No. 196 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 196 Squadron was a Royal Air Force
squadron originally formed as a training unit during World War I. It was active during World War II in Nos. 3
, 4
and 38 Group RAF
. It served first as a bomber squadron and later as an airborne support and transport unit.
, in Egypt
on 9 August 1917 and disbanded a mere 3 months later on 13 November 1917, becoming a part of the Aerial Fighting School.
, Yorkshire on 7 November 1942 as a night bomber unit in No. 4 Group
, part of Bomber Command
. It was initially equipped with Mk.III and Mk.X Vickers Wellington
s. The squadron carried out many raids on enemy ports and industrial centres in Europe in 1943; it also flew numerous 'gardening' (minelaying) sorties.
On 19 July 1943, the squadron moved south to RAF Witchford
, Cambridgeshire, as part of No. 3 Group
and was re-equipped with Mk. III Stirling
bombers. They moved again to RAF Leicester East
later that year and became part of No.38 Group
. They then carried out various transport, glider-towing and supply-dropping flights and also undertook SOE and SAS parachuting missions over occupied territories. This required converting to the Mark IV, the 'cloak and dagger' version of the Stirling. On 7 January 1944, the squadron moved again to RAF Tarrant Rushton
, Dorset. In February of that year supply drops to the French Resistance commenced, unfortunately with the loss of two aircraft. Many other such missions were subsequently flown successfully.
On 14 March 1944, the squadron was moved yet again in preparation for D-Day
to RAF Keevil
, Wiltshire. There they trained with 299 Squadron
for their part in Operation Overlord
. Their mission was to deliver paratroops of the 5th Parachute Brigade and 6th Airborne Division as part of Operation Tonga
(each Stirling could carry 20 troops and their equipment). They then had to return to Normandy, towing gliders laden with the main force and their equipment as part of Operation Mallard
. At 23.00 hours on 5 June 1944, 23 Stirlings of 196 Squadron (plus 23 of 299 Squadron), took off to successfully drop paratroops in Normandy, although one aircraft of 196 Squadron was lost. The following day, D-Day itself, a second wave (17 from 196 Squadron), took-off at 18.00 hours towing Horsa gliders
as part of Operation Mallard
. All returned safely. On 8 June, seven Stirlings carried out a re-supply mission to Normandy as part of Operation Rob Roy.
Between 13 and 17 September 1944, the squadron was heavily involved in Operation Market Garden
. 196 Squadron flew 115 sorties, towing gliders and delivering men and supplies under difficult conditions. In total 25 men were killed and 13 aircraft were lost due to anti-aircraft fire and enemy planes during the operation. On 9 October 1944 the squadron was again relocated, this time to RAF Wethersfield
, Essex and from there on 26 January 1945 to RAF Shepherds Grove
, Suffolk. On 24 March 1945, the squadron took part in Operation Varsity
, the Rhine crossing. 30 gliders were towed to Holland (89 troops and their equipment) of which one was lost when it crashed in Holland.
In May 1945 troops were taken to Denmark (Operation Schnapps) and Norway (Operation Doomsday
) to disarm the German forces there, one aircraft was lost. After the end of the war the squadron was employed on transport support as part of Transport Command
, undertaking various troop-ferrying, freight carrying and mail delivery duties before being disbanded on 16 March 1946.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
squadron originally formed as a training unit during World War I. It was active during World War II in Nos. 3
No. 3 Group RAF
Number 3 Group of the Royal Air Force was an RAF group first active in 1918, again in 1923-26, part of RAF Bomber Command from 1936 to 1967, and part of RAF Strike Command from 2000 until it disbanded on 1 April 2006.-The 1930s and World War II:...
, 4
No. 4 Group RAF
No. 4 Group was a Royal Air Force group, originally formed in World War I, and reformed in the wake of the Second World War, mostly part of RAF Bomber Command, but ending its days in RAF Transport Command.-Formation in World War I:...
and 38 Group RAF
No. 38 Group RAF
No 38 Group RAF was formed on 6 November 1943 from nine squadrons as part of Fighter Command. It was finally disbanded on 1 April 2000.-History:...
