No. 614 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
614 Squadron was originally formed on 1 June 1937 as an army co-opeation squadron unit of the Auxiliary Air Force
. It served during the Second World War first in this role and later as a bomber squadron. Upon reformation it served as a fighter squadron until the disbandedment of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force on 10 March 1957.
near Cardiff
(the often cited Llandow was not erected yet) as an army co-opeation squadron unit and part of the Auxiliary Air Force on 1 June 1937, no. 614 squadron was initially equipped with Hawker Hind
s. By the end of the year it had received some additional Hawker Hector
s which it flew until November 1939, when the squadron became operational on Westland Lysander
s, the first of which had arrived in July of that year.
to Berwick
, 'A' flight, which was detached to Inverness
for that purpose, became No. 241 Squadron RAF
in the process.
From July 1941 it began re-equipping with Bristol Blenheim
s, a process completed by January 1942. In support of RAF Bomber Command
's 'Thousand Bomber Raids' in May and June 1942, the squadron sent its Blenheims to attack enemy airfields in the Low Countries
and in August 1942 it laid smoke screens for the landings at Dieppe
.
, Sicily
.
(RAAF), formed on 7 September 1942 at Fayid, Egypt, under Article XV of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
. This squadron contained mostly British aircrew and ground staff. Consequently, RAAF Overseas Headquarters requested that the squadron be renumbered and transferred to the RAF. On 15 February 1944, while it was on route to Celone
, Italy the unit was renumbered to No. 614 Squadron. Equipped with Handley Page Halifax
es it was now involved in bombing mission over Italy and the Balkans and it also carried out supply drops to partisans in those areas. The Squadron re-equipped with Consolidated Liberator
s in March 1945, the Halifaxes finally being withdrawn in March 1945, but on 27 July 1945 it was disbanded at Amendola Airfield, Italy when it was renumbered to No. 214 Squadron RAF
.
as a day fighter squadron. Recruiting of personnel did not start until November 1946 though. Initially the squadron was equipped with Supermarine Spitfire
s and these gave way to de Havilland Vampire
s in July 1950 but, along with all the flying units of the RAuxAF, the unit was disbanded on 10 March 1957.
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...
. It served during the Second World War first in this role and later as a bomber squadron. Upon reformation it served as a fighter squadron until the disbandedment of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force on 10 March 1957.
Formation and early years
Formed at RAF Pengam MoorsRAF Pengam Moors
RAF Pengam Moors was a Royal Air Force station and maintenance unit , located on the Pengam Moors area of Tremorfa, 2 miles south east of Cardiff city centre in Wales from June 1938 to January 1946....
near Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
(the often cited Llandow was not erected yet) as an army co-opeation squadron unit and part of the Auxiliary Air Force on 1 June 1937, no. 614 squadron was initially equipped with 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. By the end of the year it had received some additional Hawker Hector
Hawker Hector
-See also:-Bibliography:* Air Transport Auxiliary Ferry Pilots Notes . Elvington, York, UK: Yorkshire Air Museum, 1996. ISBN 0-9512379-8-5....
s which it flew until November 1939, when the squadron became operational on Westland Lysander
Westland Lysander
The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
s, the first of which had arrived in July of that year.
In support of Bomber Command
In June 1940 614 squadron moved to Scotland to carry out coastal patrols, covering an area from InvernessInverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
to Berwick
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
, 'A' flight, which was detached to Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
for that purpose, became No. 241 Squadron RAF
No. 241 Squadron RAF
No. 241 Squadron is a former squadron of the Royal Air Force formed during the First World War.-History:No. 241 Squadron was formed in August 1918 from the former Royal Naval Air Service flights operating at the RNAS seaplane station at the Isle of Portland and their airfield at Chickerell;...
in the process.
From July 1941 it began re-equipping with Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
s, a process completed by January 1942. In support of RAF 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...
