Hudson - Aircraft Details - Aviation Directory

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Hudson - Aircraft Details - Aviation Directory

Hudson

Name : Hudson
Manufacturer : Lockheed
Production Began : 1939
Number Built : 2584

In 1938, the British Purchasing Commission sought an American maritime patrol aircraft and light bomber for the United Kingdom to support the Royal Air Force's Avro Anson. On 10th December 1938, Lockheed produced a modified version of the Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra which was a commercial airliner and the Hudson Mk I went into production. The Hudson was the first significant aircraft construction contract for the Lockhead Aircraft Corporation with the initial RAF order for 200 Hudsons far surpassed any previous order the company had received. By February 1939, Hudsons began to be delivered. A total of 350 Mk I and 20 Mk II Hudsons were supplied in total. These had two fixed Browning machine guns in the nose and two more in a Boulton Paul dorsal turret. Initially the first batch of Hudsons were supplied to No.224 Squadron RAF based at RAF Leuchers in May 1939. By the start of the war in September 78 Hudsons were in service. Not only did the RAF use the Hudson but the Hudson also served throughout the war with Coastal Command and was also used in transport and training roles as well as delivering agents into occupied France. They were also used extensively with the Royal Canadian Air Force wiht their anti-submarine squadrons. They were operated by RAF Special Duties squadrons for clandestine operations, with No.161 Squadron in Europe and No.357 Squadron operating in Burma. During the war, they were used as maritime patrol aircraft in the Pacific by the US Navy, the RAAF and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. A total of 2,584 Hudsons were built. They began to be withdrawn from front line service in 1944. The Hudson provided the basis for the development of the Lockhead Ventura.

Pilots and Aircrew for : Hudson

A list of all aircrew from our database who are associated with this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking their name.

Name

Info

Bathgate, A
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Died : 30 / 9 / 1939

Bathgate, A

Killed on 30th September 1939 when his Hudson Mk.1 N7216 QX-D of 224 Sqn failed to return from a operation, Sgt Heinz Demes claimed he shot down the hudson.

Burns, Owen V
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Died : 30 / 6 / 2015

Burns, Owen V

Flight Lieutenant Owen V Burns was born in Birkenhead on 20th November 1915. He flew throughout the Battle of Britain. His Squadron, 235, based at Bircham Newton in Norfolk, was equipped with Mark IV Bristol Blenheims, which had four guns under the nose and two in the mid-upper turret, which he operated. The squadron was attached to Fighter Command to replace its losses in the Battle for France, but because Blenheims lacked the speed of single-engined fighters, squadron duties were mainly aerodrome protection and fighter escort to aircraft crossing the Channel. On 14th February 1941 his Blenheim was caught in an enemy raid while returning from a night patrol over the North Sea. The aircraft crashed on landing as the flare path had been extinguished. The observer was killed and the pilot spent a year in hospital, but Owen escaped with a broken collar bone. Owen Burns went onto join 279 Sqn on Hudsons carrying out Air Sea Rescues. In January 1945 he was appointed Gunnery Officer for 19 Group, Plymouth and a month later he became PA to AOC, AVM CBS Spackman. He left the RAF in March 1948. Owen Burns died on 30th June 2015 aged 99.

Calpin, J L
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Died : 7 / 9 / 1939

Calpin, J L

Killed on 7th September 1939 when his Hudson Mk.1 N7247 QX-G of No.224 Sqn was lost at sea.

Cramp, F A E
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Cramp, F A E

on 8th September 1939, He escaped injury when his Hudson Mk.1 N7210 QX-? of No.224 Sqn was damaged in a landing accident.

Fox, Basil Lincoln
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Died : 11 / 1 / 1940

Fox, Basil Lincoln

Pilot with 224 Squadron flying Hudsons . He and his crew were Killed when their Hudson N7298 struck high ground. The aircraft struck the top of the area of high ground on Warren Moor, above Kildale in the early hours of the morning, but did not catch fire. The exact time for the crash is not known The crew all got out of the aircraft but died either by wounds suffered or die dof exposure in the 24/36 hours it took for them to be found. He was 26, and came from Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia. Buried Brancaster Cemetery, Norfolk.

Godfrey, E.D
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Godfrey, E.D

Aircraft was incorrectly trimmed for take off and after climbing steeply stalled and spun into the River Eden and burnt out, killing both crew F/O Godfrey and F/LT Robinson. Godfrey is buried in Leuchars Cemetry

Green, H D
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Died : 7 / 9 / 1939

Green, H D

Killed on 7th September 1939 when his Hudson Mk.I N7247 QX-G of No.224 Sqn was lost at sea.