. It served first as a bomber squadron and later as an airborne support and transport unit.
Formation and early years
The first 196 Squadron was originally formed as a training unit at HeliopolisHeliopolis (Cairo Suburb)
Modern Heliopolis is a district in Cairo, Egypt. The city was established in 1905 by the Heliopolis Oasis Company, headed by the Belgian industrialist Édouard Louis Joseph, Baron Empain, as well as Boghos Nubar, son of the Egyptian Prime Minister Nubar Pasha.-History:The Baron Empain, a well known...
, in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
on 9 August 1917 and disbanded a mere 3 months later on 13 November 1917, becoming a part of the Aerial Fighting School.
Reformation and World War II
196 Squadron was reformed at RAF DriffieldRAF Driffield
RAF Driffield was a Royal Air Force station situated near Driffield in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.Situated between Kelleythorpe and Eastburn on the A614 road, there stands an aerodrome. In recent times, it was known as Alamein Barracks and used as an Army driving school...
, Yorkshire on 7 November 1942 as a night bomber unit in No. 4 Group
No. 4 Group RAF
No. 4 Group was a Royal Air Force group, originally formed in World War I, and reformed in the wake of the Second World War, mostly part of RAF Bomber Command, but ending its days in RAF Transport Command.-Formation in World War I:...
, part of Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
. It was initially equipped with Mk.III and Mk.X Vickers Wellington
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
s. The squadron carried out many raids on enemy ports and industrial centres in Europe in 1943; it also flew numerous 'gardening' (minelaying) sorties.
On 19 July 1943, the squadron moved south to RAF Witchford
Witchford
Witchford is a small village near Ely in Cambridgeshire, England.Witchford houses the secondary school Witchford Village College that serves all of the surrounding villages, including Haddenham, Little Thetford, Mepal, Stretham, Sutton, Wilburton and Witcham.The village hosts the Grunty Fen Half...
, Cambridgeshire, as part of No. 3 Group
No. 3 Group RAF
Number 3 Group of the Royal Air Force was an RAF group first active in 1918, again in 1923-26, part of RAF Bomber Command from 1936 to 1967, and part of RAF Strike Command from 2000 until it disbanded on 1 April 2006.-The 1930s and World War II:...
and was re-equipped with Mk. III Stirling
Short Stirling
The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941...
bombers. They moved again to RAF Leicester East
RAF Leicester East
Royal Air Force Station Leicester East, more commonly known as RAF Leicester East, , was a Royal Air Force airbase, near the village of Stoughton, east southeast of Leicester, Leicestershire...
later that year and became part of No.38 Group
No. 38 Group RAF
No 38 Group RAF was formed on 6 November 1943 from nine squadrons as part of Fighter Command. It was finally disbanded on 1 April 2000.-History:...
. They then carried out various transport, glider-towing and supply-dropping flights and also undertook SOE and SAS parachuting missions over occupied territories. This required converting to the Mark IV, the 'cloak and dagger' version of the Stirling. On 7 January 1944, the squadron moved again to RAF Tarrant Rushton
RAF Tarrant Rushton
RAF Tarrant Rushton was a Royal Air Force station near the village of Tarrant Rushton east of Blandford Forum in Dorset, England from 1943 to 1947.It was used for glider operations during World War II and later revived for civilian operations...
, Dorset. In February of that year supply drops to the French Resistance commenced, unfortunately with the loss of two aircraft. Many other such missions were subsequently flown successfully.
On 14 March 1944, the squadron was moved yet again in preparation for D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
to RAF Keevil
RAF Keevil
RAF Keevil is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 4 miles east of Trowbridge, Wiltshire.The airfield was built on a site previously ear-marked for the purpose in the mid 1930s...
