The former Royal Air Force Station Kenley, more commonly known as RAF Kenley (now known as Kenley Aerodrome) was a station of the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War and the RAF in the Second World War. It is located near Kenley, Surrey, England.
Its active phase commenced in 1917, and ceased in 1959 when RAF Fighter Command left the aerodrome. During the Second World War RAF Kenley was one of the three main fighter stations (Kenley, Croydon and Biggin Hill) responsible for the air defence of London. During the Battle of Britain, these three RAF stations became prominent because of their role in defending against the German Luftwaffe.
RAF Kenley suffered its worst damage in an attack on 18 August 1940. While 15 September is considered by many to be the climax of the Battle of Britain, 18 August is often cited as the costliest or hardest day — the British lost 68 aircraft and the Germans lost 69. At Kenley, all ten hangars and twelve aircraft, including ten Hurricanes, were destroyed and the runways badly cratered. The Sector Operations Room had to be moved to an emergency location away from the airfield.
Although few of the remaining buildings survive and the control tower was demolished after a fire in 1978 along with the hangars, Kenley is thought to be the best preserved of all Second World War RAF fighter stations, with the runway still in its original configuration. Kenley aerodrome was identified as "The most complete fighter airfield associated with the Battle of Britain to have survived". The local council 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. In December 2005, the former Officers' Mess building and surrounding land was sold to residential building.
Some of the original 12 E-shaped blast pens remain, 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.
The airfield is still used today mostly glider flying.
It is still possible to walk in the woods and on the common, meander around the airfield, and even go for a meal and a pint in the nearby local public house — a stone's throw from the airfield and said to have been a favourite with pilots during the war. The pub is decorated with pictures and artifacts associated with the airfield.
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 19 August 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.
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 home to the Air Cadets, who use the airfield for ceremonial purposes, night exercises, drill practice and gliding with the nearby volunteer gliding school.
The airfield is still in use by the Ministry of Defence and a local Gliding Club for glider aircraft. However, the use of powered aircraft (drones) is prohibited.
Cache is big enough to hold small TB's and swag items, bring your own pen.