Hodges, Lewis
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Died : 4 / 1 / 2007

Hodges, Lewis

Lewis Hodges flew with 49 Sqn from June 1940 until he was shot down over occupied France in Sept 1940 and taken prisoner by the Vichy French. He managed to escape and made his way back to England, rejoining 49 Sqn. He took part in the attacks against the German Channel dash operation in Feb 1942. In Nov of that year he joined 161 (Special Duties) Sqn, flying Halifaxes, Lysanders and Hudsons landing and parachuting agents into German occupied territory. Among the people he brought out of France were two future Presidents - Vincent Auriol and Francois Mitterand. He died 4th January 2007.

Hollington, J R
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Died : 30 / 9 / 1939

Hollington, J R

Killed on 30th September 1939 when his Hudson Mk.1 N7216 QX-D of 224 Sqn failed to return from a operation, Sgt Heinz Demes claimed he shot down the Hudson.

Hoy, William
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Died : 20 / 11 / 2012

Hoy, William

William Hoy was born in Edinburgh on December 23 1918 and educated at George Watsonâ€™s College, where he won a scholarship to the RAF College, Cranwell. He graduated as a pilot in October 1939. He flew Anson and Hudson aircraft on shipping sweeps over the North Sea, taking part in the operations over the Norwegian coast after the German invasion in April 1940. He then joined No 420 Flight, flying the antiquated Harrow bomber on operations to drop aerial mines by night. The mines were attached to 2,000ft of piano wire in the hope that enemy bombers would fly into the wire, causing the mines to strike them and explode. There are no recorded successes. Converting to the Beaufighter night fighter in late 1941, Hoy joined No 604 Squadron and was soon appointed a flight commander. On the night of July 29 1942 he shot down a Heinkel bomber off Landâ€™s End and, in spring 1943, he accounted for two more off the coast of Yorkshire and damaged a third. On another occasion he led another Beaufighter on a well-planned attack on an enemy reconnaissance aircraft, which was destroyed as a direct result of Hoyâ€™s initiative. In July 1943 he was awarded a DFC. After a rest period, Hoy returned to the front line as flight commander of 25 Squadron, flying the Mosquito. On July 9 1944 he shot down a V-1 flying bomb over the Channel. After the war Hoy commanded two night fighter squadrons before being appointed wing commander, flying at Church Fenton in Yorkshire â€“ the home of four fighter squadrons. He attended No 1 Course at the new RAF Flying College at Manby, Lincolnshire, before taking up an appointment in the Middle East. After his flight in Aries V, Hoy served with Nato and at the Air Ministry. His last appointment before retiring in 1966 was as station commander at RAF Manston in Kent. William Hoy died on 20th November 2012.

Pearce, J.
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Died : 30 / 9 / 1939

Pearce, J.

Killed on 30th September 1939 when his Hudson Mk.1 N7219 QX-V of no.224 Sqn was shot down by marineflakabteilung 264.

Perry, D G
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Died : 4 / 10 / 1939

Perry, D G

Killed on 4th October 1939 when his Hudson Mk.1 N7214 QX-T of no.244 Sqn crashed near Leuchars.

Pitts, R S
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Died : 30 / 9 / 1939

Pitts, R S

Killed on 30th September 1939 when his Hudson Mk.1 N7216 QX-D of 224 Sqn failed to return from a operation, Sgt Heinz Demes claimed he shot down the hudson.

Robinson, G.P
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Robinson, G.P

Aircraft was incorrectly trimmed for take off and after climbing steeply stalled and spun into the River Eden and burnt out, killing both crew F/O Godfrey and F/LT Robinson. Robinson is buried in St Peter Churchyard in Duddon

Rodger, A M
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Died : 7 / 9 / 1939

Rodger, A M

Killed on 7th September 1939 when his Hudson Mk.1 N7247 QX-G of No.224 Sqn was lost at sea.

Rout, G
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Died : 30 / 9 / 1939

Rout, G

Killed on 30th September 1939 when his Hudson Mk.1 N7216 QX-D of 224 Sqn failed to return from a operation, Sgt Heinz Demes claimed he shot down the hudson.

Sill, A
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Died : 30 / 9 / 1939

Sill, A

Killed on 30th September 1939 when his Hudson Mk.1 N7219 QX-V of no.224 Sqn was shot down by marineflakabteilung 264.

