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You are here: Home>Keywords>Hardest Day

Hardest Day

  • 'Hardest Day' Transmitting Station Daily Log: Warrant Officer Albert Henry Bealey

    'Hardest Day' Transmitting Station Daily Log: Warrant Officer Albert Henry Bealey

  • 'The Hardest Day' - 9th Staffel, KG76, Low Level Raid on Kenley.

    'The Hardest Day' - 9th Staffel, KG76, Low Level Raid on Kenley.

    Nine Dornier Do17 bombers of the 9th Staffel took off from Cormeilles-En-Vexin, North of Paris, shortly before Midday on 18th August, 1940. RAF Kenley was their target. A summary of the crews and their fates.
  • 18 August 1940 - A German Perspective

    18 August 1940 - A German Perspective

    Rolf Von Pebal's personal account and photographs of the raid, taken from the Dornier Do.17 flown by Feldwebel Reichel, 9th Staffel/KG76.
  • Aeroplanes from "The Hardest Day"

    Aeroplanes from "The Hardest Day"

    This is a brief outline of the planes that took part in the attack on and defence of the airfields defending London and south-east England on Sunday 18 August 1940, specifically RAF Kenley.
  • Alistair's Memories

    Alistair's Memories

    I  spent most of the years between 1945 and 2012 living at 170 Whyteleafe Hill opposite "the aerodrome" as everyone called it.
  • ATTACK ALARM – Hammond Innes’s portrait of Kenley’s Hardest Day

    ATTACK ALARM – Hammond Innes’s portrait of Kenley’s Hardest Day

    Attack Alarm is an espionage novel written by author Hammond Innes, who was stationed at Kenley as an anti-aircraft gunner during the Battle of Britain. Not a great deal is known about Innes’s service in the Royal Artillery between 1940-1946, but his book written and published during the war offers an invaluable and detailed account based on his time at Kenley, most notably the devastating attack on 18 August 1940, Kenley’s Hardest Day.
  • Bravery Rewarded - AC David G. Roberts and Kenley's Unusual Weapon

    Bravery Rewarded - AC David G. Roberts and Kenley's Unusual Weapon

    Aircraftman Roberts brought down a Dornier Do.17 using Kenley's Parachute and Cable system - the first time the weapon was used successfully.
  • From WAAF to War Bride

    From WAAF to War Bride

    Author and historian, Melynda Jarratt has been researching the history of Canadian War Brides since 1987. She wrote a book on the subject and dedicated it in part to her friend Doris Lloyd, who served at Kenley during the Battle of Britain. Here is her story....
  • Kenley During The Battle of Britain - Squadron Leader Edward George Alford GM

    Kenley During The Battle of Britain - Squadron Leader Edward George Alford GM

    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.
  • Kenley's 'Hardest Day' - An Introduction and list of Casualties

    Kenley's 'Hardest Day' - An Introduction and list of Casualties

    On 18th August, 1940, RAF Kenley was singled out for a complicated pincer attack, by Bomber Geshwader 76, which, if it had been successful, would have put the airfield out of action.
  • Leading Aircraftman Cedric Wort - National Serviceman

    Leading Aircraftman Cedric Wort - National Serviceman

    In the early 1950's, Caterham lad, Cedric Wort must have felt that he was on familiar ground when he heard the news that he was going to be posted to Kenley, as part of his National Service with the RAF.
  • Maurice Allward's Battle of Britain Diary

    Maurice Allward's Battle of Britain Diary

    I was at school when war against Germany was declared by Neville Chamberlain in September 1939. It followed that I was on holiday during that summer of 1940 when the destiny of Britain, and of the free world, was being decided in the blue sky over southern England.
  • Memories of William Battle

    Memories of William Battle

    I’d like to tell the story of my great grandfather William Battle, who is on my mothers side of the ...
  • Mum's story of the Hardest Day

    Mum's story of the Hardest Day

    An August 18th 1940 Kenley raid story. In 1940 my mother was living with her parents in Oak Road, Caterham. ...
  • My Mum's War - The Story of Flight Sergeant "Pat" Glover

    My Mum's War - The Story of Flight Sergeant "Pat" Glover

    On 15th September 1939, Marjorie was one of the first women in her area to sign up. She joined the WAAF and was posted to Kenley Aerodrome.
  • Oral History: Stan Ford

    Oral History: Stan Ford

    As part of the Kenley Revival Oral History Project, we have interviewed speial people with memories of Kenley during World ...
  • Oral History: Ted Ballam

    Oral History: Ted Ballam

    Ted Ballam's childhood memories of RAF Kenley
  • Parachute and Cable? Schermuly Not

    Parachute and Cable? Schermuly Not

    How does a system, originally designed as a maritime rescue apparatus, end up on Fighter Command airfields in 1940?
  • Sergeant Pilot Peter Sydney Hawke - No.64 Squadron

    Sergeant Pilot Peter Sydney Hawke - No.64 Squadron

  • St. Luke's, Whyteleafe - 18th August 2020

    St. Luke's, Whyteleafe - 18th August 2020

    On the 80th anniversary of 'The Hardest Day,' The Royal Air Force Association, together with members of the local community, gathered at St. Luke's churchyard, Whyteleafe, to remember the RAF personnel killed at RAF Kenley on 18th August, 1940.
  • The 'Hardest Day' - Kenley's Defenders

    The 'Hardest Day' - Kenley's Defenders

    The Luftwaffe's attack on RAF Kenley, on 18th August, 1940, was a risky venture, depending on pin-point accuracy and timing. Here is how Fighter Command countered the raids.
  • The Bourne Society Bulletin 195 - RAF Station Kenley – 1940

    The Bourne Society Bulletin 195 - RAF Station Kenley – 1940

    Jim Crofts, who was stationed in Kenley as a Clerk in 1940, remembers one particular day during his service.
  • Warrant Officer Edward George Alford GM

    Warrant Officer Edward George Alford GM

    It is tempting to think that we have nothing more to learn about 'The Hardest Day,' but somehow, one of Kenley's heroes has been overlooked, a Warrant Officer who was honoured for bomb disposal work which was pivotal in keeping Kenley operational during this vital stage of the Battle of Britain.
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