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Naval History by Country :
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No.26 Sqn RAF |
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Name : No.26 Sqn RAF Founded : 8th October 1915 Disbanded : 1st April 1976 Country : UK Fate : Disbanded 1st April 1976 More Details : N Wagter in die Lug - A guard in the sky |
Known Service Details : | |||||||
Pilot or Aircrew | Rank | Start of Service | End of Service | Known Dates | Aircraft | Airframes | Notes |
Commanding Officer | 1st June 1940 | unknown | 01st June 1940 | Officer Commanding 26 Squadron. The Squadron was sent to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force in June 1940 | |||
Flying Officer | unknown | 23rd June 1944 | 13th June 1944 | ||||
Flight Lieutenant | unknown | 23rd June 1944 | Killed in Action | ||||
Flying Officer | unknown | 7th June 1944 | Killed in Action | ||||
| Pilots and Aircrew for : No.26 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. | ||
| Name | Info | |
| Arbuthnot, Terence John Click the name above to see a profile of Arbuthnot, Terence John
| Arbuthnot, Terence John Commissioned on graduation from Cranwell, Dec 1926; On 1st April 1937 promoted Sqn Ldr. 1st June 1940 promoted Wing Commander and Officer Commanding 26 Squadron. The Squadron was sent to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force in June 1940. In 1945 he became C.O at Fiskerton. retired as Gp Capt, Oct 1954; died Kensington, 31 Dec 1995 | |
| Arkell, Peter Click the name above to see a profile of Arkell, Peter
| Arkell, Peter For his first tour Peter flew Mustangs and Spitfires with 26 Squadron on intruder and low lever photographic sorties over France, before joining 161 Squadron as Tempsford in 1944, flying Lysanders into occupied Europe. He then accompanied the Lysanders to Burma where he flew 35 successful but hazardous missions supplying Force 136 behind the Japanese lines. He was awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 1997 for his work as chairman of the Anglo-American community relations committee at RAF Fairford. Peter Arkell passed away on 27th August 2010. | |
| Griffiths, A. Click the name above to see a profile of Griffiths, A. | Griffiths, A. On 13th June 1944, his Spitfire Mk.Vb AB240 of No.26 Sqn was hit by flak and force landed at Noirey-en-Bessin. He evaded capture and returned to his squadron two days later. On 23rd June 1944 his Spitfire Mk.Va P8561 of No.26 Sqn was shot down by flak near Caen and he was taken prisoner. | |
| Heywood, Edward Kinder Click the name above to see a profile of Heywood, Edward Kinder
| Heywood, Edward Kinder Killed aged 29 on 23rd June 1944 when his Spitfire Mk.Va AB961 of No.26 Sqn was shot down by an enemy fighter near Criqueville. He is buried in Criqueville-en-Auge Churchyard. Son of Samuel Kinder Heywood and Beatrice Alice Heywood; husband of Margaret Heywood, of Sale, Cheshire. | |
| Lewis, C D Kit North Click the name above to see a profile of Lewis, C D Kit North
| Lewis, C D Kit North After joining the Army in 1939, Kit North Lewis transferred to the RAF in 1940. In Aug 1941, after pilot training, he was posted to 13 Squadron, flying Blenheims, where he took part in the first 1000 bomber raids. After a spell with 26 Squadron, flying P-51 Mustangs, in Feb 1944 he joined 182 Squadron on Typhoons, as a Flight Commander. A few months later he was posted to command 181 Squadron. He led this squadron into France where it became part of 124 Typhoon Wing. In Aug 1944 he was promoted Wing Leader 124 Wing, where he remained until the end of the war. He died on 25th March 2008. 'Unfortunately my active participation in the Falaise operations was limited as I had a mild form of dysentery from 8th to 14th and I was sent home for a weeks recuperation from 16th to 24th August. However, I was very much involved on the 7th in the German attack at Mortain. I was leading 181 Squadron on an armed reconnaissance when Charles Green who was then the Wing Leader of 121 Wing reported large German tank concentrations at Mortain. Although this was inside the bomb line I accepted his verification and I immediately diverted to Mortain. There we found German tanks strung out along the road. We claimed 10 flamers. I followed this up with two more sorties in which we claimed another 7. There was very little flak, the main danger being the number of allied aircraft around the honey pot. During the period 6th to 21st August the Wing lost 9 pilots killed including Group Captain Charles Appleton and 4 taken POW.' | |
| Wilcock, Ronald Frederick Click the name above to see a profile of Wilcock, Ronald Frederick
| Wilcock, Ronald Frederick Killed aged 21 on 7th June 1944 after his Spitfire Mk.Vc EE744 of No.26 Sqn exploded after a fuel tank was hit by flak. He is buried in the Bayeux War Cemetery. Son of Frederick Thomas Wilcock and Beatrice Annie Wilcock, of Grimsby, Lincolnshire. | |