Stanley, Max R
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Stanley, Max R

Max Stanley's first employment as a professional pilot was by Lockheed as a co-pilot ferrying newly built Hudson bombers from the Burbank factory to the East Coast. These aircraft were then shipped by boat to England. With the advent of America's Lend Lease Program, Lockheed loaned Max to Pan Am where he spent two years as a Captain shuttling all types of twin-engine aircraft from Miami across the South Atlantic to British forces in Africa, Egypt and India. When Pan American terminated its ferry operations, Max was employed by United Air Lines as a Captain of four-engine cargo/passenger aircraft flying the route from San Francisco to Australia. In early 1943 Max resigned from United and accepted an offer of employment from Northrop as an experimental test pilot. His war time work included serving as the primary test pilot on the P-61 Black Widow program, where he made the first flight in all variants accept the XP-61. He also recorded first flights in the Northrop F-15, the Trimotor Pioneer, and the Trimotor C-125 Raider. Max also participated as a test pilot in the F-89 Scorpion and T-38 Talon programs. His most significant test pilot assignments involved his participation in Jack Northrop's Flying Wing program. Max made numerous flights in the N-9M, which was a 1/3 d scale model of a large flying wing bomber. When the first full size aircraft was ready, the X13-35, Max was selected as Chief Test Pilot of the huge flying wing for the Contractor Phase 1 Test Program, and began preparing for the first flights. As the program evolved, Northrop's designers converted the B-35, which was powered by four huge piston engines, into the Y13-49, which was powered by eight early jet engines. Max was also selected to be Northrop's Chief Test Pilot on the B-49. During the course of this program Max would set a World Record for jet aircraft with a non-stop, unrefueled flight of 3,950 miles in a little over 9 hours, while carrying a simulated 10,000 pound bomb load. Once the Air Force accepted delivery, Max turned over primary test pilot chores to his Air Force counterpart on the program, Bob Cardenas. Max' next assignment was with the SM-62 Snark missile program where he served as the Chief Pilot for the numerous manned aircraft which were used during the development and testing of the missile. Max Stanley is a Founding Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and he served for several years as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots Scholarship Foundation. Max is also a member of the Caterpillar Club, having qualified on two occasions. After a twenty-eight year career at Northrop, Max is generally known as the "Dean" of Northrop test pilots.

Summers, Richard Gordon Battensby
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Died : 7 / 5 / 2017

Summers, Richard Gordon Battensby

Richard Gordon Battensby Summers was born on 18th October 1921 in Beverley, East Yorkshire and was educated at Ermysteds Grammar School at Skipton. In April 1939 Richard joined The Royal Air Force as a direct-entry Airman u/t Observer. On 26th June he went to the Bristol Flying School, Yatesbury for basic navigation training, moved to B&GS Warmwell on 30th September and then completed his training with an astro-navigation course at St. Athan in November. On 4th December 1939 Summers was posted to Church Fenton to join 242 Squadron, as a navigator at the age of 18. The squadron was equipped with Blenheims. He went to 219 Squadron at Catterick on 16th April 1940. Summers left the squadron on 28th September to go to the Ferry Pool and Defence Flight Takoradi, in West Africa. In early July 1941 Summers aircraft made a wheels-up forced-landing on a beach in Liberia. To escape internment he walked 48 miles in bare feet before putting out to sea and being picked up by a British merchantman on the 5th. For this incident, Summers was awarded the AFM (gazetted 1st January 1942). Commissioned in May 1942, he was posted back to the UK where he was appointed Bombing Leader on Hudsons at No. 1 (Coastal) OTU Silloth on 12th October. Summers was posted to 48 Squadron at Gibraltar on 22nd May 1943 as Bombing Leader. He returned to the UK and on 1st March 1944 became Bombing Leader at No. 1 APC Aldergrove. Summers went on a Specialist Armament Course on 19th April, firstly at 2 School of Technical Training Cosford and from late June at the Empire Air Armament School at Manby. He was appointed Armament Staff Officer at HQ 15 Group Liverpool on 17th November 1944 and he moved to RAF Lossiemouth on 7th August 1945 as Station Armament Officer. Staying in the postwar RAF, in October 1946 Summers was posted to the staff of ACAS (Training) at the Air Ministry as an Acting Squadron Leader. Pre-selected for the RAF Staff College in 1949, he graduated at the end of 1950 and was appointed Command Weapons Officer at HQ Bomber Command. From August 1953 until January 1956 Summers was Deputy Station Commander at RAF East Leigh, Kenya during the Mau-Mau Emergency. He was made an OBE (gazetted 6th March 1956) for 'gallant and distinguished services in Kenya'. Back in the UK, Summers returned to flying and commanded 109 Squadron at Binbrook. In December 1956 he was promoted to Acting Wing Commander and took command of No. 2 Wing RAF Cosford. In July 1959 he did a RAF Flying College Course at RAF Manby. In January/March 1960 Summers did a conversion course on Vulcans and was then appointed Wing Commander Operations at RAF Finningley, a Vulcan station. In December 1962 he was posted to the staff of SHAPE in Europe, for 'nuclear activities'. He returned to the UK in December 1966 and became a staff officer in the Department of the Chief of Defence Staff. Summers retired from the RAF on 18th October 1968 as a Wing Commander. He died on 7th May 2017.

