RAF Kenley
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Caterham, Surrey
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The Kenley Revival Project is now up and running. See the project's website for details. There are some marvellous memories of RAF Kenley on this thread and we'd love to hear from you.
KM, great to see the project on Kenley, have fond memories of gliding there when I started as a CI with 1924 (Shirley) Sqn Atc an awful long time ago. Any opportunities for ATC cadets to help out with Kenley do you think?
Auster AOP6 TW577
Photographed at ROC Recognition day at Biggin Hill in 1954. When I first posted this photograph a few years ago I thought it was an Army aircraft, but was corrected:
"Auster TW577 served with Kenley-based 661 Squadron RAuxAF from 1950-1956."
Although based at Biggin Hill from 1953-1955 I never once went across to see what went on at Kenley.
Passed on FWIW.
KF's pictures
Ah Kenley in its prime; that is before the hangar burnt down with all the equipment (1978)
New married quarters had been built alongside Hayes Lane, and flats had 'grown' on the camp on the sites of pre war hangars destroyed in the 1940 raid. In fact the outline of several of the original hangars show up well.
The 1947 AC Saloon was painted blue during one non flying w-end with the help of course cadets, and scripted Cobra Eater. Spinning in the snow was a regular feature during the winter with competitions for complete high speeds spins being done on the main runway. Best runs were with a brand new 1500 VW Beetle loaned by the CFI ( 3 complete spins from 60 mph).
Never as well know as Biggin, yet Kenley survives as the most complete 11 Group Battle of Britain airfield that has retained its 1940 looks. Long may it continue. Its long term resident 615 Gliding school is still extent despite not having any serviceable machines to fly since 2014 due to gross incompetence of the RAF. A civilian club now operates during the week days. 615 has survived the 'Gliding cull' but awaits re equipping with refurbished gliders and new winches. (it will rise again just like its home)
New married quarters had been built alongside Hayes Lane, and flats had 'grown' on the camp on the sites of pre war hangars destroyed in the 1940 raid. In fact the outline of several of the original hangars show up well.
The 1947 AC Saloon was painted blue during one non flying w-end with the help of course cadets, and scripted Cobra Eater. Spinning in the snow was a regular feature during the winter with competitions for complete high speeds spins being done on the main runway. Best runs were with a brand new 1500 VW Beetle loaned by the CFI ( 3 complete spins from 60 mph).
Never as well know as Biggin, yet Kenley survives as the most complete 11 Group Battle of Britain airfield that has retained its 1940 looks. Long may it continue. Its long term resident 615 Gliding school is still extent despite not having any serviceable machines to fly since 2014 due to gross incompetence of the RAF. A civilian club now operates during the week days. 615 has survived the 'Gliding cull' but awaits re equipping with refurbished gliders and new winches. (it will rise again just like its home)
Yet another fire in the Officers' Mess at Kenley
https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/sur...icers-16104509
It seems that the developers here were not satisfied with the fire which destroyed a major part of the Officers' Mess in 2016. Somebody has tried again today!
All very sad.
It seems that the developers here were not satisfied with the fire which destroyed a major part of the Officers' Mess in 2016. Somebody has tried again today!
All very sad.
Join Date: Aug 2022
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Kenley in the 50s
Hi everyone,
I have read with great interest the comments about RAF Kenley. I did my National Service there from 1956 to 1958.
While I am not a pilot, I was however a fireman there and spent many days on duty in a crash tender by dispersal watching the cadets do their ‘circuits and bumps’.
The only old wreck that was on the airfield during that time was an old lanc that we used for fire practice and fire displays. The others must have been added after 1958
We had a Home Command fire competition there in 1957? as I remember.
The other RAF stations sent teams as well as the Navy and also Americans based in England then.
I was also there during the time that “HEATHROW DIRECTOR” was there as an ATC Cadet.
I was one of the fireman sent around the cadets hut to replenish the fire extinguishers that they had gleefully set off. Do you remember that Heathrow Director?
What did your father do at Kenley reynoldsno1? Maybe I knew him
It was nice to see the pics old airfield and dispersal area again albeit only from the air.
No crash tenders to be seen though, as the Fire Section personnel and equipment were moved to Biggin Hill in early 1968 . One day before I was demobbed actually. So I spent my last night alone in the barracks. Those two years I spent there however are fond memories.
I am 72 now (celebrated my 70th with a sky jump) and have tried to contact old mates from there but have only been able to find one. He now lives in Czechoslovakia and I am in Canada.
I would welcome any e-mails about the old place….Went there last in 1983 with my Canadian wife. We didn’t see anything though as all the old place was gone.
Well, thanks for the opportunity to chat guys
I have read with great interest the comments about RAF Kenley. I did my National Service there from 1956 to 1958.
While I am not a pilot, I was however a fireman there and spent many days on duty in a crash tender by dispersal watching the cadets do their ‘circuits and bumps’.
The only old wreck that was on the airfield during that time was an old lanc that we used for fire practice and fire displays. The others must have been added after 1958
We had a Home Command fire competition there in 1957? as I remember.
The other RAF stations sent teams as well as the Navy and also Americans based in England then.
I was also there during the time that “HEATHROW DIRECTOR” was there as an ATC Cadet.
I was one of the fireman sent around the cadets hut to replenish the fire extinguishers that they had gleefully set off. Do you remember that Heathrow Director?
What did your father do at Kenley reynoldsno1? Maybe I knew him
It was nice to see the pics old airfield and dispersal area again albeit only from the air.
No crash tenders to be seen though, as the Fire Section personnel and equipment were moved to Biggin Hill in early 1968 . One day before I was demobbed actually. So I spent my last night alone in the barracks. Those two years I spent there however are fond memories.
I am 72 now (celebrated my 70th with a sky jump) and have tried to contact old mates from there but have only been able to find one. He now lives in Czechoslovakia and I am in Canada.
I would welcome any e-mails about the old place….Went there last in 1983 with my Canadian wife. We didn’t see anything though as all the old place was gone.
Well, thanks for the opportunity to chat guys
Kenley Survives
Despite the gross incompetence of the MOD to keep a fleet of gliders serviceable, and then compound the issue by giving away its Grob motor gliders rather than admit they had screwed up that operation, the consummate survivor that is RAF Kenley has risen again with 615 VGS operational and more importantly SENDING CADETS SOLO AGAIN. An amazing tale of not giving up and keeping the survivor spirit of Kenley to the fore. Despite the airfield loosing its 'Surrey' status even Croydon has not managed finish off the location although it has tried hard to 'squeeze' the airfields flying capability.
When will the numpties behind their desks and laptops realise Kenley will still be there for ever because IT IS KENLEY and has more experience at surviving than the all the paper clip counting nerds can muster in trying to rewrite history. What we need to do is to get it back to Surrey where it belongs.
When will the numpties behind their desks and laptops realise Kenley will still be there for ever because IT IS KENLEY and has more experience at surviving than the all the paper clip counting nerds can muster in trying to rewrite history. What we need to do is to get it back to Surrey where it belongs.
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
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Pobjoy, I'm quite sure I'm not the only southern Croydon dweller who'd welcome a return to Surrey along with Kenley...
