The history of 56 squadron, rfc raf 19161920 first edition by revell, alex isbn. The squadron disbanded in march 1915 when its various elements were absorbed into other rfc. In september 1916 a letter was received in egypt from hussein ibn ali, the emir or grand sherif of the hejaz asking the british government to provide aeroplanes to assist in their revolt against the turks. Click here to go to list of 62 sqn pilots and observers, france 1918. For that reason and the fact that nowhere does revell summarize the squadrons war record victories, losses, etc. Additionally we recommend software suitable for opening or converting such files. Captain a w tedder, no 25 squadron rfc ts, 8 september 1916, captain a ball vc dso mc, no 60 squadron rfc ms, 25 september 1916, captain j c slessor, no 5 squadron rfc ts, 25 august 1917, captain a t harris, no 45 squadron rfc ts, 27 august. This is an account of the early history of no 80 squadron drawing particularly on the reminiscences of captain reginald preeston, cdg, together with the history of the war in the air and other records.
Harry dempsey has been passionate about world war 1 aviation for over 30 years, having produced. Hejaz narative the exploits of c flight 14 squadron r. The squadron converted to the raf s first jet fighter, the gloster meteor f. Royal flying corps aircraft the following sections describe the principal documentation available in the national archives and elsewhere in respect of royal flying corps and royal air force aircraft prior to 1919.
As directed in a war office letter from the deputy director of military aeronautics to the administrative wing of the royal flying corps, dated 6 april 1916, no. It formed in 1915 at saintomer to carry out a mixture of offensive patrolling and reconnaissance and was disbanded in 1919 with the end of the first world war. Commanding 62 squadron rfc raf 1918 major smith took command of 62 squadron in october 1917 at rencombe near cirencester as it prepared for mobilisation for france. Raf anniversary update 201112 4 100th anniversary 3 sqn eurofighter ef2000a typhoon zj936 qoc with green tail raf coningsby. Sqn file extension what is it and how to open sqn format. Media in category royal air force in world war i the following 16 files are in this category, out of 16 total. Including personnel from nos 2, 3rs, 16, 27, 32, 62, 80 and 103 squadrons. The 56 squadron nameplate was transferred to the air warfare centre air command and control intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operational evaluation unit air c2isr oeu at raf waddington on 22 april 2008 as 56 r sqn, the istar oeu. However i suggest no 56 sqn rafrfc is best enjoyed a chapter at a time lest the dogfight accounts blur together. This change in tactic allowed the raf to regroup and ultimately go on to win the battle. This was the situation when no 56 squadron arrived in france at the end of april 1917. Permission is granted to copy, distribute andor modify this document under the terms of the gnu free documentation license, version 1. The squadron disbanded for the first time since 1919 on july 1961.
Rfc raf personnel 191518 listed on this site rfc raf personnel 191518 listed on this site including personnel from nos 2, 3rs, 16, 27, 32, 62, 80 and 103 squadrons. When no 60 sqn arrived in france in may 1916, partially equipped w. It was commanded by or counted in its ranks some of the leading british aces of ww1 including albert ball and james mccudden. He continued in the rfc then raf until december 1918. Built by vickers at weybridge, it was allocated to the rfc on august11 1917, and went to france that day. The history of 56 squadron, rfc raf 19161920 victoria cross ww1 airmen and their aircraft and no 56 sqn raf rfc aviation elite units.
The istar oeu is the centre of excellence for the raf s awacs, nimrod r1mr2 and sentinel aircraft. Apparently it went briefly to 56 sqn, and subsequently moved to 60 sqn on september 17. The sqn returned to croydon in september but, crucially, on the 7 september, the luftwaffe switched its attention to bombing london. Ixb squadron formed as a royal flying corps rfc unit at st omer, france on 8 december 1914 by renaming the wireless flight of the rfc headquarters. Sep 22, 2009 revell does include glimpses of squadron life and the various personalities who made up 56 squadron. The squadron was equipped with the bristol fighter f2b and was operating initially. However on 14 october 2005 it was disbanded, its aircraft and personnel being absorbed into no 101 squadron. In september 1957 the squadron moved to raf wattisham with the hawker hunter.
