RAF Kenley

Last updated

RAF Kenley
Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
Kenley, Croydon, Greater London in England
Royal Air Force Fighter Command, 1939-1945. CH6345.jpg
Raf kenley badge.png
Nisi dominus pro nobis
(Latin for 'We depend on the Lord')
Greater London UK location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
RAF Kenley
Shown within Greater London
Coordinates 51°18′13″N000°05′42″W / 51.30361°N 0.09500°W / 51.30361; -0.09500
TypeRoyal Air Force station
CodeKE
Area49 hectares [1]
Site information
Owner Ministry of Defence (MOD)
Operator Royal Air Force
Controlled by No. 22 Group
ConditionOpen
Site history
Built1917 (1917)
Built byConstable, Hart & Co Ltd
In use1917–present
FateRetained by the MOD and used for gliding, some parts of airfield sold for residential redevelopment.
Battles/wars European theatre of World War II
Garrison information
Occupants No. 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron
Airfield information
Identifiers ICAO: EGKN, WMO: 03781
Elevation160 metres (525 ft) [2] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
NE/SW1,130 metres (3,707 ft)  Concrete
NW/SE770 metres (2,526 ft) Concrete

Royal Air Force Kenley, more commonly known as RAF Kenley is a former 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 on the edge of Greater London. The site remains in use with the Ministry of Defence, as Kenley Airfield.

Contents

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 (VGS), a Unit within the RAF 2 Flying Training School (2 FTS). RAF Kenley is classed as a government aerodrome and is regulated by the Military Aviation Authority (MAA); as such, all flying operations are governed by military regulations and safety standards. An aerodrome operator (AO) 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.

In August 1939, construction was started in preparation for future operation of new aircraft, such as Hurricanes, Spitfires and Blenheims. Unsuitable hangars from WWI were demolished, and two concrete runways were built, plus perimeter track, blast pens, increased storage for fuels and oils, and a dedicated armoury. Construction was largely completed in early 1940. [3]

During the Second World War RAF Kenley was one of the three main fighter stations (Kenley, Croydon and Biggin Hill) 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 (three had been removed in 1939), 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. [4]

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 (winner of the MacRobertson Air Race) 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 13 August 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.

Squadrons based at Kenley

AOC's visit to 46 Sqn at RAF Kenley to present Sqn Plaque 1938 Kenley Sqn photo.jpg
AOC's visit to 46 Sqn at RAF Kenley to present Sqn Plaque 1938
Line up of 485 Sqn. 'Subscription' Spitfire Mk. Vbs at RAF Kenley in 1941 Spitfire V 485-2.jpg
Line up of 485 Sqn. 'Subscription' Spitfire Mk. Vbs at RAF Kenley in 1941
Kenley memorial with blast pen in background RAF Kenley - memorial.JPG
Kenley memorial with blast pen in background

The following units were here at some point:

Squadrons
Other units
[39]

The present

Looking down the north-south runway from the Northern end Kenley Runway.jpg
Looking down the north–south runway from the Northern end

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 (in 2000) 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 (2006).

Aerial view of RAF Kenley RAF Kenley.JPG
Aerial view of RAF Kenley

The south-west corner, previously occupied by married quarters, has been redeveloped with modern high-density housing directly abutting the airfield (the area was excluded from the Green Belt as part of the Tandridge District Local Plan and thus not included within the conservation area). In December 2005, the Grade II Listed former officers' mess building and surrounding land was sold to residential building developer, Comer Homes, and having more recently suffered a fire and vandalism, its future is uncertain as is that of the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) Portcullis Club.

Eleven of the original 12 E-shaped blast pens remain in part or whole, 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 615 VGS (Volunteer Gliding Squadron) flying the military Viking T.1 glider. They provide gliding opportunities and training to members of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.

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 450 Kenley Air Cadets.

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.

