No. 41 Squadron RAF
No. 41 Squadron Royal Air Force | |
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Active |
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Country | Air Warfare Centre |
Home station | RAF Coningsby |
Motto(s) | Seek and Destroy[1] |
Anniversaries | April 2016 (centenary) |
Aircraft | Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 |
Battle honours | * Honours marked with an asterisk are emblazoned on the squadron standard |
Website | 41 Squadron RAF |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Wing Commander Lee 'Flash' Gordon |
Notable commanders |
|
Insignia | |
Squadron tail badge | |
Squadron badge heraldry | A red double-armed cross on white background, originating from the squadron's association with St Omer, France which was its first overseas base in 1916 during the First World War. The cross is part of the town's arms. Approved by King George VI in February 1937.[4] |
Post 1950 squadron roundel | |
Squadron codes | PN (Jan 1939 – Sep 1939) EB (Sep 1939 – Feb 1951) FA–FZ (Jaguars) EB-A – EB-Z (2010 – present) |
No. 41 Squadron Royal Air Force is a
During the
History
First World War, 1916–1919
No. 41 Squadron
41 Squadron was re-formed on 14 July 1916
The F.E.8 was already obsolete as a pure
The squadron provided distinguished service in the Battle of Cambrai (November 1917), and subsequently in the German spring offensive (March 1918), and the Battle of Amiens (August 1918). 41 Squadron claimed its final victory of the war two days prior to the cessation of hostilities.[5] In the aftermath, the unit was reduced to a cadre of just 16 men on 7 February 1919, and returned to the United Kingdom. Their new base was Tangmere, but they were moved to Croydon, Surrey, in early October, and formally disbanded on 31 December 1919.[5]
During the war, some seventeen
Between the wars, 1923–1939
The squadron reformed at
During the 1930s, displays, sports, competitions, tactical exercises, and flying practice were a part of regular activity. In the summer of 1934, 41 Squadron even performed a flying display for South Bucks Mothers' Union.
In October 1935, the squadron was sent to the
In April 1937, 41 Squadron's badge and motto, 'Seek and Destroy', are unveiled for the first time and presented to the squadron by the AOC in C,
On 30 December 1938, 41 Squadron was issued with the Supermarine Spitfire, becoming the third RAF squadron to receive them. By early February 1939, the squadron had received a full complement of twenty Mark.I Spitfires, at the cost of £129,130.[14]
Around 200 pilots served with 41 Squadron between 1 April 1923 and 2 September 1939. During this period, no
Second World War, 1939–1945
Following the declaration of war on 3 September 1939, 41 Squadron spent the first several months on monotonous routine patrols in the north of England. At the end of May 1940, the squadron flew south to
Again, 41 Squadron returned north to Catterick for a few weeks rest, but returned to Hornchurch on 3 September 1940, where they remained until the end of February 1941. They were now in the thick of the Battle of Britain. The price was high, but so was the damage they inflicted on the Luftwaffe. On 5 September, the squadron experienced one of its blackest days. The Commanding Officer and OC, B Flight, were killed in action, and three other pilots were shot down and two were wounded in action; one of these was hospitalised for six months.[8]
On 31 October 1940, the Battle of Britain was considered officially over. 49 pilots flew with the squadron between 10 July and 31 October 1940. Of these, forty-two were British, two Canadian, two Irish, and two New Zealanders. Ten were killed and twelve wounded in action (44% casualties). The squadron claimed over 100 victories from July 1940 to the end of that year.[16]
On 23 February 1941, the squadron returned to Catterick for a well-earned break. Only four pilots remained from the original 18 who landed in Hornchurch on 3 September 1940. However, in reality it is much worse: sixteen pilots had been killed, five wounded and hospitalised (who did not return) and fifteen otherwise posted away, in effect a 200% turnover since the unit's deployment to Hornchurch in early September. The squadron also now has its third
Following five months rest in Catterick, during which the last Battle of Britain hardened pilots departed and new recruits joined from the
On 12 February 1942, 41 Squadron took part in the attack on the German Kriegsmarine's Prinz Eugen, Scharnhorst, and Gneisenau after they escaped from Brest and made a dash up the Channel to the safety of their home ports. During these actions, 41 Squadron claimed three German aircraft destroyed and one damaged, but lost one pilot who failed to return.[19]
The squadron also supported the ill-fated Canadian landings at
Tired, after a busy summer on the south coast fending off Me109s and FW190s fulfilling the Luftwaffe's 'hit and run' strategy, the squadron was taken off operations until February 1943 and sent to Llanbedr, Wales, for an extended period of rest. This heralded the start of an intensive period of turnover in the unit's ranks, as men were rested and fresh pilots brought in.[21]
In February 1943, the unit became the first of only two squadrons to receive the new Griffon-engine Spitfire Mk.XII. Having rested, re-equipped and trained on the new aircraft, the squadron was sent back onto operations in April 1943, and claimed their first definitive victory in over ten months on 17 April. This was also the first by the RAF in the Mk.XII Spitfire.[22]
From late June 1943, large scale
41 Squadron provided air support in the lead-up to, and throughout the
The squadron was re-equipped with the Spitfire Mk.XIV in September 1944, and during the ensuing three months, participated in 'Big Ben' operations against V2 launch sites, in
The squadron moved to the continent in early December 1944, making its base at Diest in Belgium. Ground targets were the squadron's chief prey as a member of 125 Wing, and the unit attacked anything moving on road, rail, or canal in Germany. Operating so close to the ground, flak also took its toll on pilots and aircraft. One pilot was killed, three wounded, and two shot down and taken prisoner.[26]
In April 1945, the squadron moved forward with the advancing front, and made its first base in Germany, just south-west of the town of Celle, 140 mi (230 km) due west of Berlin, and only a short distance south-east of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. During April and early May 1945, German resistance crumbled. 41 Squadron claimed 33 enemy aircraft destroyed, two probably destroyed, and three damaged in the air, and 21 damaged on the ground, in the 23 days preceding 3 May 1945 (the date of the squadron's final claim). Their own casualties for the same period were no pilots killed or wounded in action, and no aircraft lost to enemy action, although some did sustain combat damage.[27]
After the cessation of hostilities, the squadron was based a short time at Kastrup (Copenhagen), but then returned to Germany, where it became a part of the Allied occupying forces, 'BAFO'. By the end of the war, 41 Squadron had claimed 200 aircraft destroyed, 61 probably destroyed, 109 damaged, and 53 V-1s destroyed. On 31 March 1946, still based on the continent, 41 Squadron was disbanded by re-numbering to 26 Squadron.[28]
The squadron had two mascots during the war: 'Wimpy', a Bull Terrier with the tip of one ear missing, at Catterick in 1939–40, and 'Perkin', a large black French Poodle, in 1943–44.[29] The squadron's 325 World War II pilots were men from Britain, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palestine, Poland, White Russia, Rhodesia, South Africa, Trinidad, Uruguay, the United States, and Zululand.[30]
41 Squadron's pilots were awarded three DSOs, 21 DFCs, one DFM, and one Mention in Dispatches, for their World War II service with the unit. Sixty four were killed in action or died on active service, 58 were wounded in action or injured in accidents, three were shot down but evaded capture and returned to the United Kingdom, and 21 pilots were shot down and became Prisoners of War. The average age of a man who died in service with 41 Squadron during World War II was 23½.[31]
Post War, 1946–2006
On 1 April 1946, only a day after being disbanded in Germany, 41 Squadron was re-formed at RAF Dalcross in Scotland as a fighter squadron, by re-numbering from 122 Squadron, and reverted to the Supermarine Spitfire, this time the Mk. F.21.[28]
The squadron flew its Spitfires for the last time on 18 August 1947, and became No. 41 Instrument Flying Rating Squadron, equipped with the Airspeed Oxfords & North American Harvard. However, in June the following year, the squadron reverted to fighter defence and was re-equipped with the De Havilland Hornet F.1, followed later by the F.3.[3]
41 Squadron became a day fighter unit again in January 1951 and entered the jet age, receiving its first jet-powered aircraft, the Gloster Meteor F.4. In April 1951 these were replaced by the Gloster Meteor F.8, and four years later the squadron received the Hawker Hunter F.5.[3] On 14 July 1957, the squadron was presented with a Standard displaying the unit's Battle Honours by the CAS, Air Marshal Sir Theodore McEvoy KCB CBE, who had served three years with 41 Squadron as a young officer,[32] following his graduation from RAF College, Cranwell in 1925.[33]
