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RAF Kenley and Kenley Airfield, Hayes Lane, Kenley, London

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Details

Accessibility

There is on-street parking along Hayes Lane with step-free access to Kenley Common. Additional parking at Victor Beamish Avenue.

Brief description

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Kenley

"Royal Air Force Kenley, more commonly known as RAF Kenley, is a former station of the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War and the RAF in the Second World War. It played a significant role during the Battle of Britain as one of the three RAF stations specifically tasked with the defence of London. It is located near Kenley on the edge of Greater London. The site remains in use with the Ministry of Defence, as Kenley Airfield.

Although few of the remaining buildings survive and the control tower was demolished after a fire in 1978 along with the remaining hangar, Kenley is thought[who?] to be the best preserved of all Second World War RAF fighter stations, with the runway still in its original configuration. English Heritage (in 2000) identified Kenley as "The most complete fighter airfield associated with the Battle of Britain to have survived".[citation needed] The respective councils of Croydon and Tandridge have designated the airfield site as a conservation area (2006).

The south-west corner, previously occupied by married quarters, has been redeveloped with modern high-density housing directly abutting the airfield (the area was excluded from the Green Belt as part of the Tandridge District Local Plan[citation needed] and thus not included within the conservation area). In December 2005, the Grade II Listed former officers' mess building and surrounding land was sold to residential building developer, Comer Homes,[citation needed] and having more recently suffered a fire and vandalism, its future is uncertain as is that of the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) Portcullis Club.

Eleven of the original 12 E-shaped blast pens remain in part or whole, as well as the shelters for the servicing personnel. One in particular – forming the background to the RAF memorial – has been fully restored. Since 2004 these structures are protected as scheduled monuments.

Part of the former air station is preserved as a tribute to the service personnel of the Commonwealth and Allied fighter squadrons who shared the honours with the RAF. In a former aircraft parking area in one of the blast pens a memorial was unveiled on 19mAugust 2000. Dedicated to the Royal Air Force and allied air forces, the inscription reads "RAF Kenley Tribute in Honour of All Personnel Who Served Here 1917–1959".

The aerodrome was used as a location in Angels One Five (1952) and Reach for the Sky (1956),[citation needed] the latter about Douglas Bader who was posted to RAF Kenley in 1930 No. 23 Squadron RAF shortly before his accident in 1931.

RAF Kenley now hosts 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, a Unit within the RAF 2 Flying Training School (2 FTS). RAF Kenley is classed as a government aerodrome and is regulated by the Military Aviation Authority (MAA); as such, all flying operations are governed by military regulations and safety standards. An aerodrome operator (AO) is appointed in accordance with MAA regulations, whose role is to actively manage the aerodrome environment to ensure it is safe for the operation of aircraft, and is the focal point for all aerodrome activity. However this function is undertaken remotely by an individual within the HQ of 2 FTS at RAF Syerston.

At the foot of the memorial is inscribed the war-time quote commemorating the Battle of Britain "Never in the field of human conflict, has so much been owed by so many to so few – Winston Churchill 1942."

The airfield is next to the HQ of 450 Kenley Air Cadets.

The airfield is still in use by the Ministry of Defence and Surrey Hills Gliding Club for glider aircraft; however, the use of powered aircraft is currently prohibited."

Address

"The correct postal address is: RAF Kenley, Victor Beamish Avenue, Caterham, CR3 5FX. The site is still RAF Kenley with an active squadron on site: 615VGS"

Email

See https://www.kafg.org.uk/ and http://www.kenley-rafa.org.uk/get-in-touch/

Phone

Website

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Kenley

https://www.kafg.org.uk/

http://www.kenley-rafa.org.uk/

Directions

Opening Times

Always check with the venue directly for up-to-date information including opening times and admission charges as they may be subject to change

Transport

Amenities

RAF Kenley Tribute Memorial accessible from

Hayes Lane

Kenley

CR5 1JS

Travel Information

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