No. 64 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 64 Squadron was a squadron
of the Royal Air Force
. It was first formed on 1 August 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps
. It was last disbanded on 31 January 1991 at RAF Leuchars
.
on 1 August 1916 as a training unit with FE.2b
and Farman F.20
airplanes. In June 1917 the squadron received Avro 504
and Sopwith Pup
fighters and DH.5
in October when the squadron moved to France to begin operations. The DH.5s were replaced by SE.5As
in March 1918 and conducted both fighter and ground-attack operations for the remainder of the First World War. It returned to Narborough
in February 1919, where it was disbanded on 31 December 1919. During the World War I era, the squadron claimed in excess of 130 victories, and produced eleven aces, among whom were
James Anderson Slater
,
Edmund Tempest
,
Philip Scott Burge,
Thomas Rose,
Charles Cudemore
,
William H. Farrow
,
Dudley Lloyd-Evans
,
Edward Dawson Atkinson
, and
Ronald McClintock
.
, Egypt
, although for political reasons it was announced as having reformed at Henlow
, Bedfordshire (UK)
. The squadron was equipped with Hawker Demon fighters which had already been sent out to Egypt where they had formed D Flights of 6
and 208
squadrons which were transferred during March 1936 to 64 squadron. It was immediately involved in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
carrying out attacks against Italian airfields and providing fighter cover to refuelling bombers at advance airfield
s. After the crisis had ended in May 1936 the squadron returned to RAF Martlesham Heath
, Suffolk (UK)
, in August 1936 to become part of the UK air defences.
In December 1938 64 squadron was based at Church Fenton
, North Yorkshire
and reequipped with Bristol Blenheim Mk I(F)
fighters. After the outbreak of the Second World War, the squadron was engaged in patrols off the British East Coast and in December 1939 provided fighter defence for the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow
from Evanton
, Scotland
, for a month. From February to September 1939 64 Squadron used the squadron code "XQ", followed by "SH" from September 1939 to April 1951.
In April 1940 the squadron converted to the Supermarine Spitfire Mk I
. It was immediately engaged in the covering of the Dunkirk evacuation and later took part in the Battle of Britain
. In short order 64 squadron operated from Kenley
starting 16 May 1940, from Leconfield
starting 19 August, from Biggin Hill
starting 13 October, from Coltishall
starting 15 October, and from Boscombe Down starting 1 September 1940.
In May 1941, No. 64 Squadron moved up to Scotland for air defence duties but moved back south in November to take part in sweeps over northern France, until March 1943 when it moved back up to Scotland again. Then in August 1943 it moved back south again to resume offensive operations and in June 1944, moved to Cornwall
for 2 months before beginning long-range escort missions from East Anglia
. During that time the squadron was equipped with various marks of the Spitfire
: Mk IIA January to November 1941, Mk VB November 1941 to July 1942, and March to September 1943, Mk VC September 1943 to July 1944, and finally Mk IX June 1942 to March 1943, and June to November 1944. In 1944 64 Squadron took part in the operations of the Normandy Landings, Operation Market Garden
, and the Battle of the Scheldt
.
In November 1944 the squadron received the North American Mustang III
and flew these for the rest of the war covering daylight raids of the RAF Bomber Command
on Germany
. After the end of hostilities the squadron moved to RAF Horsham St Faith
and received the Mustang IV in August 1945.
In March 1946 No. 64 Squadron received De Havilland Hornet F.1
twin-engined fighters and moved to RAF Linton-on-Ouse
in August of the same year. The F.1 was replaced by the Hornet F.3 in April 1948. In March 1951 the squadron converted to the Gloster Meteor F.4/F.8
jet fighter. The squadron was also relocated to RAF Duxford. In September 1956 the F.8s were replaced by the radar-equipped, two seat Meteor NF.12/NF.14.
In September 1958 64 squadron then converted to the Gloster Javelin FAW.7/FAW.9
. In 1964 the squadron moved to RAF Tengah, partnering No. 60 Squadron RAF
. The squadron was disbanded on 16 June 1967.