However, no amount of nostalgia would save the unit from the Government's budgetary axe. On 15 January 1958, as a part of a scheme to reduce the size of RAF Fighter Command, 41 Squadron fell to the same fate as 600 and 615 Squadrons had before it, and were also disbanded. With the departure of 41 Squadron from RAF Biggin Hill ceased to be a Fighter Command airfield, its infrastructure now deemed out of date for the requirements of modern warfare. The runways had become too short for the RAF's newest generation of aircraft and, as a result of encroaching development and civil air paths which now passed above, the base was no longer in a practical location. Fighter Command officially departed from the airfield on 1 March 1958.[34]
This gave 41 Squadron the curious distinction of being the last fighter squadron ever to be based at Biggin Hill. The departure of the unit marked the end of an era for the station in every sense of the word, as thereafter it was relegated to non-operational status, and only used by the London University Air Squadron.[34]
However, as with 41 Squadron's 1946 disbanding, this, too, was a mere technicality. On 16 January 1958, just a day after being disbanded, 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, they automatically absorbed 141's all-weather Gloster Javelin FAW.4 fighters and personnel.[35]
41 Squadron's standard, originally presented only six months previously, was handed over to 141 Squadron on 16 January 1958 in a short ceremony attended by Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Fighter Command, Air Chief Marshal Sir Thomas Pike, and by 11 Group's Air Officer Commanding, Air Vice-Marshal Victor Bowling, himself a veteran 41 Squadron pilot from 1935.[36]
Only remaining at Coltishall six months, the squadron moved to
On 1 September 1965, after a 20-month break, 41 Squadron was re-formed at RAF West Raynham, near Fakenham in Norfolk, but this time as a completely different structure. The unit remained firmly on the ground as a missile defence squadron, armed with Bloodhound Mk.II surface-to-air-missile (SAM).[37] Changes to the SAM programme, however, saw 41 Squadron disbanded yet again just five years later, on 18 September 1970.[3] The squadron standard was moved to the Church of St. Michael and St. George at RAF West Raynham, for safe-keeping.[3]
On 1 April 1972, at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, the squadron was reborn as a tactical fighter reconnaissance and ground attack unit within 38 Group Air Support Command. To support them in their reconnaissance role, a 'Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre' or 'RIC' was formed. The RIC is composed of a number of Air Transportable Reconnaissance Exploitation Laboratories (ATREL), which enable the rapid developing of photographic images and their subsequent analysis. The ATRELs can be transported by air or road, and can be deployed with the squadron to forward operating bases.[3]
In this role, they were equipped with
In preparation for this change, '41 Designate Squadron' was formed at RAF Coltishall, in north Norfolk, on 1 July 1976, and commenced training as a reconnaissance unit with SEPECAT Jaguar GR1 aircraft. The two squadrons operated independently of one another until 31 March 1977, when 41 Squadron was disbanded at Coningsby. This allowed the Coltishall-based 41 Designate Squadron to drop 'Designate' from their name, take possession of the standard, adopt the squadron badge, and become the new combat-ready 41 Squadron at RAF Coltishall a day later.[3]
41 Squadron's role changed to low-level reconnaissance and, in early 1978, it became part of
In support of its reconnaissance role, the unit formed a RIC at Coltishall to process and interpret the photographs made by pilots, using sensors located in a large external pod. The photographic film was taken to the MAREL's (Mobile Aerial Reconnaissance Exploitation Laboratories) for processing and interpretation. Ideally, a mission report would have been generated within 45 minutes of 'engines off'. Smaller 'air-portable' RICs were also used during off-base deployments.[39]
As a result of this ability, the squadron has been involved in a number of conflicts over two decades during the 1990s and 2000s. In early 1991, during the First Gulf War (
In its aftermath, the squadron was deployed to Incirlik, in south-west Turkey, where it participated in the defence of Iraq's Kurdish minority within the boundaries of the country's northern no-fly zone (Operations 'Warden' and 'Resinate North') until April 1993. It was during this period that the large external photographic pods were replaced with smaller, more versatile, medium level pods.[35]
Four months later, the squadron was deployed to southern Italy, where it flew policing duties over Bosnia in support of Operation Deny Flight until August 1995. It was during this time that one of the squadron's Jaguars became the first RAF aircraft to drop a bomb in anger over Europe since the end of World War II. The target was a Bosnian Serb tank.[3]
The squadron returned to home Coltishall in August 1995 for a well-earned rest. Despite the vital work they had performed in Iraq and Bosnia, however, the squadron found their photographic systems were inhibited by the use of photographic film, which required special handling and processing before any results could be viewed and analysed. This drawback was compounded by the inherent difficulties of moving hardcopy prints around the battlefield, particularly with the distances involved in modern warfare. To overcome these issues, the Jaguar Replacement Reconnaissance Pod (JRRP) was introduced in August 2000.[40]
The new system provided for the recording of a
This system was taken into battle on the Squadron's last operational deployment, during the Second Gulf War (
In July 2004, the Defence Secretary announced that 41 Squadron would be disbanded once again, on 31 March 2006, as a part of a re-organisation of the Defence Forces following a Government spending review, and the so-called Gershon efficiency study. A White Paper, titled '
As a result of these decisions, all of RAF Coltishall's squadrons would be directly affected. 16(R) (the Jaguar OCU) and 54(F) Squadrons, would be disbanded by 1 April 2005 and their aircraft disposed of, and 41 Squadron by 1 April 2006. 6 Squadron, with the last of the RAF's Jaguars, would be moved to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on 1 April 2006, itself disbanded by 31 October 2007. RAF Coltishall itself would be finally closed in December 2006, thus ending an over 66 year history.[43]
The first of these draw-downs took place on 11 March 2005, when 16 and 54 Squadrons held a combined passing-out parade. However, their disbandment had little immediate effect on the activity at Coltishall, as most Jaguar airframes and personnel were absorbed into 6 and 41 Squadrons. However, with the departure of these latter squadrons in 2006, and the subsequent closure of the base in December, the close-knit RAF community was dispersed to other locations, and a quiet returned to the area, which has not existed since May 1940.[44]
The following senior leaders of the Royal Air Force all served with 41 Squadron at some time in their career during the Jaguar period: Sir Stephen Dalton, Sir Richard Garwood, Sir Chris Harper, Sir Jock Stirrup, Sir Charles John Thomson, and Sir Glenn Torpy.[45]
However, despite the Government's intention to disband 41 Squadron, and plans drawn up for final ceremonies to take place on the first weekend in April 2006, the unit was given a new lease on life only a short while before taking effect. Approval was received to move 41 Squadron to Coningsby with 6 Squadron on 1 April 2006, and to assume the role of the Fast Jet and Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit, or 'FJWOEU'.[3]
Fast Jet & Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit, 2006–2010
The Fast Jet and Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit (FJWOEU) was formed before it assumed the 41 Squadron number plate. It was created on 1 April 2004 from the merger of the Strike Attack OEU (SAOEU), the F3 OEU, and the Air Guided Weapons OEU (AGWOEU). The FJWOEU took over 41(F) Squadron's number plate on 1 April 2006, rescuing 41 Squadron from disbandment that would have otherwise resulted from the retirement of the RAF's Jaguar fleet.[3]
Their new aircraft consisted of
Test and Evaluation Squadron, 2010 to present
On 1 April 2010, the Fast Jet Test Squadron (FJTS), then based at
In September 2010, the squadron celebrated the 70th anniversary of the
current aircraft | code | historic aircraft | date | original pilot ‡ | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
type | reg. |
type | reg. | |||
Typhoon FGR4 | ZJ947 | EB-L | Spitfire Ia | K9805 | August 1940 | Wg Cdr Edward A. Shipman AFC RAF |
Typhoon FGR4 | ZK321 | EB-R | Spitfire Ia | P9428 | September 1940 | Sqn Ldr Hilary R. L. 'Robin' Hood DFC RAF |
Typhoon FGR4 | ZJ914 | EB-G | Spitfire Ia | N3162 | September 1940 | Flt Lt Eric S. 'Lockie' Lock DSO DFC* MiD RAF |
Typhoon FGR4 | ZJ912 | EB-J | Spitfire Ia | X4559 | September 1940 | Sqn Ldr George H. 'Ben' Bennions DFC RAF |
