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No.144 Sqn RAF

Name : No.144 Sqn RAF Founded : 20th March 1918 Disbanded : 23rd August 1963 Country : UK Fate : Disbanded 23rd August 1963 More Details : Who shall stop us Known Code Letters : , PL, NV,

No 144 Squadron, RFC, was formed at Port Said, Egypt, on 2Oth March 1918. On 14th August it came under the orders of the Palestine Brigade, Royal Air Force, and by the end of the month it had been fully equipped as a bombing squadron with DH9s at Junction Station. On the opening of the final offensive in Palestine, No 144 Squadron was with the 4Oth (Army) Wing and had 13 DH9s on charge. There was no special air activity before the offensive so that the enemy should not be warned of our intentions, but No. 144 Squadron made two important bombing raids on Der'a station in conjunction with the operations of the Arab Northern Army under Sherif Feisal and Colonel TE Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) in the eastern area on the 16th and 17th September. When the offensive began on the coastal sector on 19th September an initial bombing offensive was directed against the main Turkish telegraphic and telephonic centres whose positions were known from intelligence sources and from air photographs. No 144 Squadron bombed the central telephone exchange at El 'Affule and the headquarters and telephone exchange of the Turkish Seventh Army at Nablus, and (it seems) effectively cut the enemy's telephone communications at a vital time. By 20th September the enemy was in headlong retreat. In the west the Turkish Eighth Army had been shattered and its remnants, together with the Seventh Army in the centre, were retiring to their doom. On the following day they were trapped in the Wadi el Far'a and completely wiped out by air attack with all RAF squadrons being concentrated in the attack. No 144 Squadron then co-operated in the advance east of the Jordan, which resulted in the capture of the Turkish Fourth Army. At the end of September a flight of No 144 Squadron was stationed at Haifa to co-operate with the XXI Corps during its advance on Beirut, but elsewhere, with the rapid pursuit of the enemy, the opportunities and facilities for bombing had diminished. In October the squadron moved to Mudros, Greece, but by the end of the year it had returned to England. It was disbanded at Ford Junction on 4th February 1919. The squadron was still equipped with Hampdens on the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, flying its first mission on 26 September, when it dispatched 12 aircraft to search for, and attack if found, German naval forces in the North Sea. On this occasion, however, it encountered no allowable targets. Three days later, the squadron sent out 11 aircraft over the Heligoland Bight in another search for German warships. The strike force split into two groups; while one formation spotted but failed to hit two German destroyers, the second formation was intercepted by Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters, which shot down all five Hampdens. The first occasion on which No 144 Squadron flew over the German mainland was the night of 24/25th February 1940, when propaganda leaflets or Nickels were dropped on Hamburg. On 6th March, by which time it had Nickelled several other German towns and by which time also it had flown a number of security patrols, the squadron took part in Bomber Command's first attack on a German land objective - the minelaying-seaplane base at Hornum. Just over two months later (by which time minelaying had been added to its duties) No 144 shared in another notable "first" - the first big bombing attack on the German mainland (the exits of München-Gladbach). As a result of the Channel Dash in February 1942, when the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen managed to break the British blockade and sail from France through the English Channel to Germany, indicated to the RAF that their anti-shipping strike strength was inadequate, and it was decided to convert two Hampden squadrons to the torpedo bomber role, with 144 Squadron being one of the two chosen for conversion.