Kenley airfield first opened in the summer of 1917 as an "Aircraft Acceptance Park" and became home to fighter squadrons early in the following year. In 1936, Kenley became home to No 11 Group Sector B Station Headquarters, Fighter Command, responsible for the airfields of Croydon, Friston, Gatwick, Lewes, Redhill and Shoreham. In 1939, two new concrete runways were built to accommodate Hurricanes and Spitfires.

In May 1940, when Germany started the blitzkrieg on the airfields of Holland, Belgium and France, a squadron from Kenley set out for German bases near The Hague, and destroyed four Junkers 52 troop carriers. Meanwhile, another squadron from Kenley set out for France as part of a force to deliver aircraft replacements for battered fighter squadrons.

The airfield was first attacked in August 1940, when it was devastated. Realising that the operations room for the sector was vulnerable, it was moved to "Camp B", a butcher's shop in Caterham. Kenley and the surrounding area continued to suffer raids throughout the Battle of Britian.

Kenley continued to be used as an operational airfield until April 1944 and flying ceased shortly afterwards with the V1 bomb flight paths overhead. In 1949, the Royal Auxiliary Air Force resumed flying operations at Kenley until they were disbanded in 1957.

The Films "Angels One Five" and "Reach for the Sky" were filmed at Kenley back in the 1950s.

The Airfield was finally closed in March 1974, but a fire in October 1978 resulted in the control tower and hangars being demolished. However, the airfield continues it's flying tradition as the home of the 615 Volunteer Gliding School for Air Cadets Flight training, and of course Surrey Hills Gliding Club.