No. 605 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No 605 Squadron was formed as an Auxiliary Air Force Squadron. Initially formed as a bomber unit, it was one of the most successful participants of the Battle of Britain
. It also had the distinction of being active during World War II at two fronts at a time, when the squadron was split up between Malta and the Duch East Indies. In its last incarnation so far the squadron served as the first jet fighter unit in the post-war Royal Auxiliary Air Force
, 616
already having flown Gloster Meteor
s during World War II).
as a day bomber unit of the Auxiliary Air Force, recruiting in the Birmingham
area. Initially equipped with DH.9As, it received Westland Wapiti
s in April 1930 and Hawker Hart
s in October 1934. The latter were replaced by Hawker Hind
s in August 1936. On 1 January 1939 No. 605 squadron was redesignated as a fighter squadron and re-equipped with Gloster Gladiator
s.
Hawker Hurricane
s began to arrive a few weeks before the outbreak of World War II and the squadron took up its war station at RAF Tangmere
with a mixture of six Hurricanes and ten Gladiators, completing re-equipment during October 1939. In February 1940 the squadron moved to Scotland
, but returned south in May to fly patrols over northern France for a week before moving back to Scotland at RAF Drem
. It again moved south again in September for the closing stages of the Battle of Britain
. It then continued to operate from bases in the south, carrying out escort duties and fighter sweeps until posted overseas.
to Malta
, where it was retained as part of the island's defences, prior to continuing its journey to the Far East. Arriving in Singapore
too late to prevent its capture, it moved to Sumatra
and then to Java
, in the event caught up in the Japanese invasion. It operated any aircraft it could fly until it ceased to exist with its personnel either escaping in small groups or being captured. In the meantime, a small detachment of the squadron had been left on Malta during the transit journey to the Far East and a unit there which began operations on 10 January 1942 used the squadron number in its reports, which ended the following month, on being absorbed into No. 185 Squadron RAF
.
es from February 1943 and it continued to operate this type until the end of the war, moving to Belgium
in March 1945 and the Netherlands in April. The squadron disbanded by being re-numbered to No. 4 Squadron RAF on 31 August 1945 at Volkel Air Base
.
as a night fighter squadron, though its initial equipment of Mosquito NF.30
s did not arrive until April 1947. In July 1948 the squadrons role was changed to that of a day fighter squadron, for which it received de Havilland Vampire F.1
s, replacing them with Vampire FB.5s in May 1951. A little short of six years later the squadron was disbanded, along with all the flying units of the RAuxAF, on 10 March 1957.
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. It also had the distinction of being active during World War II at two fronts at a time, when the squadron was split up between Malta and the Duch East Indies. In its last incarnation so far the squadron served as the first jet fighter unit in the post-war Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Auxiliary Air Force , originally the Auxiliary Air Force , is the voluntary active duty reserve element of the Royal Air Force, providing a primary reinforcement capability for the regular service...
, 616
No. 616 Squadron RAF
No. 616 Squadron was a unit of the British Auxiliary Air Force and later the Royal Auxiliary Air Force between 1938 and 1957.-Formation:...
already having flown Gloster Meteor
Gloster 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...
s during World War II).
Formation and early years
No. 605 Squadron was formed on 5 October 1926 at RAF Castle BromwichCastle Bromwich Aerodrome
Castle Bromwich Aerodrome was an early airfield, situated to the north of Castle Bromwich in the West Midlands of England. The site now falls within the City of Birmingham.-History:...
as a day bomber unit of the Auxiliary Air Force, recruiting in the Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
area. Initially equipped with DH.9As, it received Westland Wapiti
Westland Wapiti
The Westland Wapiti was a British two-seat general purpose military single-engined biplane of the 1920s. It was designed and built by Westland Aircraft Works to replace the Airco DH.9A in Royal Air Force service....
s in April 1930 and Hawker Hart
Hawker Hart
The Hawker Hart was a British two-seater biplane light bomber of the Royal Air Force , which had a prominent role during the RAF's inter-war period. The Hart was designed during the 1920s by Sydney Camm and built by Hawker Aircraft...
s in October 1934. The latter were replaced by Hawker Hind
Hawker Hind
-See also:-Bibliography:* Crawford, Alex. Hawker Hart Family. Redbourn, Hertfordshire, UK: Mushroom Model Publications Ltd., 2008. ISBN 83-89450-62-3....
s in August 1936. On 1 January 1939 No. 605 squadron was redesignated as a fighter squadron and re-equipped with Gloster Gladiator
Gloster Gladiator
The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it...
s.