Tornado GR4 | ZG775 | EB-Z | Spitfire IIa | P7666 | November 1940 | Gp Capt Donald O. Finlay DFC AFC RAF |
Tornado GR4 | ZA560 | EB-Q | Spitfire Va | R7304 | August 1941 | WO William A. 'Bill' Brew RAAF |
Typhoon FGR4 | ZK339 | EB-B | Spitfire XII | MB882 | September 1944 | Sqn Ldr Terence 'Terry' Spencer DFC TEM RAF |
Typhoon FGR4 | ZJ914 | EB-H | Spitfire XIV | NH915 | May 1945 | Flt Lt Derek Rake OBE AFC & Bar |
‡ – rank indicated is final rank achieved upon leaving Royal Air Force service
Commencing the draw-down of the RAF's Harrier force as a result of the British Government's Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010 (SDSR),[49] 41 Squadron's three Harrier GR9s were transferred to 1 (Fighter) Squadron at RAF Cottesmore on 4 November 2010. 41 Squadron subsequently increased its fleet of Tornado GR4s to compensate the loss of the Harriers, and only operated the GR4 until April 2013.[50]
41 Squadron was also in the spotlight on 29 April 2011, when two of its Tornado GR4s flew with two
In 2012, to mark the
The first published history of 41 Squadron, Blood, Sweat, and Valour, was launched at the Royal Air Force Club in London in December 2012, and recounts the unit's wartime activity during the war years August 1942 to May 1945.[53] A second volume, entitled Blood, Sweat and Courage was launched at the Royal Air Force Club in London in December 2014, and covers the preceding war years, September 1939 to July 1942.[54]
Another major change took place on 22 April 2013, when 41 Squadron took over the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4s of fellow RAF Coningsby based No. 17(R) Test and Evaluation Squadron, which will have a new role, preparing for the introduction of the F-35B Lightning into Royal Air Force and Royal Navy service.[55]
41 Squadron's World War II era EB codes were been carried over onto three of their new Typhoon aircraft. They were ZJ930, coded EB-R for Sqn Ldr Hilary R. L. 'Robin' Hood DFC (OC 41 Sqn 1940); ZJ947 coded EB-L for Wg Cdr Edward 'Shippy' Shipman AFC (1936–1940); and ZK332, coded EB-J for Sqn Ldr George H. 'Ben' Bennions DFC (1936–1940). An additional Typhoon aircraft had also joined the Squadron, prompting the need for an eighth code, and the opportunity to honour another of the Squadron's World War II pilots. After having initially been coded EB-G for Flt Lt Eric S. 'Lockie' Lock DSO DFC* MiD RAF, the honour has gone to Gp Capt Derek S. V. Rake OBE AFC & Bar (1945) and Typhoon ZJ914 has been coded EB-H.[56]
41 Squadron celebrated its
The squadron's Panavia Tornados were phased out in late 2017, and the last flight in this aircraft type took place on Friday 13 October 2017.[58] 41 Squadron retains its Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4s, and continues to fly these aircraft.[59]
All World War II-era EB codes have now been removed from the Squadron's tailfins but one Tornado has been preserved as a gate guardian at MOD Sealand, marked EB-X, which includes the Squadron badge and Centenary (1916-2016) tail art.[60]
Notable pilots
- Captain rotary military aircraft. Amongst 80 types of aircraft into which their seats have been fitted are the Jaguar, which 41 Squadron flew from 1977–2006, the Harrier, which the squadron flew from 2006–2010, and the Tornado and Typhoon, both of which they fly today. Martin-Baker ejection seats are now being fitted into the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Over 70,000 Martin-Baker ejection seats have been delivered to 93 air forces, which have saved almost 7,500 lives. It is a squadron legacy that in giving his own life, Baker has saved the lives of thousands of others.[61]
- American Lieutenant Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, is also named after him.[62]
- Canadian Squadron Leader RCAF during World War II. He died in 1949, aged just 53, but by that time had dedicated over 30 years of his life to flying. In recognition of his service to Canadian aviation, a new airfield in Calgary was named McCall Field in his honour. That airfield is today Calgary International Airport.[63]
- Having claimed 60 aerial victories during the First World War, Canadian Air Vice-Marshal Raymond Collishaw is considered the third-highest-scoring Allied pilot of the entire War. By his arrival on 41 Squadron in 1923 as its second peacetime Officer Commanding, he had been awarded no less than two DSOs, a military OBE, a DSC, a DFC, three MiDs, the French Croix de Guerre, and the three White Russian Orders of St. Stanislas, St. Anne, and St. Vladimir. Along with his significant victory tally, he was very much a legend in his own time. Collishaw retired in October 1943 and spent the rest of the war as a Regional Air Liaison Officer for Civil Defence UK. By the time he returned to his native Canada in 1946, he had also been awarded a CB and a civil OBE.[64]
- Having graduated CBE and the U.S. Legion of Merit for his work in this role. Huskinson also wrote an autobiography in 1949 called Vision Ahead, which explains his career in some detail. He also recalls his "very happy years in charge of Number 41 Squadron". It was also Huskinson who wrote to the Mayor of St. Omer and obtained permission for 41 Squadron to use part of the Town Arms in its badge.[65]
- Air Commodore CBE whilst there and retired in May 1955. Wheeler was subsequently employed as an aviation consultant and technical advisor to the film industry, and worked on such films as The Blue Max and Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, and was even used as a pilot in the latter movie.[66]
- Flight Lieutenant Thomas Weston Peel Long Chaloner, The Honourable Lord Gisborough, 2nd Baron Gisborough of Cleveland, Yorkshire, was a WWI pilot and ex-Prisoner of War who returned to RAF service during World War II. He served as 41 Squadron's Intelligence Officer for over five years of the War, and reported the squadron's activity, victories and losses up the chain of command on a daily basis. He refused further promotion.[67]
- Squadron Leader George Bennions was posted to 41 Squadron in February 1936. It was here that he remained for the ensuing almost five years, and he was commissioned on the Sqn in April 1940. Bennions proved to be quite a talented pilot, and he claimed his first victory over the Channel in July 1940, during the earliest salvoes of the Battle of Britain. Over the months of August and September, Bennions' tally continued to rise to the point where he had claimed ten and one shared destroyed, seven probably destroyed, and five damaged, making him the second most successful pilot on 41 Squadron during World War II. Aside from his significant victory tally during the Battle of Britain, Bennions is of interest for one of those victories, which took place on 5 September 1940. Contemporary researchers credit him with a shared victory over Oblt Franz von Werra, the Group Adjutant of JG3, who was flying an Me109E. Von Werra's aircraft is believed to have been damaged by Bennions but finished off by 603 Squadron's Plt Off Basil Stapleton, forcing the German pilot to crash-land near Marden, Kent. Von Werra was captured unhurt and sent to Canada, as were the majority of German POWs, to hinder their chances of escape. However, von Werra nonetheless succeeded in escaping, and returned to Germany in April 1941. So unusual was this feat that he was the only German POW to succeed in doing so during the War. Von Werra's story was the subject of a book, and also of a film entitled The One That Got Away, which was released in 1957 and starred Hardy Krüger as von Werra.[68]
- Pilot Officer BBMF, which has EB-G emblazoned on their Spitfire P7350. Lock was seriously wounded in action on 17 November 1940, and underwent multiple operations, which included three skin grafts at the hands of Dr. Archibald McIndoe at East Grinstead. Following seven months’ recuperation, he returned to operations with 611 Squadron in late June 1941. During July 1941, he added another three victories to his already impressive list, but on 3 August, he failed to return from a routine operation after attacking a German column on a road behind Boulogne. In recognition of his achievements and status in Battle of Britain history, he is remembered on several memorials and in his hometown of Bayston Hill, outside Shrewsbury, where a street is named after him. He remains today one of the RAF's top ten Aces of World War II, credited with some 25 aircraft destroyed and 7 probably destroyed, all bar three of which he achieved on 41 Squadron.[69]
- Group Captain Donald O. Finlay: pre-war Olympian and Officer Commanding 41 Squadron, September 1940 to August 1941. 41 Squadron honoured Finlay during the 2012 London Olympics by painting the tail-fin of one of the unit's Tornados. Although that aircraft was recently retired, the squadron continues to honour Finlay with one of the Tornados marked up as EB-Z.[70]
- South African Pilot Officer J. J. 'Chris' Le Roux flew with 41 Squadron for a short period in late 1940 to early 1941. In July 1944, by now OC, 602 Squadron, Le Roux was credited with attacking and seriously injuring General Erwin Rommel in his staff car, on a road outside Sainte Foy de Montgomerie, in Normandy. Strafing the vehicle, the driver lost control, struck a tree and spun off the road. Rommel fractured his skull when he was thrown from the vehicle. In doing so, Le Roux single-handedly removed Germany's commanding general from the Normandy battlefield.[71]
