Reach for the sky: a Spitfire from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will make a fly-past at Kenley on August 16
One of the real spectacles of the year, a fly-past of a Battle of Britain fighter aircraft, will this year be taking place – weather and good fortune permitting – over Kenley airfield on Sunday August 16, at 1pm.
A Spitfire from the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will be making the airborne visit, although as the volunteers at Kenley Revival, the custodians of the history of RAF Kenley, point out, “Please be aware that the aircraft and timings may change or be cancelled due to weather or technical issues.”
The machinery and aeronautical design that was cutting-edge technology in the 1930s, producing an aircraft ultimately capable of flying at 450mph, is this year 90 years old, and needs significant care and attention to keep it flight-worthy. There may soon be a time when such memorial flights are no longer possible.
“As ever, this is a fly-past in memory of the fallen, not a full display, and is best viewed from Kenley Common near The Tribute,” Kenley Revival say.
They add that, as yet, which BBMF Spitfire will make the flight is unknown.
RAF Kenley was a frontline military airfield between 1917 and 1959. Originally built for the Royal Flying Corps in World War I, 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. Two concrete runways were built, plus perimeter track, blast pens, increased storage for fuels and oils, and a dedicated armoury.
Construction was largely completed in early 1940. Just in the nick of time…
Together with RAF Croydon and RAF Biggin Hill, RAF Kenley was one of the main fighter stations responsible for the air defence of London during the Battle of Britain in the late summer of 1940.
While September 15 is considered by many to be the climax of the Battle of Britain, August 18 is cited as “The Hardest Day” – when the allies lost 68 aircraft and the Germans lost 69.
In the Luftwaffe air raids on Kenley that day, two of the three hangars, other buildings and 10 aircraft, including six Hurricanes, were destroyed. 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.
The Hardest Day is featured prominently in Hammond Innes’ novel, Attack Alarm (Innes was a Royal Artillery anti-aircraft gunner stationed at Kenley).
The airfield was used as a location for a couple of notable 1950s war films: Angels One Five (1952) and Reach for the Sky (1956), the latter the bio-pic of Douglas Bader, who famously flew fighter aircraft in the Battle of Britain despite having both legs amputated after an air crash in 1931.
Film set: the actor Kenneth More, who played Douglas Bader, with Spitfires at Kenley in 1955, during the filming of Reach For The Sky
Although many of Kenley’s historic buildings have been demolished, including the control tower after fire in the 1970s, the airfield is considered to be the best preserved of all World War II RAF fighter stations, with the runway still in its original configuration.
In 2000, English Heritage identified Kenley as, “The most complete fighter airfield associated with the Battle of Britain to have survived.”
Croydon and Tandridge councils have designated the airfield site as a conservation area.
The 2026 BBMF fly-past is planned for the closest Sunday to August 18’s “The Hardest Day”.
Kenley Revival has documented the events of August 18 1940 on its website.
On the day of the 2026 fly-past, Kenley Revival will have a gazebo with a small display about The Hardest Day near The Tribute, which is just off Hayes Lane.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from August 6
Classes at 12pm and 3pm
Book online by clicking here
Price: £15pp
Where: Cocoa Jones Chocolate, 2 The Parade, Old Lodge, Purley CR8 4DG.
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