INVICTA AIRWAYS

      THE AIRLINE OF KENT

Designed by Gerry Abrahams

In April 1959 some of Silver City’s operations were transferred to Manston and Hugh was given the job of changing the famous airfield to civilian use. In November 1960 Hugh resigned from the Silver City group and decided to set up his own airline once more, the beginning of Air Ferry. Over the next 20 years many of the well known post war companies succumbed to financial and other difficulties that independents perpetually struggled against. In that time Hugh and his fellow directors guided the company against the tide until n 1981 he left the airline business and turned his attention to another of his abiding interests, the renovation of historic cars and continued until his death in 1995.
At Hugh’s funeral, Dr.Brian McAvoy the Company doctor gave an address that ended with the immortal words,’Never in the field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many to so few.’

Hugh Kennard learned to fly at Prestwick in 1937 and the following year was a Pilot Officer on 66 Squadron where they were the second squadron, after their sister squadron 19 at Duxford to receive Spitfires.In 1940 Hugh flew covering patrols over the Dunkirk evacuation and operated from Coltishal as part of 12 Group in the Battle of Britain.In August he joined 306 a Polish squadron as Flight Commander. In the following May he was transferred to help form 121 Squadron one of the three famous American Eagle Squadrons. In early 1942 Hugh took command of 121 Squadron leading them on offensive sweeps over occupied France .After being taken off operations for a while Hugh returned to fighters in command of 74 Squadron.
When the war ended by September 1945 Hugh was commanding officer at RAF Hawkinge but decided to leave the air force and take part in the burgeoning re-emergence of civil aviation. After flying such types as the Messenger,Hawk and Consul on ad-hoc charters to Europe, Hugh started his own airline, Air Kruse at Lympne, assisted by his wife,Audrey.Hugh built up AirKruse as a pioneer of the emerging inclusive tour business along side Silver Cuty’s impressive business of ferrying cars by air to Europe. Later, he joined with Silver City becoming joint managing director