The aerodrome was used as a location in the following films: Angels One Five (1952) and Reach for the Sky (1956), the latter about Douglas Bader who was posted to RAF Kenley in 1930 No. 23 Squadron RAF shortly before his accident in 1931.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Leeming</span> Royal Air Force base in Yorkshire, England

Royal Air Force Leeming or more simply RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station located near Leeming, North Yorkshire, England. It was opened in 1940 and was jointly used by the RAF and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Between 1950 and 1991, it operated mostly as a training base with Quick Reaction Force (QRF) Panavia Tornado F3 fighters based there in the latter stages of the Cold War and into the early 21st century. Since 2006, it has become the home of the deployable RAF communications cadre and the home of No. 135 Expeditionary Air Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Tangmere</span> Former Royal Air Force station in West Sussex, England

Royal Air Force Tangmere or more simply RAF Tangmere is a former Royal Air Force station located in Tangmere, England, famous for its role in the Battle of Britain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Honington</span> Royal Air Force air combat support station in Suffolk, England

Royal Air Force Honington or more simply RAF Honington is a Royal Air Force station located 6 mi (9.7 km) south of Thetford near Ixworth in Suffolk, England. It was used as a bomber station during the Second World War and through the Cold War, hosting Handley Page Victors and Hawker Siddeley (Blackburn) Buccaneers. RAF Honington has been the RAF Regiment depot since 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Syerston</span> Royal Air Force training station in Nottinghamshire, England

Royal Air Force Syerston, commonly known simply as RAF Syerston, is a Royal Air Force station in the parish of Flintham, near Newark, Nottinghamshire, England. Opened in 1940, it was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a bomber base during the Second World War, operating Vickers Wellingtons, Avro Manchesters, and the Avro Lancaster heavy bombers. Post-war, it became home to Jet Provosts of the 2 Flying Training School. It is now home to the Royal Air Force Central Gliding School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF West Malling</span> Former Royal Air Force station, West Malling, Kent, England

Royal Air Force West Malling or more simply RAF West Malling is a former Royal Air Force station located 1.6 miles (2.6 km) south of West Malling, Kent and 5.2 miles (8.4 km) west of Maidstone, Kent, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Tern Hill</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Shropshire, England

Royal Air Force Tern Hill, or more simply RAF Tern Hill, was a Royal Air Force station at Ternhill in Shropshire, England, near the towns of Newport and Market Drayton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Hornchurch</span> Former Royal Air Fore station in Essex, England

Royal Air Force Hornchurch, or more simply RAF Hornchurch, is a former Royal Air Force sector station in the parish of Hornchurch, Essex, located to the southeast of Romford. The airfield was known as Sutton's Farm during the First World War, when it occupied 90 acres (360,000 m2) of the farm of the same name. It was used for the protection of London, being 14 miles (22.5 km) east north-east of Charing Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Catterick</span> Royal Air Force base in Yorkshire, England

Royal Air Force Catterick or RAF Catterick is a former Royal Air Force airfield located near Catterick, North Yorkshire in England. It is located alongside the A6055 road on the outskirts of Catterick Village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Weald Airfield</span> Airport in North Weald

North Weald Airfield is an operational general aviation aerodrome, in the civil parish of North Weald Bassett in Epping Forest, Essex, England. It was an important fighter station during the Battle of Britain, when it was known as the RAF Station RAF North Weald. It is the home of North Weald Airfield Museum. It is home to many private aircraft and historic types, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance helicopter and is an active flight training airfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aston Down</span> Airport in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire

Aston Down is in Gloucestershire, South West England, 2+12 miles (4 km) east of Minchinhampton, 6 miles (10 km) southeast of Stroud and 7 miles (11 km) west of Cirencester. The nearest settlement is the large village of Chalford, 1 mile (1.6 km) to the northwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redhill Aerodrome</span> Aerodrome in Surrey, England

Redhill Aerodrome is an operational general aviation aerodrome located 1.5 NM south-east of Redhill, Surrey, England, in green belt land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AAC Middle Wallop</span> Military airfield in Hampshire, England

Army Aviation Centre (AAC) Middle Wallop is a British Army airfield located near the Hampshire village of Middle Wallop, used for Army Air Corps training. The base hosts 2 (Training) Regiment AAC and 7 (Training) Regiment AAC under the umbrella of the Army Aviation Centre. 2 (Training) Regiment performs ground training; 7 (Training) Regiment trains aircrew on AAC aircraft after they complete basic training at RAF Shawbury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Fairwood Common</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Swansea, Wales

Royal Air Force Fairwood Common, or more simply RAF Fairwood Common, is a former Royal Air Force Sector Station located on Fairwood Common, on the Gower Peninsula, to the west of Swansea. It is now the location of Swansea Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Detling</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Kent, England

Royal Air Force Detling, or more simply RAF Detling, is a former Royal Air Force station situated 600 feet (180 m) above sea level, located near Detling, a village about 4 miles (6.4 km) miles north-east of Maidstone, Kent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Acklington</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Northumberland, England

Royal Air Force Acklington, simply known as RAF Acklington, is a former Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force station located 3.2 miles (5.1 km) south west of Amble, Northumberland and 8.8 miles (14.2 km) north east of Morpeth, Northumberland.