[10] The squadron transferred from Bomber Command to 18 Group Coastal Command on 21 April 1942, moving to RAF Leuchars on the East coast of Scotland. It flew its first torpedo bomber mission on 27 July 1942. ] In September 1942, 32 Hampdens of 144 Squadron and 455 Squadron RAAF were sent to Murmansk in Northern Russia in order to support the Arctic convoy PQ 18, and to attack any German warships that might sortie from bases in Norway against the convoy. The squadron lost 5 Hampdens on the flight to Russia, with a further four of 455 Squadron's also lost. The German surface warships did not attack PQ 18, and the squadron's personnel returned to Britain aboard a cruiser in October, leaving its aircraft behind to be handed over to the Soviets. In January 1943 the Squadron converted to the more capable Bristol Beaufighter, staying in the torpedo bomber role. After working up, it transferred to Algeria in June 1943, flying anti-shipping strikes over the Mediterranean until it returned to the United Kingdom in August. It continued anti-shipping operations over the North Sea from RAF Wick in Scotland, moving to RAF Davidstow Moor in Cornwall in May 1944 in preparation for Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy, where it was tasked with protecting the invasion forces from German E-boats. It moved to RAF Strubby in Lincolnshire in July for operations against E-boats and German convoys off the Dutch coast. In September it moved to Banff, Aberdeenshireas part of the Banff Strike Wing, for operations off Norway. In January 1945, the squadron abandoned the torpedo role, concentrating in anti-flak suppression for the Strike Wing. It disbanded on 25 May 1945 at RAF Dallach

Known Service Details :
Pilot or Aircrew	Rank	Start of Service	End of Service	Known Dates	Aircraft	Airframes	Notes
G. F. Asbrey	Sergeant	unknown	11th March 1941		Hampden	AD720	Killed in Action
G. Bottomley	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	11th February 1941	Hampden	X3007
C. W. Carter	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	01st March 1941	Hampden	AD737
Richard Sidney Albion Churchill		unknown	unknown	16th January 1940
E. Dainty	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	11th February 1941	Hampden	X3007
F. E. Darnell	Sergeant	unknown	2nd March 1941		Hampden	P4394	Killed in Action
Dyke	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	01st March 1941	Hampden	AD737
T. Grosvenor	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	11th February 1941	Hampden	X3007
R. N. Harrison	Pilot Officer	unknown	unknown	20th March 1941	Hampden	AD745
W. C. Hartop	Pilot Officer	unknown	unknown	01st April 1941	Hampden	X3129
George Henderson	cpl	unknown	11th February 1938		Blenheim	K7119	Plt Off Lawrence Clement Mitchell (22) was killed whne his Blenheim I K7119, of 144 Sqn,at Hemswell Hit a tree in snowstorm, Oulton, near Aylsham, Norfolk also killed were Cpl George Henderson (25) and AC1 Clifford Alfred Smith (19) killed Killed in Action
R. J. Jones	Sergeant	unknown	2nd March 1941		Hampden	P4394	Killed in Action
R. G. L. Lambourne	Flight Sergeant	unknown	1st April 1941		Hampden	X3129	Killed in Action
D. Lane	Sergeant	unknown	11th March 1941		Hampden	AD720	Killed in Action
T. D. Leitch	Sergeant	unknown	11th March 1941		Hampden	AD720	Killed in Action
Lerwill	Squadron Leader	unknown	unknown	15th February 1941	Hampden	X3048
T. W. Little	Sergeant	unknown	11th March 1941		Hampden	AD720	Killed in Action
H. Masters	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	09th February 1941	Hampden	P4359
W. A. McVie	Pilot Officer	unknown	unknown	01st March 1941	Hampden	AD737
Lawrence Clement Mitchell	Pilot Officer	unknown	11th February 1938			K7078	Plt Off Lawrence Clement Mitchell (22) was killed whne his Blenheim I K7119, of 144 Sqn,at Hemswell Hit a tree in snowstorm, Oulton, near Aylsham, Norfolk also killed were Cpl George Henderson (25) and AC1 Clifford Alfred Smith (19) killed Killed in Action
R. H. Pearman	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	09th February 1941	Hampden	P4359
J. Riley	Sergeant	unknown	1st April 1941		Hampden	X3129	Killed in Action
J. K. Scouller	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	01st March 1941	Hampden	AD737
J. F. Shutt	Sergeant	unknown	2nd March 1941		Hampden	P4394	Killed in Action
A. R. Simmons	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	09th February 1941	Hampden	P4359
A. R. Simmons	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	20th March 1941	Hampden	AD745
D. H. Skinner	Pilot Officer	unknown	unknown	01st March 1941	Hampden	P4394
Clifford Alfred Smith	AC1	unknown	11th February 1938		Blenheim	K7119	Plt Off Lawrence Clement Mitchell (22) was killed whne his Blenheim I K7119, of 144 Sqn,at Hemswell Hit a tree in snowstorm, Oulton, near Aylsham, Norfolk also killed were Cpl George Henderson (25) and AC1 Clifford Alfred Smith (19) killed Killed in Action
E. W. Smith	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	20th March 1941	Hampden	AD745
F. H. Sykes	Sergeant	unknown	1st April 1941		Hampden	X3129	Killed in Action
H. E. Turner	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	09th February 1941 20th March 1941	Hampden	P4359 AD745
L. A. F. Wilmot	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	11th February 1941	Hampden	X3007

Pilots and Aircrew for : No.144 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
Asbrey, G. F. Click the name above to see a profile of Asbrey, G. F.    Died : 11 / 3 / 1941	Asbrey, G. F.