Thomas, J A Tommy
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Thomas, J A Tommy

Trained in 1941/2 as a winch operator on Fairy Battles and Lysanders, target towing for Spitfire OUT. In 1942 Tommy remustered as Air Gunner and in 1943 he joined 161Special Duties Squadron at Tempsford on Halifax's B flight, He later detached to A flight on Hudsons and Lysanders for mail pick-up duties. His training and quick thinking saved him and Bob Large when on one memorable flight Tommy reacted instantly to a tow wire fouling the elevators of their Lysander. Between July 43 and July 45 he completed 33 Ops. out of Tempsford and Tangmere.

Thomason, A
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Died : 30 / 9 / 1939

Thomason, A

Killed on 30th September 1939 when his Hudson Mk.1 N7219 QX-V of no.224 Sqn was shot down by marineflakabteilung 264.

Thwaite, Henry Outram
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Died : 15 / 4 / 1940

Thwaite, Henry Outram

On 16th September 1939 the pilot of Anson K8825 when he was forced to make a landing at around 07.00hrs on Redcar Racecourse because of bad weather on return from an operational patrol. The aircraft was not damaged at all and it is thought that it took off again at a later date from the racecourse when the weather improved Henry Thwaite was the pilot of one of the Hudsons that spotted the German battleship Altmark on 16th February 1940 and ended with the release of nearly 300 Allied PoWs. He was still flying with 220 Squadron on 15th April 1940 when Hudson N7289 that was shot down on an operational patrol. He was twenty three years old and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

White, G A
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White, G A

Fl/Lt G A White volunteered for the RAF in January 1940, aged 19. He trained as a Wop/Ag and from October of that year, flew on 86 operational flights on Lockheed Hudsons of 206 and 279 Squadrons of Coastal Command, totalling 923 operational flying hours. On one occasion, in November 1941, after successfully bombing and sinking one of three German mine sweepers off Ushant at low level, the port engine caught fire from the intensive return barrage from all three ships. "With the pilot, Sgt John Whitfield DFM, of 206, we somehow managed to make it back to Predannock in Cornwall, smoking all the way!". Commissioned in May 1942, and after an official suggestion, as a result of his operational experience, he volunteered to fly Spitfires without guns. Qualifying as a PR pilot, he joined 682 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron in May 1945 at San Severo, Italy, where he took part in high level photography up until VE Day in Mk XIs. In August 1945 he became Staff Photographic Officer for Desert Air Force until his discharge in 1946.

Whittington, C N
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Died : 7 / 9 / 1939

Whittington, C N

Killed on 7th September 1939 when his Hudson Mk.1 N7247 QX-G of No.224 Sqn was lost at sea.

Squadrons :

Historical Notes :
03-06-1943 - missing, Hudson FK386 of 117 Squadron RAF, that was flying at 17:37 hrs from Portreath to North Africa, but failed to reach Gibraltar; Lt. Heinz Olbrecht of 15./Kampfgeschwader 40 claimed to have shot down two Hudsons, The first leg of his return to North Africa on 3rd June 1943 was from Portreath to Gibraltar aboard Hudson VI FK386 of No.1 Overseas Air Dispatch Unit. This aircraft was intercepted over the Bay of Biscay by a long-range Ju88C-6 of KG40 (Lt. H Olbrecht) and shot down. All the occupants were reported 'Missing'Crew F/O JB Buckley F/O EJ McSherney F/Sgt. DV Edwards Passengers G/Capt. R Yaxley W/Cdr. HF Burton W/Cdr. E Paul W/Cdr. PT Cotton W/Cdr. J Goodhead S/Ldr. JK Young S/Ldr. OV Hanbury

Squadrons :
No.224 Sqn RAF

Pilots or Aircrew :
F A E Cramp

Historical Notes :
08-09-1939 - Damaged in landing accident. Sgt F A E Cramp ok.