World war II
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 began to arrive a few weeks before the outbreak of World War II and the squadron took up its war station at RAF Tangmere
RAF Tangmere
RAF Tangmere was a Royal Air Force station famous for its role in the Battle of Britain, located at Tangmere village about 3 miles east of Chichester in West Sussex, England. American RAF pilot Billy Fiske died at Tangmere and was the first American aviator to die during World War II...
with a mixture of six Hurricanes and ten Gladiators, completing re-equipment during October 1939. In February 1940 the squadron moved to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, but returned south in May to fly patrols over northern France for a week before moving back to Scotland at RAF Drem
RAF Drem
RAF Drem is a former RAF station, just north of the village of Drem in East Lothian, Scotland. The motto of the station was Exiit Hinc Lumen which means "Ascend from this Light"....
. It again moved south again in September for the closing stages of the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. It then continued to operate from bases in the south, carrying out escort duties and fighter sweeps until posted overseas.
To the middle and far east
In November 1941, the squadron flew off the carrier HMS ArgusHMS Argus
Nine ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Argus, after Argus, the hundred-eyed giant of mythology: was a 10-gun sloop, originally a French privateer, captured in 1799 and broken up in 1811....
to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, where it was retained as part of the island's defences, prior to continuing its journey to the Far East. Arriving in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
too late to prevent its capture, it moved to Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
and then to Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, in the event caught up in the Japanese invasion. It operated any aircraft it could fly until it ceased to exist with its personnel either escaping in small groups or being captured. In the meantime, a small detachment of the squadron had been left on Malta during the transit journey to the Far East and a unit there which began operations on 10 January 1942 used the squadron number in its reports, which ended the following month, on being absorbed into No. 185 Squadron RAF
No. 185 Squadron RAF
No. 185 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed in World War I and reformed as a bomber and fighter unit in World War II. It then reformed in Malta in the post war period as a jet fighter squadron.-Formation and World War I:No...
.
Reformation as night intruders
A new No. 605 squadron was formed at RAF Ford on 7 June 1942, equipped with Douglas Boston and Havocs in the intruder role. These were replaced with de Havilland MosquitoDe 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"...
es from February 1943 and it continued to operate this type until the end of the war, moving to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in March 1945 and the Netherlands in April. The squadron disbanded by being re-numbered to No. 4 Squadron RAF on 31 August 1945 at Volkel Air Base
Volkel Air Base
Volkel Air Base is a military airbase used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force - Dutch: Koninklijke Luchtmacht , and is located near the town of Uden, Noord-Brabant, in the Netherlands. It is home to three F-16 Fighting Falcon squadrons, 311, 312 and 313...
.
After the war
With the reactivation of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, no. 605 squadron was reformed on 10 May 1946 at RAF HonileyRAF Honiley
RAF Honiley is a former Royal Air Force station located in Wroxall, Warwickshire seven miles southwest of Coventry, England. The station closed in March 1958, and after being used as a motor vehicle test track, is presently subject to planning permission from the Prodrive Formula One team for...