Bottomley, G. Click the name above to see a profile of Bottomley, G.	Bottomley, G.
Brett, Philip Click the name above to see a profile of Brett, Philip	Brett, Philip Joining the RAF in 1942 and gaining his wings in Canada, Philip Brett became operational with No.144 Squadron flying Beaufighters in July 1944. From then until the end of the war he flew anti-flak, torpedo and finally rocket-projectile equipped Beaufighter Xs on 37 operational sorties against enemy shipping along the Dutch and Norwegian coasts. He was awarded the DFC. On his 38th operation on 3rd May 1944 he was shot down en route to Kiel Bay and spent four days in a dinghy before being rescued.
Carter, C. W. Click the name above to see a profile of Carter, C. W.	Carter, C. W.
Churchill, Richard Sidney Albion Click the name above to see a profile of Churchill, Richard Sidney Albion	Churchill, Richard Sidney Albion Richard Churchill received a commission to the rank of Acting P/O on probation on 29th October 1938 and was graded as P/O on 29th August 1939. During the morning of 16th January 1940 Fairy Battle P2253 was being flown by Churchill from Finningley to Catfoss airfield and was nearing the destination but was flying in a snowstorm. The Battle was used by No.5 Group for target towing duties, in the training of air gunners in No.5 Group. The aircraft began to freeze up and in poor visibility the pilot was unable to reach Catfoss so made a forced landing in a field near Exhibition Farm, Sigglesthorpe at just before 10.25hrs. The aircraft received a damaged port flap, a bent propeller and a wing tip was broken as well as both main undercarriage legs being buckled when they collapsed after it ran into furrows in the field. The three airmen in the aircraft all escaped injury and were met by P.C.Boyes of Seaton police who initially provided a guard on the aircraft while the crew were taken to Catfoss. other crewand passenger were Observer - P/O W "Malloy". Passenger - AC William Napier. By September 1940 he was serving with 144 Squadron, who were also part of No.5 Group RAF. On the night of 2nd / 3rd September 1940 he was the pilot of Hampden P4370 undertaking Ops to Ludwigshaven when the aircraft was attacked by a night-fighter and two of the crew were killed in the attack. The aircraft crashed in Holland and he and P/O I C Kirk survived and became prisoners of war. He received promtions to the ranks of F/O (War Subs) on 3rd September 1940, F/Lt on 3rd September 1941 and to S/Ldr (temp) on 1st January 1946 (with seniority of 1st July 1944). While a PoW he was held at the Sagan camp made famous for the Great Escape in March 1944 and he infact took part in the Great Escape and was one of a who survived when captured. Most were executed. As of April 2016 when I last updated this webpage he is the final surviving person who was part of the Great Escape.
Curtis, Ron Click the name above to see a profile of Curtis, Ron	Curtis, Ron Qualifying as an Observer in 1941, Ron joined 144 Squadron on Hamden’s before transferring to 44 Squadron at Waddington as a Navigator on Lancaster’s. At the end of the 1942 he moved to Marham, converting to Mosquitos, and in 1943 was posted to 109 Squadron equipped with Oboe as part of the Pathfinder Force. He flew 104 Oboe operations and 139 ops in total, and was widely credited with helping advance development of the Oboe system.
Dainty, E. Click the name above to see a profile of Dainty, E.	Dainty, E.
Darnell, F. E. Click the name above to see a profile of Darnell, F. E.	Darnell, F. E.
Dyke, Click the name above to see a profile of Dyke,	Dyke,
Glenn, George Click the name above to see a profile of Glenn, George	Glenn, George During 1941 he flew as a Pilot on Hampden Bombers with 144 Sqn before joining the Path Finder Force on Mosquitos and serving with 139 Sqn as part of part of the Light Night Strike Force and completing a total of 83 Operations by the end of the war in Europe
Grosvenor, T. Click the name above to see a profile of Grosvenor, T.	Grosvenor, T.