Squadrons :
No.224 Sqn RAF

Pilots or Aircrew :
J R Hollington
R S Pitts
G Rout
A Bathgate

Historical Notes :
30-09-1939 - Claimed to have been shot down by Ltn Heinz Demes. F/O J R Hollington killed, Sgt R S Pitts killed, AC1 G Rout killed, AC1 A Thomason killed.

Squadrons :
No.224 Sqn RAF

Pilots or Aircrew :
Hill
J. Pearce
A Sill
A Thomason

Historical Notes :
30-09-1939 - Shot down over the island of Sylt. P/O D G Heaton-Nichols taken as a PoW, Sgt J Pearce killed, AC1 A Sill killed, AC1 A Thomason killed.

Squadrons :
No.233 Sqn RAF

Pilots or Aircrew :
G.P Robinson

Historical Notes :
04-09-1939 - Aircraft was incorrectly trimmed for take off and after climbing steeply stalled and spun into the River Eden and burnt out, killing both crew F/O Godfrey and F/LT Robinson

Squadrons :
No.220 Sqn RAF

Historical Notes :
15-04-1940 - 220 Sqd Hudson N7289 was shot down on an operational patrol. The Pilot was F/O Henry Outram Thwaite RAF (39399), He was twenty three years old and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Squadrons :
No.224 Sqn RAF

Historical Notes :
18-10-1939 - After assembly and testing at M.U. it was issued to 224 Squadron at Leuchars.
11-01-1940 - The Hudson struck the top of the area of high ground on Warren Moor, above Kildale in the early hours of the morning, but did not catch fire. The exact time for the crash is not known. The crash investigation initially thought that during the flight the wireless equipment and direction finding equipment might have failed, with the crew then were unsure of their position they probably then flew a rough westerly course to make landfall to try and work out where they were but then should then have headed along the coast. Instead of this the aircraft drifted over land

Known Individual Aircraft : Hudson :
Type	Serial	Codes	First Flew	Squadron History	Aircrew History	History Notes	Engine	Factory
Hudson	FK386		-	*details*	*no information*	*details*
Hudson I	N7210	QX-?	-	*details*	*details*	*details*
Hudson I	N7216	QX-D	-	*details*	*details*	*details*
Hudson I	N7219	QX-V	-	*details*	*details*	*details*
Hudson 1	N7239	ZS	-	*details*	*details*	*details*
Hudson	N7289		-	*details*	*no information*	*details*
Hudson	N7298		-	*details*	*no information*	*details*		Lockheed-Vega at Burbank, California

