1 Apr 2024Royal Canadian Air Force Centenary Memorial Trail – 1 April 2024

Date: 1 Apr 2024 - 1 Apr 2024
Location: Kenley Revival

1st April, 2024 marks the centenary of the formation of the Royal Canadian Air Force – an important anniversary for us at Kenley Common as RAF Kenley was home to 8 RCAF Fighter Squadrons during WW2 and Canadians make up roughly one third of the Kenley pilots who lost their lives in that epic struggle to preserve our freedom.

We will be remembering their service and sacrifice with a memorial trail around the perimeter of the airfield comprising information panels which will remember the 47 Canadians killed while serving at RAF Kenley during WWII, plus two Americans, one Barbadian and a British man who lost their lives serving with RCAF units.

The trail runs clockwise around the perimeter track, starting and finishing at the pedestrian gates adjacent to The Tribute.

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It will be on display from the end of March until November 2024.

You can view an interactive map of the trail here.

Free roadside parking is available on Hayes Lane adjacent to the RAF Kenley Tribute.

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The memorial panels have been researched and written by Kenley Revival volunteer, Linda Duffield, with the help of Tony Adams, Neil Broughton and Colin Lee.

We would like to thank the Royal Canadian Air Force Association for funding this project and the families of our Canadian pilots for their support and invaluable assistance with photographs and documents.

Many thanks to:

The City Commons Ranger team
The RAF and Wing Commander Adey Hobson
The RAF Association and Portcullis Club
Kenley Airfield Friends Group
Jane Collman
Dilip Sarkar MBE
Information from:

RCAF Operations Books and Service files.
Various Canadian and British Newspapers
Canadians in the RAF by Les Allison
RAF Kenley by Peter Flint
National Archives