Harrison, R. N. Click the name above to see a profile of Harrison, R. N.    Died : 21 / 3 / 1941	Harrison, R. N.
Hartop, W. C. Click the name above to see a profile of Hartop, W. C.	Hartop, W. C.
Henderson, George Click the name above to see a profile of Henderson, George    Died : 11 / 2 / 1938	Henderson, George Plt Off Lawrence Clement Mitchell (22) was killed whne his Blenheim I K7119, of 144 Sqn,at Hemswell Hit a tree in snowstorm, Oulton, near Aylsham, Norfolk also killed were Cpl George Henderson (25) and AC1 Clifford Alfred Smith (19) killed
Jones, R. J. Click the name above to see a profile of Jones, R. J.	Jones, R. J.
Lambourne, R. G. L. Click the name above to see a profile of Lambourne, R. G. L.    Died : 1 / 4 / 1941	Lambourne, R. G. L.
Lane, D. Click the name above to see a profile of Lane, D.    Died : 11 / 3 / 1941	Lane, D.
Leitch, T. D. Click the name above to see a profile of Leitch, T. D.    Died : 11 / 3 / 1941	Leitch, T. D.
Lerwill, Click the name above to see a profile of Lerwill,	Lerwill,
Little, T. W. Click the name above to see a profile of Little, T. W.    Died : 11 / 3 / 1941	Little, T. W.
Masters, H. Click the name above to see a profile of Masters, H.	Masters, H. Sergeant H.Masters of No.144 Squadron was flying in Hampden (P4359) on February 9th 1941 when it crashed and burst into flames and was abandoned at Taverham Park in the early morning. His position was unknown due to an unserviceable wireless.
McVie, W. A. Click the name above to see a profile of McVie, W. A.	McVie, W. A.
Mitchell, Lawrence Clement Click the name above to see a profile of Mitchell, Lawrence Clement    Died : 11 / 2 / 1938	Mitchell, Lawrence Clement Plt Off Lawrence Clement Mitchell (22) was killed whne his Blenheim I K7119, of 144 Sqn,at Hemswell Hit a tree in snowstorm, Oulton, near Aylsham, Norfolk also killed were Cpl George Henderson (25) and AC1 Clifford Alfred Smith (19) killed
Pearman, R. H. Click the name above to see a profile of Pearman, R. H.	Pearman, R. H. Sergeant R.H.Pearman of No.144 Squadron was flying in Hampden (P4359) on February 9th 1941 when it crashed and burst into flames and was abandoned at Taverham Park in the early morning. His position was unknown due to an unserviceable wireless.
Riley, J. Click the name above to see a profile of Riley, J.    Died : 1 / 4 / 1941	Riley, J.
Scouller, J. K. Click the name above to see a profile of Scouller, J. K.	Scouller, J. K.
Shutt, J. F. Click the name above to see a profile of Shutt, J. F.	Shutt, J. F.
Simmons, A. R. Click the name above to see a profile of Simmons, A. R.	Simmons, A. R. Sergeant A.R.Simmons of No.144 Squadron was flying in Hampden (P4359) on February 9th 1941 when it crashed and burst into flames and was abandoned at Taverham Park in the early morning. His position was unknown due to an unserviceable wireless.
Skinner, D. H. Click the name above to see a profile of Skinner, D. H.	Skinner, D. H.
Smith, Clifford Alfred Click the name above to see a profile of Smith, Clifford Alfred    Died : 11 / 2 / 1938	Smith, Clifford Alfred Plt Off Lawrence Clement Mitchell (22) was killed whne his Blenheim I K7119, of 144 Sqn,at Hemswell Hit a tree in snowstorm, Oulton, near Aylsham, Norfolk also killed were Cpl George Henderson (25) and AC1 Clifford Alfred Smith (19) killed
Smith, E. W. Click the name above to see a profile of Smith, E. W.	Smith, E. W.
Sykes, F. H. Click the name above to see a profile of Sykes, F. H.    Died : 1 / 4 / 1941	Sykes, F. H.
