Editing RAF Kenley (section)

==History==
RAF Kenley was a frontline operation military airfield between 1917 and 1959 when [[RAF Fighter Command]] left the aerodrome. Originally built for the [[Royal Flying Corps]] in the [[World War I|First World War]], it was radically rebuilt in August 1939 in preparation for future operation of new aircraft, such as the [[Hawker Hurricane]], [[Supermarine Spitfire]] and [[Bristol Blenheim]]. Unsuitable hangars from the First World War were demolished, and two concrete runways were built, plus perimeter track, [[blast pen]]s, increased storage for fuels and oils, and a dedicated armoury. Construction was largely completed in early 1940.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kenleyrevival.org/content/history/raf-kenley/1917-present/raf-kenley-1917-1938 |title=RAF Kenley 1917-1939 |website=Kenley Revival|access-date=7 December 2020}}</ref>

===Second World War===
[[File:The Battle of Britain HU70268.jpg|thumb|left|RAF aircraftmen guard the remains of a ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' [[Dornier 17]] that was  shot down during a low-level attack on RAF Kenley on 18 August 1940.]]
RAF Kenley was one of the three main fighter stations (Kenley, [[Croydon Airport|Croydon]] and [[RAF Biggin Hill|Biggin Hill]]) responsible for the air defence of [[London]] during the [[Battle of Britain]] in 1940. 

RAF Kenley suffered its worst damage in an attack on 18 August 1940. While 15&nbsp;September is considered by many to be the climax of the Battle of Britain, 18&nbsp;August is often cited as the costliest or hardest day – the British lost 68&nbsp;aircraft and the Germans lost 69. At Kenley, two of the remaining three hangars (three had been removed in 1939), other buildings and ten aircraft, including six Hurricanes, were destroyed, while six more, including a Spitfire and two Hurricanes, were damaged. The runways were also heavily cratered by the bombing. The Sector Operations Room had to be moved to an emergency location away from the airfield.

[[Hammond Innes]]' book ''[[Attack Alarm]]'', published in 1941, was based on his experiences as a [[Royal Artillery]] anti-aircraft gunner at RAF Kenley during the [[Battle of Britain]]. Innes' novels are marked by attention to accurate detail and the book contains graphic descriptions of the station and attacks on it in 1940.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kenleyrevival.org/content/history/significant-dates/attack-alarm-hammond-inness-portrait-of-kenleys-hardest-day|title=ATTACK ALARM – Hammond Innes's portrait of Kenley's Hardest Day|website=Kenley Revival|access-date=23 September 2020}}</ref>

===Squadrons===
[[File:Spitfire V 485-2.jpg|thumb| [[Supermarine Spitfire (early Merlin-powered variants)|Spitfire Mk. Vbs]] of [[No. 485 Squadron RNZAF]] at RAF Kenley in 1941]]
The following units were based at RAF Kenley:
{{columns-list|colwidth=40em|
* [[No. 1 Squadron RAF]] initially between 5 January and 7 April 1941 with the Hurricane I & IIA before returning on 1 June and staying until 14 June 1941.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=23}}
* [[No. 3 Squadron RAF]] between 10 May 1934 and October 1935 with the Bulldog II/IIA then between 28 August 1936 and 1 May 1939 using both the [[Gloster Gladiator]] I and the Hurricane I. The squadron returned for the last time on 28 January 1940 staying until 10 May 1940 equipped with the Hurricane I.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=24}}
* [[No. 13 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=28}}
* [[No. 17 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=29}}
* [[No. 23 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=32}}
* [[No. 24 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=32}}
* [[No. 32 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=35}}
* [[No. 36 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=37}}
* [[No. 39 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=38}}
* [[No. 46 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=40}}
* [[No. 64 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=45}}
* [[No. 66 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=45}}
* [[No. 80 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=49}}
* [[No. 84 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=50}}
* [[No. 88 Squadron RAF|No. 88 (Hong Kong) Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=51}}
* [[No. 91 Squadron RAF|No. 91 (Nigeria) Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=52}}
* [[No. 95 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=53}}
* [[No. 108 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=55}}
* [[No. 110 Squadron RAF|No. 110 (Hyderabad) Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=55}}
* [[No. 111 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=56}}
* [[No. 116 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=57}}
* [[No. 165 Squadron RAF|No. 165 (Ceylon) Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=64}}
* [[No. 207 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=69}}
* [[No. 229 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=74}}
* [[No. 253 Squadron RAF|No. 253 (Hyderabad State) Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=78}}
* [[No. 258 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=79}}
* [[No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=84}}
* [[No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=86}}
* [[350th Squadron (Belgium)|No. 350 (Belgian) Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=88}}
* [[400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron|No. 400 Squadron RCAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=89}}
* [[401 Tactical Fighter Squadron|No. 401 Squadron RCAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=89}}
* [[402 Squadron|No. 402 Squadron RCAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=89}}
* [[403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron|No. 403 Squadron RCAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=89}}
* [[No. 411 Squadron RCAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=90}}
* [[412 Transport Squadron|No. 412 Squadron RCAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=90}}
* [[416 Tactical Fighter Squadron|No. 416 Squadron RCAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=90}}
* [[No. 421 Squadron RCAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=91}}
* [[No. 452 Squadron RAAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=93}}
* [[No. 485 Squadron RNZAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=94}}
* [[No. 501 Squadron RAF|No. 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron AAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=94}}
* [[No. 600 Squadron RAF|No. 600 (City of London) Squadron AAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=98}}
* [[No. 602 Squadron RAF|No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron AAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=98}}
* [[No. 611 Squadron RAF|No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron AAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=100}}
* [[No. 615 Squadron RAF|No. 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron AAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=100}}
* [[No. 616 Squadron RAF|No. 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron AAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=100}}
* [[No. 661 Squadron AAC|No. 661 Squadron RAF]]{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=104}}
* [[4th Fighter Squadron]] (1942)
* [[308th Fighter Squadron]] (1942)
}}

