Among those killed in the bombing raids which devastated Kenley on the 18th August, 1940, was Flight Lieutenant Robert Cromie, No.615 Squadron's much loved Medical Officer.
Thomas Glyn Finlayson Ritchie was born on 30th November, 1913, in Milngavie, Dunbartonshire. He was the son of Thomas McGown Ritchie and Jane Finlayson.
Flight Sergeant John Desmond O'Connor was born 21st September 1919, in Rotherham, Yorkshire.
In February, 1915, William enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps, mustering as an Aero Rigger. Six months later, he married Ruth Margaret Rogers, in Gravesend - the couple had four children, two girls and two boys, between 1915 and 1921.
Alistair John Oswald Jeffrey joined the RAF in March 1937 on a short service commission. Following a period with 2FTS at Brize Norton, he was posted to the SHQ staff at RAF Church Fenton in June 1938.
On 30th August, 1940, Bell was shot down, his Spitfire crashed and he was killed. Bell was the fourth pilot from 616 to lose his life whilst the squadron was stationed at Kenley.
Peter James Christopher King, the son of Colonel Harold James King, Royal Artillery, and of Elise Mabel King, of Farnborough, Warwickshire, was born on 28 September 1920.
On the morning of 30th April, 1932, three of 23 squadron's Bulldogs were carrying out various manoeuvres in the Ashdown Forest area, when the two rear aircraft of the 'vic' formation collided, following a signal to change formation.
On 14th August 1929, Flying Officer Charles Henry Jones of No.23 squadron, RAF Kenley, was killed when his Gloster Gamecock Mk.I (J7914) stalled off a steep turn shortly after take-off from RAF Sutton Bridge.
Christopher John Drake Andreae was a Londoner. He was educated at Shrewsbury School between 1930 and 1935. He then joined Caius College, Cambridge reading Natural Science.
Hailing from London, Donald George Alexander Stewart was born in 1913, the eldest son of William George Stewart, a Scotsman, and Mary Sarah Stewart (nee Edwards) who was born in Dover.
On 7th July, 1923, Tragedy struck No.24 Squadron, when two of their pilots were killed in an Airco DH.9a (H3431) shortly after take-off from Kenley.
On 22nd November, 1926, No.24 squadron tragically lost two of its officers in a flying accident at 1.30pm, when their De Havilland DH9A, serial number 7310, stalled on take-off from Kenley.
On 2nd October 1919, Flying Officer Frederick Hubert Guy Shepard AFC, of No.1 Communication squadron, Kenley, lost his life when his DH4 bi-plane, (K5783), suffered a mechanical failure during a flight to the North-East of England, and crashed in the Newcastle area.
On 4th November, 1920, Flying Officer Harold Oliver Prout AFC and his observer, Flying Officer Horace Edgar Fenwick, were on the return leg of a trip to Winchester when they arrived back at Kenley, at 5pm, to find the airfield shrouded in thick fog....
On 4th November, 1920, Flying Officer Harold Oliver Prout AFC and his observer, Flying Officer Horace Edgar Fenwick, were on the return leg of a trip to Winchester when they arrived back at Kenley, at 5pm, to find the airfield shrouded in thick fog.
Leroy served with distinction during the Great War and was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1919. Air Chief Marshal Sir James Robb remembered Trapagna Leroy as a "remarkable character."
On 1st March 1929, Flying Officer Patrick Nelson Sealy-Allin, of No.23 squadron, lost his life when his Gloster Gamecock collided with another flown by Ft/Sgt James Guy Freeman
24 year old son Peter got married shortly before his death on 14th of August 1940, when he failed to return from an interception patrol. His wife gave birth to a son, also called Peter, in Spring 1941.
VICTOR OLIVER REYNOLDS was born in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire in 1892. His Father Acton Reynolds was a journeyman butcher. By 1901, the Reynolds family were living at 22 Castle St, Reading. Victor had two sisters, Cordelia and Dora, and one brother Charles.
Hugh was the son of William and Hedwig Dorothea Corner and was married to Emily Vera Corner MD, FRCP, of Gerrard's Cross, Buckinghamshire.
Junior Technician Richard William Blatch was born in Gosport, the son of Leonard and Winifred Blatch. He died of exposure after being caught in a blizzard while training, in Snowdonia, for a climbing expedition.
Alfred Percy Hall was born on 18th May, 1901, and baptised at St. Matthew's, Northampton. For reasons unknown, he went absent without leave from 31st July, 1924, and it appears that he drowned in unknown circumstances, sometime around 5th August.