- Dutch Flight Lieutenant The Great Escape. All but three of the escapees were recaptured, and fifty of them were executed as retribution on Hitler's orders. Of the three that successfully made their escapes, van der Stok was one. Acting as a Dutch labourer on forged papers, he made it back the United Kingdom in early July 1944, travelling on a route, which took him through the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, and Gibraltar. In 1963, United Artists released the film, The Great Escape, based upon a book of the same name, written by Australian author Paul Brickhill in 1950. In the film, a character broadly based on van der Stok was played by James Coburn.[72]
- Canadian Sergeant Pilot George F. Beurling was posted to 41 Squadron in April 1942, but proved too head-strong, fought with other members of the unit, and gained a reputation for doing his own thing in the air and not remaining in formation or following orders. By the following month, he was requesting a transfer to Malta and it was granted. Nonetheless, in his brief time with 41 Squadron, he claimed his first two victories. In time, he became Canada's leading World War II ace, and was credited with 31 victories between May 1942 and December 1943. As a result, he was awarded a DSO, a DFC and two DFMs. However, he was 'retired' early from the RCAF in 1944 as his skill in cockpit was matched by streak of rebelliousness, and disrespect for authority. He had a reputation for ignoring team tactics and breaking formation to attack the enemy alone, and had gained two nicknames, 'Buzz Beurling' and the not-so-complimentary 'Screwball Beurling'.[73]
- Prince Emanuel Vladimirovitch Galitzine was the great-great grandson of aircraftsman, though he was recommissioned in September 1941. Galitzine saw operational service in several squadrons before joining 41 Squadron as a Fg Off in May 1943, and he claimed a probably destroyed enemy aircraft with the unit in October. Following his tenure with the squadron, he was rested as personal assistant to Air Vice-Marshal Sir William Dickson, then commanding 83 Group, which was preparing for the Normandy invasion. When Dickson was posted to Italy, Galitzine accompanied him, adding Italian to an already impressive list of languages he spoke. Following the War, Galitzine worked in the civil aviation industry, but maintained links with Russia and, in 1998, attended the reburial and funeral service of the murdered Tsar and his family in St Petersburg.[74]
- Flying Officer Peter Gibbs was a generally unassuming character who served with 41 Squadron between January 1944 and March 1945. He was an active pilot during his tour, and an avid musician. He became a professional musician after he left the RAF in August 1945, and joined the airfield, around a mile away, but, considering the time of year, location, and likely temperatures of both the water and air, probably succumbed to the effects of exposure.[75]
- Palestinian Sergeant Pilot holocaust survivors to the Middle East. Remez left the RAF in 1946 and returned home to champion the formation of a Jewish State. This occurred in May 1948, and in July he was given the post of Brigadier General and the founder and first Commanding Officer of the Israeli Air Force. He held this post until December 1950. Remez was subsequently the Head of Purchasing Delegation, Israeli MOD mission to the United States, the Israeli Defence Minister's Aide for Aviation, a member of the House Committee & Foreign Affairs & Defence Committees of the 3rd Knesset, Director of the Dept for International Co-operation in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Director General of the Israeli Ports Authority, and Chairman of the Israeli Aviation Authority. Remez was also the Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom from May 1965 to July 1970, and often met up with his former 41 Squadron colleagues from 1945 whilst based there.[76]
- Squadron Leader LIFE Magazine, for whom he worked between September 1952 and September 1972. During his time with LIFE, he covered several conflicts, including Biafra, Congo, and the Vietnam War, and spent three months on tour with a then little-known band called The Beatles. When LIFE folded in 1972, Spencer moved to People magazine, where he spent the ensuing 20 years. He authored and published two books, the first a renowned coffee table book about The Beatles (It was Thirty Years Ago Today), and the second an autobiography (Living Dangerously), which he co-authored with his wife. Following his death in February 2009, The Times published a glowing obituary of a man who was a real-life adventurer, and whose life and exploits were the very stuff of 'boys own' magazines.[77]
Statistics
Key dates 1916–2016
Date | Notes |
---|---|
15 April 1916 | Formed as a fighter squadron (nucleus from 28 Squadron RFC) |
22 May 1916 | Disbanded by renumbering to 27 Reserve Squadron RFC |
14 July 1916 | Re-formed as 41 Squadron RFC (nucleus from 27 Reserve Squadron RFC) |
31 December 1919 | Disbanded |
1 April 1923 | Re-formed as a fighter squadron |
31 March 1946 | Disbanded by renumbering to 26 Squadron |
1 April 1946 | Re-formed by re-numbering from 122 Squadron |
15 January 1958 | Disbanded |
16 January 1958 | Re-formed by re-numbering from 141 Squadron |
31 December 1963 | Disbanded |
1 September 1965 | Re-formed as Bloodhound Mk. IIa SAM Defence Squadron |
1 July 1970 | Disbanded |
1 April 1972 | Re-formed as a fighter and ground attack squadron |
31 March 1977 | Disbanded |
1 April 1977 | Re-formed as a low-level reconnaissance squadron |
1 April 2006 | Disbanded |
1 April 2006 | Re-formed as Reserve Squadron (41(R) Squadron) and Fast Jet & Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit (FJWOEU) |
1 April 2010 | New Entity, re-structured as Test and Evaluation Squadron (41(R) TES) |
Bases 1916–2016
Base | Location | Arrival | Base | Location | Arrival | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fort Rowner, Gosport[78] | Hampshire | 15 Apr 1916 | Westhampnett[79] | Sussex | 21 Jun 1943 | |
Fort Rowner, Gosport[80] | Hampshire | 14 Jul 1916 | Tangmere[81] | Sussex | 4 Oct 1943 | |
St. Omer | France | 15 Oct 1916 | Southend[82] | Essex | 7 Feb 1944 | |
Abeele | Belgium | 21 Oct 1916 | Tangmere | Sussex | 20 Feb 1944 | |
Hondschoote | France | 24 May 1917 | Friston | Sussex | 11 Mar 1944 | |
Abeele | Belgium | 15 Jun 1917 | Bolt Head | Devon | 29 Apr 1944 | |
Léalvillers | France | 3 Jul 1917 | Fairwood Common[83] | Glamorgan | 16 May 1944 | |
Marieux | France | 22 Mar 1918 | Bolt Head | Devon | 24 May 1944 | |
Fienvillers | France | 27 Mar 1918 | West Malling | Kent | 19 Jun 1944 | |
Alquines | France | 29 Mar 1918 | Tangmere[84] | Sussex | 26 Jun 1944 | |
Savy | France | 9 Apr 1918 | Westhampnett | Sussex | 27 Jun 1944 | |
Serny | France | 11 Apr 1918 | Friston | Sussex | 2 Jul 1944 | |
Estrée Blanche (Liettres) | France | 19 May 1918 | Lympne | Kent | 11 Jul 1944 | |
Conteville | France | 1 Jun 1918 | B.56 Evere[85] | Belgium | 4 Dec 1944 | |
St. Omer | France | 14 Aug 1918 | B.64 Diest/Schaffen | Belgium | 5 Dec 1944 | |
Droglandt | Belgium | 20 Sep 1918 | Y.32 Ophoven[86] | Belgium | 31 Dec 1944 | |
Halluin East | Belgium | 23 Oct 1918 | B.80 Volkel | Netherlands | 27 Jan 1945 | |
Tangmere | Sussex | 7 Feb 1919 | Warmwell[87] | Dorset | 7 Mar 1945 | |
Croydon | Surrey | 8 Oct 1919 | B.78 Eindhoven | Netherlands | 18 Mar 1945 | |
Northolt | Middlesex | 1 Apr 1923 | B.106 Twente | Netherlands | 7 Apr 1945 | |
Underway to Aden | Yemen | 4 Oct 1935 | B.118 Celle | Germany | 16 Apr 1945 | |
Khormaksar | Yemen | 20 Oct 1935 | B.160 Kastrup | Denmark | 9 May 1945 | |
Sheikh Othman | Yemen | 18 Mar 1936 | B.172 Husum | Germany | 21 Jun 1945 | |
Underway to Southampton | Hampshire | 10 Aug 1936 | B.158 Lübeck | Germany | 11 Jul 1945 | |
Catterick | Yorkshire | 25 Sep 1936 | Warmwell[88] | Dorset | 20 Aug 1945 | |
Wick | Caithness | 19 Oct 1939 | B.158 Lübeck | Germany | 6 Sep 1945 | |
Catterick[89] | Yorkshire | 25 Oct 1939 | B.116 Wunstorf | Germany | 30 Jan 1946 | |
Hornchurch | Essex | 28 May 1940 | B.170 Sylt | Germany | 28 Feb 1946 | |
Catterick[90] | Yorkshire | 8 Jun 1940 | B.116 Wunstorf | Germany | 29 Mar 1946 | |
Hornchurch[91] | Essex | 26 Jul 1940 | Dalcross | Scotland | 1 Apr 1946 | |
Catterick | Yorkshire | 8 Aug 1940 | Wittering | Cambridge | 8 Apr 1946 | |
Hornchurch[92] | Essex | 3 Sep 1940 | B.158 Lübeck | Germany | 29 Jun 1946 | |
Catterick[93] | Yorkshire | 23 Feb 1941 | Duxford | Cambridge | 9 Sep 1946 | |
Merston | Sussex | 28 Jul 1941 | Wittering | Cambridge | 30 Sep 1946 | |
Westhampnett[94] | Sussex | 16 Dec 1941 | Acklington | Northumberland | 11 Nov 1946 | |
Merston | Sussex | 1 Apr 1942 | Wittering | Cambridge | 20 Dec 1946 | |
Martlesham Heath[95] | Suffolk | 15 Jun 1942 | Church Fenton | Yorkshire | 17 Apr 1947 | |
Hawkinge | Kent | 30 Jun 1942 | Biggin Hill | Kent | 29 Mar 1951 | |
Debden | Essex | 8 Jul 1942 | Coltishall | Norfolk | 1 Feb 1958 | |
Longtown[96] | Cumberland | 4 Aug 1942 | Wattisham | Suffolk | 5 Jul 1958 | |
Llanbedr | Merioneth | 9 Aug 1942 | West Raynham | Norfolk | 1 Sep 1965 | |
