On 29th June, 1935… 7 aircraft were flown to HENDON for SMOKE EVENT (Operations Record Book – No.3 (Fighter) Squadron). Kenley’s No.3 ...
The Air Ministry Works Repair Depot at Addington played an important role keeping the RAF stations at Kenley Croydon and Biggin Hill serviceable during WWII and especially through the devastating air raids of 1940.
There were few things more important to an RAF pilot of the 1920s, than the opportunity to defend his squadron's honour at the annual Hendon Air Pageant. So it was no surprise that, with the trials for the low bombing competition due to be held at Kenley the following day, four pilots of No.32 Fighting squadron took the opportunity for some last-minute practice at 7pm on the evening of the 26th of May, 1926.
On 21st April, 1940, Madeline June' Gordon-Wilson was on her way to the aerodrome at Croydon to meet her husband, P/O Cornelius Desmond Gordon-Wilson who had recently joined 145 Squadron. Her heart must have sunk when she was met, not by the smiling face of her 'Des', but by the station Padre in sombre mood....
On 29th July, 1940, six Blenheim Mk.IV bombers of 110 Squadron took off from RAF Wattisham, each one tasked with bombing a different aerodrome in Northern France.
Just before 4pm, on Monday 22nd April, 1918, 1st Lieutenant Thomas Frederick Mooney, of the Aviation Section, Signal Reserve Corps, United States Air Service, was on his way to France in a new RE8, when, in trying to turn, he went into a spin and nose-dived onto the down line of the London, Brighton and South Coast railway near Riddlesdown...
Local videographer, Phil Swallow, and Kenley Revival volunteer, Linda Duffield, delve into the stories of the Canadian pilots who served at RAF Kenley in this 'Walk and Talk' video, filmed at the airfield in April, 2024, for the Royal Canadian Air Force centenary.
