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Valentia No Photo Available Manufacturer : British biplane cargo aircraft built by Vickers Number Built : 28 Production Began : 1934 Retired : 1944 Type : The Valentia first entered service with No. 70 Squadron RAF at Hinaidi, Iraq in 1934,[2] equipping British forces in India, Persia and Iraq. Like the preceding Vernons and Victorias, the Valentias were extensively used for transport operations in the Middle East, and when necessary used for bombing operations with bomb racks under the wings. Valentias were also experimentally fitted with loudspeakers used to address people being overflown (in this case potentially rebellious tribes during air policing duties). The Valentia was also used for experiments with aerial refuelling by Alan Cobham. Valentias were used for night bombing operations over the Western Desert in 1940 and remained in service with the Iraq and Persia Communications Flight until 1944. The South African Air Force pressed a Valentia into service as a bomber in the East African Campaign in 1940-41

Valentia

Latest Valentia Artwork Releases !
Operation Charge of the Knights, Basra, Iraq, April 2008 by David Rowlands. (AP)	Sunrise over Bristol Docks by Rodney Charman. (Y)	Tragedy by Moonlight by Ivan Berryman. (PC)	Tugging the Tiger's Tail by Ivan Berryman. (PC)

Squadrons for : Valentia
A list of all squadrons from known to have used this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
Squadron	Info
No.216 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st April 1918 CCXVI dona ferens - 216 bearing gifts Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.216 Sqn RAF	No.216 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.244 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 25th July 1918 Fate : Disbanded 1st May 1945 Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.244 Sqn RAF	No.244 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.31 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 11th October 1915 In caelum indicum primus - First into Indian skies Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.31 Sqn RAF	No.31 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.70 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 22nd April 1916 Usquam - Anywhere Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.70 Sqn RAF	No.70 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.

Signatures for : Valentia
A list of all signatures from our database who are associated with this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking their name.
Name	Info
Air Commodore W Bill Pitt-Brown DFC Click the name above to see prints signed by Air Commodore W Bill Pitt-Brown DFC	Air Commodore W Bill Pitt-Brown DFC After Cranwell Bill Pitt-Brown was posted to India where he saw service on the North-West Frontier with 31 Squadron flying Wapatis and Valencias. When the Japanese attacked in the far east he was posted to command 5 Squadron flying H75A Mohawk fighters in Assam and on the Imphal and Arakan fronts. Returning to the UK he was given command of 174 Squadron with Typhoons which he led through the Normandy Invasion. In August 1944 he became Wing Leader of 121 Wing. He was rested in October 1944 after a total of more than 100 operational sorties. He went on to high command of the RAF after the war. Memories of Normandy are coloured by the enemy speed of reaction to our air supremacy. In the first few days after D-Day the enemy rushed forward to confront the Allies. We created havoc by picking off targets to jam the traffic and then methodically flaming the lot. Very large losses of German tanks and MT were inflicted in the fluid situation. Then suddenly by day nothing in the area was immediately visible. The German guns and tanks had dug in hull-down in the deep bocage country hedges which were perfect for camouflage. MT moved cautiously in shade and shadow. The vicious close-quarter tank and infantry fighting was largely unseen. Air attacks on map references were acknowledged by the Army to be effective but were frustrating since results were seldom seen except for transport brew ups. The picture was transformed when the Allies burst out of the bridgehead primarily through sheer force of numbers. the whole area east of Avranches - Vire, Mortain, Flers, Falaise, Argentan erputed and became a seething mass of enemy trying to retreat. The air forces smashed, burnt and killed. It seemed unbelievable that so much enemy force could have been concealed; now that they were all in the open, the slaughter, explosions, and fires burning from endless daily air attack obliterated everything. It was deadful; dead horse-drawn transport, bloated farm animals and humans all contributed to the sickly sweet smell of death. The enemy escaped annihilation by being highly disciplined even after such a defeat. Their losses were appalling but their retreat was never a rout.

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