Tangmere[97] | Sussex | 16 Aug 1942 | Coningsby | Lincolnshire | 1 Apr 1972 | |
Llanbedr | Merioneth | 20 Aug 1942 | Coltishall | Norfolk | 1 Apr 1977 | |
Eglinton[98] | Londonderry | 22 Sep 1942 | Thumrait AB4 | Oman | 13 Aug 1990 | |
Llanbedr | Merioneth | 30 Sep 1942 | Seeb AB[99] | Oman | 29 Aug 1990 | |
Tangmere[100] | Sussex | 8 Oct 1942 | Muharraq[101] | Bahrain | 7 Oct 1990 | |
Llanbedr[102] | Merioneth | 11 Oct 1942 | Incirlik[103] | Turkey | Sep 1991 | |
High Ercall | Salop | 25 Feb 1943 | Gioia del Colle[104] | Italy | Aug 1993 | |
Hawkinge | Kent | 13 Apr 1943 | Incirlik[105] | Turkey | Sep 2002 | |
Biggin Hill | Kent | 21 May 1943 | Coningsby | Lincolnshire | 1 Apr 2006 | |
Friston | Sussex | 28 May 1943 |
Aircraft operated 1916–2016
Aircraft | Received | Aircraft | Received | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Airco de Havilland DH.2 ‘Scout’ | July 1916 | Supermarine Spitfire Mk. F.21 | April 1946 | |
Vickers F.B.5 ‘Gun Bus’ | July 1916 | Airspeed Oxford AS.10 | August 1947 | |
Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.8 | September 1916 | North American Harvard |
August 1947 | |
Airco de Havilland DH.5 | July 1917 | De Havilland Hornet F.1 | June 1948 | |
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a |
October 1917 | De Havilland Hornet F.3 | August 1948 | |
Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe | April 1923 | Gloster Meteor F.4 | January 1951 | |
Armstrong Whitworth Siskin III/IIIa | April 1924 | Gloster Meteor F.8 | April 1951 | |
Bristol Bulldog 105A Mk. IIa | October 1931 | Hawker Hunter F.5 | July 1955 | |
Hawker Demon Mk. I |
July 1934 | Gloster Javelin FAW.4 | February 1958 | |
Hawker Fury Mk. II | October 1937 | Gloster Javelin FAW.8 | January 1960 | |
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. I | December 1938 | Bloodhound Mk. II S.A.M. |
September 1965 | |
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Ia | September 1939 | McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2 |
April 1972 | |
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IIa | October 1940 | SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1 | July 1976 | |
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Ia | February 1941 | SEPECAT Jaguar GR.3 | May 1997 | |
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IIa | March 1941 | SEPECAT Jaguar T4 or GR.3a | April 2006 | |
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Va & Vb | July 1941 | Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR9 | April 2006 | |
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XII | February 1943 | Panavia Tornado F3 |
April 2006 | |
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XIV | September 1944 | Panavia Tornado GR4 | April 2006 | |
Hawker Tempest Mk. V | September 1945 | Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 | April 2013 |
Officers Commanding 1916–2021
Name | Commenced | Name | Commenced | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Joseph Herbert Arthur Landon, DSO, OBE | 20 July 1916 | Raymond Brown Hesselyn , MBE, DFC, DFM & Bar |
19 March 1951 | |
Frederick James Powell, OBE (POW) | 3 August 1917 | Anthony Frederick Osborne, DFC | 30 April 1951 | |
Geoffrey Hilton Bowman, DSO, DFC, MC & Bar | 9 February 1918 | John Miller, CBE, DFC, AFC, FCA | July 1951 | |
Bernard Edward Smythies, DFC | 1 April 1923 | Maxwell Scannell OBE, DFC, AFC[106] | June 1953 | |
Raymond Collishaw, CB, DSO & Bar, OBE, DSC, DFC[107] | 1 October 1923 | James Castagnola, DSO, DFC & Bar[108] | September 1955 | |
Gilbert Ware Murlis-Green, DSO & Bar, MC & 2 Bars | 15 April 1924 | John William James Leggett, QCVSA | 1 February 1958 | |
Frederick Sowrey, DSO, MC, AFC | 8 February 1926 | David Windle Hutchinson-Smith, AFC[109] | October 1959 | |
Robert Stanley Aitken, CB, CBE, MC, AFC[110] | 1 September 1928 | John Frederick Pinnington[111] | 24 November 1961 | |
Patrick Huskinson, CBE, MC & Bar[112] | 6 February 1930 | William Kent AFC[113] | 25 September 1965 | |
Stanley Flamank Vincent, CB, DFC, AFC[114] | 24 October 1931 | Henry Ellis Angell DFC [115] | 6 December 1965 | |
John Auguste Boret, CBE, MC, AFC[116] | 1 May 1933 | George Henry Dodd | August 1968 | |
John Simon Leslie Adams | 4 March 1937 | Brian James Lemon MBE, AFC[117] | 1 April 1972 | |
Geoffrey Augustus Graydon Johnston, CBE | 28 August 1939 | Peter David Leonard Gover MBE, AFC, BSc | March 1974 | |
Hilary Richard Lionel Hood, DFC[118] | 22 April 1940 | Sir Charles John Thomson, GCB CBE, AFC | October 1976 | |
Robert Charles Franklin Lister | 8 September 1940 | Christopher Granville-White CBE | 4 December 1978 | |
Donald Osborne Finlay, DFC, AFC | 14 September 1940 | Hilton Henry Moses MBE | 8 March 1982 | |
Lionel Manley Gaunce, DFC[119] | 9 August 1941 | David Kenworthy Norriss, QCVSA | November 1984 | |
Petrus Hendrik Hugo, DSO, DFC & 2 Bars | 20 November 1941 | David Henry Milne-Smith | March 1987 | |
John Clarke Fee | 12 April 1942 | George William Pixton DFC, AFC | September 1989 | |
Geoffrey Cockayne Hyde | 28 July 1942 | Derek Stephen Griggs AFC, BA | March 1992 | |
Thomas Francis Neil, DFC & Bar, AFC | 3 September 1942 | Sir Christopher Nigel Harper KBE | October 1994 | |
Bernard Ingham, DFC | 25 July 1943 | John P. Maloney | January 1997 | |
Ian George Stewart Matthew, DFC | 20 November 1943 | Graham A. Wright, BSc, HCSC | August 1999 | |
Arthur Allan Glen, DFC & Bar | 26 January 1944 | Mark William Gardner Hopkins, MBE, MA, MSc | March 2002 | |
Robert Hugh Chapman | 28 May 1944 | Richard M. J. MacCormac, MA | September 2004 | |
Douglas Ian Benham, OBE, DFC, AFC | 28 August 1944 | Gary Martin Waterfall, CBE | 1 April 2006 | |
John Bean Shepherd, DFC & 2 Bars[120] | 8 April 1945 | Andrew Michael Myers, MBE, MA | 8 June 2007 | |
Henry Ambrose, DFC & Bar | 28 January 1946 | Richard Andrew Davies, CBE, MA | November 2009 | |
Peter Wilson Lovell, DFC, AFC | 1 April 1946 | Mark Owen Rodden | 6 June 2012 | |
William Hoy, DFC, AFC[121] | 20 January 1948 | Steven Berry, MBE, MEng | 5 December 2014 | |
Harold Herbert Moon | 13 October 1948 | James Jody McMeeking | 15 September 2017 | |
James Wallace, DSO, DFC, AFC[122] | November 1949 | Lee Gordon | 1 April 2020[123] |
Decorations awarded 1916–1946
Name | Date of Award |
---|---|
Distinguished Service Order[124] | 6 |
CLAXTON, William G. | 2 Nov 1918 |
LANDON, Joseph H. A. | 4 Jun 1917 |
MCCALL, Frederick R. G. | 3 Aug 1918 |
LOCK, Eric S. | 17 Dec 1940 |
HUGO, Petrus H. | 29 May 1942 |
BURNE, Thomas R. | 29 May 1945 |
Military Cross | 6 |
BAKER, Valentine H. | 24 Jul 1917 |
CHAPPELL, Roy W. | 22 Jun 1918 |
DENISON, Amos A. | 3 Feb 1917 |
MACLEAN, Loudoun J. (Bar) | 1 Feb 1918 |
TAYLOR, Frank H. | 22 Jun 1918 |
WINNICOTT, Russell | 18 Mar 1918 |
Distinguished Flying Cross | 30 |
CLAXTON, William G. | 3 Aug 1918 |
CLAXTON, William G. (Bar) | 21 Sep 1918 |
HEMMING, Alfred S. | 2 Nov 1918 |
MACLEOD, Malcolm P. | 3 Jun 1919 |
MCCALL, Frederick R. G. | 3 Aug 1918 |
SHIELDS, William E. | 2 Nov 1918 |
SHIELDS, William E. (Bar) | 8 Feb 1919 |
SODEN, Frank O. | 8 Feb 1919 |
STEPHENS, Eric J. | 3 Jun 1919 |
RYDER, E. Norman | 19 Apr 1940 |
HOOD, Hilary R. L. | 11 Aug 1940 |
WEBSTER, J. Terence | 20 Aug 1940 |
BENNIONS, George H. | 1 Oct 1940 |
LOCK, Eric S. | 1 Oct 1940 |
LOCK, Eric S. (Bar) | 22 Oct 1940 |
MACKENZIE, John N. | 15 Nov 1940 |
LOVELL, Anthony D. J. | 26 Nov 1940 |
BUSH, Charles R. | 14 Oct 1941 |
MARPLES, Roy | 14 Oct 1941 |
BEARDSLEY, Robert A. | 17 Oct 1941 |
WINSKILL, Archie L. | 6 Jan 1942 |
FINLAY, Donald O. | 10 Apr 1942 |
GLEN, Arthur A. | 29 May 1942 |
GLEN, Arthur A. (Bar) | 5 Nov 1943 |
BENHAM, Douglas I. (Bar) | 8 May 1945 |
REID, Daniel J. | 1 Jun 1945 |
COLEMAN, Patrick T. | 24 Jul 1945 |
COWELL, Peter | 24 Jul 1945 |
STEVENSON, Ian T. | 24 Jul 1945 |
SHEPHERD, John B. (2nd Bar) | 14 Sep 1945 |
PIXTON, George W. | 17 Jan 1991 |
Distinguished Flying Medal | 1 |
PALMER, Wilfred | 17 Oct 1941 |
Military Medal | 2 |
BRIFFAULT, Lister, Cpl Mech[125] | 15 Jul 1919 |
WOOD, James, AM2[126] | 15 Jul 1919 |
Mention in Despatches | 5 |
CLAXTON, William G. | 8 Nov 1918 |
KNOWLES, John W., Chf Mech[127] | 11 Jul 1919 |
O’CONNOR, Martin, Snr Mech[128] | 11 Jul 1919 |
SHIELDS, William E. | 11 Jul 1919 |
LOCK, Eric S. | 17 Mar 1941 |
Croix de Guerre (Belgium) | 2 |
BOWMAN, Geoffrey H. | 15 Jul 1919 |
MacLEOD, Malcolm P. | 15 Jul 1919 |
Croix de Guerre (France) | 2 |
GILLESPIE, William J. (with Palm) | 22 Aug 1919 |
MARCHANT, Clarence H. (with Palm) | 12 Feb 1918 |
Prisoners of War 1916–1918 & 1939–1945
World War I[129] | World War II[130] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Date of Capture | Name | Date of Capture | |
BUCKNALL, Claude V. | 5 Oct 1918 | APPLETON, Arthur S. | 18 December 1944 | |
CARTER, Guy L. | 8 Aug 1918 | BREW, William A. | 27 August 1941 | |
CLARK, Frederick S. | 29 Oct 1917 | BULL, Alan L. | 12 August 1941 | |
CLATON, William G. | 17 Aug 1918 | CHAPMAN, Raymond | 12 August 1941 | |
COOKE, Philip B. | 28 Sep 1918 | DRAPER, Gilbert G. F. | 7 August 1941 | |
CRAWFORD, Charles | 24 Sep 1918 | GRAHAM, Peter B. | 1 September 1944 | |
DEANE, George S. | 26 Nov 1916 | HARDING, Ross P. | 13 February 1945 | |
DWYER, Neville Augustus | 22 Sep 1918 | HAYWOOD, Douglas | 27 August 1943 | |
