Naval History by Country : ROYAL NAVY US NAVY GERMAN NAVY FRENCH NAVY MORE PAGES

No.6 Sqn RAF

Name : No.6 Sqn RAF Founded : 21st January 1914 Country : UK More Details : Oculi exercitus - The eyes of the army Known Code Letters : , JV, NI, XE, ZD,

The squadron was formed on 31 January 1914, at Farnborough as No. 6 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Its first squadron commander was Major John Becke. The Squadron finished the war flying RE8s, and shortly after the end of the War, it transferred to Iraq and re-equipped with Bristol Fighters. During the following years, it undertook operations against various uprisings before transferring to Egypt in 1929 and receiving Fairey Gordon bombers. Following increased tension between Arabs and Jews No 6 Sqn moved to Ramleh in Palestine during 1937 with Hawker Hardys. During the early part of WWII, the Squadron and its Lysanders remained in Palestine, but detached aircraft to the Western Desert until 1941 when Hurricanes were on strength. Further action in the Desert on anti-tank duties continued from 1942 until the end of the North African campaign. After converting to rocket-firing Hurricanes in 1944, the Squadron moved to Italy and flew the remainder of the War over the Balkans. A brief stint in Palestine after the War as followed by a move to Cyprus with Tempests.In July 1945, the squadron moved to Palestine. They cooperated with the police, patrolling the Kirkuk-to-Haifa oil pipeline to prevent terrorist attacks. The squadron remained in the Middle East until 1969. During this period, the squadron went from being equipped with Hurricanes (and for a brief period four Spitfires due to a lack of available Hurricanes) to Hawker Tempest Mk. VIs and subsequently De Havilland Vampire FB.5s. In January 1950 the squadron moved to RAF Habbaniya in Iraq with many moves back and forth between RAF Habbaniya and RAF Shaibah in Iraq, RAF Abu Sueir and RAF Deversoir in the Suez Canal Zone, RAF Nicosia in Cyprus, RAF Mafraq and RAF Amman in Jordan and detachments throughout the Middle East Throughout this period, it continued to operate Vampires and a twin-seat Gloster Meteor T.7 until re-equipped with De Haviland Venoms The Squadron finally left the Middle East in 1969 when it moved to Coningsby to become the first Phantom Squadron. During 1974, No 6 Sqn moved to RAF Coltishall and re-equipped with Jaguar fighter bombers. Operational deployments with the Jaguar have seen the squadron involved in Operation Granby (Gulf War 1), Warden (later Op Resinate North - Northern Iraq - until 2003) and Deny Flight (Balkans). In April 2006 No 6 Sqn moved to RAF Coningsby where it was the last RAF Sqn operating the Jaguar. On Monday 6 September 2010, No 6 Squadron, the first Typhoon fighter squadron in Scotland, officially stood up at Royal Air Force Leuchars.

Known Service Details :
Pilot or Aircrew	Rank	Start of Service	End of Service	Known Dates	Aircraft	Airframes	Notes
Douglas Lloyd Amlot		14th August 1936	unknown		Hart		posted to 6 Sqn RAF at Ismailia, Egypt, and was engaged in operations in Palestine, where he was awarded the DFC for gallantry in the air,
Paul Binns		unknown	unknown
Anthony Peter Questil BLUETT		unknown	unknown

Pilots and Aircrew for : No.6 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
Amlot, Douglas Lloyd Click the name above to see a profile of Amlot, Douglas Lloyd    Died : 21 / 3 / 1979	Amlot, Douglas Lloyd acquired Civil Pilot's Licence, 1933; commissioned into the RAF, 1935; converted to RAF Service Flying at 4 Flying Training School, Abu Sueir, Egypt, [1935]; posted to 6 Sqn RAF at Ismailia, Egypt, and was engaged in operations in Palestine, where he was awarded the DFC for gallantry in the air, 1936-1938; appointed RAF Flying Instructor at RAF College Cranwell and then Chief Flying Instructor at 21 RAF Flying School at Kumalo, Rhodesia, [1939-1941]; commanded 27 RAF Elementary Flying School at Induna, Rhodesia, [1941]; commanded RAF Station, Cardington, taught at RAF Staff College, Hampshire, and was posted to Organisation Planning at the Air Ministry, [1942-1946]; commanded 1 Group, Royal Pakistan Air Force, and was responsible for supply dropping operations in Kashmir, [1947-1948]; assumed position of Chief of Staff, Royal Pakistan Air Force, during the absence of Commander in Chief AVM Richard Llewellyn Roger Atcherley in Australia, 1949; Director of Air Training, Air Ministry, [1951]; awarded CBE, 1951;
Binns, Paul Click the name above to see a profile of Binns, Paul	Binns, Paul Jaguar pilot, No.16 Sqn. Flight Lieutenant Paul Binns joined the Royal Air Force in 1988 and completed his Officer Training at the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell. Following flying training on the Jet Provost and the Hawk, he was posted to Lossiemouth in 1990 to 237(R) Squadron, the Buccaneer Operational Conversion Unit. After his conversion course, Paul was posted to 12(B) Squadron to fly the Buccaneer S2B in the maritime Strike/Attack Role. When 12(B) Squadron re-roled, Paul was posted 208 Squadron to continue flying the Buccaneer. With the demise of the Buccaneer in 1994, Paul was posted to 6 Squadron at Coltishall, flying the Jaguar GR1A. He has flown on exercises throughout Europe, North America and the Middle-East in addition to flying on peace-keeping operations over the former Yugoslavia. In 1998 Paul completed the Jaguar Qualified Weapons Instructor Course and was posted to the instructional staff of 16(R) Squadron, the Jaguar Operational Conversion Unit at Lossiemouth. When not displaying, his job on the Squadron is to teach pilots to fly and operate the Jaguar.
