How to destroy the Royal Air Force (?).
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A former Secretary of State for Defence of my acquaintance told me that the MoD had fixed the 2% figure by including pensions and a chunk of the intelligence budget in defence spending. Whether it’s right or not to do so, his point was that in 1997, the defence budget had been 3% of GDP without them.
Patient not quite dead yet
Its not all doom and gloom. The RAF still have a base at Kenley in good old 11 group. Poised to rise again and defend the realm as it has done twice in the past. Quite capable of operating the jumping beans, and all easily dispersed in the woods around the common. The bonus is the use of the local Surrey pubs for excellent R&R and all within striking distance of the City night life. Nothing changes in 11 group. its business as usual. Stop press NAFFI building still available for tea and buns after a sortie (as seen in Reach for the sky)
Its not all doom and gloom. The RAF still have a base at Kenley in good old 11 group. Poised to rise again and defend the realm as it has done twice in the past. Quite capable of operating the jumping beans, and all easily dispersed in the woods around the common. The bonus is the use of the local Surrey pubs for excellent R&R and all within striking distance of the City night life. Nothing changes in 11 group. its business as usual. Stop press NAFFI building still available for tea and buns after a sortie (as seen in Reach for the sky)
...when AC2 David Roberts won the Military Medal. Whilst under fire he downed a Dornier 17 at Kenley using the Parachute-and-Cable rocket system, its first ever successful use. He won the Military Medal for the action and ended his career as a group captain.
Indeed. This remarkable painting shows the rockets just after launch.
Kenleys hardest day
One of the results of the raid was Kenley got a 'Flack Tower' south of the airfield, it is still there.
Islandlad,
Read some history around 1917 to 1918 and educate yourself!
Read some history around 1917 to 1918 and educate yourself!
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I think it’s safe to say that had Fighter Command in 1940 been part of the RFC and the RAF didn’t exist, then more fighter squadrons would have been committed to the battle in France by General Dowding or whoever was in charge, and the outcome of the BoB been slightly different.
Fit for purpose
I think it’s safe to say that had Fighter Command in 1940 been part of the RFC and the RAF didn’t exist, then more fighter squadrons would have been committed to the battle in France by General Dowding or whoever was in charge, and the outcome of the BoB been slightly different.
Rockets to the rescue
The hangars were the classic Belfast sheds with wooden beams and tar felt wooden roofs. It did not take much to set them ablaze and then they went up like the proverbial roman candle. The all important Ops room was basically a bungalow near the O mess and was evacuated to Caterham after this near miss event. Luckily the Luftwaffe thought Kenley was finished, but in practice its flying ground, fuel store, and ops room were serviceable and the station was never put out of action, unlike the strike force which was decimated.
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Gnome de PPRuNe
Apologies to Pobjoy for these not being posted on 18th - out all day, then was getting error messages with the uploads, how I wish I still had a copy of Photoshop available!
Kenley now, seen from the SE as the Dorniers would have seeing it on their approach - albeit rather lower!
Modern Kenley with position of buildings indicated, hangars in black
Preserved flack tower structure, above the Caterham roundabout on the A22
Type of hangars Kenley had (double Belfast), these at Old Sarum - note internal wood structure
Rolls Royce Derby where all the BoB Merlins were made
Rebuilt Golf Lane cottage (PAC Dornier fell on original)
Living History in your back yard! Kenley, the Surrey common that became a modern battlefield.
Kenley now, seen from the SE as the Dorniers would have seeing it on their approach - albeit rather lower!
Modern Kenley with position of buildings indicated, hangars in black
Preserved flack tower structure, above the Caterham roundabout on the A22
Type of hangars Kenley had (double Belfast), these at Old Sarum - note internal wood structure
Rolls Royce Derby where all the BoB Merlins were made
Rebuilt Golf Lane cottage (PAC Dornier fell on original)
Living History in your back yard! Kenley, the Surrey common that became a modern battlefield.
PAC installation
Well done Treads
Images 1&2 show how the Dorniers would have seen Kenley although at a lower height. The PAC installation was along the straight part of the peri track above the runway intersection.
Image 2 gives an approx. idea of what original buildings were there before the raid.
The main damage was inflicted on the left hand side of the station although one hangar survived. This side is where the medical centre was situated.
The right hand side escaped quite lightly, but suffered from authorised demolition in later years.
The parade ground and NAFFI building is still complete, and well preserved for us in scenes from Reach for the sky.
The officers mess (listed) survived the war but has been badly damaged since by arson attacks.
The original BoB ops room (behind the O Mess) also survived the war only to be demolished post war together with the main barrack blocks near the station entrance.
RAF Kenley was quite small and never extended for Jet operations (unlike the nearby Biggih Hill). The surviving double Belfast shed continued to give good service for the Cadet Gliders until 1978 when it went up in flames with all of the 615 GS equipment. However Kenley and 615 VGS are great survivors and together with 450 ATC continue to serve the Cadet movement to this day. One would not expect anything else. Pobjoy
Images 1&2 show how the Dorniers would have seen Kenley although at a lower height. The PAC installation was along the straight part of the peri track above the runway intersection.
Image 2 gives an approx. idea of what original buildings were there before the raid.
The main damage was inflicted on the left hand side of the station although one hangar survived. This side is where the medical centre was situated.
The right hand side escaped quite lightly, but suffered from authorised demolition in later years.
The parade ground and NAFFI building is still complete, and well preserved for us in scenes from Reach for the sky.
The officers mess (listed) survived the war but has been badly damaged since by arson attacks.
The original BoB ops room (behind the O Mess) also survived the war only to be demolished post war together with the main barrack blocks near the station entrance.
RAF Kenley was quite small and never extended for Jet operations (unlike the nearby Biggih Hill). The surviving double Belfast shed continued to give good service for the Cadet Gliders until 1978 when it went up in flames with all of the 615 GS equipment. However Kenley and 615 VGS are great survivors and together with 450 ATC continue to serve the Cadet movement to this day. One would not expect anything else. Pobjoy