Turner, H. E. Click the name above to see a profile of Turner, H. E.	Turner, H. E. Sergeant H.E.Turner of No.144 Squadron was flying in Hampden (P4359) on February 9th 1941 when it crashed and burst into flames and was abandoned at Taverham Park in the early morning. His position was unknown due to an unserviceable wireless.
Wilmot, L. A. F. Click the name above to see a profile of Wilmot, L. A. F.	Wilmot, L. A. F.

Aircraft for : No.144 Sqn RAF
A list of all aircraft associated with No.144 Sqn RAF. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Aircraft	Info
Beaufighter Click the name above to see prints featuring Beaufighter aircraft. Manufacturer : Bristol Production Began : 1940 Number Built : 5564	Beaufighter BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER The Bristol Beaufighter was a Torpedo Bomber and had a crew of two. with a maximum speed of 330mph and a ceiling of 29,000 feet. maximum normal range of 1500 miles but could be extended to 1750 miles. The Bristol Beaufighter carried four 20mm cannon in the belly of the aircraft and upto six .303in browning machine guns in the wings. it could also carry eight 3 -inch rockets, 1605 lb torpedo or a bomb load of 1,000 lb. The Bristol Beaufighter first flew in July 1939 and with some modifications entered service with the Royal Air Force in July 1940. In the winter of 1940 - 1941 the Beaufighter was used as a night fighter. and in March 1941 the aircraft was used at Coastal Command as a long range strike aircraft. and in 1941, the Beaufighter arrived in North Africa and used as a forward ground attack aircraft. The Bristol Beaufighter was used also in India, Burma and Australia. A total of 5,564 Beaufighters were built until production in Britain finished in 1945, but a further 364 were built in Australia for the Australian Air Force
Blenheim Click the name above to see prints featuring Blenheim aircraft. Manufacturer : Bristol Production Began : 1935 Retired : 1956 Number Built : 4422	Blenheim The Bristol Blenheim, the most plentiful aircraft in the RAFs inventory when WWII began, was designed by Frank Barnwell, and when first flown in 1936 was unique with its all metal monoplane design incorporating a retractable undercarriage, wing flaps, metal props, and supercharged engines. A typical bomb load for a Blenheim was 1,000 pounds. In the early stages of the war Blenheims were used on many daylight bombing missions. On the day that war was declared on Germany, a Blenheim piloted by Flying Officer Andrew McPherson was the first British aircraft to cross the German coast and the following morning 15 Blenheims from three squadrons set off on one of the first bombing missions The Blenheim units operated throughout the battle, often taking heavy casualties, although they were never accorded the publicity of the fighter squadrons. The Blenheim units raided German occupied airfields throughout July to December 1940, both during daylight hours and at night. Although most of these raids were unproductive, there were some successes; on 1 August five out of 12 Blenheims sent to attack Haamstede and Evere (Brussels) were able to bomb, destroying or heavily damaging three Bf 109s of II./JG 27 and apparently killing a Staffelkapitän identified as Hauptmann Albrecht von Ankum-Frank. Two other 109s were claimed by Blenheim gunners. Another successful raid on Haamstede was made by a single Blenheim on 7 August which destroyed one 109 of 4./JG 54, heavily damaged another and caused lighter damage to four more. There were also some missions which produced an almost 100% casualty rate amongst the Blenheims. One such operation was mounted on 13 August 1940 against a Luftwaffe airfield near Aalborg in north-western Denmark by 12 aircraft of 82 Squadron. One Blenheim returned early (the pilot was later charged and due to appear before a court martial, but was killed on another operation); the other 11, which reached Denmark, were shot down, five by flak and six by Bf 109s. Blenheim-equipped units had been formed to carry out long-range strategic reconnaissance missions over Germany and German-occupied territories, as well as bombing operations. In this role, the Blenheims once again proved to be too slow and vulnerable against Luftwaffe fighters and they took constant casualties While great heroism was displayed by the air crews, tremendous losses were sustained during these missions. The Blenhiem was easy pickings at altitude for German Bf-109 fighters who quickly learned to attack from below. To protect the vulnerable bellies of the Blenheims many missions were shifted to low altitude, but this increased the aircrafts exposure to anti-aircraft fire. In the German night-bombing raid on London on 18 June 1940, Blenheims accounted for five German bombers, thus proving that they were better-suited for night fighting. In July, No. 600 Squadron, by then based at RAF Manston, had some of its Mk IFs equipped with AI Mk III radar. With this radar equipment, a Blenheim from the Fighter Interception Unit (FIU) at RAF Ford achieved the first success on the night of 2–3 July 1940, accounting for a Dornier Do 17 bomber. More successes came, and before long the Blenheim proved itself invaluable as a night fighter. One Blenheim pilot, Squadron Leader Arthur Scarf, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for an attack on Singora, Thailand, on 9 December 1941. Another bomber of No. 60 Squadron RAF was credited with shooting down Lt Col Tateo Katō's Nakajima Ki-43 fighter and badly damaging two others in a single engagement on 22 May 1942, over the Bay of Bengal. Katō's death was a severe blow to the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force.