's 'Thousand Bomber Raids' in May and June 1942, the squadron sent its Blenheims to attack enemy airfields in the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
and in August 1942 it laid smoke screens for the landings at Dieppe
Dieppe Raid
The Dieppe Raid, also known as the Battle of Dieppe, Operation Rutter or later on Operation Jubilee, during the Second World War, was an Allied attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe on the northern coast of France on 19 August 1942. The assault began at 5:00 AM and by 10:50 AM the Allied...
.
In North Africa
In November 1942 the Squadron moved to North Africa. There the Squadron carried out attacks against enemy airfields and lines of communication until May 1943, when the fighting in that area ended. It then became involved in shipping escort duties in the Mediterranean until being disbanded on 25 January 1944 at Borizzo AirfieldBorizzo Airfield
Borizzo Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, which was located in the vicinity of Trapani on Sicily.- History :...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
.
On Halifaxes and Liberators
The second incarnation of no. 614 Squadron had its origins in No. 462 Squadron, Royal Australian Air ForceRoyal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF), formed on 7 September 1942 at Fayid, Egypt, under Article XV of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
. This squadron contained mostly British aircrew and ground staff. Consequently, RAAF Overseas Headquarters requested that the squadron be renumbered and transferred to the RAF. On 15 February 1944, while it was on route to Celone
Foggia Airfield Complex
The Foggia Airfield Complex was a series of World War II military airfields located within a radius of Foggia, in the Province of Foggia, Italy...
, Italy the unit was renumbered to No. 614 Squadron. Equipped with Handley Page Halifax
Handley Page Halifax
The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing...
es it was now involved in bombing mission over Italy and the Balkans and it also carried out supply drops to partisans in those areas. The Squadron re-equipped with Consolidated Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
s in March 1945, the Halifaxes finally being withdrawn in March 1945, but on 27 July 1945 it was disbanded at Amendola Airfield, Italy when it was renumbered to No. 214 Squadron RAF
No. 214 Squadron RAF
-History:No 214 Squadron was formed from No. 14 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service , itself formerly No. 7A Squadron RNAS only taking on the new number in 9 December 1917. With the creation of the RAF from the Royal Flying Corps and the RNAS on 1 April 1918 it received the number 214. It was later...
.
Post war
With the reactivation of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 614 squadron was reformed on 10 May 1946 (though one source claims 26 August 1947) at RAF LlandowRAF Llandow
RAF Llandow was a Royal Air Force airfield situated near the village of Llandow, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, 15 miles west of Cardiff. It opened in 1940 and closed in 1957....
as a day fighter squadron. Recruiting of personnel did not start until November 1946 though. Initially the squadron was equipped with Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
s and these gave way to 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...
s in July 1950 but, along with all the flying units of the RAuxAF, the unit was disbanded on 10 March 1957.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1937 | 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.... |
|
| November 1937 | February 1940 | Hawker Hector Hawker Hector -See also:-Bibliography:* Air Transport Auxiliary Ferry Pilots Notes . Elvington, York, UK: Yorkshire Air Museum, 1996. ISBN 0-9512379-8-5.... |
Mk.I |
| July 1939 | July 1941 | Westland Lysander Westland Lysander The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War... |
Mk.II |
| April 1941 | January 1942 | Westland Lysander | Mks.III, IIIa |
| July 1941 | September 1942 | Bristol Blenheim Bristol Blenheim The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter... |
Mk.IV |
| August 1942 | January 1944 | Bristol Blenheim | Mk.V |
| February 1944 | March 1945 | Handley Page Halifax Handley Page Halifax The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing... |
Mk.II |
| August 1944 | July 1945 | Consolidated Liberator B-24 Liberator The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber... |