Known Individual Aircraft of No.26 Sqn RAF : | ||||||||
Type | Serial | Codes | First Flew | Squadron History | Aircrew History | History Notes | Engine | Factory |
- | no information | |||||||
WX-H | 30/09/1941 | no information | Merlin 45M | Eastleigh | ||||
15/11/1941 | no information | no information | Merlin 45M | High Post | ||||
31/10/1941 | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Eastleigh | ||||
20/11/1941 | no information | no information | Merlin 45M | Chattis Hill | ||||
28/11/1941 | no information | no information | Merlin 45M | Eastleigh | ||||
18/12/1941 | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Eastleigh | ||||
21/11/1941 | Merlin 45M | Chattis Hill | ||||||
- | Merlin 45M | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 46 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | Merlin 45M | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | |||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45M | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
FU-R | - | no information | no information | Merlin 45M | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | |||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45M | Westland | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 46 | Westland | ||||
FU-T | - | no information | no information | Merlin 46 | Westland | |||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45M | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45M | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
GW-U | - | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | |||
FU-G | - | no information | Merlin 45 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45M | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45M | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
RN-F | - | no information | no information | Merlin 46 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | |||
FL-B | 03/04/1942 | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | |||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
27/02/1942 | no information | no information | Merlin 45M | Eastleigh | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 46 | Westland | ||||
- | Merlin 46 | Westland | ||||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 45M | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 46 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 66 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | Keevil | ||||
18/12/1939 | no information | Merlin III | Eastleigh | |||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | Chattis Hill | ||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | Keevil | ||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | Keevil | ||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | Eastleigh | ||||
- | Merlin 45 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||||
27/10/1943 | no information | no information | Merlin 63 | Chattis Hill | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 70 | Aldermaston | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 70 | Aldermaston | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 70 | Aldermaston | ||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 70 | |||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 70 | |||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 70 | |||||
- | no information | no information | Merlin 70 | |||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 66 | Eastleigh | ||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory | ||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | WIN | ||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | Aldermaston | ||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | Keevil | ||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | Aldermaston | ||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | Aldermaston | ||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | Aldermaston | ||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | Aldermaston | ||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | Aldermaston | ||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | Aldermaston | ||||
- | no information | no information | Griffon 65 | Keevil | ||||
GW-R | 30/04/1941 | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Eastleigh | |||
29/05/1941 | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Eastleigh | ||||
06/06/1941 | no information | no information | Merlin 45M | Eastleigh | ||||
PJ-F | 07/06/1941 | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Eastleigh | |||
11/06/1941 | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | Chattis Hill | ||||
21/06/1941 | no information | no information | Merlin 45M | Eastleigh | ||||