Se5a b536 of lt k w junor56 sqnthis aircraft was named bubbly kid ii in no 56 sqn by lt k w junor. For that reason and the fact that nowhere does revell summarize the squadron s war record victories, losses, etc. The newsletter of no 46 squadron rfc and raf issue no 16 june. The battalion initially consisted of two companies, with no. Officers and men of 2 squadron rfc raf, janapr 1918, mentioned in lt montgomeries diary. On 1 april 1911 the air battalion of the royal engineers was created. Number 1 fighter squadron is the 4th front line typhoon squadron with 2 additional operational conversion units and is based at raf lossiemouth in scotland. In may 1916, 60 squadron went to war flying moranesaulnier biplanes and bullets, aircraft almost totally unsuited to air combat. Rfc and raf combat reports, first world war imperial war. By the autumn of 1916, with the formation of the new jagdstaffeln. There is already a default 23 sqn skin without codes or regsitration etc.
It was inspired by the book high in the empty blue by alex revell isbn. Alex revell in his authoritative ww1 history of 56 squadron, high in the empty blue and, hence, throughout the internet. Officers and men of both services who continued service after this date transferred into the newly formed raf and were joined by new entrants. Moving to london colney in july, it operated a variety of types until march 1917, when it became the first squadron to be equipped with the se5, which it took to. Major smith was posted to no 62 squadron as commanding officer on 18 october 1917 and remained in command until the end of the war. Albert ball, ace with 44 victories, was a founding member of 56 squadron.
Revell does include glimpses of squadron life and the various personalities who made up 56 squadron. We collect information about file formats and can explain what sqn files are. The battle of the somme in 1916 saw the rfc suffer losses of nearly 400 aircrew between september and november, and british casualties were to reach a zenith in the bloody april of 1917 when 319 aircrew were lost, killed or taken prisoner of war. Readers are advised that pdf files of raf squadron operations records books may be purchased online from the national archives at kew. The newsletter of no 46 squadron rfc and raf issue no 16 june 2011 issue no a win for oxford. In december 2010 the harrier force was disbanded, and later that year iv sqn stood up at raf valley as ivr sqn flying the hawk t2. I would like help understanding his airman record which appears confusing and contradictory in parts and may not yield clear answers. I was hoping to find out what units he served with.
No 2 squadron rfc raf officers and men nov 1917 to april 1918. In 1952 and 1953 56 squadron flew the meteor viii from raf waterbeach receiving the swift for evaluation in 1953 until 1955. The newsletter of no 46 squadron rfc and raf issue no 16. So do color profiles, with 28 covering a variety of aircraft, including four s. I have transcribed many of these documents, and the links below allow you to download these files. Number ix bomber squadron is the oldest dedicated bomber squadron in the raf. The role of the squadron is air defence, including quick reaction alert qra providing a 24 hour, 365 day capability to intercept and identify intruders into uk airspace. His successes in this role are well recounted by mr. This entry was posted in 1917, accidents, operations, rfc, western front and tagged 23 squadron rfc, 48 squadron rfc, 56 squadron rfc, 70 squadron rfc, david whyte hardie, george alec cranswick, john patrick waters, william reynolds cutler, william somerville mclaren on.
Cairo, was approached in the matter, and c flight of no. Formed at gosport on 8 june 1916 from a nucleus provided by no 28 squadron. Recently found that my maternal great grandfather transferred from the royal welsh fusiliers to the rfc in february 1917, after a bout of sciatica in france. A week later they moved to old sarum in wiltshire where they worked up and prepared for deployment to france. Number 2 squadron, also known as number ii army cooperation squadron, is a squadron of the royal air force. The squadron reformed on 1 april 1924 and again took on a reconnaissance role which it continued throughout the second world war. It also records the royal flying corps first ever victory 24 aug 1914 when an erich monoplane was forced down by a 5 sqn avro 540. On 25 january 1917 he went to no 56 squadron, where he took command 6 february 1917. Royal flying corps rfc and royal air force raf combat reports from the first world war which include entries made by the following pilots. Hi,im looking for comments etc on this skin intended for the historical skins section. Click here to go to a list of 62 sqn gallantry awards. Number 56 squadron, nicknamed the firebirds for their ability to always reappear intact regardless of the odds, is one of the oldest and most successful squadrons of the royal air force, with battle honours from many of the significant air campaigns of both world war i and world war ii.