, flying the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1/FGR.2, first from RAF Coningsby
since 16 May 1968 and then from RAF Leuchars
, to where the OCU moved on 22 April 1987. When No. 228 OCU was disbanded on 31 January 1991, so was No. 64 Squadron.
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
of the Royal Air Force
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...
. It was first formed on 1 August 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. It was last disbanded on 31 January 1991 at 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:...
.
1916 to 1919
No. 64 squadron was originally formed at SedgefordSedgeford
Sedgeford is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, about 6 km south of the North Sea and east of the Wash. It is approximately north east of Cambridge.It covers an area of and had a population of 540 in 224 households as of the 2001 census....
on 1 August 1916 as a training unit with FE.2b
Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2
The Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 was a two-seat pusher biplane that was operated as a day and night bomber and as a fighter aircraft by the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War...
and Farman F.20
Farman MF.11
|-See also:-External links:* * *...
airplanes. In June 1917 the squadron received Avro 504
Avro 504
The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during...
and Sopwith Pup
Sopwith Pup
The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...
fighters and DH.5
Airco DH.5
-Bibliography:* Bruce, J.M. Warplanes of the First World War, Vol. 1. London: MacDonald, 1965, pp. 128–132.* Jackson, A.J. De Havilland Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam, 1962....
in October when the squadron moved to France to begin operations. The DH.5s were replaced by SE.5As
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 was a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. Although the first examples reached the Western Front before the Sopwith Camel and it had a much better overall performance, problems with its Hispano-Suiza engine, particularly the geared-output H-S...
in March 1918 and conducted both fighter and ground-attack operations for the remainder of the First World War. It returned to Narborough
RAF Narborough
RAF Narborough was a military aerodrome in Norfolk operated in the First World War. It opened on 28 May 1915, originally as a Royal Naval Air Station for RNAS Great Yarmouth tasked with defending against Zeppelin raids. The airfield covered a site, including of buildings - making it the largest...
in February 1919, where it was disbanded on 31 December 1919. During the World War I era, the squadron claimed in excess of 130 victories, and produced eleven aces, among whom were
James Anderson Slater
James Anderson Slater
James Anderson Slater, MC and Bar, DFC was a British Flying Ace in World War I credited with 24 victories.-Involvement in World War 1:...
,
Edmund Tempest
Edmund Tempest
Captain Edmund Roger Tempest was a World War I flying ace credited with 17 aerial victories.His parents were Wilfrid Francis and Florence Helen O'Rourke Tempest. He returned from farming in Saskatchewan to join the service at the beginning of World War I. He transferred into the Royal Flying Corps....
,
Philip Scott Burge,
Thomas Rose,
Charles Cudemore
Charles Cudemore
Captain Charles William Cudemore was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.-World War I service:...
,
William H. Farrow
William H. Farrow
Captain William Hastings Farrow was a World War I flying ace credited with 10 aerial victories. He would pursue a military career well into the 1920s before resigning in 1926. Like many World War I aces, he returned to the military for World War II, rising to Wing Commander...
,
Dudley Lloyd-Evans
Dudley Lloyd-Evans
Wing Commander Dudley Lloyd-Evans MC DFC* was a Welsh-born soldier and flying ace. After being decorated for his ground service during World War I, he transferred to aviation, was credited with eight official aerial victories, and again won military honours for his valour...
,
Edward Dawson Atkinson
Edward Dawson Atkinson
Captain Edward Dawson Atkinson was a World War I flying ace credited with a total of 10 aerial victories, won while serving in three different squadrons during World War I. He would serve postwar until invalided out of the Royal Air Force. He then turned to a business career.-Early life:Atkinson...
, and
Ronald McClintock
Ronald McClintock
Major Ronald Saint Clair McClintock was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories....
.
1936 to 1967
On 1 March 1936, No. 64 was reactivated 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...
, 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...
, although for political reasons it was announced as having reformed at Henlow
Henlow
Henlow is a village and civil parish in the district of Central Bedfordshire in Bedfordshire, England.RAF Henlow, is located nearby, but is in fact nearer to the village of Stondon...
, Bedfordshire (UK)
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
. The squadron was equipped with Hawker Demon fighters which had already been sent out to Egypt where they had formed D Flights of 6
No. 6 Squadron RAF
No. 6 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 at RAF Leuchars.It was previously equipped with the Jaguar GR.3 in the close air support and tactical reconnaissance roles, and was based at RAF Coltishall, Norfolk until April 2006, moving to RAF Coningsby until...
and 208
No. 208 Squadron RAF
No 208 Squadron is at present a reserve unit of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Valley, Anglesey, Wales. It operates the BAe Hawk aircraft.-World War I:...
squadrons which were transferred during March 1936 to 64 squadron. It was immediately involved in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
The Second Italo–Abyssinian War was a colonial war that started in October 1935 and ended in May 1936. The war was fought between the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy and the armed forces of the Ethiopian Empire...
carrying out attacks against Italian airfields and providing fighter cover to refuelling bombers at advance airfield
Advance airfield
Advance airfield and forward airfield are military terms for a relatively primitive airfield used for refueling and re-arming air units as part of forward operations near the enemy...
s. After the crisis had ended in May 1936 the squadron returned to 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 (UK)
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...
, in August 1936 to become part of the UK air defences.
In December 1938 64 squadron was based at Church Fenton
Church Fenton
Church Fenton is a village and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. The village is home to many commuters and is served by a railway station; Church Fenton railway station. Neighbouring villages include Cawood and Ulleskelf. It is about from Tadcaster and from...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
and reequipped with Bristol Blenheim Mk I(F)
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...
fighters. After the outbreak of the Second World War, the squadron was engaged in patrols off the British East Coast and in December 1939 provided fighter defence for the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow
right|thumb|Scapa Flow viewed from its eastern endScapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. It is about...
from Evanton
Evanton
Evanton is a large village in Easter Ross, in the Highland Council Area of Scotland. It lies between the river Sgitheach and the Allt Graad, is north of the city of Inverness, some south-west of Alness, and north-east of Dingwall. The village has a dozen or so streets, the main one being...
, 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...
, for a month. From February to September 1939 64 Squadron used the squadron code "XQ", followed by "SH" from September 1939 to April 1951.
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...
. It was immediately engaged in the covering of the Dunkirk evacuation and later took part in 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...
. In short order 64 squadron operated from Kenley
Kenley
Kenley is a district in the south of the London Borough of Croydon. It borders Purley, Coulsdon, Riddlesdown, Caterham and Whyteleafe. Kenley is situated 13 miles south of Charing Cross. The 2001 census showed Kenley having a population of 13,525....
starting 16 May 1940, from Leconfield
Leconfield
Leconfield is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north west of Beverley town centre and lies on the A614 road....
starting 19 August, from Biggin Hill
London Biggin Hill Airport
London Biggin Hill Airport is an airport at Biggin Hill in the London Borough of Bromley, located south southeast of Central London, United Kingdom...
starting 13 October, from 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....
starting 15 October, and from Boscombe Down starting 1 September 1940.
In May 1941, No. 64 Squadron moved up to Scotland for air defence duties but moved back south in November to take part in sweeps over northern France, until March 1943 when it moved back up to Scotland again. Then in August 1943 it moved back south again to resume offensive operations and in June 1944, moved to Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
for 2 months before beginning long-range escort missions from East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
. During that time the squadron was equipped with various marks of the 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...
: Mk IIA January to November 1941, Mk VB November 1941 to July 1942, and March to September 1943, Mk VC September 1943 to July 1944, and finally Mk IX June 1942 to March 1943, and June to November 1944. In 1944 64 Squadron took part in the operations of the Normandy Landings, 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....