19/07/1941 | no information | no information | Merlin 45M | Eastleigh | ||||
GW-T | 08/08/1941 | no information | no information | Merlin 45 | High Post | |||
03/09/1941 | no information | no information | Merlin 45M | Eastleigh | ||||
| Aircraft for : No.26 Sqn RAF | ||
| A list of all aircraft associated with No.26 Sqn RAF. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name. | ||
| Aircraft | Info | |
Lysander 
Manufacturer : Westland Aircraft Production Began : 1938 Retired : 1946 Number Built : 1786 | Lysander The first Lysanders entered service in June 1938, equipping squadrons for army co-operation and were initially used for message-dropping and artillery spotting. When war broke out in Europe, the earlier Mk Is had been largely replaced by Mk IIs, the older machines heading for the Middle East. Some of these aircraft, now designated type L.1, operated with the Chindits of the British Indian Army in the Burma Campaign of the Second World War. Four regular squadrons equipped with Lysanders accompanied the British Expeditionary Force to France in October 1939, and were joined by a further squadron early in 1940. Following the German invasion of France and the low countries on 10 May 1940, the Lysanders were put into action as spotters and light bombers. In spite of occasional victories against German aircraft, they made very easy targets for the Luftwaffe even when escorted by Hurricanes. Withdrawn from France during the Dunkirk evacuation, they continued to fly supply-dropping missions to Allied forces from bases in England; on one mission to drop supplies to troops trapped at Calais, 14 of 16 Lysanders and Hawker Hectors that set out were lost. 118 Lysanders were lost in or over France and Belgium in May and June 1940, of a total of 175 deployed. With the fall of France, it was clear that the type was unsuitable for the coastal patrol and army co-operation role, being described by Air Marshal Arthur Barratt, commander-in-chief of the British Air Forces in France as "quite unsuited to the task; a faster, less vulnerable aircraft was required." Nevertheless, throughout the remainder of 1940, Lysanders flew dawn and dusk patrols off the coast and in the event of an invasion of Britain, they were tasked with attacking the landing beaches with light bombs and machine guns.[9] They were replaced in the home-based army co-operation role from 1941 by camera-equipped fighters such as the Curtiss Tomahawk and North American Mustang carrying out reconnaissance operations, while light aircraft such as the Taylorcraft Auster were used to direct artillery. Some UK-based Lysanders went to work operating air-sea rescue, dropping dinghies to downed RAF aircrew in the English Channel. Fourteen squadrons and flights were formed for this role in 1940 and 1941. In August 1941 a new squadron, No. 138 (Special Duties), was formed to undertake missions for the Special Operations Executive to maintain clandestine contact with the French Resistance. Among its aircraft were Lysander Mk IIIs, which flew over and landed in occupied France. While general supply drops could be left to the rest of No. 138's aircraft, the Lysander could insert and remove agents from the continent or retrieve Allied aircrew who had been shot down over occupied territory and had evaded capture. For this role the Mk IIIs were fitted with a fixed ladder over the port side to hasten access to the rear cockpit and a large drop tank under the belly. In order to slip in unobtrusively the Lysanders were painted matte black; operations almost always took place within a week of a full moon, as moonlight was essential for navigation. The aircraft undertook such duties until the liberation of France in 1944. The Lysanders flew from secret airfields at Newmarket and later Tempsford, but used regular RAF stations to fuel-up for the actual crossing, particularly RAF Tangmere. Flying without any navigation equipment other than a map and compass, Lysanders would land on short strips of land, such as fields, marked out by four or five torches. They were originally designed to carry one passenger in the rear cockpit, but for SOE use the rear cockpit was modified to carry two passengers in extreme discomfort in case of urgent necessity. The pilots of No. 138 and from early 1942, No. 161 Squadron transported 101 agents to and recovered 128 agents from Nazi-occupied Europe. The Germans knew little about the British aircraft and wished to study one. Soldiers captured an intact Lysander in March 1942 when its pilot was unable to destroy it after a crash, but a train hit the truck carrying the Lysander, destroying the cargo | |
Mustang 
