No. 125 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 125 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron active during and after World War II.
equipped with Defiants in a night fighter role. The squadron became operational at the end of September covering western England and South Wales.
The squadron was raised as a result of a War Loan raised by the Newfoundland Commission on Government. The Commission presented the British Government with $500,000 to establish the squadron with the hope that it would be manned by Newfoundlanders.
In September 1941 the squadron moved to RAF Fairwood Common
and became fully operational with the Defiant proving to be a more than effective night fighter. By March 1942, 125 Squadron started converting to the twin-engined Beaufighter
. Defiants and Hurricane
s were also used to supplement the Beaufighters. Aircrews named some of their aircraft in recognition of its Newfoundland heritage. St, John's
, Corner Brook, Deer Lake
and Buchans were some of the names used..
November 1943 saw the squadron move to RAF Valley
in Wales
to enable patrols to take place over the Irish Sea
. With a conversion to Mosquito
s in February 1944 No. 125 moved to RAF Hurn
in preparation to cover the Operation Overlord
landings in Normandy
. With the commencement of V-1 attacks on London
the squadron moved to RAF Middle Wallop to assist in the City's defence and to fly patrols from RAF Bradwell Bay over the Low Countries. A move to RAF Coltishall
saw the squadron defend against enemy intruders and flying bomb carriers whilst undertaking reconnaissance to locate the remainder of German shipping.
No. 125 transferred to Yorkshire where it was disbanded on 20 November 1945.
night fighters on 31 March 1955 at RAF Stradishall
. Venom
s replaced the Meteors in late 1955 and remained with the squadron until it was disbanded on 10 May 1957.
World War I
Like a number of Squadrons, No. 125 was initially formed during the later months of the first world war but never became operational before the Armistice.World War II
No. 125 Squadron was reformed on 16 June 1941 at RAF ColerneRAF Colerne
RAF Colerne now known as Colerne Airfield or AEF Colerne is a former World War II RAF Fighter Command and Bomber Command airfield located on the outskirts of the village of Colerne, Wiltshire...
equipped with Defiants in a night fighter role. The squadron became operational at the end of September covering western England and South Wales.
The squadron was raised as a result of a War Loan raised by the Newfoundland Commission on Government. The Commission presented the British Government with $500,000 to establish the squadron with the hope that it would be manned by Newfoundlanders.
In September 1941 the squadron moved to RAF Fairwood Common
RAF Fairwood Common
RAF Fairwood Common was a World War II aerodrome located at Fairwood Common on the Gower Peninsula to the west of Swansea. It is now the location of Swansea Airport.-History:...
and became fully operational with the Defiant proving to be a more than effective night fighter. By March 1942, 125 Squadron started converting to the twin-engined Beaufighter
Bristol Beaufighter
The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design...
. Defiants and Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
s were also used to supplement the Beaufighters. Aircrews named some of their aircraft in recognition of its Newfoundland heritage. St, John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, Corner Brook, Deer Lake
Deer Lake
-Canada:*Deer Lake *Deer Lake , a large lake in western Newfoundland** Deer Lake, Newfoundland and Labrador, a town located on Deer Lake** Deer Lake Regional Airport, an airport located in the town of Deer Lake*Deer Lake, Ontario...
and Buchans were some of the names used..
November 1943 saw the squadron move to RAF Valley
RAF Valley
RAF Valley is a Royal Air Force station on the island of Anglesey, Wales, and which is also used as Anglesey Airport. It provides fast-jet training using the BAE Hawk and provides training for aircrew working with Search and Rescue. Unofficially the motto for RAF Valley is 'One Valley, Training...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
to enable patrols to take place over the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
. With a conversion to Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
s in February 1944 No. 125 moved to RAF Hurn
RAF Hurn
RAF Station Hurn is a former World War II airfield in Dorset, England. The airfield is located approximately north east of Christchurch; about southwest of LondonOpened in 1941, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force...
in preparation to cover the Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
landings in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. With the commencement of V-1 attacks on London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
the squadron moved to RAF Middle Wallop to assist in the City's defence and to fly patrols from RAF Bradwell Bay over the Low Countries. A move to RAF Coltishall
RAF Coltishall
The former Royal Air Force Station Coltishall, more commonly known as RAF Coltishall , was a Royal Air Force station, a military airbase, North-North-East of Norwich, in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia, from 1938 to 2006....
saw the squadron defend against enemy intruders and flying bomb carriers whilst undertaking reconnaissance to locate the remainder of German shipping.
No. 125 transferred to Yorkshire where it was disbanded on 20 November 1945.
Post war
No. 125 squadron reformed with MeteorGloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
night fighters on 31 March 1955 at RAF Stradishall
RAF Stradishall
RAF Stradishall was a Royal Air Force station in Suffolk, opened in 1938.The airfield closed in 1970 and is now the site of two category C prisons: HMP Highpoint North and HMP Highpoint South...
. Venom
De Havilland Venom
The de Havilland DH 112 Venom was a British postwar single-engined jet aircraft developed from the de Havilland Vampire. It served with the Royal Air Force as a single-seat fighter-bomber and two-seat night fighter....
s replaced the Meteors in late 1955 and remained with the squadron until it was disbanded on 10 May 1957.