A copy of the license is included in the section entitled gnu free documentation license. His immediate task was to oversee the build up of the squadron to full strength and the conduct of the training programme, and to satisfy himself that the standards required were. It currently operates eurofighter typhoon aircraft from raf lossiemouth. For 10 sqn, your search should start by looking in the air 27 category. It was a picturesque venue, the food and wine were superb and the staff. The sqn has the distinction of recording the rfcs first war casualties when an aircraft was hit by rifle fire on 22 aug 1914. But, this time with pedants head on, galley teapots original post framed the question which is the oldest raf squadron. In 1956, the squadron used its canberras in action in both malaya marchmay and egypt october. No 80 squadron rfc was formed at thetford on 1 august 1917 from a nucleus of 36 rs or ts and moved to montrose on 10 august 1917.
The sqn has the distinction of recording the rfc s first war casualties when an aircraft was hit by rifle fire on 22 aug 1914. Royal flying corps and royal air force 191718 no 80 squadron rfc was formed at thetford on 1 august 1917 from a nucleus of 36 rs or ts and moved to montrose on 10 august 1917. The squadron moved south again to beverley on 17 november 1917 from whence they later deployed to france. Nano brushes assorted 24 wapplicator handle flexi file. Buy no 60 sqn rfcraf aviation elite units 1st edition by alex revell isbn. No 60 sqn rfcraf aviation elite units paperback 20 sep 2011. And as the raf formed on the 1st of april 1918, i stand by my original submission. This aircraft represents captain willian m frys aircraft, 23 squadron january 1918. From this date onwards the rfc and rnas ceased to exist. The squadron joined 9th wing rfc on 26 march 1918 from 11th wing rfc, becoming part of ix brigade raf on 1 april. I have hopefully attached an airman record for 2lt george iliff who ended his short stay and young life with raf 2 squadron september 25, 1918. At the front information taken from operations records available at the national archives, the raf.
A narrative of the work done by the arabian detachment of no. Eurofighter typhoon zk316fa or zk326fb first in 1 sqn markings raf leuchars 2012. In march 2010 the squadron was disbanded at raf cottesmore and reformed the next day at raf wittering as ivreserve sqn, the harrier operational conversion unit. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. As with revells earlier book on 56 squadron, firsthand accounts, many from personal acquaintances of the authors, abound in no 60 sqn rfcraf. Operating initially as a utility unit, no 60 sqn s duties were mixed. The royal air force was formed on 1 april 1918 when the rfc and the rnas were amalgamated. When no 60 sqn arrived in france in may 1916, partially equipped with the delightfully named morane bullet, there were only two dedicated singleseat fighter squadrons on the western front.
A new no 9 squadron appeared at coningsby on 1 march 1962, equipped with vulcans, it was part of britains nuclear deterrent. It is currently equipped with the eurofighter typhoon fgr4 no. No 103 squadron was formed on 1 september 1917 at beaulieu in hampshire from a nucleus of no 16 training squadron. A retired engineer and also a jazz musician of international repute, alex revell lives in cornwall with his wife linda and three burmese cats. It was involved in reconnaissance, fighter patrols and escort missions, as well as the landing of spies behind enemy lines.
Mates, do you have any details on the award of the mm to dick lonsdale with 56 sqn rfc at cambrai. On 14 july, the squadron relocated to london colney. This is all i have lonsdale richard 20 am 1 half flight afc mesoptamia carpenter to cpl 1115 to 67 sqn 1 sqn afc 1116 to 68 sqn 2 sqn afc 1116 to rigger 717 to sgt 717 att 56 sqn rfc. August 2008 after 25 years at raf lyneham, it was with some trepidation that we held our 94th consecutive reunion dinner at wolfson college in oxford. Iii, in april 1946 at raf bentwaters where they also flew the gloster meteor f.
His has written a number of aviationrelated world war 1 titles over the years, including no 56 sqn rfc raf. This shall, therefore, not be fully recounted here. It operated over the western front until the end of the war, except for six weeks in june and july 1917 when it returned to the uk for defensive duties, and became one of the foremost fighter squadrons of the rfc raf. The squadron reformed on 1 august 2011 to operate the voyager at raf brize norton in the air transport and airtoair refuelling role but its aircraft did not begin arriving until 2012. No 56 sqn raf rfc aviation elite units pdf free download.