, Wiltshire. There they trained with 299 Squadron
No. 299 Squadron RAF
-History:No. 299 Squadron was formed on 4 November 1943 form 'C' flight of 297 Squadron at RAF Stoney Cross, Hampshire as a special operations squadron. It became operational in April 1944 dropping SOE agents. During the Normandy landing the squadron first delivered paratroopers, and then returned...
for their part in 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...
. Their mission was to deliver paratroops of the 5th Parachute Brigade and 6th Airborne Division as part of Operation Tonga
Operation Tonga
Operation Tonga was the codename given to the airborne operation undertaken by the British 6th Airborne Division between 5 June and 7 June 1944 as a part of Operation Overlord and the Normandy Landings during the Second World War....
(each Stirling could carry 20 troops and their equipment). They then had to return to Normandy, towing gliders laden with the main force and their equipment as part of Operation Mallard
Operation Mallard
Operation Mallard was the codename for an airborne forces operation which was conducted by the British Army on 6 June 1944, as part of the Normandy landings....
. At 23.00 hours on 5 June 1944, 23 Stirlings of 196 Squadron (plus 23 of 299 Squadron), took off to successfully drop paratroops in Normandy, although one aircraft of 196 Squadron was lost. The following day, D-Day itself, a second wave (17 from 196 Squadron), took-off at 18.00 hours towing Horsa gliders
Airspeed Horsa
The Airspeed AS.51 Horsa was a British World War II troop-carrying glider built by Airspeed Limited and subcontractors and used for air assault by British and Allied armed forces...
as part of Operation Mallard
Operation Mallard
Operation Mallard was the codename for an airborne forces operation which was conducted by the British Army on 6 June 1944, as part of the Normandy landings....
. All returned safely. On 8 June, seven Stirlings carried out a re-supply mission to Normandy as part of Operation Rob Roy.
Between 13 and 17 September 1944, the squadron was heavily involved in Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
. 196 Squadron flew 115 sorties, towing gliders and delivering men and supplies under difficult conditions. In total 25 men were killed and 13 aircraft were lost due to anti-aircraft fire and enemy planes during the operation. On 9 October 1944 the squadron was again relocated, this time to RAF Wethersfield
RAF Wethersfield
MDPGA Wethersfield is a Ministry of Defence facility in Essex, England; it is located north of the village of Wethersfield—about north-west of the town of Braintree...
, Essex and from there on 26 January 1945 to RAF Shepherds Grove
RAF Shepherds Grove
RAF Shepherds Grove is a former Royal Air Force base in Suffolk England 9 miles NE of Bury St Edmunds.The base was built for the United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force during World War II. However the facility was not used by the USAAF and was opened by 3 Group, RAF on 3 April 1944...
, Suffolk. On 24 March 1945, the squadron took part in Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity was a successful joint American–British airborne operation that took place toward the end of World War II...
, the Rhine crossing. 30 gliders were towed to Holland (89 troops and their equipment) of which one was lost when it crashed in Holland.
In May 1945 troops were taken to Denmark (Operation Schnapps) and Norway (Operation Doomsday
Operation Doomsday
In Operation Doomsday, the British 1st Airborne Division acted as a police and military force during the Allied occupation of Norway in May 1945, immediately after the victory in Europe during the Second World War. The division maintained law and order until the arrival of the remainder of Force...
) to disarm the German forces there, one aircraft was lost. After the end of the war the squadron was employed on transport support as part of Transport Command
RAF Transport Command
RAF Transport Command was a Royal Air Force command that controlled all transport aircraft of the RAF. It was established on 25 March 1943 by the renaming of the RAF Ferry Command, and was subsequently renamed RAF Air Support Command in 1967.-History:...
