Airfields Used By NZ Squadrons During WW 2, RAF Kenley

RAF Kenley

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Kenleys Crest

We Depend On The Lord

RAF Kenley’s service life was from 1917 to 1959, when it was handed over to No 615 VGS [Volunteer Gliding Squadron], a unit within the RAF 2 Flying Training School.

It is located near Kenley, Surrey, England.

Kenley used to be a golf course on the common, which is why one of the local roads is named “Golf Course Road”.

It was described as a very pretty course that rambled over the chalk land and between many copses of trees.

That was until June 1917, when the area was commandeered for use by the RFC [Royal Flying Corps] under the “Defence of the Realm Act”.

The first most people, including the Head Grounds Keeper, knew about it was when a gang of Canadian Forestry Corps started to clear the ground in preparation for the construction of the airfield.

The emotion and commotion that this caused can almost be measured against the thunder of battle that occurred later in the House of Parliament, about the violation of public access, and the rape of trees that were protected by the City of London.

Public opinion quickly changed as German bombers began attacks on London and caused over 160 houses to be damaged or written off.

Zeppelins caused another 15 houses in Croydon and Purley to be destroyed.

An airfield at Kenley was a source of comfort in defense.

First opened in 1917 as an aircraft acceptance park, where aircraft were test flown before being sent to the Western Front, and other areas.

Quickly 7 double hangers were constructed, this was to be No 7 Aircraft Acceptance Park, where all the pioneering aviation manufacturers would send their aircraft to be assembled from kits, and eventually be armed with their wartime equipment, armaments and instruments.

In 1918 a much larger hanger was erected to accommodate the Handley Page 0/100 and 0/400 bomb dropper, this aircraft had a wing span of 100 feet.

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HP 0/400

After the war some of these were converted to become HP 42’s

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HP 42’s

After the first WW, the airfield was maintained as an operational unit and further developed during the 1920’s and 30’s.

Winston Churchill, who lived in the area, became the Honorary Air Commander for No 615 Squadron and regularly practiced flying there before war was declared.

There were some who said that it was only kept as an operational station so Winstone could do his flying from there

During the Second WW, the airfield was heavily involved during the Dunkirk evacuation, the Battle of Britain and later D-Day.

Kenley was one of the three main fighter Stations [Kenley, Croyden and Biggin Hill] responsible for the defence of London during the Battle of Britain.

During the Battle it had storage for 35,000 gallons of aviation fuel , 8,000 gallons of vehicle fuel and 2,500 gallons of oil, there was also space for 1.25 million rounds of ammunition for the aircraft.

RAF Kenley suffered its worst damage in an attack on 18th August 1940,

While 15th September is considered by many to be the climax of the Battle of Dritain, 18th August is often cited as being the costliest or hardest day.

The British lost 68 aircraft to the Luftwaffe’s 69.

At Kenley, all 10 hangers and 12 aircraft, including 10 Hurricanes were destroyed, and the runways badly cratered, and the operations room had to be moved to an emergency location away from the airfield.

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18th August 1940.
A German Luftwaffe photograph shows the machine-gunning of one of RAF Kenley’s fighter blast pens located on the northern edge of the airfield:

Hayes Lane can be seen in the background. (Stabler Heritage, RAF Museum, Hendon).

Amazingly, the photographer’s account of the raid can be read here. ***
*** Personal account of the raid on Kenley by Ralf von Pebal, a Luftwaffe photographer

The ‘early warning’ radar had picked up a lot of enemy activity across the Channel that sunny Sunday lunchtime.

At around 12.45pm, the perceived threat resulted in No 64 and 615 Squadrons being scrambled, although the Germans’ targets were still unclear.

At 1pm, some sixty Luftwaffe aircraft, comprising a high-level and a very low-level raiding force, crossed the Sussex coast at Cuckmere Haven near Beachy Head.

Air raid sirens sounded around Kenley and Caterham.

Fifteen minutes later, the onslaught began from the south with nine Dornier Do17 bombers of the low-level raiding force flying across the aerodrome at about 100 feet, followed several moments later by a raid from the high-level bombers.

Damage to the airfield and its facilities is well documented: three of the hangers were well alight, the equipment stores were a write-off, as were four Hurricanes and a Bristol Blenheim bomber destroyed on the ground.

Damage was sustained to another four parked aircraft and the station’s medical facilities.

Seriously, no communications now existed with the outside world.

Nine airmen were killed including the station’s much loved medical officer and local GP, Flight Lieutenant Robert Cromie; a further seven men and a WAAF were wounded.

One soldier died of his wounds the next day and two more suffered minor wounds.

Houses surrounding the airfield suffered major damage as airfield targets were missed: Valley Road in Kenley was particularly badly hit.

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Showing the blast damage to a Hurricane after the raid.

The raid showed how vulnerable the Fighter Stations were to having their communications systems destroyed, to rectify this for Kenley, the Comms center was established in an empty butchers shop in 11 Godstone Road in nearby Caterham.

This is now the site of a funerals directors office.

The Comm’s center moved again on 1st November 1940 to an old house called “The Grange”, about 3/4 of a mile West of the airfield.

This offered more space and room to fit more up to date equipment.

The house still stands at the rear of St John’s Church in old Coulsdon.

By the end of the epic Battle, on 31st October 1940, there was no doubt that Kenley had played a highly significant role.

Across the 6 Squadrons who had been stationed at Kenley 33 had paid with their lives, many more suffering life impairing injuries.

In 1941, Kenly was on the offensive, operating against enemy targets across the Channel, escorting Bristol Blenheim bombers to their targets.

An influx of Commonwealth and Allied airmen started that year with 2 Polish, a Czech, an Australian and a New Zealand Squadrons being based at Kenley, 6 Canadian Squadrons, on rotation, quickly followed.

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No 485 [NZ ] Squadron was Stationed there from 21st October 1941 to 8th July 1942

As D-Day, 6th June 1944, approached and the war about to move further away from Kenley, command and control was restructured the Sector control was taken over by Biggin Hill,

As Kenley is the most complete surviving Battle of Britain fighter airfield, it gives direct and tangible link to the aviation past.

As an active airfield today it builds on that heritage, whilst the surrounding environs provide visitors with a site of nature conservation and a protected public open space.

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner