No. 66 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 66 Squadron was a Royal Flying Corps
and eventually Royal Air Force
aircraft squadron
.
on 3 February 1917, and deployed to France on 12 March 1917. Their main opponents were the German Jagdstaffel 11. The Pup’s were exchanged for Sopwith Camel
s during October 1917. The first aeroplane B5402 was collected by Squadron Commander Maj. G.L.P. Henderson. After fighting on the Western Front the Squadron was sent to Italy in November 1917 and returned to the United Kingdom in March 1919 and was disbanded on 25 October 1919. The 20 aces who had served in its ranks were
William George Barker
VC
,
Alan Jerrard
VC,
Peter Carpenter
,
Harry King Goode
,
Francis S. Symondson
,
Gerald Alfred Birks,
Charles M. Maud
,
Gordon Apps
,
Hilliard Brooke Bell
,
Christopher McEvoy
,
Harold R. Eycott-Martin,
William Myron MacDonald,
Augustus Paget
,
John Oliver Andrews
,
Harold Koch Boysen
,
William Carrall Hilborn,
Thomas Hunter
,
James Lennox
,
Walbanke Ashby Pritt
,
Patrick Gordon Taylor
and,
John (Jack) Wallis Baker.
s from August 1938. It became the second Spitfire squadron. It fought in Battle of Britain
and with Second Tactical Air Force in North-West Europe
until the end of the war, being disbanded at Twente on 30 April 1945.
, initially with Spitfires. The following northern spring, the squadron converted to Meteors, which it flew for six years before reequipping with Sabres. At RAF Linton-on-Ouse
in March 1956 it acquired Hawker Hunters, which it flew before being disbanded again on 30 September 1960 at RAF Acklington
.
on 15 September 1961, from the Belvedere Trials Unit equipped with Bristol Belvedere
helicopters. In June 1962 it left the UK for Seletar
in Singapore
, where it provided heavy lift helicopter support for forces operating in Malaya
. The squadron finally disbanded on 17 March 1969.
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...
and eventually 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...
aircraft 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...
.
In World War I
It was first formed at Filton on 30 June 1916 as a Training Squadron equipped with BE2c,d & e, BE12 and Avroe 504A machines. The squadron received its first Sopwith PupSopwith 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...
on 3 February 1917, and deployed to France on 12 March 1917. Their main opponents were the German Jagdstaffel 11. The Pup’s were exchanged for Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
s during October 1917. The first aeroplane B5402 was collected by Squadron Commander Maj. G.L.P. Henderson. After fighting on the Western Front the Squadron was sent to Italy in November 1917 and returned to the United Kingdom in March 1919 and was disbanded on 25 October 1919. The 20 aces who had served in its ranks were
William George Barker
William George Barker
William George Barker VC, DSO & Bar, MC & Two Bars was a Canadian First World War fighter ace and Victoria Cross recipient...
VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
,
Alan Jerrard
Alan Jerrard
Flight Lieutenant Alan Jerrard VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
VC,
Peter Carpenter
Peter Carpenter
Captain Peter Carpenter was a fighter ace in World War I credited with 24 victories.-Early life:Peter Carpenter was born in Cardiff, Wales to Peter S. and Jane Carpenter, who had eight other children....
,
Harry King Goode
Harry King Goode
Harry King Goode DSO, DFC was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.-Honours and awards:Distinguished Service Order 2nd Lieut. Harry King Goode, D.F.C...
,
Francis S. Symondson
Francis S. Symondson
Captain Francis Stanley Symondson was a British World War I flying ace credited with 13 confirmed aerial victories. He survived over three years of ground warfare and overcame early setbacks as a fighter pilot on the Western Front to become an ace in Italy....
,
Gerald Alfred Birks,
Charles M. Maud
Charles M. Maud
Captain Charles Midgley Maud was an English World War I flying ace credited with 11 confirmed victories. After going into business post World War I, he returned to his nation's service for World War II, and served until 1954, rising to the rank of Wing Commander.-World War I:By mid-1918, Maud had...
,
Gordon Apps
Gordon Apps
Lieutenant Gordon Frank Mason Apps was a British-born World War I flying ace credited with 10 aerial victories. After working for the Imperial Wireless Chain in England postwar, he returned to Canada and joined the nascent Royal Canadian Air Force...
,
Hilliard Brooke Bell
Hilliard Brooke Bell
Captain Hilliard Brooke Bell was a Canadian-born World War I flying ace credited with 10 aerial victories. He returned to his country's service during World War II.-Early life:...