Royal Air Force Fairlop or more simply RAF Fairlop is a former Royal Air Force satellite station situated near Ilford in Essex. Fairlop is now a district in the London Borough of Redbridge, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Hawkinge</span> Former Royal Air Force station

Royal Air Force Hawkinge or more simply RAF Hawkinge is a former Royal Air Force station located 13.23 miles (21.29 km) east of Ashford, 2.2 miles (3.5 km) north of Folkestone, Kent and 7.1 miles (11.4 km) west of Dover, Kent, England. The airfield was used by both the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force during its lifetime and was involved during the Battle of Britain, as well as other important aerial battles during the Second World War and the early stages of aerial usage in war in the First World War.

Gravesend Airport, located 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south-east of Gravesend town centre, Kent and 7.0 miles (11.3 km) west of Rochester. It was operated from 1932 until 1956. It was initially a civil airfield, and became a Royal Air Force station known as RAF Gravesend during the Second World War, when it was under the control of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. It was the first RAF station to operate the North American Mustang III. The airport returned to civilian use at the conclusion of the Second World War, although it remained under the ownership of the Air Ministry until its closure in 1956. It is notable that a decision had to be made in 1954, by the Air Ministry, as to whether this civil airport should be retained and substantially enlarged, or the extensions east of Thong Lane be released for residential development. Kent County Council had made it clear that the land west of Thong Lane, was identified as a Civil Airport. Additionally, Kent County Council also informed the Air Ministry, that it would neither support nor oppose enlargement, acknowledging, however, that it would as a result of any such enlargement, the site becoming designated as a fully operational international airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Wellingore</span> Former fighter aircraft station

Royal Air Force Wellingore or more simply RAF Wellingore is a former Royal Air Force fighter relief landing ground located 1.9 miles (3.1 km) south of Navenby, Lincolnshire and 10 miles (16 km) south of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Church Fenton</span> Royal Air Force base in Yorkshire, England

Royal Air Force Church Fenton or RAF Church Fenton is a former Royal Air Force (RAF) station located 4.3 miles (6.9 km) south-east of Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England and 6.3 miles (10.1 km) north-west of Selby, North Yorkshire, near the village of Church Fenton.

References

Citations

  1. "Defence Estates Development Plan (DEDP) 2009 – Annex A" (PDF). GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 3 July 2009. p. 49. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  2. Falconer 1998, p. 54.
  3. "RAF Kenley 1917-1939". Kenley Revival. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  4. "ATTACK ALARM – Hammond Innes's portrait of Kenley's Hardest Day". Kenley Revival. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  5. Jefford 1988, p. 23.
  6. Jefford 1988, p. 24.
  7. Jefford 1988, p. 28.
  8. Jefford 1988, p. 29.
  9. 1 2 Jefford 1988, p. 32.
  10. Jefford 1988, p. 35.
  11. Jefford 1988, p. 37.
  12. Jefford 1988, p. 38.
  13. Jefford 1988, p. 40.
  14. 1 2 Jefford 1988, p. 45.
  15. Jefford 1988, p. 49.
  16. Jefford 1988, p. 50.
  17. Jefford 1988, p. 51.
  18. Jefford 1988, p. 52.
  19. Jefford 1988, p. 53.
  20. 1 2 Jefford 1988, p. 55.
  21. Jefford 1988, p. 56.
  22. Jefford 1988, p. 57.
  23. Jefford 1988, p. 64.
  24. Jefford 1988, p. 69.
  25. Jefford 1988, p. 74.
  26. Jefford 1988, p. 78.
  27. Jefford 1988, p. 79.
  28. Jefford 1988, p. 84.
  29. Jefford 1988, p. 86.
  30. Jefford 1988, p. 88.
  31. 1 2 3 4 Jefford 1988, p. 89.
  32. 1 2 3 Jefford 1988, p. 90.
  33. Jefford 1988, p. 91.
  34. Jefford 1988, p. 93.
  35. 1 2 Jefford 1988, p. 94.
  36. 1 2 Jefford 1988, p. 98.
  37. 1 2 3 Jefford 1988, p. 100.
  38. Jefford 1988, p. 104.
  39. "Kenley (Whyteleafe)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust . Retrieved 4 December 2020.

Bibliography