FRASER, Andrew | 3 May 1917 | HENRY, David J. V. | 10 February 1945 | |
HAIGHT, John L. | 28 Sep 1917 | HIND, Peter[131] | 31 August 1941 | |
HAIR, Norman B. | 7 Jun 1917 | HOARE, Reginald M.[132] | 1 April 1943 | |
HALL, Ernest O. W | 27 Oct 1918 | PALMER, Wilfred | 12 April 1942 | |
HEWAT, Harry B. | 28 Sep 1918 | PARRY, Hugh L.[133] | 7 February 1944 | |
ISBELL, Arthur T. | 21 Mar 1918 | PRICKETT, Leslie A.[134] | 17 December 1943 | |
MacGOWN, John C. | 7 Jul 1917 | ROOD, Albert van | 12 April 1942 | |
MILANI, Rudolph S. | 28 May 1918 | SLACK, Thomas A. H. | 23 August 1944 | |
MITCHELL, William | 28 Sep 1918 | STAPLETON, William A. | 1 June 1940 | |
POWELL, Frederick J. | 2 Feb 1918 | STOK, Bram van der[135] | 12 April 1942 | |
SMITH, A. F. | 28 Sep 1918 | TEBBIT, Donald F. J. | 22 February 1945 | |
STURGESS, Thomas M. | 26 Jun 1917 | WAGNER, Herbert A. | 2 June 1944 | |
TELFER, Harry C. | 28 Sep 1918 | WILLIAMS, Marx G. | 18 August 1941 |
Escapers and evaders 1939–1945
Name[136] | Period | Details |
---|---|---|
WINSKILL, Archie L. | Aug–Nov 1941 | Evaded and returned to UK |
SLACK, Thomas A. H. | Jul–Aug 1943 | Evaded and returned to UK |
PRICKETT, Leslie A. | Aug–Dec 1943 | Evaded for four months, but captured |
MAY, Stanley H. | Sep–Oct 1943 | Evaded and returned to UK |
PARRY, Hugh L. | Sep 1943 – Mar 1944 | Evaded for six months, but captured |
STOK, Bram van der | March 1944 | Escaped in ‘Great Escape’ & returned to UK |
Guinea Pig Club members
Name[137] | Date of Injury | Service on 41 Sqn |
---|---|---|
BENNIONS, George H. | 1 October 1940 | 16 February 1936 – 1 October 1940 |
LANE, Roy | 26 August 1940 | 6 April-ca 27 September 1943 |
LOCK, Eric S. | 17 November 1940 | 18 June-17 November 1940 |
WHALE, F. Victor | 11 December 1944 | 7 March 1945 – 12 February 1946 |
WOOLLARD, Frederick G. | 18 July 1944 | 18 December 1943 – 18 July 1944 |
Roll of Honour 1916–2016
Name[138] | Nationality | Date | Name | Nationality | Date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1916-1919 | 1939–1945 | |||||
ALEXANDER, Thomas M. | British | 17 Aug 1918 | CHATTIN, Peter W. | British | 3 Sep 1944 | |
ARBERY, Ernest E. | British | 6 Jun 1917 | COPE, Arthur R. | Australian | 9 Mar 1943 | |
BAILEY, Louis J. | British | 17 Jun 1917 | COPLEY, John J. H. | British | 14 Sep 1939 | |
BARWELL, Humphrey E. | British | 3 Feb 1918 | CROKER, Eric E. | New Zealander | 2 Jun 1941 | |
BROWNING, Stanley F. | British | 3 May 1917 | DUNSTAN, Bruce P. | British | 12 Feb 1942 | |
BUSH, John S. de L. | British | 25 Aug 1917 | EAST, Walter R. | British | 3 May 1943 | |
CHAPMAN, Alfred J. | British | 18 Sep 1917 | FLEMING, Douglas | Canadian | 23 Nov 1941 | |
CHIPCHASE, Benjamin | British | 20 Mar 1918 | GAMBLEN, Douglas R. | British | 29 Jul 1940 | |
CODY, Samuel F. L. | British | 23 Jan 1917 | GARVEY, Leonard A. | British | 30 Oct 1940 | |
DOUGLAS, Frederick W. | Canadian | 12 Aug 1918 | GAUNCE, Lionel M. | Canadian | 19 Nov 1941 | |
ECCLES, Charley G. | British | 25 May 1917 | GILDERS, John S. | British | 21 Feb 1941 | |
EDWARDS, Arthur W. | British | 10 Oct 1917 | GILLITT, Frank N. | British | 22 Oct 1942 | |
FRASER, Alistair H. | British | 11 Aug 1918 | GOODALL, Bernard B. | New Zealander | 15 Aug 1942 | |
GORDON, John A. | Canadian | 12 Aug 1918 | GRAY, James A. B. | British | 3 Oct 1943 | |
HOLMAN, Gerald C. | British | 17 Sep 1917 | HARRIS, Albert | British | 18 Oct 1939 | |
JACKSON, Harold | British | 7 Jun 1917 | HARRISON, Ronald | British | 22 Oct 1942 | |
JONES, Harold E. | British | 22 Nov 1917 | HIND, Peter | British | 8 Jul 1942 | |
MacGREGOR, Donald A. D. I. | British | 30 Nov 1917 | HOGARTH, Rycherde H. W. | South African | 18 Jul 1943 | |
MARTIN, Frederick W. H. | Canadian | 9 Aug 1918 | HOGG, Ralph V. | British | 10 Dec 1940 | |
McARDLE, Hugh F. | British | 18 Sep 1917 | HOOD, Hilary R. L. | British | 5 Sep 1940 | |
McCONE, John P. | Canadian | 24 Mar 1918 | HUNT, Leonard | British | 16 Sep 1941 | |
MITCHELL, William | British | 10 Oct 1918 | HYDE, Geoffrey C. | British | 19 Aug 1942 | |
MORRIS, Walter A. | British | 2 Oct 1918 | JENKIN, Thomas E. | British | 5 May 1942 | |
NICHOLLS, Edward C. H. R. | British | 20 Sep 1918 | JONES, Horace | British | 18 Oct 1939 | |
O'LONGAN, Paul C. S. | Irish | 1 Jun 1917 | JURY, Richard D. | British | 18 Aug 1941 | |
PAYNE, Hubert | British | 4 Jan 1917 | LANGLEY, Gerald A. | British | 15 Sep 1940 | |
PERKINS, Thorold | British | 31 May 1917 | LECKY, John G. | British | 11 Oct 1940 | |
PINK, Alan L. | British | 30 Oct 1918 | LEGARD, William E. | British | 1 Jun 1940 | |
STANLEY, Frederick | British | 26 Oct 1917 | LLOYD, Philip D. | British | 15 Oct 1940 | |
SWANN, Gerald H. | British | 18 Oct 1917 | McADAM, John | British | 20 Feb 1941 | |
TAYLOR, Robert E. | Canadian | 17 Sep 1917 | MORGAN, Harry P. D. | British | 27 Aug 1941 | |
THOMPSON, William G. | British | 14 Jul 1917 | MOTTERSHEAD, Clifford H. | British | 2 Mar 1945 | |
TOOMS, Cecil S. | British | 24 Jan 1917 | MURRIN, Wilfred F. | British | 18 May 1943 | |
TRIMBLE, Alan V. | British | 25 Aug 1918 | ODDY, Clifford | British | 17 Jul 1944 | |
TUCKER, Donald C. | British | 24 Mar 1918 | O'NEILL, Desmond H. | Irish | 11 Oct 1940 | |
TURNBULL, John S. | British | 17 Jun 1918 | OVERALL, Horace E. H. | Canadian | 6 Nov 1939 | |
WEISS, Edward S. | British | 22 Nov 1917 | OXENHAM, Russel E. G. | British | 24 Sep 1942 | |
WHITEHEAD, Reginald M. | British | 22 Nov 1917 | POYNTON, T. Rex | Zululand | 23 Apr 1943 | |
WINNICOTT, Russell | British | 6 Dec 1917 | ROBINSON, Kenneth B. | Irish | 7 Jun 1944 | |
SCOTT, Thomas R. | British | 22 Oct 1942 | ||||
1923–1939[139] | SCOTT, William J. M. | British | 8 Sep 1940 | |||
SHEA, David J. | Canadian | 13 Mar 1944 | ||||
ADDAMS, Anthony C. | British | 16 Jun 1926 | SHEPHERD, John B. | British | 22 Jan 1946 | |
ALLDAY, Francis | British | 9 Jun 1936 | SHORT, Roger L. | British | 17 Jul 1944 | |
BAILEY, Allan S. | British | 9 Jun 1936 | THOMAS, John I. | British | 24 Apr 1943 | |
BAKER, Frank | British | 18 May 1934 | VALIQUET, Charles N. | Canadian | 9 May 1942 | |
BRADBURY, Geoffrey | British | 20 May 1928 | VAN GOENS, Ryklof | Dutch | 17 Aug 1944 | |
MITCHELL, Kenneth | British | 18 Jul 1939 | VINCENT, Arthur | British | 18 Oct 1939 | |
ST. GEORGE-TAYLOR, Harold | British | 9 Oct 1924 | VYKOUKAL, Karel J. | Czech | 21 May 1942 | |
SAWYER, Wilfred | British | 6 Aug 1930 | WAINWRIGHT, Derek W. | British | 10 Jun 1942 | |
SERJEANT, George V. | British | 16 Mar 1939 | WATTS, Edward G. H. | British | 12 Apr 1942 | |
SLOWEY, Henry E. | New Zealander | 23 Aug 1932 | WEBSTER, J. Terence | British | 5 Sep 1940 | |
VAUGHAN-FOWLER, Denis G. | British | 7 Aug 1931 | WHITEFORD, Cyril J. L. | Rhodesian | 13 Oct 1941 | |
. | ||||||
1939–1946 | 1946 – present | |||||
. | ||||||
ALLAN, Reginald C. | Australian | 20 Jul 1942 | SHEPHERD, John B. | Canadian | 22 Jan 1946 | |
ALLEN, John J. | Australian | 20 Jun 1942 | MUNROE, John P. J.[140] | British | 17 Apr 1956 | |
ANGUS, Robert A. | British | 20 Feb 1941 | COULSTON, Roger T.[141] | British | 13 Oct 1956 | |
BACHE, Leslie L. | British | 13 Oct 1941 | TAYLOR, Earl[142] | American | 11 July 1958 | |
BALASSE, Maurice A. L. | Belgian | 23 Jan 1945 | ROE, Brian | British | 21 May 1983 | |
BEDNARZ, Jozef | Polish | 1 Feb 1943 | MESSENGER, Michael J. | British | 21 May 1983 | |
BLITZ, Morris | British | 13 Oct 1940 | ARMSTRONG, Paul T. | British | 21 May 1983 | |
BODKIN, W. Fred | Canadian | 28 Aug 1941 | SWASH, Derrick | British | 21 May 1983 | |
BOYD, Robert J. | British | 6 Sep 1943 | WINSHIP, Stuart | British | 21 May 1983 | |
BOYLE, John G. | Canadian | 28 Sep 1940 | MANNHEIM, Andrew S.[143] | British | 17 Jun 1987 | |
BRIGGS, Michael F. | British | 2 Apr 1941 | NOBLE, Greg[144] | British | 23 Jan 1996 | |
CHALDER, Harry H. | British | 10 Nov 1940 |
References
Notes
- ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
- ^ a b The Dunkirk Battle Honour was not awarded until 2012. The reason the Honour was not originally awarded is unknown and was likely just an oversight. Recognising the error and a legitimate claim to the Honour, the squadron made a formal application in 2010, and Buckingham Palace approved the Honour in February 2012, almost 72 years after the event. 41 Squadron was involved in the evacuation of Dunkirk between 28 May and 8 June 1940. In addition to claiming several victories against the Luftwaffe, the unit lost one pilot killed in action and a second shot down and captured.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "41(R) Squadron". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ Rawlings 1978, p. 106.
- ^ a b c d Operations Record Book for 41 Squadron RFC/RAF, Oct 1916 – Jan 1919, TNA AIR 1/1791/204/153/1-4 & 1/1792/204/153/5-6, 8 & 10
- ^ a b History of 41 Squadron, R.A.F., 1916–1927; TNA AIR 1/692/21/20/41
- ^ Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Operations Record Book for 41 Squadron RFC/RAF, Oct 1916 – Jan 1919, TNA AIR 1/1791/204/153/1-4 & 1/1792/204/153/5-6, 8 & 10, Recording Officer’s Diary, 41 Squadron RAF, 9 Oct. 1916 – 30 May 1917; TNA AIR 1/1791/204/153/11, and Record of Enemy Aircraft Brought Down, Jan. 1917-Nov. 1918, 41 Squadron RAF, TNA AIR 1/1792/204/153/16
- ^ a b c d e f g h i 41 Squadron Operations Record Book, TNA AIR 27/424.