,
Christopher McEvoy
Christopher McEvoy
Lieutenant Christopher McEvoy was an English flying ace credited with nine aerial victories during World War I. Despite poor health, he would gallantly serve his nation in both World Wars before his early death.-Early life:...
,
Harold R. Eycott-Martin,
William Myron MacDonald,
Augustus Paget
Augustus Paget (aviator)
Second Lieutenant Augustus Paget was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.Paget joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1917. He served in Italy with 66 Squadron...
,
John Oliver Andrews
John Oliver Andrews
Air Vice Marshal John Oliver Andrews was an English flying ace of World War I. He was credited with twelve aerial victories. His most significant victory was over German ace Stefan Kirmaier, although he also enjoyed some success against Max Immelmann and Manfred von Richthofen...
,
Harold Koch Boysen
Harold Koch Boysen
Lieutenant Harold Koch Boysen was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.Boysen joined the Royal Flying Corps in June 1917. After training, he was assigned to 66 Squadron to fly a Sopwith Pup. He would not have any success until the unit re-equipped with Sopwith Camels and...
,
William Carrall Hilborn,
Thomas Hunter
Thomas Hunter (aviator)
Captain Thomas Vicars Hunter was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. He had a leg amputated because of wounds suffered as an infantryman; he was the first known military pilot to qualify as a pilot and fly combat despite that disability.Hunter was educated at Eton and RMC...
,
James Lennox
James Lennox
Lieutenant James Scott Lennox was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.Lennox was commissioned on 4 August 1917. He was assigned to 66 Squadron in Italy on 12 March 1918. He drove down his first foe on 20 May 1918, and continued to score until 27 October...
,
Walbanke Ashby Pritt
Walbanke Ashby Pritt
Lieutenant Walbanke Ashby Pritt, MC, DFC was a British World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. He flew with the Royal Flying Corps in 1917/1918; flying Sopwith Pups.-Early life:...
,
Patrick Gordon Taylor
Patrick Gordon Taylor
Sir Patrick Gordon Taylor GC MC OBE was an Australian aviator and author. He was born at Mosman, Sydney, and died in Honolulu....
and,
John (Jack) Wallis Baker.
In World War II
It was reformed on 20 July 1936 from 'C' Flight, No. 19 Squadron RAF at RAF Duxford, initially being equipped with Gauntlets, before a slow conversion to Supermarine SpitfireSupermarine 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 from August 1938. It became the second Spitfire squadron. It fought in 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...
and with Second Tactical Air Force in North-West Europe
North-West Europe
North-West Europe is a term that refers to a northern area of Western Europe, although the exact area or countries it comprises varies.-Geographic definition:...
until the end of the war, being disbanded at Twente on 30 April 1945.
Post-war
It was reformed at Duxford on 1 September 1946, by renumbering No. 165 Squadron RAFNo. 165 Squadron RAF
No. 165 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force that was formed during World War I & served during World War II. The squadron has been formed twice....
, initially with Spitfires. The following northern spring, the squadron converted to Meteors, which it flew for six years before reequipping with Sabres. At 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 March 1956 it acquired Hawker Hunters, which it flew before being disbanded again on 30 September 1960 at RAF Acklington
RAF Acklington
The former Royal Air Force Station Acklington, commonly known as RAF Acklington, was a Royal Air Force airfield airbase situated near Acklington, in Northumberland, England....
.
On helicopters
It reformed at RAF OdihamRAF 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...
on 15 September 1961, from the Belvedere Trials Unit equipped with Bristol Belvedere
Bristol Belvedere
The Bristol Type 192 Belvedere is a British twin-engine, tandem rotor military helicopter built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company. It was designed for a variety of transport roles including troop transport, supply dropping and casualty evacuation...
helicopters. In June 1962 it left the UK for Seletar
Seletar
Seletar is an area of Singapore within its North-East Region. Seletar commonly refers to the areas south of Yishun and west of Sungei Punggol, covering Yio Chu Kang near Jalan Kayu , the Lower Seletar Reservoir and part of Upper Thomson .The Seletar Planning Area, an urban planning zone under the...
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...
, where it provided heavy lift helicopter support for forces operating in Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
. The squadron finally disbanded on 17 March 1969.
External links
- http://www.66squadron.co.uk/ 66 Squadron, Independent Historical Website
- squadron history on rafweb
- http://www.66squadron.co.uk/default.htm 66 squadron WW1 web pages