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No.22 Sqn RAF |
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Name : No.22 Sqn RAF Founded : 1st September 1915 Disbanded : 31st December 1919 Re - founded : 24th July 1923 Country : UK More Details : Preux et audacieux - Valiant and brave |
No. 22 Squadron was formed at Fort Grange, Gosport, on 1 September 1915 The squadron trained on a variety of aircraft types, including the Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c, the Maurice Farman Shorthorn, the Bleriot XI and the Curtiss JN-3. It received its intended operational type, the Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b in February 1916, passing 14 BE.2s to 33 Squadron and departed for France seven months later with twelve FE2B two-seat pusher biplanes. These outdated aircraft were used for a year on reconnaissance tasks before Bristol Fighters arrived to take over these tasks. The Squadron moved to Germany after the War as part of the Army of Occupation and returned to the UK in August 1919 prior to disbanding at the end of the year. The Squadron was reformed at Martlesham Heath in July 1923, but in name only, as the aircraft it flew belonged to the Aeroplane Experimental Establishment. During the next decade, many new RAF aircraft west tested by the squadron prior to entering service. In 1934, No. 22 Squadron was reformed as a torpedo unit at Donibristle with Vickers Vildebeests. The squadron was still equipped with the Vildebeest when the Second World War broke out in September 1939, with the squadron carrying out anti-submarine patrols over the English Channel. From November 1939 the squadron started to receive Bristol Beaufort twin-engined monoplanes to replace its obsolete biplanes. The Bristol Taurus engines of the Beaufort proved unreliable at first, and the squadron continuing to fly operations with the Vildebeest while converting to the Beaufort. It flew its last operational mission with the Vildebeest on 20 December 1939 (The squadron was based at RAF Thorney Island from 10 March 1938 firstly using Vickers Vildebeest and then the Bristol Beaufort. It was possibly during this time when Flight Officer Kenneth Campbell won his Victoria Cross for a daring attack on the German battleship Gneisenau which was located in Brest harbour during April 1941 which unfortunately took his life. The squadron left on 8 April 1940 then came back to the airfield again on 25 June 1941 and stayed until 28 October 1941 ) On 6 April 1941, Flying Officer K Campbell led a flight of six aircraft in an attack on the German battlecruiser Gneisenau which was anchored in Brest harbour. Campbell's aircraft was the only one the vessel, and despite the awesome German defences, he managed to press home his attack on the Gneisenau before being shot down. It took months for the full story to emerge, but when it did, Campbell was awarded a well-earned Victoria Cross. In 1942, No. 22 Squadron moved to the Far East, re-equipping with Beaufighters in the process and undertaking anti-shipping rocket attacks. A month after the Japanese surrender, No. 22 Squadron disbanded. It wasn't until 1955 that the Squadron reformed again, this time as a search and rescue unit equipped with Whirlwinds. It is in this guise that No. 22 Squadron exists today, having flown Wessex helicopters for a number of years before receiving Sea Kings in the mid-1990s. |
Known Service Details : | |||||||
Pilot or Aircrew | Rank | Start of Service | End of Service | Known Dates | Aircraft | Airframes | Notes |
Flt lt | unknown | unknown | 17/05/42,Boston III (AL347) Anti Sub Patrol 2hrs. Crew; Flt Lt Bell and WO/AG Flt Sgt Clifford Grove. of 22nd Squadron | ||||
flt sgt | unknown | unknown | On December 14, 1942 Boston AL891 ( with fuselage code "DU-K". ) took off piloted by pilot F/O Wines with gunner Flt Sgt Clifford Grove on a bombing and strafing mission against the Membari River. On February 22, 1945 officially written off. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. | ||||
unknown | unknown | ||||||
1st May 1942 | 29th March 1943 | Killed in Action | |||||
| