On 16th August 1941, the Kenley Wing had a very busy day, flying three separate offensive operations. It wasn't without cost though, as No.602 squadron lost Sgt. Cyril Anderson Booty on his second sortie of the day.
On 21st November, 1918, only ten days after the declaration of the Armistice, Captain John Leslie Horridge, of 91 squadron, was killed in a flying accident at Kenley, when his Sopwith Dolphin, D5298 suffered engine trouble at 200ft and crashed onto Kenley Common, after stalling.
On 13th March 1943, Kenley's 403 squadron had a bad day escorting sixty Flying Fortresses on a bombing raid to the marshalling yards at Amiens..
On 5th October 1942, Pilot Officer Robert Gordon Riddell died in a training accident after only two days with 401 squadron RCAF.
The 13th March 1943, turned out to be unlucky for Kenley's 403 squadron, RCAF. They were detailed to escort sixty Flying Fortresses on a bombing raid to the marshalling yards at Amiens..
I spent most of the years between 1945 and 2012 living at 170 Whyteleafe Hill opposite "the aerodrome" as everyone called it.
22 February 2020 saw the third iteration of the Kenley Mini Museum. To keep things fresh, the theme once again varied; this time with WWII re-enactors and for half term kids activities and even a drawing competition with the prizes donated by a local artist.
On 15th February 1943, Flying Officer Harold Andrew Westhaver and Pilot Officer William Lane, of 403 Squadron RCAF, took off from Kenley to look for targets of opportunity on the ground in France.