- ^ The Times, 29 July 1929
- ^ "The loss of H.M. Airship R101". Flight. XXII (1137): 1107–1114. 10 October 1930. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ The Times, 27 June, 1 July, 2 July, & 3 July 1935
- ^ The Times, 14 August & 2 November 1936
- ^ The Times, 14 August & 16 September 1936
- ISBN 0-946219-48-6.
- ^ 41 Squadron Operations Record Book, TNA AIR 27/424, Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation, Air Officer Biographies, http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/1-Cdrs_Alp_ind.htm, and Flying Accident Cards, Air Ministry Form 1180, Royal Air Force Museum, Grahame Park Way, Hendon, United Kingdom, NW9 5LL.
- ^ 41 Squadron Operations Record Book, TNA AIR 27/424, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and Brew (2014), pp 281–285.
- ^ Brew (2014), p. 357.
- ^ 41 Squadron Operations Record Book, TNA AIR 27/425, and Brew (2014), p. 430.
- ^ 41 Squadron Operations Record Book, TNA AIR 27/425, and Brew (2014), pp. 580–587.
- ^ 41 Squadron Operations Record Book, TNA AIR 27/425, and Brew (2012), pp. 23–39.
- ^ 41 Squadron Operations Record Book, TNA AIR 27/425.
- ^ 41 Squadron Operations Record Book, TNA AIR 27/425
- ^ Operations Record Books for 41 Squadron (TNA AIR 27/425), RAF Tangmere (TNA AIR 28/815), and 11 Group RAF (TNA AIR 25/194-195 and 25/206-208).
- ^ 41 Squadron Operations Record Book, TNA AIR 27/426, and Brew (2012), Chapter 6.
- ^ Brew (2012), p. 498.
- ^ a b 41 Squadron Operations Record Book, TNA AIR 27/426.
- ^ 41 Squadron Operations Record Book, TNA AIR 27/426, and Brew (2012), Chapter 10.
- ^ a b 41 Squadron Operations Record Book, TNA AIR 27/2413.
- ^ "Flying Made My arms Ache", Wally Wallens DFC, and 41 Squadron Operations Record Book, TNA AIR 27/425.
- ^ 41 Squadron Operations Record Books, TNA AIR 27/424-426, Brew (2014), pp. 748–818 (Pilot Biographies 1939–42), and Brew (2012), pp. 776–831 (Pilot Biographies 1942–45).
- ^ Brew, summary of casualties in "Blood, Sweat and Courage" (Fonthill, 2014), and "Blood, Sweat and Valour" (Fonthill, 2012).
- ^ "Air Chief Marshal Sir Theodore McEvoy (16181)". RAFWeb.org. Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ The Times, 13 May & 5 July 1957
- ^ Biggin Hill Airport. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ a b Parsons, Gary. "41 Squadron: Seek and Destroy". AirSceneUK.org.uk. Air-Scene UK. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Air Vice-Marshal V S Bowling (24197)". RAFWeb.org. Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "41 Squadron – RAF West Raynham – Bloodhound MkII - SAGW". BloodhoundMkII.org.uk. Bloodhound Missile Preservation Group (BMPG). n.d. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Jaguar : squadron service : Royal Air Force". TargetLock.org.uk. Target Lock. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- ^ "RIC provides picture perfect intelligence to ONW commanders". CTLOPEZ.COM. 16 October 2001.
- ^ "Sepecat Jaguar Recce Pod, 601GP(1), DJRP". AirRecce.co.uk. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Enhanced Vision System". HCLTech.com. HCL Technologies. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities" (PDF). MoD.uk. Ministry of Defence. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2006.
- ^ "Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities" (PDF). MoD.uk. Ministry of Defence. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2006.
- ^ "Royal Air Force Coltishall". SpiritOfColtishall.com. Spirit of Coltishall Association. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-4081-1414-8
- ^ a b "41 Sqn 100 history". RAF.MoD.uk. RAF Coningsby, Royal Air Force. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "No. 41 Squadron Battle of Britain event". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. 8 September 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ "Aviation photography – 41 Squadron RAF". TargetA.co.uk. Target Aviation Photography. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review" (PDF). Direct.Gov.uk. TSO. October 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ "First squadron loses its Harriers". Key.Aero. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "Royal Wedding Flypast rehearsal". RAF.MoD.uk. RAF Coningsby. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "Olympic and Battle of Britain hero commemorated". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ "Blood, Sweat and Valour". brew.clients.ch. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "Blood, Sweat and Courage". brew.clients.ch. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "Typhoons in new colours". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ "Eurofighter EF-2000/Typhoon | RAF 41 Squadron BAE Typhoon FGR.4 ZJ914 / EB-H at the Waddington Airshow (2013)". AviationPhotoCompany.com.
- ^ "41 Sqn Association". XLI100.com. 41 Squadron. 12 March 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "Tornado GR4 farewell". SeekAndDestroy.info. Seek and Destry. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ "Eurofighter Typhoon enhancement programme: our crucial role". QinetiQ.com. QinetiQ. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ "Defence Electronics and Components Agency".
- ^ Valentine Henry Baker funeral brochure. Martin-Baker Co. 1942.
- ^ "Barksdale: This life, this death". Air Force: 112. October 2017.
- ^ "Frederick McCall". FirstWorldWar.com. First World War. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ Constable, Miles. "Raymond Collishaw World War I Fighter Ace: a short history". Constable.ca. Canadian Air Aces and Heroes. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
- ^ "Air Commodore P. Huskinson". RAFWeb.org. Air of Authority. 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- ^ "Air Commodore Allen Wheeler." Times [London, England] 5 January 1984: 12. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 1 November 2013.
- ^ Obituary: Thomas Chaloner, 2nd Baron Gisborough, The Times 2 March 1951; Issue 51939
- Daily Telegraph. 12 February 2004. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-89141-166-6.
- ^ "Don Finlay". Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ Tidy, D. (June 1969). "South African Air Aces of World War II".
- ^ "Obituary: Bram van der Stok". Telegraph.co.uk. The Daily Telegraph. 1 July 1993. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ "George Frederick 'Screwball' Beurling". AcesOfWW2.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ "Prince Emanuel Galitzine". Telegraph.co.uk. The Daily Telegraph. 9 January 2003. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ Brew (2012), p. 671.
- ^ Brew (2012), pp. 707 & 815.
- ^ "Sqn Ldr Terry Spencer". Scarlet.be. 350 Squadron. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ Originally formed from a nucleus of men from 28 Squadron RFC but disbanded again on 22 May 1916 by re-numbering to 27 Reserve Squadron RFC.
- ^ During the squadron’s stay at RAF Westhampnett between 21 June and 4 October 1943, several operations were flown from other Stations. These included a Rhubarb from Manston on 28 August, a fighter sweep from Manston on 30 August, convoy patrols from Lympne on 2 September, a Ramrod from Bradwell Bay on 5 September, Ramrods from Lympne and Hawkinge on 8 September, a Ramrod from Manston on 15 September, Ramrods from Manston and West Malling on 19 September, and two Ramrods from Manston on 3 October.
- ^ Re-formed as 41 Squadron RFC from a nucleus of men from 27 Reserve Squadron RFC.
- ^ During the squadron’s stay at RAF Tangmere between 4 October 1943 and 11 March 1944, several operations were flown from other Stations. These included a Ramrod from Hawkinge and back to Manston on 9 October, two Ramrods from Manston on 10 November 1943, a Ramrod from Hawkinge on 26 November, a Ramrod from Manston on 4 December 1943, a Ramrod from Bradwell Bay on 13 December 1943, a Ramrod from Friston on 21 February 1944, and a Ramrod from Hawkinge on 25 February 1944.
- ^ For an air firing course at 17 Armament Practice Camp.
- ^ For an air-to-air firing and air-to-ground bombing course at 11 Armament Practice Camp
- ^ The squadron’s operations from RAF Tangmere on 26 June 1944 only consisted of three anti-Diver patrols (six sorties), before moving on to Westhampnett.
- ^ B.56 Evere can barely be considered a base. When the squadron flew to the Continent on 4 December 1944, they only landed at Evere as they were concerned about the condition of the strip at B.64 Diest. The pilots then travelled to Diest by road, where they stayed overnight, and returned to Evere the following morning to pick up their aircraft and fly them back to Diest, where they remained more or less until the end of the year.
- ^ There is some confusion about whether 41 Squadron was based at Asch or Ophoven during this period. This probably stems from an entry in the squadron ORB on 31 December 1944, which states, "Y.32. Asch", however Y.32 was actually the number for Ophoven. In fact, subsequent ORB entries began to distance themselves from Asch, stating "Y.32 Near Asch", though all entries still state Y.32. Asch’s number was Y.29 and was an American aerodrome from which fighters of the U.S. 352nd and 366th Fighter Groups operated. Royal Air Force units – namely 41, 130, 350 and 610 Squadrons – were based at nearby Y.32 Ophoven, a fact confirmed by many sources, thereunder the 125 Wing ORB.
- ^ For an air-to-air and ground firing course at 17 Armament Practice Camp.
- ^ For a dive-bombing course at 17 Armament Practice Camp.
- ^ One flight and a contingent of ground crew were based at Thornaby, Yorkshire, from 23 February until 3 March 1940. During this time, A flight operated from Thornaby and B Flight from Catterick. On a few occasions outside this timeframe, pilots also operated from Thornaby as a result of weather conditions at Catterick. West Hartlepool (Greatham) was also used as a forward base from 2 April to 28 May 1940.
- ^ Hartlepool continued to be in use by the squadron as a forward base from 8 June to 19 July 1940, but used Thornaby again from 20 to 26 July 1940.
- ^ Manston was used as a forward base for several patrols on 27–31 July 1940 and 2–3 August 1940.
- ^ The squadron often operated from RAF Rochford, a forward base and satellite of RAF Hornchurch, between 6 September and 7 October 1940.
- ^ During this period, the squadron operated patrols from Thornaby on 2, 10, and 12 June 1941, on 6 and 16 July 1941, and undertook an offensive sweep from Redhill, Surrey, as an element of an 11 Group Circus, on 27 June 1941.
