On 1st July 1928, the R.A.F. lost one of it's finest aerobatic pilots in a freak accident when Avro 504N (H2534) of the RAF Practice Camp at Sutton Bridge, dived into the ground not far from RAF Henlow, killing Flight Lieutenant Harold Charles Calvey of No.23 Squadron, Kenley and Flight Sergeant William Charles Hollier, a carpenter/rigger.
William Percival Cambridge was born in India in 1912. He was the son of Sidney John Cambridge, a civil servant, and his wife Agnes.
On 17th January 1939, Acting Pilot Officer Donald James Catt and F/O Lionel Gaunce of No.3 squadron, took off from Kenley at 10.15 am and headed towards the south coast for some live firing practice, in their Gloster Gladiator MkI's.
John Kenneth Grahame Clifton, (known as "Kenneth"), was born in Plymouth in October 1918. He was the son of John Henry and Susie Dorothy Anderson Clifton. The family moved to Somerset in 1928 where Kenneth was educated at Taunton School.
24 year old son Peter got married shortly before his death on 14th of August 1940, when he failed to return from an interception patrol. His wife gave birth to a son, also called Peter, in Spring 1941.
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.
On 22nd November, 1926, No.24 squadron tragically lost two of its officers in a flying accident at 1.30pm, when their De Havilland DH9A, serial number 7310, stalled on take-off from Kenley.
On the afternoon of 25th April, 1942, Squadron Leader "Hawkeye" Wells led the Kenley Wing on Circus 137. Group Captain Corner was shot down and baled out too low over the Channel. Having no known grave, he is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.
Henry was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, on 28th September, 1887, and baptised at St. Thomas' Church, (now demolished), on 2nd October. He was the eldest of four children born to Edward Critchley, a builder and joiner, and his wife, Mary. Henry followed in his Father's footsteps and was already apprenticed as a carpenter and joiner by 1901, when he was 13 years old.
Among those killed in the bombing raids which devastated Kenley on the 18th August, 1940, was Flight Lieutenant Robert Cromie, No.615 Squadron's much loved Medical Officer.