as a night fighter squadron, though its initial equipment of Mosquito NF.30
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 did not arrive until April 1947. In July 1948 the squadrons role was changed to that of a day fighter squadron, for which it received de Havilland Vampire F.1
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
s, replacing them with Vampire FB.5s in May 1951. A little short of six years later the squadron was disbanded, along with all the flying units of the RAuxAF, on 10 March 1957.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 1926 | June 1930 | Airco DH.9 Airco DH.9 The Airco DH.9 - also known after 1920 as the de Havilland DH.9 - was a British bomber used in the First World War... |
DH.9A |
| April 1930 | December 1934 | Westland Wapiti Westland Wapiti The Westland Wapiti was a British two-seat general purpose military single-engined biplane of the 1920s. It was designed and built by Westland Aircraft Works to replace the Airco DH.9A in Royal Air Force service.... |
Mk.IIa |
| February 1934 | August 1936 | Hawker Hart Hawker Hart The Hawker Hart was a British two-seater biplane light bomber of the Royal Air Force , which had a prominent role during the RAF's inter-war period. The Hart was designed during the 1920s by Sydney Camm and built by Hawker Aircraft... |
|
| August 1936 | February 1939 | Hawker Hind Hawker Hind -See also:-Bibliography:* Crawford, Alex. Hawker Hart Family. Redbourn, Hertfordshire, UK: Mushroom Model Publications Ltd., 2008. ISBN 83-89450-62-3.... |
|
| February 1939 | October 1939 | Gloster Gladiator Gloster Gladiator The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it... |
Mks.I, II |
| August 1939 | December 1940 | Hawker 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... |
Mk.I |
| December 1940 | August 1941 | Hawker Hurricane | Mk.IIa |
| August 1941 | March 1942 | Hawker Hurricane | Mk.IIb |
| July 1942 | October 1942 | Douglas Havoc | Mks.I, II |
| July 1942 | March 1943 | Douglas Boston | Mk.III |
| February 1943 | July 1943 | de Havilland 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"... |
Mk.II |
| July 1943 | August 1945 | de Havilland Mosquito | Mk.VI |
| April 1947 | January 1949 | de Havilland Mosquito | NF.30 |
| July 1948 | May 1951 | de Havilland Vampire De Havilland Vampire The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served... |
F.1 |
| April 1951 | March 1957 | de Havilland Vampire | FB.5 |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 October 1926 | 27 August 1939 | RAF Castle Bromwich Castle Bromwich Aerodrome Castle Bromwich Aerodrome was an early airfield, situated to the north of Castle Bromwich in the West Midlands of England. The site now falls within the City of Birmingham.-History:... , Warwickshire Warwickshire Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare... |
First formation |
| 27 August 1939 | 11 February 1940 | RAF Tangmere RAF Tangmere RAF Tangmere was a Royal Air Force station famous for its role in the Battle of Britain, located at Tangmere village about 3 miles east of Chichester in West Sussex, England. American RAF pilot Billy Fiske died at Tangmere and was the first American aviator to die during World War II... , Sussex Sussex Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West... |
|
| 11 February 1940 | 27 February 1940 | RAF Leuchars RAF Leuchars RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. It is located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, near to the university town of St Andrews.-Operations:... , Fife Fife Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
|
| 27 February 1940 | 21 May 1940 | RAF Wick Wick Airport Wick Airport is located north of the town of Wick in Caithness at the north-eastern extremity of the mainland of Scotland. It is owned and maintained by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited.... , Caithness Caithness Caithness is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic local government area of Scotland. The name was used also for the earldom of Caithness and the Caithness constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . Boundaries are not identical in all contexts, but the Caithness area is... , Scotland |
|
| 21 May 1940 | 28 May 1940 | RAF Hawkinge RAF Hawkinge RAF Hawkinge was an airfield in Kent, near to the south coast and the closest airfield to the French coast.It took part in the Battle of Britain and it was home to No. 79 Squadron RAF. After the war, the station hosted the Home Command Gliding Centre, and is fondly remembered by many Air Cadets as... , Kent Kent Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of... |
|
| 28 May 1940 | 7 September 1940 | RAF Drem RAF Drem RAF Drem is a former RAF station, just north of the village of Drem in East Lothian, Scotland. The motto of the station was Exiit Hinc Lumen which means "Ascend from this Light".... , Lothian Lothian Lothian forms a traditional region of Scotland, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills.... , Scotland |
|
| 7 September 1940 | 26 February 1941 | RAF Croydon Croydon Airport Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport... , Surrey Surrey Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of... |
|
