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Post-war activity

As the war moved further away from Kenley, restructuring was taking place and as 421 Squadron left for Tangmere in 1944 the 'era of glory' was ended and sector control was taken over by Biggin Hill. By 1945 the war was over and Kenley had "done it's bit". What Kenley had borne witness to during this war was the rapid development of aviation. At the start of the war, bi-planes were still flying operationally out of Kenley. By the end, jet engine Meteors were being introduced. As there was little scope for the extension of the runway that jet fighters needed, it was perhaps another nail in the coffin as far as Kenley remaining a front-line station was concerned.

Apart from some low key aerial activity since the war, the station was placed in care and maintenance for the most part. The airfield closed operationally in 1959 but the station itself closed finally in 1974 leaving only 615 VGS there to represent the RAF. There was to be another spectacular event however. This occurred in October 1978 when the last remaining 1917 hangar went up in flames, with it the entire stock of gliders and ground equipment. No flying was possible the following year, but in 1980, using a Bessoneaux portable hangar, training was able to resume. The hangar is the same type as that first erected in 1917, and so the circle is drawn.


(Text taken from RAF Kenley Memorial Day Programme - A Brief History of RAF Kenley)