Mk.VIII |
| November 1946 | November 1948 | Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s... |
LF.16e |
| July 1948 | April 1951 | Supermarine Spitfire | F.22 |
| July 1950 | July 1953 | 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.3 |
| September 1951 | March 1957 | de Havilland Vampire | FB.5 |
| December 1954 | February 1956 | de Havilland Vampire | FB.9 |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 June 1937 | 2 October 1939 | Pengam Moors Cardiff Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for... |
| 2 October 1939 | 8 June 1940 | RAF Odiham RAF Odiham RAF Odiham is a Royal Air Force station situated a little to the south of the historic small village of Odiham in Hampshire, England. It is the home of the Royal Air Force's heavy lift helicopter, the Chinook HC2, HC2A and HC3... |
| 8 June 1940 | 5 March 1941 | RAF Grangemouth RAF Grangemouth - Pre-war :RAF Grangemouth was a RAF base north east of Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland. It was opened as the Central Scotland Airport in May 1939 and operated as a civilian air navigation school until September 1939.-World War II :... |
| 5 March 1941 | 27 September 1941 | RAF Macmerry Macmerry Macmerry is a large village located on the old A1 just east of Tranent.The village has a primary school with a roll of around 100.There is an industrial estate to the east of the town... |
| 27 September 1941 | 3 October 1941 | RAF Odiham |
| 3 October 1941 | 25 August 1942 | RAF Macmerry |
| 26 August 1942 | 16 November 1942 | RAF Odiham |
| 16 November 1942 | 17 November 1942 | RAF Portreath |
| 17 November 1942 | 5 December 1942 | Blida Blida Blida is a city in Algeria. It is the capital of Blida Province, and it is located about 45 km south-west of Algiers, the national capital. The name Blida, i.e... , Algeria Algeria Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab... |
| 5 December 1942 | 7 February 1943 | Canrobert Canrobert Airfield Canrobert Airfield was a World War II military airfield in Algeria, located approximately 4 km south of Oum el Bouaghi, approximately 70 km southeast of Constantine. It was used by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force during the North African Campaign against the German... , Algeria |
| 7 February 1943 | 22 May 1943 | Oulmene, Algeria |
| 22 May 1943 | 28 August 1943 | Tafaraoui, Algeria |
| 28 August 1943 | 25 January 1944 | Borizzo Borizzo Airfield Borizzo Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, which was located in the vicinity of Trapani on Sicily.- History :... , Sicily Sicily Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,... |
| 28 February 1944 | 10 May 1944 | Celone Foggia Airfield Complex The Foggia Airfield Complex was a series of World War II military airfields located within a radius of Foggia, in the Province of Foggia, Italy... , Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
| 10 May 1944 | 15 July 1944 | Stornara Stornara Stornara is a town and comune in the province of Foggia in the Apulia region of southeast Italy.... , Italy |
| 15 July 1944 | 27 July 1945 | Amendola, Italy |
| 10 May 1946 | 10 March 1957 | RAF Llandow RAF Llandow RAF Llandow was a Royal Air Force airfield situated near the village of Llandow, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, 15 miles west of Cardiff. It opened in 1940 and closed in 1957.... |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| June 1937 | September 1939 | 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... R.E.C. Cadman |
| September 1939 | November 1939 | 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"... L.J. Stickley |
| November 1939 | January 1940 | S/Ldr. W.R. Wills-Sandford |
| January 1940 | June 1940 | S/Ldr. A.A.N. Malan |
| June 1940 | February 1941 | 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... D.J. Eayrs |
| February 1941 | August 1941 | W/Cdr. H.M. Mulliken |
| August 1941 | June 1942 | W/Cdr. R.E.S. Skelton |
| June 1942 | August 1942 | W/Cdr. H.T. Sutton |
| June 1943 | February 1944 | W/Cdr. C.K. Bonner |
| February 1944 | W/Cdr. W.T. Russell | |
| W/Cdr. J.S. Laird | ||
| July 1945 | W/Cdr. E.B.R. Lockwood | |
| May 1946 | July 1950 | S/Ldr. W.H. Irving |
| July 1950 | 1954 | S/Ldr. E.H. McHardy, 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... & 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... , CdG Croix de guerre The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts... |
| 1954 | March 1957 | S.Ldr. H.J.E. Howe |