| 26 February 1941 | 31 March 1941 | RAF Martlesham Heath RAF Martlesham Heath RAF Martlesham Heath is a former Royal Air Force airfield in England. The field is located 1½ miles SW of Woodbridge, Suffolk.- RFC/RAF prewar use:Martlesham Heath was first used as a Royal Flying Corps airfield during World War I... , 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... |
|
| 31 March 1941 | 1 July 1941 | RAF Ternhill RAF Ternhill RAF Ternhill is a small Royal Air Force station at Ternhill in Shropshire, near the towns of Newport and Market Drayton. The station, home of Volunteer Gliding Squadron 632, was a helicopter base but is now principally used as an outpost for the tri-service helicopter training establishment at RAF... , Shropshire Shropshire Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west... |
|
| 1 July 1941 | 4 September 1941 | RAF Baginton Coventry Airport Coventry Airport is located south southeast of Coventry city centre, in the village of Baginton, Warwickshire, England, and about outside Coventry boundaries... , Warwickshire |
|
| 4 September 1941 | 31 October 1941 | RAF Honiley RAF Honiley RAF Honiley is a former Royal Air Force station located in Wroxall, Warwickshire seven miles southwest of Coventry, England. The station closed in March 1958, and after being used as a motor vehicle test track, is presently subject to planning permission from the Prodrive Formula One team for... , Warwickshire |
Left to Far East from here on HMS Argus HMS Argus (I49) HMS Argus was a British aircraft carrier that served in the Royal Navy from 1918–1944. She was converted from an ocean liner under construction when the First World War began, and became the world's first example of what is now the standard pattern of aircraft carrier, with a full-length flight... |
| 5 November 1941 | 12 November 1941 | RAF Gibraltar RAF Gibraltar Royal Air Force Station Gibraltar, better known as RAF Gibraltar and formally as North Front, is a Royal Air Force station on Gibraltar. No military aircraft are currently stationed there, but there are regular visits... |
to Malta Malta Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in... via HMS Argus and HMS Ark Royal HMS Ark Royal (91) HMS Ark Royal was an aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy that served during the Second World War.Designed in 1934 to fit the restrictions of the Washington Naval Treaty, Ark Royal was built by Cammell Laird and Company, Ltd. at Birkenhead, England, and completed in November 1938. Her design... |
| 12 November 1941 | 18 March 1942 | RAF Hal Far RAF Hal Far The RAF Hal Far airfield in Malta, titled HMS Falcon during the Royal Navy base, was constructed and opened on 1 April 1929, and was used by Royal Navy air crews. It was the first permanent airfield to be built in Malta. It was transferred to the Maltese Government and redeveloped as from January... , Malta Malta Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in... |
Dets. at RAF Luqa RAF Luqa Royal Air Force Luqa was a flying station and location of RAF Mediterranean Command headquarters of the Royal Air Force on the island of Malta during World War II... and RAF Ta Qali, 605 personnel joining No. 185 Squadron on 18 March |
| 3 February 1942 | 10 February 1942 | Batavia, Java Java Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java... , Netherlands East Indies |
|
| 10 February 1942 | 14 February 1942 | Palembang Palembang Palembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square... , Sumatra Sumatra Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538... , Netherlands East Indies |
605 personnel joined forces with Nos. 238 and 242 Squadron RAF on 14 Feb. |
| 14 February 1942 | February 1942 | Tjililitan Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport -Accidents and Incidents:*On 24 June 1982, British Airways Flight 009, a Boeing 747-200 flew through a cloud of volcanic ash thrown up by the eruption of Mount Galunggung, causing the failure of all four engines. The crew diverted the aircraft to Jakarta and it landed safely.-References:* -External... , Java Java Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java... , Netherlands East Indies |
|
| February 1942 | March 1942 | Tasik Malaya Tasikmalaya Airport Cibeureum Airport or Cibeureum Airfield is a small airfield operated by Indonesian Air Force. Located at Cibeureum district, Tasikmalaya, West Java, Indonesia.It is currently used as an air force base only.... , Java Java Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java... , Netherlands East Indies |
Dispersed from here |
| 7 June 1942 | 15 March 1943 | RAF Ford, Sussex | Second formation |
| 15 March 1943 | 6 October 1943 | RAF Castle Camps Castle Camps (village) Castle Camps is a village in Cambridgeshire, England, south-east of Cambridge and near to the borders of Suffolk and Essex and to the town of Haverhill.... , 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... |
|
| 6 October 1943 | 7 April 1944 | RAF Bradwell Bay Bradwell-on-Sea Bradwell-on-Sea is a village in Essex, England. The village is on the Dengie peninsula. It is located about north-northeast of Southminster and is east from the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the District of Maldon in the parliamentary constituency of Maldon whose boundaries were... , 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... |
|
