On 23rd May, 1942, two pilots were injured, as well as one precious Spitfire lost and another damaged in an awful friendly fire incident involving Kenley's Canadian 402 Squadron and 91 Squadron from Hawkinge.
On 8th December, 1940, Sgt. Bronislaw Malinowski, crashed in Hurricane Mk.I, (R4101, SD-I), at Wye, near Ashford, through illness - he had fainted, but was only slightly injured in the crash.
My starting primary school in my mind coincided with what Rob Wilton the comedian called “the day war broke out” adding “my wife said to me, Rob what are you doing to win this war”.
RAF Kenley is more commonly known for its role in the Battle of Britain or the Canadian Wing, under “Johnnie” Johnson, but it also featured heavily in the Battle of France. Between 10 May and 25 June 1940 eight squadrons, or parts thereof, were based at Kenley.
Cecil Robert Montgomery was born in Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland early in 1914. His father was John Montgomery ...
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.
On 1st September 2020, Daphne and John Clifton visited the memorial near the spot where their Uncle, Pilot Officer John Kenneth Grahame Clifton, lost his life at the height of The Battle of Britain.
401 squadron RCAF were stationed at RAF Redhill at the end of July 1943, when they lost two pilots in unrelated accidents only a couple of days apart.
At 2.31am, on 27th August, 1940, a burning, crewless Heinkel He111 hit the ground, ploughed it's way across Queen's Park, Caterham, and into the rear garden of 21 Manor Rd, where it exploded, partially destroying the bungalow.
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.
Pen 5 is the most easterly of the pens on the northern side of the airfield and faces south. Today, this ...
Pen 8 is the most westerly of the pens on the northern side of the airfield and faces south. Today, the ...
Pen 6 is the second most easterly of the pens on the northern side of the airfield and faces south. Today, ...
Pen 9 is the most northerly of the pens on the western side of the airfield and faces south east. ...
Pen 10 is the second most northerly of the pens on the western side of the airfield and faces south ...
Pen 2 is the second most southerly of the pens on the eastern side of the airfield and faces west. Today, ...
Pen 3 is the second most northerly of the pens on the eastern side of the airfield and faces west. Today, ...
Pen 1 is the most southerly of the pens on the eastern side of the airfield and faces north west. Today, ...
Pen 4 is the most northerly of the pens on the eastern side of the airfield and faces west. Today, this ...
Pen 11 is the second most southerly of the pens on the western side of the airfield and faces north ...
Pen 12 is the most southerly of the pens on the western side of the airfield and faces east. Today, the ...