We are very grateful to Roger Packham, from The Bourne Society, for his permission to show these postcards from his ...
On 7th January 1937, would-be aircraft designer, Richard Taylor, lost his life at Hamsey Green aerodrome when the wing of his 'Taylor Experimental' monoplane failed during the early stages of a test flight.
On 22nd May 1925, No.32 Squadron had flown from Kenley to Northolt, to take part in an event entitled 'London Defended.' Among them was 21 year old, Arthur Reinagle Woodyatt.
On 15th May 1943, 403 squadron R.C.A.F. lost two more young pilots while escorting a bombing mission to Poix. Pilot Officer William Thompson Lane, flying Spitfire BR986, was shot down in a dogfight at around 5 p.m.
Flight Lieutenant Lyn Bertram Madden had only joined 403 squadron on the 4th May, and was on his first sortie flying Spitfire Mk.IX, (BS246), when he was shot down on 15th May 1943.
On 14th May 1926, Flying Officer Basil Douglas John Broadway, of 32 squadron, R.A.F. Kenley, was killed in the wreckage of his Gloster Grebe, when he crashed in Caterham.
We are indebted to Michael Henry-May for these beautiful photos of Pilot Officer Hugh Henry-May and his family. Hugh lost ...
On the 10th May 1938, a formation of No.3 Squadron Hurricanes, returning from practice flying, were on final approach to land at Kenley when, at 200 feet, one of them (L1579) stalled and fell to the ground.
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.
A routine practice flight took a disastrous turn for F/O Montgomery and the pupils of Locksheath Council School.
John Raby Liken, known as "Jack" was born in Oamaru, New Zealand, on 25th November 1913.
On 18th April 1939, Flight Lieutenant Dennis Collins and Acting Pilot Officer Frank Stiven of No.3 squadron, lost their lives when Stiven collided with Collins while trying to get into formation during a night flying exercise.