| 7 April 1944 | 21 November 1944 | RAF Manston RAF Manston RAF Manston was an RAF station in the north-east of Kent, at on the Isle of Thanet from 1916 until 1996. The site is now split between a commercial airport Kent International Airport and a continuing military use by the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre , following on from a long... , Kent |
|
| 21 November 1944 | 15 March 1945 | RAF Hartford Bridge, Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force... |
Airfield name changed to RAF Blackbushe RAF Blackbushe RAF Blackbushe was a Royal Air Force station in Hampshire, England, during World War II. It is now known as Blackbushe Airport.-History:The station was opened on 1 November 1942 as RAF Hartford Bridge and it was used throughout the remainder of Second World War for reconnaissance, defence and... , December 1944 |
| 15 March 1945 | 28 April 1945 | B.71/Koksijde Koksijde Air Base Koksijde Air Base is a Belgian Air Component facility in Koksijde, Belgium. 40 sqn operating 5 Westland Sea King Mk.48 helicopters for search and rescue duties. Also based at Koksijde Air Base are Aérospatiale Alouette III helicopters... , Belgium Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
|
| 28 April 1945 | 31 August 1945 | B.80/Volkel Volkel Air Base Volkel Air Base is a military airbase used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force - Dutch: Koninklijke Luchtmacht , and is located near the town of Uden, Noord-Brabant, in the Netherlands. It is home to three F-16 Fighting Falcon squadrons, 311, 312 and 313... , the Netherlands |
|
| 10 May 1946 | 11 March 1957 | RAF Honiley, Warwickshire | Third formation and last disbandment |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| October 1926 | March 1936 | S/Ldr. Squadron Leader Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these... J.A.C. Wright, 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"... , TD Territorial Decoration The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army... |
| March 1936 | December 1939 | S/Ldr. Lord Willoughby de Broke John Verney, 20th Baron Willoughby de Broke John Henry Peyto Verney, 20th Baron Willoughby de Broke, MC, AFC was the son of Richard Greville Verney and Marie Frances Lisette Hanbury. He was educated at Eton College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst... , 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.... , AFC |
| December 1939 | May 1940 | S/Ldr. G.V. Perry |
| May 1940 | June 1940 | F/Lt. Flight Lieutenant Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"... R.G. Grant-Ferris Robert Grant-Ferris Robert Grant Grant-Ferris, Baron Harvington was a British Conservative Party politician. He was educated at Douai School and served in the RAF during the War. He was Member of Parliament for St Pancras North from 1937 to 1945, and for Nantwich from 1955 until his retirement at the February 1974... , MP Member of Parliament A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,... (acting) |
| June 1940 | September 1940 | S/Ldr. W.M. Churchill, 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... , 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... |
| September 1940 | November 1940 | S/Ldr. A.A. McKellar Archie McKellar Flight Lieutenant Archibald Ashmore McKellar DSO DFC & Bar , was a top fighter ace of the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain in World War II .Most of McKellar's victories were scored in the Hawker Hurricane.... , DSO, DFC |
| November 1940 | November 1940 | F/Lt. C.F. Currant Bunny Currant Wing Commander Christopher Frederick "Bunny" Currant, DSO, DFC & Bar was a British fighter ace in the Second World War.-Early life and enlistment in the RAF:Currant was born on 14 December 1911 in Luton, Bedfordshire... , DFC (acting) |
| November 1940 | September 1941 | S/Ldr. G.R. Edge, DFC |
| September 1941 | January 1942 | S/Ldr. R. Reid |
| January 1942 | February 1942 | S/Ldr. S.E. Andrews, DFM Distinguished Flying Medal The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active... (Malta Malta Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in... ) |
| February 1942 | March 1942 | F/Lt. D.W.A. Stones, DFC (Malta) |
| February 1942 | March 1942 | S/Ldr. E.W. Wright Eric William Wright Air Commodore Eric William "Ricky" Wright, CBE DFC DFM AE was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force who flew Hurricanes with 605 Squadron in the Battle of Britain.- Early years :... , DFM (Batavia) |
| June 1942 | August 1942 | 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... P.W. Townsend, DSO, DFC |
| August 1942 | May 1943 | W/Cdr. G.L. Denholm, DFC |
| May 1943 | September 1943 | W/Cdr. C.D. Tomalin, AFC |
| September 1943 | April 1944 | W/Cdr. B.R.O'B. Hoare, DSO, DFC & 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... |
| April 1944 | September 1944 | W/Cdr. N.J. Starr, DFC |
| September 1944 | March 1945 | W/Cdr R.A. Mitchell, DFC & Bar |
| March 1945 | April 1945 | S/Ldr A.G. Woods, DFC (acting) |
| April 1945 | July 1945 | W/Cdr A.W. Horne, DFC, AFC |
| July 1945 | August 1945 | S/Ldr I.F. McCall, DFC (acting) |
| June 1946 | December 1947 | S/Ldr R.J. Walker, DSO |
| December 1947 | July 1949 | S/Ldr R.C.T. Goodwin, TD |
| July 1949 | August 1951 | S/Ldr J.A. Timmis |
| August 1951 | November 1955 | S/Ldr P.M.R. Walton, BSc |
| November 1955 | March 1957 | S/Ldr R.E. Tickner |