DH9 Click the name above to see prints featuring DH9 aircraft. Manufacturer : De Havilland Production Began : 1917 Retired : 1920 Number Built : 4091	DH9 The first deliveries were made in November 1917 to 108 Squadron RFC and it first went into combat over France in March 1918 with 6 Squadron, and by July 1918 nine squadrons operational over the Western Front were using the type. The DH.9's performance in action over the Western Front was a disaster, with heavy losses incurred, both due to its poor performance and to engine failures, despite the prior derating of its engine. Between May and November 1918, two squadrons on the Western Front (Nos. 99 and 104) lost 54 shot down, and another 94 written off in accidents. Nevertheless, on 23 August 1918 a DH9 flown by Lieutenant Arthur Rowe Spurling of 49 Squadron, with his observer, Sergeant Frank Bell, single-handedly attacked thirty Fokker D.VII fighters, downing five of them.[citation needed] Captain John Stevenson Stubbs managed 11 aerial victories in a DH9, including the highly unusual feat of balloon busting with one. The DH.9 was also more successful against the Turkish forces in the Middle East, where they faced less opposition, and it was used extensively for coastal patrols, to try to deter the operations of U-boats. Following the end of the First World War, DH.9s operated by 47 Squadron and 221 Squadron were sent to southern Russia in 1919 in support of the White Russian Army of General Denikin during the Russian Civil War. The last combat use by the RAF was in support of the final campaign against Mohammed Abdullah Hassan (known by the British as the "Mad Mullah") in Somalia during January—February 1920. Surprisingly, production was allowed to continue after the end of the war into 1919, with the DH.9 finally going out of service with the RAF in 1920
Hampden Click the name above to see prints featuring Hampden aircraft. Manufacturer : Handley Page Retired : 1942 Number Built : 1500	Hampden The Handley Page HP.52 Hampden was a twin-engine medium bomber built for the Royal Air Force and was used by Bomber Command in the early years of world war two. Along with the other medium bombers the Whitley and Wellington, the Hampden bore the brunt of the early bombing war over Europe, taking part in the first night raid on Berlin and the first 1,000-plane raid on Cologne. The newest of the three medium bombers, the Hampden was known as the Flying Suitcase because of its cramped crew conditions. A total of 226 Hampdens were in service with eight Royal Air Force squadrons by the start of the Second World War. Despite its speed and agility, in operational use the Hampden was no match for the fighters of the Luftwaffe (ME109 and FW 190) and the Hampdens role as a day bomber was brief, but Hampdens continued to operate at night on bombing raids over Germany and in mine laying (code-named gardening) in the North Sea. Almost half of the Hampdens built – 714, were lost on operations, witht he loss of 1,077 crew killed and another 739 missing. German flak accounted for 108; with one Hampden being lost due to German Barrage balloons; 263 Hampdens crashed due to a variety of causes, and 214 others were classed as missing. Luftwaffe pilots claimed 128 Hampdens, shooting down 92 at night. The Hampden soon became obsolete for its roll as a medium modern bomber, after operating mainly at night, it was retired from Bomber Command service in late 1942. but continued with Coastal Command throughout 1943 as a long-range Torpedo Bomber (the Hampden TB Mk I which carried the Mk XII torpedo in an open bomb-bay and a single 500 lb (230 kg) bomb under each wing) The Hampden was also used by the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force.
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.