Kenley Airfield

RAF Kenley is a former Royal Flying Corps station from the First World War and a Royal Air Force station from the Second World War. It is located near Kenley, on the edge of Greater London, England. The site remains in use with the Ministry of Defence as Kenley Airfield.

The air base was originally built for the Royal Flying Corps in 1917. It underwent a significant rebuild in August 1939, authorized by the Air Ministry (Heston and Kenley Aerodromes Extension) Act 1939, to prepare for new aircraft like the Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire, and Bristol Blenheim. This involved demolishing unsuitable hangars, constructing two concrete runways, a perimeter track, blast pens, and increasing fuel storage and armory facilities. Construction was largely completed by early 1940.

During the Battle of Britain in 1940, RAF Kenley was one of three main fighter stations, alongside Croydon and Biggin Hill, responsible for the air defense of London. On 18 August 1940, the base sustained heavy damage, with two hangars, other buildings, and ten aircraft destroyed, and runways heavily cratered. The Sector Operations Room was relocated to an emergency site. RAF Fighter Command left the aerodrome in 1959.

Today, RAF Kenley is considered one of the best-preserved Second World War RAF fighter stations, with its runway still in its original configuration. Eleven of the original 12 E-shaped blast pens remain, some partially, and one has been fully restored. These structures are protected as scheduled monuments. A memorial dedicated to the Royal Air Force and Allied air forces was unveiled on 19 August 2000.

The airfield is currently used by the Ministry of Defence and the Surrey Hills Gliding Club for glider aircraft. Powered aircraft operations are prohibited. The main air unit stationed at RAF Kenley is the No. 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, a unit within the RAF 2 Flying Training School (2 FTS). The airfield is regulated by the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) as a government aerodrome.