- ^ The squadron moved to Westhampnett temporarily whilst the runways were repaired and modified. During the squadron’s period at Westhampnett, the Squadron is believed to have undertaken two operations from Manston during January 1942, and operated from Manston during the German Navy’s ‘Channel Dash’ on 12 February 1942.
- ^ The squadron was initially sent to Martlesham Heath for an Air Firing Course, but the order was amended whilst they were there, to an operational posting, and Air Firing ceased on 20 June.
- ^ The squadron was posted to RAF Longtown for Exercise 'Dryshod'. The squadron should have flown up to Longtown on 2 August 1942, but the move was hampered by poor weather and they did not arrive until 4 August. The pilots flew to their new base, RAF Llanbedr, on 9 August and the ground crews departed from Longtown by ground transport on 10 August, and arrived in Llanbedr on 11 August.
- ^ For Operation Jubilee, the Allied attack on Dieppe, which took place on 19 August 1942.
- ^ For Exercise 'Punch', which ran 23–29 September 1942.
- ^ Operational deployment in Operation 'Desert Storm' (Operation 'Granby'), First Gulf War.
- ^ For Exercise 'Aflame', which ran 8–10 October 1942.
- ^ Operational deployment in Operation 'Desert Storm' (Operation 'Granby'), First Gulf War. Muharraq is the site of Bahrain International Airport.
- ^ Several sections were attached to RAF Westhampnett from 13 December 1942 to 13 January 1943 during this period for operational training.
- ^ Operational deployment for Operation 'Warden', policing no-fly zone in Northern Iraq.
- ^ Operational deployment for Operation 'Deny Flight' on air policing duties over Bosnia.
- ^ Operational deployment for Operation 'Telic' in the Second Gulf War
- ^ Barrass, M. B. "Air Commodore Maxwell Scannell". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ Barrass, M. B. "Air Vice-Marshal Raymond Collishaw". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ "Flight Lieutenant J Castagnola DSO DFC". Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "Group Captain David Hutchinson Smith". The Daily Telegraph. London, UK. 21 July 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ Barrass, M. B. "Air Vice-Marshal Robert Stanley Aitken". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ "Service Appointments: Pinnington". The Daily Telegraph. 27 November 1961. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ Barrass, M. B. "Air Commodore Patrick Huskinson". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ "Service Appointments: W. Kent". The Daily Telegraph. 11 October 1965. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ Barrass, M. B. "Air Vice Marshal Stanley Flamank Vincent". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ Haslam, Frank (2013). "A Celebration of the Life of Wg Cdr HE 'Bill' Angell DFC RAF (Retd)". 207 Squadron RAF History. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ Barrass, M. B. "Air Vice Marshal John Auguste Boret". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ "Deaths Announcements: Lemon". The Daily Telegraph. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ "What Happened to Squadron Leader Robin Hood?". BBC – WW2 People's War. 15 November 2003. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ "F/Lt. L. M. Gaunce". Battle of Britain London Monument. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ "Sergeant J. B. Shepherd". Battle of Britain London Monument. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ "Wing Commander William Hoy". The Daily Telegraph. London, UK. 27 December 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ Barrass, M. B. "Air Commodore James Wallace". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ https://www.seekanddestroy.info/blog/category/squadron-updates (rtrvd 01 Dec 2020)
- ^ Sources: 41 Squadron ORB and London Gazette
- ^ 9991 Cpl Mech Lister Briffault of Dunedin, New Zealand, enlisted in the RFC on 16 October 1915. Unfortunately, no citation exists for his MM, and there is therefore no indication of why it was awarded.
- ^ 53074 AM2 James Wood enlisted in the RFC on 3 January 1917. Unfortunately, no citation exists for his MM, and there is therefore no indication of why it was awarded.
- ^ 2045 Chf Mech John W. Knowles of Roehampton, Surrey, enlisted in the RFC on 4 November 1914. His personnel file (TNA AIR 79/27) appears to indicate he travelled to France with 41 Squadron’s ground crew on their first deployment to the Western Front in October 1916 and remained with them until he was admitted to hospital with tonsillitis in mid-January 1919. Knowles transferred to the RAF on 1 April 1918 as a Chief Mechanic and was reclassified a Flight Sergeant, Rigger Aero, on 1 January 1919. He transferred to the RAF Reserve, Class E, on 24 April 1919, and was discharged on 3 November 1922, by which time he had completed exactly eight years’ service with the RFC/RAF, of which two years and three-and-a-half months were spent in France. It is unknown what acts or service led to him earning a Mention in Despatches.
- ^ 1085 Snr Mech Martin O’Connor of Dudley, Worcestershire, joined the South Staffordshire Regiment on 11 February 1910 and transferred to the RFC on 11 September 1913. He spent time in France and England with 18 Squadron RFC, before being posted to 41 Squadron in Summer 1916. O’Connor travelled to France with 41 Squadron’s ground crew on their first deployment to the Western Front on 13 October 1916, by which time he was a Flight Sergeant and Acting Warrant Officer. Promoted to Temporary Senior Mechanic on 2 May 1917, O’Connor transferred to the RAF as a Senior Mechanic on 1 April 1918 and, on 41 Squadron’s reduction to Cadre and transfer home in February 1919, he was posted to 80 Wing in France. Following brief service with 20 Squadron in late February, O’Connor was repatriated to England on 21 March 1919 and transferred to the Reserve, Class E, a month later. It is unknown what acts or service led to him earning a Mention in Despatches.
- ^ Sources: 41 Squadron ORB 1916–1919 (TNA AIR 1/1791/204/153/1-4 & 1/1792/204/153/5-6, 8 & 10) and 'Reports by Repatriated or Escaped R.A.F. Officer Prisoner of War' (TNA AIR 1/1206/204/5/2619 & AIR 1/1207/204/5/2619).
- ^ Sources: 41 Squadron ORB (TNA AIR 27/424-426) and 'War Office: Directorate of Military Intelligence: Liberated Prisoner of War Interrogation Questionnaires' 1945–1946 (TNA WO 344).
- ^ Died of wounds in captivity 8 July 1942.
- ^ Shot down whilst attached to 91 Squadron for operational training.
- ^ Shot down 24 September 1943, but hidden by Resistance until his capture on this date.
- ^ Shot down 27 August 1943, but hidden by Resistance until his capture on this date.
- ^ One of only three successful escapees of the 75 men involved in the mass breakout from Stalag Luft III on 24 March 1944, now known as "The Great Escape".
- ^ Sources: 41 Squadron Operations Record Book (TNA AIR 27/425-426) and 'Escape/Evasion Reports: Code MI9/SPG' (TNA WO 208)
- ISBN 0 7207 1191 6.
- ^ Sources: Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 41 Squadron Operations Records Books 1916–1946 (TNA AIR 1/1791/204/153/1-4, TNA AIR 1/1792/204/153/5-6, 8 & 10, & TNA AIR 27/424-426), 'Air Ministry and Successors: Civil Aviation Accident Reports (C, W, and S Reports) and Technical Memoranda' (TNA AVIA 5), and Air Accident Report Cards, Air Ministry Form 1180 (RAF Museum).
- ^ On 5 June 1924, Flt Lt Robert Howell Craster Usher MC AFC was killed in DH42 'Dingo', J7006, which was undergoing flight testing on 41 Squadron. Usher was not a member of 41 Squadron at the time and is believed to have been with the Superintendent of Reserves, which was co-located at RAF Northolt. It was perhaps because of this proximity that Usher took the opportunity to fly the new aircraft type. Usher has his own page on Wikipedia with further information relating to this incident.
- ^ Fg Off John Philip James Munroe was killed in a flying accident in Hawker Hunter, WN965, when he was seen to dive out of cloud at 2,000ft at high speed. He hit the ground Barn End Lane, Wilmington, near Dartford, Kent. See https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=58322 for further information.
- ^ 22-year-old Fg Off Roger Thomas Coulston was killed in a flying accident in Gloster Meteor F.Mk 8, WA855, when his aircraft suffered engine failure and crashed on Merton Court School playing field, Rectory Lane, Sidcup, Kent. He used his ejection seat but, at 100 feet altitude, was too low for his parachute to deploy. Trees broke his fall but he landed on a road, fracturing his leg and suffering from shock. He subsequently died of his injuries in Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup. See https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/20305, The Sunday Times of 14 Oct 1956, The Times and The Telegraph of 15 Oct 1956 for further information.
- ^ USAF pilot Capt Earl Taylor was a World War II and Korean War veteran, who was on an exchange tour with the RAF. He was serving with 41 Squadron when he was killed in a flying accident in a Javelin during an exercise at RAF Wattisham on 11 July 1958.
- ^ Flt Lt Andrew Mannheim was flying Jaguar GR1, XZ116/D when he collided with 20 Squadron's Tornado GR.1, ZA493, south of Keswick, Cumbria, on 17 June 1987. See "Target Lock: Jaguar : Squadron Service : Royal Air Force". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015. for further information.
- ^ Flt Lt Greg Noble crashed on take-off from RAF Coltishall in Jaguar GR.1B, XX733/ER, on 23 January 1996. See "Target Lock: Jaguar : Squadron Service : Royal Air Force". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015. for further information.
Bibliography
- Brew, Steve, Blood, Sweat and Valour. London: Fonthill Media, 2012. ISBN 978-1-78155-193-6.
- Brew, Steve, Blood, Sweat and Courage. London: Fonthill Media, 2014. ISBN 978-1-78155-296-4.
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents Since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
- Rawlings, John. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1969 (second edition 1976). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
External links
- 41 Squadron RAF — official website at RAF.MoD.uk
- Wattisham squadrons – 41 Squadron
- 41 (F) Squadron RAF at War and Peace, April 1916 – March 1946
- Blood, Sweat and Courage, 41 Squadron RAF Sep 1939 – Jul 1942
- Blood, Sweat and Valour, 41 Squadron RAF Aug 1942 – May 1945
- 41 Squadron – The End of an Era
- RAF Web 41 Squadron history
- Wartime history of 41 Sqn RAF
- Wartime history of 41 Sqn RFC
- No 41 Squadron Association