;Other units:
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* No. 1 Communication Squadron RAF<ref name="ABCT">{{cite web|url=https://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/kenley-whyteleafe/ |title=Kenley (Whyteleafe) |publisher=[[Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust]]|access-date=4 December 2020}}</ref>
* [[No. 1 Group RAF]]
* No. 2 Mechanical Transport Storage Unit
* [[No. 6 Group RAF|No. 6 (Fighter) Group RAF]]
* No. 7 (Kenley) Aircraft Acceptance Park
* [[No. 17 Wing RAF|No. 17 (Fighter) Wing RAF]]
* [[No. 17 Sector RAF|[No. 17 (Fighter) Sector RAF]]
* [[No. 56 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School RAF]]
* [[No. 61 Group RAF|No. 61 (Eastern) Group RAF]]
* [[No. 61 Group RAF|No. 61 (Eastern Reserve) Group RAF]]
* [[No. 61 Group RAF|No. 61 (Southern Reserve) Group RAF]]
* No. 61 Group Communication Flight RAF
* [[No. 61 Wing RAF|No. 61 Fighter Wing RAF]]
* [[No. 86 Wing RAF|No. 86 (Communications) Wing RAF]]
* [[No. 103 Wing RAF|No. 103 (Air Disarmament) Wing RAF]]
* [[No. 127 Airfield RAF]]
* [[No. 143 Gliding School RAF]]
* [[No. 162 Gliding School RAF]]
* No. 409 Repair & Salvage Unit
* No. 419 (RCAF) Repair & Salvage Unit
* [[No. 615 Gliding School RAF]] became [[No. 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF]]
* [[No. 1335 Wing RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 1336 Wing RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 1957 Reserve Air Observation Post Flight RAF]]
* [[No. 1960 Reserve Air Observation Post Flight RAF]]
* [[No. 2704 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2721 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2729 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2732 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2738 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2766 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2820 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* No. 3201 Servicing Commando
* No. 3207 Servicing Commando
* Fighting Area
* Kenley Aircraft Acceptance Park
* Photographic Experimental Section/Station
* [[Signals Co-operation Flight RAF]]
* Surrey Hills Gliding Club
* [[University of London Air Squadron]]
}}

===Pilots===
[[File:Kenley Sqn photo.jpg|thumb|right|[[Air Officer Commanding|AOC]] [[RAF Fighter Command]], [[Air chief marshal]] [[Hugh Dowding]] visit to [[No. 46 Squadron RAF|No. 46 Squadron]] at RAF Kenley in 1938]]
Many famous pilots served at Kenley, including the famous South African fighter ace [[Sailor Malan|'Sailor' Malan]], Group Captain P. H. 'Dutch' Hugo, [[C. W. A. Scott]] (winner of the [[MacRobertson Air Race]]) who served there with [[No. 32 Squadron RAF]] from 1923 to 1926, and the British ace [[Johnnie Johnson (RAF officer)|JE "Johnnie" Johnson]], later Air Vice-Marshal, who took over the Canadian wing at Kenley in 1943. 
P/O Arthur Gerald Donahue, 64 Squadron, flew out of Kenley. Donahue was from St. Charles, Minnesota, USA, and was one of seven Americans to fly and fight in the Battle of Britain. He was shot down 13 August 1940, and suffered burns but later returned to service. Donahue described his experiences in the book, "Tally Ho! Yankee in a Spitfire" published by Macmillan in 1941.