Ernest Leonard Bailey was born on 19th March, 1920, in Birdham, Chichester, where he worked as a painter and decorator. Realising he would soon be called up, Ernie volunteered to join the RAF, thinking that would be better than the infantry. He enlisted at Uxbridge on his 20th birthday, in 1940, and was sent to Morecombe to do his Initial training.
We are grateful to June Marshall for sending in these photos and mementos of her father, Gerald Ewart Frank Hargrave.
A selection of photographs taken in the 1970s and 1980s by Steve Rickards.
I spent most of the years between 1945 and 2012 living at 170 Whyteleafe Hill opposite "the aerodrome" as everyone called it.
On 31st May, 1942, 485 New Zealand Squadron lost two pilots after combat with FW190's. Flight Sergeant Stan Browne and Flight Lieutenant Matthew "Garry" Barnett both baled out in the Abbeville area but made it back to England despite being captured!
10 August 1944 would be the blackest day for 615 Squadron and not due to enemy action...
After a period of intense action at Kenley during the summer of 1940, 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron were posted north to Prestwick to rest and re-group. While their memories of their time in Scotland were mostly happy, some of them witnessed a horrific accident which left an indelible mark on them.
Aircraftman Roberts brought down a Dornier Do.17 using Kenley's Parachute and Cable system - the first time the weapon was used successfully.
By 18th September, 1940, the Luftwaffe's attention was firmly focused on bombing London into submission. This is the story of just one rescue amongst many that took place during this period.
On 30th August, 1952, Cadet Denis John Bygrave lost his life when control was lost at the top of a winch launch, and his Slingsby T31 Kirby Cadet Mk.III glider dived into the ground.
Kenley is well known for the presence of its Canadian Wing formed in September 1942, later becoming 127 Wing, under ...
On 16th June, 1944, only a few days after the V1 onslaught had begun, the people of Caterham experienced at first hand the destructive power of these 'doodlebugs,' when one fell in Chaldon Rd, near the junction with Heath Rd.