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No.540 Sqn RAF - Squadron Details - Aviation Directory

No.540 Sqn RAF


Name : No.540 Sqn RAF
Founded : 19th October 1942
Disbanded : 30th September 1946
Re - founded : 1st December 1947
Re - disbanded : 31st March 1956
Country : UK
Fate : Disbanded 31st March 1956
More Details :

Sine qua non - Indispensable
Known Code Letters : , DH,

formed on 19 October 1942 from 'H' and 'L' flights of No. 1 PRU at RAF Leuchars as a photoreconnaissance unit with the de Havilland Mosquito. It operated from Leuchars to carry out missions over Norway and Germany, while a detachment based at RAF Benson carried out similar missions over France and Italy. Another detachment, based at RAF Gibraltar covered the south of France and Algeria, but from 1944 on the unit was wholly based at RAF Benson, the range of the later Mosquito permitting missions deep in Austria or to the Canary Islands. In March 1945 the squadron went overseas, to France, coming back to the UK in November, again at RAF Benson where the unit was disbanded on 30 September 1946, when it was renumbered to 58 Squadron On 1 December 1947, No.540 Squadron reformed at Benson, and used its Mosquitoes for photographic reconnaissance and survey duties,In March 1953 the squadron moved to Wyton, where it was disbanded on 31 March 1956.

Pilots and Aircrew for : No.540 Sqn RAF
A list of all aircrew from our database who are associated with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking their name.
NameInfo
Ball, Alfred Freddy
Click the name above to see a profile of Ball, Alfred Freddy
Ball, Alfred Freddy

Air Marshall Sir Alfred (Freddy) Ball, KCB DSO DFC attended RAF College, Cranwell in 1939 and joined 13 Squadron in France in March 1940 on Lysanders (Army Co-operation). He joined No 1 PRU Benson early in 1941 on Spitfires. He commanded 4 PRU (later 682 Sqdn) as Squadron Leader in October 1942 and flew out to North Africa for Operation Torch, the Allied landings, flying Spitfires. He was posted to the UK as CF1, 8PR, OTU Dyce, Aberdeen in September 1943 and took over 542 Sqdn Benson in March 1944 (PR Spitfire Mk XIs and Mk XIXs). In September he was promoted to Wing Commander and given command of No 540 Squadron flying Mosquito 16s and 32s. The Squadron moved to France early in 1945 to support the Allied armies. In December, Freddy was posted to Egypt to take command of No 680 PR Sqdn (later to become 13 Sqdn), flying Mosquitoes and Spitfires. He was posted to Staff AHQ East Africa in 1946 and retired from the RAF in April 1979.



Alfred Ball at a print signing session

Barrett, Harry
Click the name above to see a profile of Barrett, Harry
Barrett, Harry

Warrant Officer Harry Barrett flew as a PR Mosquito Navigator for 17 months from October 1945 to April 1947. He volunteered for aircrew duties as a navigator in mid-1941, and was selected and put on deferred service until August 1942. He trained as a Navigator/Wireless Op. at Cranwell and in Canada, qualifying in November 1943. He was on the night-flying staff at 3(P) AFU at South Cerney for nine months. He qualified as an air-gunner in May 1945 on the Isle of Man. On joining 540 Squadron at Benson, he and his pilot ferried three Mosquitoes to the Middle East and was then posted to 680 in Palestine, where it was more dangerous on the ground than in the air. 680 then became 13 Squadron. Harry carried out aerial surveys in Egypt the Greek Islands, and then went on the Nairobi. Nine of the 15 Mosquitoes Harry flew in came to grief.
Bayliss, Francis Joseph
Click the name above to see a profile of Bayliss, Francis Joseph
Bayliss, Francis Joseph

W/O Francis Joseph Baylis AFM C de G (Belg) Kings Commendation volunteered in October 1941 and joined at ACRC Lords in March 1942. He completed a ITW at Babbacombe and a Wireless course at Cranwell. He received flying training at Port Albert, Ontario and Charlotte Town PEI and a General Reconnaissance Course at Squires Gate, then OTU (PR) at Dyce. He was posted to 544 Squadron, Benson in January 1944 and flew 63 ops, finishing in April 1945. He was awarded the C de G with Palme and also served on 13(PR) Squadron at Fayid 1947-49 and awarded the AFM. Finally, after ten months on 540(PR) Benson he received the Kings Commendation.
Clark, Tom
Click the name above to see a profile of Clark, Tom
Clark, Tom

Flying Officer Tom Clark volunteered to join the RAF in October 1941. On completion of training he spent 12 months flying with Dominion and trained pilots at No 15(P) AFU. At No 8 OTU Dyce he crewed with Fl/Lt (later Sqn Ldr) W R Assheton and was posted to 540 Sqn in May 1944. He completed 48 operations and ceased flying duties in September 1945.
Cussons, Arnold
Click the name above to see a profile of Cussons, Arnold
Cussons, Arnold