BLUETT, Anthony Peter Questil Click the name above to see a profile of BLUETT, Anthony Peter Questil	BLUETT, Anthony Peter Questil No. 6 Squadron. In recent operations in Tunisia, this officer has flown on several sorties, involving low level attacks on enemy armoured fighting vehicles. In March, 1943, he led a formation of aircraft in an attack on enemy forces which threatened a position at Ksar Rhilane, inflicting much loss and causing the enemy to abandon their plans. Some days later, he led a formation of aircraft in an attack on a concentration of tanks near El Amien his plane was severely damaged but he successfully crash-landed it in our own lines. The next day, and again two days later, Flight Lieutenant Bluett flew on successful operations in the same area. In one of these latter actions his aircraft was badly damaged but he disabled 2 tanks before breaking of! the engagement, afterwards flying the damaged
Langdon-Davies, Robin Click the name above to see a profile of Langdon-Davies, Robin	Langdon-Davies, Robin Officer Commanding 6 Squadron 1944, Hurricane ground attack Pilot
Mudge, Ron Click the name above to see a profile of Mudge, Ron	Mudge, Ron 6 Squadron Western Desert 1942 Hurricane IID Vickers 40mm Cannon fitter/armourer
Newman, Burt Click the name above to see a profile of Newman, Burt	Newman, Burt 6 Squadron Hurricane ground attack Pilot 1944-1946
Pinfold, Herbert M Click the name above to see a profile of Pinfold, Herbert M    Died : 19 / 10 / 2009	Pinfold, Herbert M Group Captain Herbert Moreton Pinfold, Battle of Britian pilot with 56 Squadron flying Hurricanes, he also flew with 6, 64, 502 and 603 Squadrons. Sadly, Herbert Pinfold passed away on 19th October 2009. Group Captain Herbert Moreton Pinfold was born 5th February 1913 and joined the Royal Air Force in August 1934 at the age of 21. In September Herbert Pinfold was posted to 5 FTS, Sealand and with training completed, on the 5th of September he was sent to join 6 Squadron at Ismailia, Egypt. He returned to the UK on 19th March 1936 and joined the newly formed 64 Squadron. The squadron were flying Hawker Demons, and were moved to the Western Desert to combat the Italian Air Force threat. The squadron returned to the UK in September. After a short spell as personal assistant and pilot to AOC 11 Group, Herbert Pinfold was sent on a Flying Instructors Course at RAF Upavon. After completing the instructors course he was posted to 502 Squadron, AuxAF as Flying Instructor and Adjutant at RAF Aldergrove, Northern Ireland on 16th July 1938. In January 1939, Herbert Pinfold went to RAF Turnhouse, Edinburgh and joined 603 Squadron where the squadron were flying Gladiators and then Spitfires. He went to 3 FTS, South Cerney on 2nd July 1940, as an instructor. On the 11th of August Penfold went to Aston Down and converted to Hurricanes. Herbert Pinfold took command of 56 Squadron at North Weald on the 25th, remaining with it until 29th January 1941, after this he was posted to 10 FTS at Tern Hill when he returned to flying instruction with a posting to 10 FTS, Tern Hill. Herbert Pinfold completed the RAF Staff College course and went on a number fo staff positions in the UK and also overseas including Ceylon and Singapore. Coming back to the UK Herbert Pinfold took command of Duxford, at that time flying Meteors, after which was posted to the Air Ministry. In 1953 Herbert was appointed Air Attache in Rome, before returning to the UK in 1956 for a second spell as Station Commander of Duxford. On the 1st of October 1958 Herbet Pinfold retired at the rank of Group Captain. Sadly, Herbert Pinfold passed away on 19th October 2009.
