How does a system, originally designed as a maritime rescue apparatus, end up on Fighter Command airfields in 1940?
We are saddened to learn that RAF Kenley’s last fighter ace from the Battle of Britain, Wing Commander Paul Farnes ...
Having survived as a fighter pilot with 64 Squadron at Kenley during the Battle of Britain, Adrian Laws tragically lost his life on the 30th September 1940 in a mid-air collision, while stationed at RAF Leconfield.
Allan Corkett flew with No.253 Squadron at RAF Kenley during the Battle of Britain. Here, Jo Corkett pays tribute to the relative she sadly never met and Dave Brocklehurst MBE, of Kent Battle of Britain Museum, explains the significance of the items which Allan donated to the museum.
On 16th May, 1927, luck ran out for one of 32 squadron’s most daring and colourful characters – 21 year old Pilot Officer Arthur Leslie Holden.
"There were times in France when, before a patrol, my stomach would writhe at the thought of meeting a violent end, but I put on an act of don't-give-a-damn rather than let anyone know it."
While relating the stories of fighter combat during WW2, we often talk of ‘miraculous escapes,’ but what happened to P/O ...
Pilot Officer William Daniel Disbrey wrote off two of No.3 Squadron's Bristol Bulldog fighters within a week during 1934, and escaped relatively unscathed..but would his luck hold out?
A routine practice flight took a disastrous turn for F/O Montgomery and the pupils of Locksheath Council School.
On 5th June 1917, Sir F. Banbury, M.P. asked the Under Secretary for War, Mr. Macpherson, in Parliament, whether he was aware that the Royal Flying Corps had taken possession of 81 acres of Kenley Common and were felling trees on land that the City of London was under statutory obligation to maintain for the use of the public.
On 3rd February, 1943, 416 squadron, RCAF, were escorting Ventura bombers to St. Omer when they were attacked by FW190s of JG26. P/O John Rainville was lucky to escape with his life..