Flt. Lt. Arnold Cussons joined the RAF in July 1940, but pilot training did not start until early 1941. After EFTS (DH82) and SFTS (Oxford) he was told he must be an Instructor. FIS at Cranwell, instructing at 14 SFTS Lyneham (then grass field!) then secondment to RNZAF at Christchurch until got back to UK September 1943. 8OTU (Dyce) then 540 Sqn, A flight, January 1944. Flew 62 operational flights including Damage Assessment of the Tirpitz just 3 hours after it was sunk by Lancaster’s. He returned to instructing in July 1945, first as Flt Cdr Mosquitoes at PRU's 8OTU then as CFI when Frank Dodd left. Arnold then went to the Empire Central Flying School as a Tutor. He left the RAF at end of 1949 after a time flying Hornets with 65 Sqn., Linton-on-Ouse near York.
Ellis, Ken
Click the name above to see a profile of Ellis, Ken
Ellis, Ken

Flight Officer Ken Ellis DFM joined the RAF in April 1942 for training as an Observer. He received his wing as a Navigator in Canada and after subsequent OTU training was posted to 540 Squadron (PR) at Benson in January 1944. His pilot was F/Lt Arnold Cussons DFC (see above) and after in excess of 60 missions over Europe, Ken eventually left the Squadron in July 1945. He and Arnold photographed the German battleship ‘Tirpitz’ within hours of it being capsized on 12 November 1944 in Tromso Fjord.
Randles, Mike
Click the name above to see a profile of Randles, Mike
Randles, Mike

Flight Lieutenant Mike Randles volunteered as a Wireless Operator in 1941, but on call-up, immediately remustered for aircrew. His lengthy training as a navigator/wireless-op/ photographer culminated in joining 540 Squadron at RAF Benson. With his pilot, Flight Lieutenant Guy Trevor, who sadly lost his life in a flying accident shortly after the end of the war, he completed 35 PR operations from Benson, Dyce (Aberdeen) from which they concentrated on Norwegian targets, and Coulommiers in France. Their longest operation of over 1500 miles took over six hours to photograph 18 targets in Norway in November 1944. Mike claims he was a lucky one, having been shot at only twice and escaping interception by German jets over Prague, Arnhem and Osnabruck.
Toswnhend, Joe
Click the name above to see a profile of Toswnhend, Joe
Toswnhend, Joe

Flying Officer Joe Townshend DFM joined the RAF in February 1942 and after a wireless course at Cranwell went to Canada for Navigation, GR and an OTU on Torpedo Hampdens on Vancouver Island. He returned to England for an OTU on Mosquitoes at Dyce where he teamed up with F/Lt H C S (Sandy) Powell DFC. After four ferry trips to Rabat in Morocco, he joined 540 Squadron in May 1944 and completed 50 Photo Reconnaissance operations over Europe, including finding the Tirpitz at Tromso for the Lancaster’s to sink in November 1944.



Squadrons :
No.540 Sqn RAF
Squadrons :
No.540 Sqn RAF



Known Individual Aircraft of No.540 Sqn RAF :

Type

Serial

Codes

First Flew

Squadron History

Aircrew History

History Notes

Engine

Factory

Spitfire PRIV

AA790

12/09/1941

details

no information

no information

Merlin 45

Supermarine (dispersal)

Spitfire PRIV

AB124

15/11/1941

details

no information

no information

Merlin 45

Supermarine (dispersal)

Spitfire PRX

MD193

-

details

no information

no information

Merlin 64

Eastleigh

Spitfire XIV

RM823

-

details

no information

no information

Griffon 65

Aircraft for : No.540 Sqn RAF
A list of all aircraft associated with No.540 Sqn RAF. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
AircraftInfo

Canberra



Click the name above to see prints featuring Canberra aircraft.

Manufacturer : English Electric
Production Began : 1951

Canberra

The English Electric Canberra first flew on Friday 13 May 1949 when its performance created a sensation. Such was the quality of the original design that in May 1951, when the first B2 Canberras entered service with No 101 Squadron at RAF Binbrook they could out manoeuvre all the fighters of the period and fly with impunity more than 10,000 feet above them. Operated by 17 airforces in more than 20 different variants, Canberras have been to war at Suez and in India, in Vietnam and the Falklands campaign, and in 1996 Canberra PR9s were engaged in operational reconnaissance flights over Bosnia and in other regions. It is widely and justifiably regarded as one of the greatest aircraft designs of all time.

Mosquito



Click the name above to see prints featuring Mosquito aircraft.

Manufacturer : De Havilland
Production Began : 1940
Retired : 1955
Number Built : 7781

Mosquito

Used as a night fighter, fighter bomber, bomber and Photo-reconnaissance, with a crew of two, Maximum speed was 425 mph, at 30,300 feet, 380mph at 17,000ft. and a ceiling of 36,000feet, maximum range 3,500 miles. the Mosquito was armed with four 20mm Hospano cannon in belly and four .303 inch browning machine guns in nose. Coastal strike aircraft had eight 3-inch Rockets under the wings, and one 57mm shell gun in belly. The Mossie at it was known made its first flight on 25th November 1940, and the mosquito made its first operational flight for the Royal Air Force as a reconnaissance unit based at Benson. In early 1942, a modified version (mark II) operated as a night fighter with 157 and 23 squadron's. In April 1943 the first De Haviland Mosquito saw service in the Far east and in 1944 The Mosquito was used at Coastal Command in its strike wings. Bomber Commands offensive against Germany saw many Mosquitos, used as photo Reconnaissance aircraft, Fighter Escorts, and Path Finders. The Mosquito stayed in service with the Royal Air Force until 1955. and a total of 7781 mosquito's were built.




Last edited : 13:49, June 26, 2016
Last editor : HMS

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