 84 Squadron RAF No. 24 Squadron RAF No. 39 Squadron RAF |
| 1921 | No. 24 Squadron RAF No. 39 Squadron RAF |
| 1922 | No. 24 Squadron RAF |
| 1923 | No. 24 Squadron RAF |
| 1924 | No. 24 Squadron RAF No. 13 Squadron RAF |
| 1925 | No. 24 Squadron RAF No. 32 Squadron RAF |
| 1926 | No. 24 Squadron RAF No. 32 Squadron RAF |
| 1927 | No. 24 Squadron RAF No. 32 Squadron RAF No. 23 Squadron RAF |
| 1928 | No. 32 Squadron RAF No. 23 Squadron RAF |
| 1929 | No. 32 Squadron RAF No. 23 Squadron RAF |
| 1930 | No. 32 Squadron RAF No. 23 Squadron RAF |
| 1931 | No. 32 Squadron RAF No. 23 Squadron RAF |
| 1932 | No. 32 Squadron RAF No. 23 Squadron RAF |
| 1934 | No. 17 Squadron RAF No. 3 Squadron RAF |
| 1935 | No. 17 Squadron RAF No. 3 Squadron RAF |
| 1936 | No. 17 Squadron RAF No. 3 Squadron RAF No. 46 Squadron RAF |
| 1937 | No. 17 Squadron RAF No. 3 Squadron RAF No. 46 Squadron RAF No. 80 Squadron RAF No. 615 Squadron RAF |
| 1938 | No. 17 Squadron RAF No. 3 Squadron RAF No. 615 Squadron RAF No. 600 Squadron RAF |
| 1939 | No. 17 Squadron RAF No. 3 Squadron RAF No. 615 Squadron RAF |
| 1940 | No. 17 Squadron RAF No. 3 Squadron RAF No. 615 Squadron RAF No. 604 Squadron RAF No. 229 Squadron RAF No. 64 Squadron RAF No. 66 Squadron RAF No. 616 Squadron RAF No. 253 Squadron RAF No. 501 Squadron RAF |
| 1941 | No. 615 Squadron RAF No. 253 Squadron RAF No. 258 Squadron RAF No. 1 Squadron RAF No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron No. 312 Squadron RAF No. 485 Squadron RNZAF No. 602 Squadron RAF No. 452 Squadron RAAF No. 605 Squadron RAF |
| 1942 | No. 616 Squadron RAF No. 485 Squadron RNZAF No. 602 Squadron RAF No. 452 Squadron RAAF No. 111 Squadron RAF 308th Pursuit Sq. No. 402 Squadron RCAF No. 611 Squadron RAF No. 401 Squadron RCAF No. 412 Squadron RCAF No. 350 Squadron RAF No. 412 Squadron RCAF No. 421 Squadron RCAF |
| 1943 | No. 66 Squadron RAF No. 402 Squadron RCAF No. 401 Squadron RCAF No. 412 Squadron RCAF No. 421 Squadron RCAF No. 403 Squadron RCAF No. 411 Squadron RCAF No. 165 Squadron RAF No. 416 Squadron RCAF No. 400 Squadron RCAF |
| 1944 | No. 421 Squadron RCAF No. 403 Squadron RCAF No. 416 Squadron RCAF |
| 1949 | No. 661 Squadron RAF RA & RAF |
| 1959 No. 61 Group Communication Flight RAF | - |