, undertaking various troop-ferrying, freight carrying and mail delivery duties before being disbanded on 16 March 1946.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 1942 | December 1942 | Vickers Wellington Vickers Wellington The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a... |
Mk.III |
| December 1942 | July 1943 | Vickers Wellington | Mk.X |
| July 1943 | January 1944 | Short Stirling Short Stirling The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941... |
Mk.III |
| January 1944 | March 1946 | Short Stirling | Mk.IV |
| January 1946 | March 1946 | Short Stirling | Mk.V |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 7 November 1942 | 22 December 1942 | RAF Driffield RAF Driffield RAF Driffield was a Royal Air Force station situated near Driffield in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.Situated between Kelleythorpe and Eastburn on the A614 road, there stands an aerodrome. In recent times, it was known as Alamein Barracks and used as an Army driving school... , Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform... |
| 22 December 1942 | 19 July 1943 | RAF Leconfield RAF Leconfield The former RAF Leconfield, or 'Leconfield Camp' was a Royal Air Force airbase in Leconfield , East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The site is now used by the MoD Defence School of Transport Leconfield .-History:... , East Riding of Yorkshire East Riding of Yorkshire The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority... |
| 19 July 1943 | 18 November 1943 | RAF Witchford Witchford Witchford is a small village near Ely in Cambridgeshire, England.Witchford houses the secondary school Witchford Village College that serves all of the surrounding villages, including Haddenham, Little Thetford, Mepal, Stretham, Sutton, Wilburton and Witcham.The village hosts the Grunty Fen Half... , Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west... |
| 18 November 1943 | 7 January 1944 | RAF Leicester East RAF Leicester East Royal Air Force Station Leicester East, more commonly known as RAF Leicester East, , was a Royal Air Force airbase, near the village of Stoughton, east southeast of Leicester, Leicestershire... , Leicestershire Leicestershire Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire... |
| 7 January 1944 | 14 March 1944 | RAF Tarrant Rushton RAF Tarrant Rushton RAF Tarrant Rushton was a Royal Air Force station near the village of Tarrant Rushton east of Blandford Forum in Dorset, England from 1943 to 1947.It was used for glider operations during World War II and later revived for civilian operations... , Dorset Dorset Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974... |
| 14 March 1944 | 9 October 1944 | RAF Keevil RAF Keevil RAF Keevil is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located 4 miles east of Trowbridge, Wiltshire.The airfield was built on a site previously ear-marked for the purpose in the mid 1930s... , Wiltshire Wiltshire Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers... |
| 9 October 1944 | 25 January 1945 | RAF Wethersfield RAF Wethersfield MDPGA Wethersfield is a Ministry of Defence facility in Essex, England; it is located north of the village of Wethersfield—about north-west of the town of Braintree... , Essex Essex Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west... |
| 25 January 1945 | 16 March 1946 | RAF Shepherds Grove RAF Shepherds Grove RAF Shepherds Grove is a former Royal Air Force base in Suffolk England 9 miles NE of Bury St Edmunds.The base was built for the United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force during World War II. However the facility was not used by the USAAF and was opened by 3 Group, RAF on 3 April 1944... , Suffolk Suffolk Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east... |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| November 1942 | March 1943 | W/Cdr. Wing Commander (rank) Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries... R.H. Waterhouse, CBE Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions... , DFC Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against... , AFC Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"... , SS(US) Silver Star The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy.... |
| March 1943 | December 1943 | W/Cdr. A. Duguid |
| December 1943 | August 1944 | W/Cdr. N. Alexander, DFC |
| August 1944 | February 1945 | W/Cdr. M.W.L. Baker |
| February 1945 | January 1946 | W/Cdr. R.T.F. Turner, DFC, MC Military Cross The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.... , DFC(US) Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The... |
| January 1946 | March 1946 | W/Cdr. J. Blackburn James Blackburn (RAF officer) Wing Commander James Blackburn DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, DFC was a Royal Air Force officer who completed a record five tours of operations during World War II.-Early life:... , DSO Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September... & Bar Medal bar A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the... , DFC & Bar, DFC(US) |