Seares, Mike Click the name above to see a profile of Seares, Mike    Died : 8 / 2005	Seares, Mike Mike Seares joined the RAF in 1984 and graduated from flying training with HRH Prince Feisal in 1988 and joined 54(F) Sqn. He flew Jaguars during the 1991 Gulf War before becoming a QWI and flight commander on 6Sqn. He achieved 3,000 hours on the type during the squadron's diamond-nine flypast at the Families' Day. One of the youngest squadron commanders in the RAF, he assumed command of 6 Sqn at RAF Coltishall in 2002. He was promoted to Headquarters Strike Command at High Wycombe, Bucks, before being made Group Captain in November 2004. Sadly, Mike Seares died in August 2005.
Yajima, Kaz Click the name above to see a profile of Yajima, Kaz	Yajima, Kaz 6 Squadron Hurricane ground attack Pilot 1944-1946

Aircraft for : No.6 Sqn RAF
A list of all aircraft associated with No.6 Sqn RAF. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Aircraft	Info
Anson Click the name above to see prints featuring Anson aircraft. Manufacturer : Avro Production Began : 1935 Retired : 1968 Number Built : 11020	Anson he Avro Anson originated from the Avro 652 commercial aircraft which first flew on 7th January 1935. It was a twin-engine British-built multi-role aircraft which saw distinctive service with both the Royal Air Force and The Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm as well as The Royal Canadian Air Force during and after the Second World War. The prototype 652A first flew at Woodford on 7th January 1935 and was developed from an initial airliner design and named after Admiral George Anson. The adaptation for a coastal reconnaissance role resulted in the production variant, the Avro 652a, which flew at Woodford on New Years Eve 1935 with the type entering service in March 1936 as the Anson Mk1. Initially it was flown with a 3-man crew but later developments in its reconnaissance role required a 4th crew member. The Anson entered service on 6 March 1936 with 48 Squadron equipped with the Anson. At the start of the Second World War, the RAF had received 824 Ansons and there were 26 RAF squadrons operating the Anson I: 10 with Coastal Command and 16 with Bomber Command. All of the squadrons in Bomber Command in 1939 with Anson Is were operational training squadrons that prepared crews for frontline service. 12 of the squadrons were in No. 6 (Operational Training) Group. Newly formed crews having completed individual flying and technical training were first trained as bomber crews in Ansons and then advanced to the various frontline aircraft types, which were also in the same squadrons with the Ansons. After training in the frontline aircraft type, crews would advance to the frontline bomber squadrons with those aircraft types (Fairey Battle, Bristol Blenheim, Vickers Wellington, Armstrong Whitworth Whitley, and Handley-Page Hampden). At the start of the war, the Lockheed Hudson was beginning to replace the Ansons in Coastal Command with one squadron of Hudsons and one with both Ansons and Hudsons. Limited numbers of Ansons continued to serve in operational roles such as coastal patrols and air/sea rescue. Early in the war, an Anson scored a probable hit on a German U-boat. In June 1940, a flight of three Ansons was attacked by nine Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109s. Remarkably, before the dogfight ended, without losing any of their own, one of the Ansons destroyed two German aircraft and damaged a third. The aircraft's true role, however, was to train pilots for flying multi-engined bombers such as the Avro Lancaster. The Anson was also used to train the other members of a bomber's aircrew, such as navigators, wireless operators, bomb aimers and air gunners. Postwar, the Anson continued in the training and light transport roles. The last Ansons were withdrawn from RAF service with communications units on 28 June 1968. The Royal Australian Air Force operated 1,028 Ansons, mainly Mk Is, until 1955
Bristol F2B Click the name above to see prints featuring Bristol F2B aircraft. Manufacturer : Bristol Production Began : 1916 Retired : 1932 Number Built : 0	Bristol F2B The Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 First World war early two-seater pusher biplane and was used by the Royal Flying Corps as a fighter and also as a day or night bomber. The FE2 was one of the few aircraft which gave the allies the edge over the Fokker aircraft of 1914/1915. In May 1915 the F.E.2b entered service with No 6 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps and it was 20 squadron which was the first squadron to be totally equipped with Fe2 aircraft which was deployed in January 1916. The Fe2B remained in day use throughout 1916 and 1917 and in 1918 was used solely as a night bomber. The FE2b equipped 22 squadrons, 16 of which served in France with the other 6 serving the home defence. As the German fighters got better the FE2B was outclassed and was used only as a light night bomber or used on the home defense front against the Zeppelins. Crew: Two Speed: 80 knots (91.5 mph,) Endurance 3 hours Ceiling 11,000 ft Maximum take off weight 3,037 lbs Length: 32 ft 3 in Height: 12 ft 8 in Wingspan 495 ft² Engine Beardmore 6 cylinder inline piston engine giving 160 HP