Manufacturer : North American | Mustang The ubiquitous North American P-51 Mustang, which many consider to be the best all-around fighter of WW II, owes its origins to the British Air Ministry. Following Britains entry into WW II in 1939, the RAF was interested in purchasing additional fighter aircraft from American sources, particularly the Curtiss P-40. Curtiss, which was busy, was unable to guarantee timely delivery so the British approached North American Aviation as a possible second source for the P-40. North American chose to propose its own fighter design which would use the same Allison engine as the P-40. Utilizing new laminar flow wings, the North American fighter was expected to have performance better than the P-40. Developed in record time the new aircraft was designated as a Mustang I by the Brits, whereas the USAAF ordered two for evaluation which were designated XP-51 Apaches. Intrigued with the possibility of using this aircraft also as a dive bomber, North American proposed this to the USAAF which decided to order 500 of the P-51 aircraft to be modified for dive bombing use. Designated as the A-36 Invader, this version of the Mustang utilized dive flaps, and bomb racks under each wing. Some reinforcing of the structural members was also required because of the G-forces to be encountered in dive bombing. A-36s entered combat service with the USAAF prior to any P-51s. In early 1943 the 86th and 27th Fighter Bomber Groups of the 12th Air Force began flying A-36s out of Northern Africa. Despite some early problems with instability caused by the dive flaps, the A-36 was effective in light bombing and strafing roles. It was not, however, capable of dog fighting with German fighters, especially at higher altitudes. Despite these drawbacks one USAAF pilot, Captain Michael T. Russo, who served with the 16th Bomb Squadron of the 27th Fighter Bomber Group, was credited with five confirmed aerial victories in the A-36, thereby becoming the first mustang ace. | |
Spitfire 
Manufacturer : Supermarine Production Began : 1936 Retired : 1948 Number Built : 20351 | Spitfire Royal Air Force fighter aircraft, maximum speed for mark I Supermarine Spitfire, 362mph up to The Seafire 47 with a top speed of 452mph. maximum ceiling for Mk I 34,000feet up to 44,500 for the mark XIV. Maximum range for MK I 575 miles . up to 1475 miles for the Seafire 47. Armament for the various Marks of Spitfire. for MK I, and II . eight fixed .303 browning Machine guns, for MKs V-IX and XVI two 20mm Hispano cannons and four .303 browning machine guns. and on later Marks, six to eight Rockets under the wings or a maximum bomb load of 1,000 lbs. Designed by R J Mitchell, The proto type Spitfire first flew on the 5th March 1936. and entered service with the Royal Air Force in August 1938, with 19 squadron based and RAF Duxford. by the outbreak of World war two, there were twelve squadrons with a total of 187 spitfires, with another 83 in store. Between 1939 and 1945, a large variety of modifications and developments produced a variety of MK,s from I to XVI. The mark II came into service in late 1940, and in March 1941, the Mk,V came into service. To counter the Improvements in fighters of the Luftwaffe especially the FW190, the MK,XII was introduced with its Griffin engine. The Fleet Air Arm used the Mk,I and II and were named Seafires. By the end of production in 1948 a total of 20,351 spitfires had been made and 2408 Seafires. The most produced variant was the Spitfire Mark V, with a total of 6479 spitfires produced. The Royal Air Force kept Spitfires in front line use until April 1954. | |
Tempest 
Manufacturer : Hawker Production Began : 1943 Retired : 1949 Number Built : 1395 | Tempest The Hawker Tempest was a much improved development of the Typhoon and first flew in June 1943. and started service with the RAF in April 1944. mainly serving in the attack role in Europe against ground targets including the V1 Flying Bomb installations. It remained in service after the war until 1949 when it was eventually replaced by the Jet Aircraft. but continued for another 4 years in the Indian and Pakistan air forces. In total no less than 1395 Hawker Tempests were built. Speed: 426mph at 18,500 feet, Crew One. Range 800 miles. Armament: Four 20mm Hispano cannons mounted in the wings and a bomb payload of upto 2,000 lbs. | |
Tomahawk 
Manufacturer : Curtiss Number Built : 16802 | Tomahawk A total of sixteen Royal Air Force squadrons used the Tomahawk from British bases, and five more squadrons in the Middle East, as well as South African and Australian units. The Curtiss Tomahawk equipped the legendary Flying Tigers of the American Volunteer Group in China, in 1941, before the United States was officialy at war with Japan. In all, 16,802 Curtiss Tomahawks in a succession of improved models, were mainly built for the US Air Force. | |
Vampire 
| Vampire Full profile not yet available. | |
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Died : 31 / 12 / 1995