RAF Kenley airfield

1975 (© Mark Stanley)

RAF Kenley - Battle of Britain airfield

Housing, parkland, RAF No. 615 Volunteer Gliding School

Small Control Room built on side of G.S. Shed (Belfast Truss) hangar, date built not known

Demolished along with hangars after fire 23/10/78

Other Buildings:

Opened summer 1917 as No 7 Aircraft Acceptance Park. Fighter Sqns based here from 1918.
04/18, No.1 (Communications) Sqn flying to France. Station partly rebuilt 1920 and again 1932-34. Rebuilt again 1939 and concrete runways laid, 6 of the 14 Belfast hangars were demolished.
1940 became Sector Station HQ for B Sector, 11 Group, Fighter Command. Severely attacked 18/08/40, and many times during the Battle of Britain. One of the main Fighter stations during the Battle of Britain and through the rest of the war. The last operation was flown 13/03/44, then closed to flying 05/44 due to the proximity of the barrage balloon defence against the flying bombs.
Communications and observation flights post war along with gliding. The films 'Angels One Five' and 'Reach for ths Sky' filmed here in the 1950s. Closed 01/05/59 although gliding still continues.

1975 (© Mark Stanley)

Demolition of the control tower seen from inside the hangar 1978 (© via Steven Wise & B. Prosper)

Operational Fighter

Grass then 2x - concrete

7x - 2 bay Belfast Truss, 8x - Blister

4 miles S of Croydon

Empire Air Day 1937 (© Steve Bond)
Kenley hangars are grouped in pairs, no.1 far left, no.2 centre and no.3 far right. Control tower was built on the right hand corner of the no.3 hangar.

RAF Kenley airfield

RAF Station
Airfield:	Operational Fighter
Opened:	/1917
Closed:	21/02/66
ID Code:	KE
USAAF Station:	N/A
Runways:	Grass then 2x - concrete
Hangars:	7x - 2 bay Belfast Truss, 8x - Blister
County:	Surrey
Location:	4 miles S of Croydon
OS Ref:	ST328580
Links:	Kenley Tour 1975 Here Kenley Aerial Views 1997 Here Kenley Tour 2002 Here
©:	Photographs © copyright as stated
RAF Kenley

RAF Kenley - Battle of Britain airfield
Airfield Today:	Housing, parkland, RAF No. 615 Volunteer Gliding School
Tower Type:	Small Control Room built on side of G.S. Shed (Belfast Truss) hangar, date built not known
Tower:	Demolished along with hangars after fire 23/10/78
Other Buildings:	Many
History:	Opened summer 1917 as No 7 Aircraft Acceptance Park. Fighter Sqns based here from 1918. 04/18, No.1 (Communications) Sqn flying to France. Station partly rebuilt 1920 and again 1932-34. Rebuilt again 1939 and concrete runways laid, 6 of the 14 Belfast hangars were demolished. 1940 became Sector Station HQ for B Sector, 11 Group, Fighter Command. Severely attacked 18/08/40, and many times during the Battle of Britain. One of the main Fighter stations during the Battle of Britain and through the rest of the war. The last operation was flown 13/03/44, then closed to flying 05/44 due to the proximity of the barrage balloon defence against the flying bombs. Communications and observation flights post war along with gliding. The films 'Angels One Five' and 'Reach for ths Sky' filmed here in the 1950s. Closed 01/05/59 although gliding still continues.
RAF Kenley

Kenley Tour 1975 Here	Kenley Tour 2002 Here
Kenley Aerial Views 1997 Here