Squadrons for : Hudson
A list of all squadrons known to have flown the Hudson. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
Squadron	Info
No.117 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st January 1918 Fate : Disbanded 17th December 1945 It shall be done Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.117 Sqn RAF	No.117 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.161 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st June 1918 Fate : Disbanded 2nd June 1945 Liberate Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.161 Sqn RAF	No.161 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.206 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st April 1918 Nihil nos effugit - Naught escapes us Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.206 Sqn RAF	No.206 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.220 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st April 1918 Fate : Disbanded 10th July 1963 We observe unseen Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.220 Sqn RAF	No.220 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.224 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st April 1918 Fate : Disbanded 31st October 1966 Fedele all amico - Faithful to a freind Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.224 Sqn RAF	No.224 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.233 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 31st August 1918 Fate : Disbanded 31st January 1964 Fortis et fidelis - Strong and faithful Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.233 Sqn RAF	No.233 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.251 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : May 1918 Fate : Disbanded 30th September 1946 However wind blows Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.251 Sqn RAF	No.251 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.267 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 27th September 1918 Fate : Disbanded 30th June 1970 Sine mora - Without delay Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.267 Sqn RAF	No.267 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.269 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 6th October 1918 Fate : Disbanded 24th May 1963 Omnia videmus - We see all things Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.269 Sqn RAF	No.269 Sqn RAF No. 269 Squadron was transferred to RAF Wick on 10 October 1939, and executed aerial attacks against surfaced German U-boats on 15 September, 18 October, 28 October, 3 November, 19 November, and 3 December. Postwar examination of Kriegsmarine records showed that these attacks either did little damage or a U-boat was not on patrol in the area of attack Aircraft from No. 269 Squadron made six separate attacks on German U-boats during February 1940, plus attacks on 8 August. No. 269 Squadron also carried out a number of missions in addition to its maritime patrol duties: 1 March â€” The Stavanger airfield was attacked. 11 June â€” The German battleships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Admiral Hipper were attacked while at anchor in Trondheim harbor. 22 June â€” Aircraft from the No. 269 Squadron and No. 442 Squadron RAF attacked the German battleship Scharnhorst while at sea north of Bergen, but inflicted little damage on the German warship. 27 June â€” No. 269 Squadron executed a special mission reconnaissance of Norwegian coast. The squadron also began receiving new Lockheed Hudson patrol bombers starting in March 1940, completing the transition on 15 April, while it ceased operating Avro Anson aircraft as of 1 June. By 15 July, No, 269 Squadron was fully operational with 18 Hudson Mk1 aircraft After a year of operations against enemy shipping from RAF Wick, No. 269 Squadron began transferring to Iceland starting on 12 April 1941, with the last Hudson aircraft arriving on 30 May. The squadron completed its re-deployment to Iceland on 10 July. A detachment of No. 269 Squadron deployed to RAF Reykjavik on 12 December.[4] On 9 April, six aircraft from RAF Wick bombed the aluminium factory at Hoyanger, Norway. Also during late May, the squadron participated in the pursuit of the German battleship Bismarck. Aircraft from No. 269 Squadron also made four separate attacks on surfaced U-boats during June. On 6 August, Hudson patrol bombers from No. 269 Squadron escorted USAF fighter aircraft of the 33rd Pursuit Squadron to the Reykjavik airfield after being catapulted off the aircraft carrier USS Wasp. On 16 August, No. 269 Squadron flew twelve sorties escorting the battleship HMS Prince of Wales, with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill aboard for the upcoming, top-secret conference with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Aircraft from No. 269 Squadron made four separate attacks on surfaced U-boats during June. Aircraft of the No. 269 Squadron also attacked U-432 on 29 August, U-85 on 2 September, and U-439 and U-552 on 14 September, and they were also present during the Greer Incident. On 27 August 1941, Squadron Leader J.H. Thompson of the No. 269 Squadron made RAF history by becoming the only aircraft captain to have a U-boat (U-570) surrender to him. Thompson and his navigator/bomb-aimerâ€”Flying Officer John Colemanâ€”were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 23 September 1941 Aircraft of the No. 269 Squadron attacked U-510 on 14 July, U-609 on 23 July, U-164 and U-210 on 26 July, and U-595 on 30 July and 31 July. No. 269 aircraft made eight separate U-boat attacks during August. Six U-boats were attacked during September. U-183 was attacked on 3 October. No. 269 Squadron scored its first confirmed U-boat kill by sinking U-619 on 5 October
