No. 141 Squadron RAF
No. 141 Squadron RAF | |
---|---|
Active | 1 January 1918 - 1 February 1920 4 October 1939 - 7 September 1945 17 June 1946 - 1 February 1958 1 April 1959 - 31 March 1964. |
Country | Latin: Caedimus Noctu ("We slay by night")[1] |
Insignia | |
Squadron codes | UD Allocated Apr - Sep 1939 TW Apr 1940 - Sep 1945, Jun 1946 - Apr 1951 |
Post-1950 squadron roundel |
No. 141 Squadron was a squadron of the British
First World War
No. 141 Squadron of the
In March 1919 the squadron moved to Tallaght Aerodrome, near Dublin Ireland,[10][11] flying patrols during the Irish War of Independence.[12] It moved to Baldonnel in December 1919 and was disbanded on 1 February 1920.[10]
Second World War
141 Sqn was reformed on 4 October 1939 at RAF Turnhouse, receiving Gloster Gladiators and then Bristol Blenheims for training purposes.[10] It moved to RAF Grangemouth later in October and to RAF Prestwick in February 1940.[13] In April 1940, the squadron reequipped with Boulton Paul Defiants, moving to RAF West Malling, Kent on 10 July.[14] On 19 July 1940, the squadron was ordered to scramble to intercept aircraft attacking a ship in the English Channel, but the nine Defiants were too late to catch the German aircraft, and were instead attacked by Messerschmitt Bf 109s of Jagdgeschwader 51. Six Defiants were shot down, with 10 aircrew killed. The losses convinced RAF Fighter Command that the Defiant was unsuitable for operations over the South of England, and 141 Squadron was ordered back to Scotland on 21 July.[15]
Once back in Scotland, the squadron carried out convoy escort and night fighter patrols from
Later, 141 Squadron converted to Bristol Beaufighters.
From 1943, it changed roles again to long range
.Venom NF Mk 3s arrived in June 1955 but these were replaced by Gloster Javelins in February 1957 (rafweb.org).
On 16 January 1958, No. 141 Squadron, based at RAF Coltishall, near Norwich in Norfolk, dropped the '1' at the beginning of its number and was thus reborn as 41 Squadron. In doing so, the reborn 41 Squadron automatically absorbed 141's all-weather Gloster Javelin FAW.4 fighters and personnel.[17]
Its final incarnation was as a Bloodhound surface to air missile unit at RAF Dunholme Lodge from 1 April 1959 until 31 March 1964.
Stations
- RAF Turnhouse
- RAF West Malling
- RAF Prestwick
- RAF Dyce
- RAF Montrose
- RAF Biggin Hill
- RAF Gatwick
- RAF Drem
- RAF West Raynham
- RAF Coltishall - 141 Night Fighter Squadron RAF Commanded by Sqn Ldr J O Dalley DFM RAF[18]
(Source: MoD Records.[19])
See also
References
- ^ Pine 1983, p. 28
- ^ a b c Halley 1988, p. 213
- ^ Jones 1935, pp. 139–140
- ^ Cole & Cheesman 1984, pp. 383–384
- ^ Cole & Cheesman 1984, pp. 368–369, 374
- ^ Halley 1988, pp. 5–6
- ^ Cole & Cheesman 1984, pp. 420–422
- ^ Cole & Cheesman 1984, pp. 423–425, 427–428, 430–433, 436
- ^ Jones 1935, pp. 127–130
- ^ a b c Halley 1988, pp. 213–214
- ^ Dimmock, Capt Norman Herford (1919). "RAF personnel based at Tallaght Aerodrome in uniform fly fishing". source.southdublinlibraries.ie. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ Rawlings 1969, pp. 280–281
- ^ Rawlings 1969, p. 281
- ^ Brew 2002, pp. 64–65
- ^ Brew 2002, pp. 65–67
- ^ Brew 2002, p. 67
- ^ Parsons, Gary. "41 Squadron: Seek and Destroy". Air-Scene UK. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ CO's Flying Log Book
- ^ Battle of Britain Archived 14 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine MoD Records Retrieved 14 July 2007
- Brew, Alec (2002). The Turret Fighters: Defiant and Roc. Ramsbury, UK: The Crowood Press. ISBN 1-86126-497-6.
- Cole, Christopher; Cheesman, E. F. (1984). The Air Defence of Great Britain 1914–1918. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-30538-8.
- Halley, James J (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jones, H. A. (1935). The War in the Air: Being the Story of the part played in the Great War by the Royal Air Force: Vol V. Oxford: The Clarendon Press.
- Pine, L. G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
- Rawlings, John D. R. (1969). Fighter Squadrons of the R.A.F. and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald.