The prolific author and historian Dilip Sarkar MBE was a close friend of the late, great, Air Vice-Marshal Johnnie Johnson, officially the top-scoring RAF fighter pilot of the Second World War, but was unable to join us today as planned; instead, Dilip has sent these thoughts to share
Dorothy Lowrie's tribute to her father George Dennis Aitken AFC, Canadian fighter pilot.
At 1pm on 31st March, 2024, Revd. Annie Kurk, of St. Luke's Church, Whyteleafe, will lead us in a short service and tree dedication ceremony to mark the centenary of the formation of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
In the centenary year of the Royal Canadian Air Force, we will be remembering the Canadians who served at RAF Kenley with a self-guided memorial trail around the airfield.
At 5.28pm, on 13th May, 1987, Henry James "Harry" Lenard, an elderly and inexperienced pilot, was attempting an autotow launch in a Pirat glider...
The wonderful war diary of Joan Snell which covers her wartime exploits, from serving in Signals at Kenley during the Battle of Britain right through to her struggle to gain a commission and training in Codes and Cyphers.
Henry was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, on 28th September, 1887, and baptised at St. Thomas' Church, (now demolished), on 2nd October. He was the eldest of four children born to Edward Critchley, a builder and joiner, and his wife, Mary. Henry followed in his Father's footsteps and was already apprenticed as a carpenter and joiner by 1901, when he was 13 years old.
Michael spent the early year of WWI serving as a Private in the West Yorkshire Regiment, before transferring to the RAF on 3rd June, 1918