No.279 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 16th November 1941 Fate : Disbanded 10th March 1946 To see and be seen Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.279 Sqn RAF	No.279 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.320 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st June 1940 Fate : Disbanded 2nd August 1945 Dutch Animo libere dirigimur - We are guided by the mind of liberty Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.320 Sqn RAF	No.320 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.357 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st February 1944 Fate : Disbanded 15th November 1945 (Special Duties) Mortem hostibus - We bring death to the enemy Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.357 Sqn RAF	No.357 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.407 Sqn RCAF Country : Canada Founded : 8th May 1941 Fate : Disbanded 4th June 1945 Demon To hold on high Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.407 Sqn RCAF	No.407 Sqn RCAF Full profile not yet available.
No.459 Sqn RAAF Country : Australia Founded : 10th February 1942 Fate : Disbanded 10th April 1945 Demon To hold on high Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.459 Sqn RAAF	No.459 Sqn RAAF Full profile not yet available.
No.48 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 15th April 1916 Fate : Disbanded 7th January 1976 Forte et fidele Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.48 Sqn RAF	No.48 Sqn RAF No. 48 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Netheravon, Wiltshire, on 15 April 1916. The squadron was posted to France in March 1917 and became the first fighter squadron to be equipped with the Bristol Fighter. One of the squadron's commanders was Keith Park, then a Major, who later led No. 11 Group of Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain as an Air Vice Marshal. The squadron became part of the Royal Air Force when the Royal Flying Corps merged with the Royal Naval Air Service in 1918. It moved by sea to India during May/June 1919, being based at Quetta. On 1 April 1920 the squadron was disbanded by renumbering it to No. 5 Squadron. The squadron had 32 aces serve in it. Besides Park, they included: Fred Holliday, John Letts, Brian Edmund Baker, Harold Anthony Oaks, Leonard A. Payne, Robert Dodds, John Theobald Milne, Charles Napier, Frank Ransley, Alan Wilkinson, Thomas Percy Middleton, William Price, future Air Marshal Charles Steele, Norman Craig Millman, Thomas G. Rae, Owen Scholte, Roger Hay, Norman Roberts, Joseph Michael John Moore, Arthur Noss and Maurice Benjamin The squadron reformed on 25 November 1935 at RAF Bicester, and became a General Reconnaissance unit operating Avro Anson aircraft. The Squadron was based at RAF Thorney Island between 28 September 1938 and 10 October 1938 before returning on 25 August 1939 and leaving for the last time on 16 July 1940 With the outbreak of war in 1939 the squadron was engaged in coastal patrols along the south coast of England. In 1941 the squadron re-equipped with Lockheed Hudson aircraft and took on the role of an anti-submarine squadron, patrolling first the North Sea; in December 1942 the squadron moved to RAF Gibraltar to patrol the Mediterranean. In 1944 the squadron returned to the UK and was re-equipped with Douglas Dakota aircraft. It remained a transport squadron until being disbanded on 16 January 1946. During this period it operated from Chittagong, Bengal, India on supply operations in the Irrawaddy valley of Burma. .
No.500 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 16th March 1931 Fate : Disbanded 10th March 1957 County of Kent (Auxiliary) Qua fata vocent - Whither the fates may call Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.500 Sqn RAF	No.500 Sqn RAF The squadron was originally formed in March 1931, with a mix of regular and part time personnel. It was equipped with the Vickers Virginia, and was to serve as a reserve for twin engined bomber squadrons. In January 1936 the twin engine aircraft were replaced with single engined Hawker Harts, which were believed to be more suitable for part-time personnel, before in May the squadron became part of the Auxiliary Air Force. On 7 November 1938 the squadron saw another role change as it was transferred to RAF Coastal Command and became a general reconnaissance squadron flying on Anson Mk.Is. In April 1941 these were replaced with Blenheim Mk.IVs which the squadron used till November 1941, when Lockheed Hudsons took their place. Some of 500 squadron ground crew, went in with the first wave of Operation Torch on 7 November, to secure beachheads and airfields around Arzeu, North Africa. Later, from December 1943, the squadron's Hudsons began to be replaced with Lockheed Ventura Mk.Vs. This process continued until the squadron was completely equipped with them in April 1944. In September 1943, a Special Detachment of RAF 500 squadron was flown into Ghisonaccia, Corsica over several days while the Nazis were still on the island with the orders "to establish squatters rights". The squadron later operated up through Italy. It was briefly disbanded on 11 July 1944, but reformed soon after, handing over their Venturas to No. 27 Squadron SAAF The Squadron was reformed on 1 August 1944 at La SÃ©nia as a bomber squadron, receiving Martin Baltimores. In September 1945, No. 500 squadron left Italy and headed for Kenya, being renumbered on arrival 23 October 1945 at RAF Eastleigh to No. 249 Squadron RAF. During World War II the squadron members had been awarded with 1 GC, 2 DSOs, 21 DFCs, 1 bar the DFC, 9 DFMs and one CGM. Beside these, the squadron was mentioned in dispatches 25 times
No.519 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 7th August 1943 Fate : Disbanded 31st May 1946 Undaunted by weather Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.519 Sqn RAF	No.519 Sqn RAF No. 519 Squadron was formed on 15 August 1943 at RAF Wick from 1406 Flight, equipped with Handley Page Hampdens and Supermarine Spitfires. Its purpose was collecting meteorological data from the northern waters of the North Sea all the way to Norway. It soon replaced the Hampdens with Lockheed Hudsons and Lockheed Venturas. The squadron base moved on a number of times along the east coast of Scotland but the squadron's role remained the same. In November 1944 the squadron started using the Boeing Fortress,(These aircraft went when the Lend-Lease arrangements expired after the war ) With the war over the squadron standardised on the Halifax Mk.III, until it was disbanded at RAF Leuchars on 31 May 1946