, and the Battle of the Scheldt
Battle of the Scheldt
The Battle of the Scheldt was a series of military operations of the Canadian 1st Army, led by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds. The battle took place in northern Belgium and southwestern Netherlands during World War II from 2 October-8 November 1944...
.
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
and flew these for the rest of the war covering daylight raids of the 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...
on Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. After the end of hostilities the squadron moved to RAF Horsham St Faith
RAF Horsham St Faith
RAF Horsham St Faith was a Royal Air Force station near Norwich, Norfolk, England from 1939 to 1963. It was then developed as Norwich International Airport.-RAF Bomber Command use:...
and received the Mustang IV in August 1945.
In March 1946 No. 64 Squadron received De Havilland Hornet F.1
De Havilland Hornet
The de Havilland DH.103 Hornet was a piston engine fighter that further exploited the wooden construction techniques pioneered by de Havilland's classic Mosquito. Entering service at the end of the Second World War, the Hornet equipped postwar RAF Fighter Command day fighter units in the UK and was...
twin-engined fighters and moved to RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Linton-on-Ouse is a Royal Air Force station at Linton-on-Ouse near York in Yorkshire, England. It is currently a major flying training centre, one of the RAF's busiest airfields...
in August of the same year. The F.1 was replaced by the Hornet F.3 in April 1948. In March 1951 the squadron converted to the Gloster Meteor F.4/F.8
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...
jet fighter. The squadron was also relocated to RAF Duxford. In September 1956 the F.8s were replaced by the radar-equipped, two seat Meteor NF.12/NF.14.
In September 1958 64 squadron then converted to the Gloster Javelin FAW.7/FAW.9
Gloster Javelin
The Gloster Javelin was an "all-weather" interceptor aircraft that served with Britain's Royal Air Force in the late 1950s and most of the 1960s...
. In 1964 the squadron moved to RAF Tengah, partnering No. 60 Squadron RAF
No. 60 Squadron RAF
No. 60 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1916 at Gosport. It is currently part of the Defence Helicopter Flying School based at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire....
. The squadron was disbanded on 16 June 1967.
1968 to 1991
Since then the squadron had been the 'Shadow'/Reserve identity of No. 228 OCUNo. 228 Operational Conversion Unit RAF
No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit was a Royal Air Force Operational Conversion Unit. It was formed in No. 12 Group at RAF Leeming from Nos. 13 and 54 OTUs in 1947. The tasking of the OCU was the training of night fighter crews and its aircraft were the De Havilland Mosquito, Gloster Meteor and...
, flying the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1/FGR.2, first from RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby , is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. It has been commanded by Group Captain Martin Sampson since 10 December 2010.-Operational units:...
since 16 May 1968 and then from 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:...
, to where the OCU moved on 22 April 1987. When No. 228 OCU was disbanded on 31 January 1991, so was No. 64 Squadron.
Notable members
- Art DonahueArt DonahueArthur Gerald "Art" Donahue was a United States fighter pilot and ace who volunteered to fly for the British Royal Air Force in World War II. He was killed in action.-Early life:...
- Flying Officer Raymond Sanders Draper
- Adrian Francis LawsAdrian Francis LawsPilot Officer Adrian Francis Laws was born in East Dereham, Norfolk and enlisted in the ranks of the RAF in 1931. He was promoted Flight Sergeant on 1 July 1940. He piloted a Spitfire Mark I's with 64 Squadron...
- Wing CommanderWing Commander (rank)Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Dudley Lloyd-EvansDudley Lloyd-EvansWing Commander Dudley Lloyd-Evans MC DFC* was a Welsh-born soldier and flying ace. After being decorated for his ground service during World War I, he transferred to aviation, was credited with eight official aerial victories, and again won military honours for his valour... - James O'MearaJames O'MearaSquadron Leader James Joseph "Orange" O'Meara DSO, DFC & Bar was a Battle of Britain Spitfire Ace with 11 kills, two shared victories, one unconfirmed destroyed, four probables, 11 damaged and one shared damaged....