Local videographer, Phil Swallow, and Kenley Revival volunteer, Linda Duffield, delve into the stories of the Canadian pilots who served at RAF Kenley in this 'Walk and Talk' video, filmed at the airfield in April, 2024, for the Royal Canadian Air Force centenary.
On 3rd June, 1927, twelve days after becoming the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic, and having completed his brief tour of England, Charles Lindbergh took off from RAF Kenley...
I was posted to RAF Kenley, for my National Service, and after the initial disappointment, I settled in there, and had a most wonderful time. The senior officer was terrific, not a disciplinarian, left us to self discipline, which was a credit to him, and I believe helped us to become better people.
In 1959, the Daily Mail organised a London to Paris Air Race to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Louis Bleriot’s first cross-Channel flight. Lord Rothermere offered overall prize money of £10,000 for the fastest journey between the Arc de Triomphe and Marble Arch.
Of the many squadrons which served at RAF Kenley, No.615 County of Surrey, "Churchill's own," is probably the one most closely associated with the airfield.
On the night of 18th/19th March, 1920, behind the locked door of his room in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Coulsdon, ...
Just before 4pm, on Monday 22nd April, 1918, 1st Lieutenant Thomas Frederick Mooney, of the Aviation Section, Signal Reserve Corps, United States Air Service, was on his way to France in a new RE8, when, in trying to turn, he went into a spin and nose-dived onto the down line of the London, Brighton and South Coast railway near Riddlesdown...
In 1943, Squadron Leader Edward George Alford GM, was asked to recall his work at Kenley during the Battle of Britain. This extraordinary correspondence has been shared with the permission of Edward's daughter, Frances Hills Alford and her son, Brett. It has been transcribed as written by S/Ldr. Alford.
On 29th July, 1940, six Blenheim Mk.IV bombers of 110 Squadron took off from RAF Wattisham, each one tasked with bombing a different aerodrome in Northern France.