No.521 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st August 1941 Fate : Disbanded 1st April 1946 Undaunted by weather Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.521 Sqn RAF	No.521 Sqn RAF 521 Squadron was formed on the 1st August 1941 from No 1401 Flight at Bircham Newton, it continued to conduct meteorological reconnaissance duties. 521 Squadron flew Hudsons and Blenheims for North Sea patrol duties, Spitfires and Mosquitoes over Europe. It was disbanded when it was divided into Flights again, No's 1401 and 1409. But on the 1st September 1943 it was reformed in its previous role at Docking. 521 Squadron was re equipped with Hampdens, Hudsons and Gladiators, with Venturas arriving in December 1943. In August 1944 Hurricanes joined the Gladiators and Hudsons returned to replace the Venturas in September 1944. In December 1944 Flying Fortress IIs arrived for long range sorties and these were operated together with Mk IIIs from May 1945 until February 1946. Halifax Mk.III bombers replaced the Flying Fortresses in December 1945 and following the withdrawal of the Fortresses, 521 Squadorn was disbanded on 1st April 1946 at Chivenor.
No.59 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 21st June 1916 Fate : Disbanded 4th January 1961 Ab uno disce omes - From one learn all Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.59 Sqn RAF	No.59 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.608 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 17th March 1930 Fate : Disbanded 10th March 1957 North Riding (Auxiliary) Omnibus ungulis - With all talons Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.608 Sqn RAF	No.608 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.62 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 28th July 1916 Fate : Disbanded 30th September 1964 Inseperato - Unexpectedly Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.62 Sqn RAF	No.62 Sqn RAF No. 62 Squadron was formed at Filton on 8 August 1916, spending almost a year on training duties before being mobilised. The Squadron received Bristol fighters in May 1917 before going to France in January 1918. No. 62 undertook fighter patrols on the Western font for the rest of the war and By the end of the war, No. 62 Squadron was credited with 76 enemy aircraft destroyed and 85 driven out of control The Squadron was disbanded on 31 July 1919. On 3 May 1937, the squadron was reformed at Abingdon from 'B' Flight of No. 40 Squadron, equipped with Hawker Hinds. In February 1938 the squadron re-equipped with Bristol Blenheims. The squadron was posted to Singapore in August 1939 and moved to Alor Star in northern Malaya in February 1940. Japan invaded Malaya on 8 December 1941 and the squadron was evacuated to Butterworth on 9 December. Later that day, an attack on Singora airfield was planned, but Butterworth was attacked by Japanese aircraft when the British force was preparing to take off, with only one Blenheim, piloted by Squadron Leader Arthur Scarf of 62 Squadron getting away, carrying out a single-handed attack on Singora. His Blenheim was heavily damaged by Japanese fighters and anti-aircraft fire, badly injuring Scarf. Despite his injuries, he managed to make a forced landing at Alor Star, saving the rest of his crew. He died in hospital that evening. Scarf was eventually posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions that day. ] Butterworth was heavily damaged by the Japanese attack on 9 December, and the squadron moved again, this time to Taiping, Perak.[ It withdrew again on 19 December, this time to Singapore. Losses, mainly from Japanese attacks on its airfields were heavy, and the squadron re-equipped with Lockheed Hudsons and moved to P2 airfield near Palembang, Sumatra in January 1942. Six 62 Squadron Hudsons took part in attacks against Japanese troopships landing at Endau, Malaya on 26 January, two being shot down by Japanese Ki-27 fighters. The squadron was evacuated from P2 to Java when Japanese paratroops landed at Palembang. The squadron operated closely with those of No. 1 Squadron RAAF, before being disbanded on 20 January 1942, its remaining Hudsons being transferred to 1 Squadron RAAF. On 30 April 1942, the squadron reformed when No. 139 Squadron, equipped with Hudsons and based at Calcutta was renumbered. The squadron was a General Reconnaissance unit, flying coastal reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols off the coast of Burma. On 18 August, one of the squadron's Hudsons drove off a Japanese flying boat attacking the merchant ship SS Itinda. From January 1943, the squadron concentrated on bombing missions rather than the maritime mission which it had previously. In May that year, it withdrew from front line operations as its Hudsons were modified for the transport role, while in November, before becoming operational, it re-equipped with Douglas Dakotas. The squadron flew in support of British and Commonwealth forces during the Battle of the Admin Box in February 1944 and of Operation Thursday, the second Chindit operation in March. It was heavily deployed in dropping supplies during the Battle of Imphal, continuing to fly through the heavy rains of the Monsoon season. The squadron was withdrawn for operations for rest in August 1944, returning to supply dropping in November, continuing these duties and more general transport flying until the end of the war in August 1945. The squadron disbanded on 15 March 1946 at Mingaladon, near Rangoon (now Yangon), Burma. On 1 September 1946, No. 76 Squadron was renumbered No. 62 and flew Dakotas on medium range services in India. In March 1947 the Squadron became a cadre before being brought up to strength in June and disbanding on 10 August 1947. No. 62 Squadron was reformed at Manston with Dakotas on 8 December 1947 before moving to Waterbeach to take part in the Berlin airlift before the Squadron was disbanded again on 1 June 1949. It was reformed again at Woolfox Lodge on 1 February 1960 as a ground-to-air missile unit before it was disbanded on the 30 September 1964.

Last edited : 12:36, June 28, 2017
Last editor : kc

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