Sunday 1st September, 1940, saw 11 Hurricanes from 85 Squadron, based at RAF Croydon, sent out to intercept a raid heading approaching Tunbridge Wells and heading towards Kenley....
Kenley Revival is participating in a new heritage trail to highlight the rich aviation history of the South-East of England has been launched by Military Aviation Heritage Networks.
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.
Victor Howard Miller was born on 5th February, 1920, in Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A. His Father, Howard Miller, was a mechanic from Richmond, Indiana, and his Mother, Margery (nee. Ashton) was born in Middletown, Ohio.
William Alexander Miller Dabney was born on 20 September 1918 to William Miller and Thea Boyd, nee Goode, Dabney in Lynchburg, Virginia.
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.
'Curly' Hill had taken part in a dozen operational sorties when he lost his life on 29th November landing after a Squadron Formation practice.
Joseph Louis Osias Primeau was born 12th May, 1920, in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada. During his Initial training for the RCAF, it was noted that he was: "One of a large family who has had to work hard for what he got."
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.
Although Glyn is not believed to have been stationed at RAF Kenley, he and his parents Ernest Andrew and Elizabeth Selina Ashfield, lived in Limpsfield and Oxted, Surrey for most of their lives.
Not all the deaths of RAF Kenley related personnel were due to enemy action. One such was the tragic death of Leading Aircraftman William Spirrell in Devon on 7 June 1940.