FE.2 Click the name above to see prints featuring FE.2 aircraft. Manufacturer : the Royal Aircraft Factory Production Began : 1914 Retired : 1918 Number Built : 1939	FE.2 The F.E.2a entered service in May 1915 with No. 6 Squadron RFC, which used the F.E.2 in conjunction with B.E.2s and a single Bristol Scout. The first squadron to be equipped entirely with the F.E.2 was 20 Squadron, deploying to France on 23 January 1916. At this stage it served as a fighter-reconnaissance aircraft – eventually about ⅔ of the F.E.2s were built as fighters (816) and ⅓ as bombers (395). The F.E.2b and F.E.2d variants remained in day operations well into 1917, while the "b" continued as a standard night bomber until August 1918. At its peak, the F.E.2b equipped 16 RFC squadrons in France and six Home Defence squadrons in England. On 18 June 1916, German flying ace Max Immelmann was killed in combat with F.E.2bs of No. 25 Squadron RFC. The squadron claimed the kill, but the German version of the encounter is either that Immelmann's Fokker Eindecker broke up, after his synchroniser gear failed and he shot off his own propeller or that he was hit by friendly fire from German anti-aircraft guns. In any case, by this time the F.E.2b was at least encountering the German monoplane fighters on more or less even terms and the so-called "Fokker scourge" ended. By autumn 1916, the arrival of more modern German fighters such as the Albatros D.I and Halberstadt D.II meant that even the F.E.2d was outperformed and by April 1917, it had been withdrawn from offensive patrols. Despite its obsolescence in 1917, the F.E.2 was still well liked by its crews for its strength and good flight characteristics and it still occasionally proved a difficult opponent for even the best German aces. Rittmeister Baron von Richthofen was badly wounded in the head during combat with F.E.2d aircraft in June 1917 – the Red Baron, like most German pilots of the period, classed the F.E.2 as a "Vickers" type, confusing it with the earlier Vickers F.B.5.
Hardy Click the name above to see prints featuring Hardy aircraft.	Hardy Full profile not yet available.
Hart Click the name above to see prints featuring Hart aircraft. Manufacturer : Hawker Production Began : 1930 Number Built : 1042	Hart During the mid 1920’s The British Air Ministry recoignised the need for a light Bomber. The options were proposed the Avro Antelope, Fairey Fox and the Hawker Hart. Due to the low cost of maintenance for the hawker hart. It was chosen over the other two. The first prototype flew in June 1928 (J9052). Hawker Harts were first used in 1930 by No.33 Squadron at Eastchurch. Many of these aircraft were used overseas in India, the Middle East and South Africa, with some alterations being made to tropicalise the aircraft. With the Outcome being the Hart India. The Hawker Hart saw service during the Abyssinian Crisis in 1935/36 and served also in the North West Frontier of India. However, in Britain, most were being replaced by 1936, some still operating well into World War Two. Mainly in communication and Training roles until 1943 having been used by a total of 20 RAF and AAF Squadrons. A total of 1042 of this aircraft were built. The Hawker Hart saw service with many air forces. Including The Swedish Air Force who used it to great success as a dive bomber. (calling the Hart the B4), Egyptian Air Force, Royal Indian Air Force, Southern Rhodesian Air Force and Yugoslavian air force.
Hurricane Click the name above to see prints featuring Hurricane aircraft. Manufacturer : Hawker Production Began : 1936 Number Built : 14533	Hurricane Royal Air Force Fighter, the Hawker Hurricane had a top speed of 320mph, at 18,200 feet and 340mph at 17,500, ceiling of 34,200 and a range of 935 miles. The Hurricane was armed with eight fixed wing mounted .303 browning machine guns in the Mark I and twelve .303 browning's in the MKIIB in the Hurricane MKIIC it had four 20mm cannon. All time classic fighter the Hurricane was designed in 1933-1934, the first prototype flew in June 1936 and a contract for 600 for the Royal Air Force was placed. The first production model flew ion the 12th October 1937 and 111 squadron of the Royal Air Force received the first Hurricanes in January 1938. By the outbreak of World war two the Royal Air Force had 18 operational squadrons of Hurricanes. During the Battle of Britain a total of 1715 Hurricanes took part, (which was more than the rest of the aircraft of the Royal air force put together) and almost 75% of the Victories during the Battle of Britain went to hurricane pilots. The Hawker Hurricane was used in all theatres during World war two, and in many roles. in total 14,533 Hurricanes were built.
Jaguar Click the name above to see prints featuring Jaguar aircraft.	Jaguar Full profile not yet available.
Tempest Click the name above to see prints featuring Tempest aircraft. 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.
Venom Click the name above to see prints featuring Venom aircraft.	Venom Full profile not yet available.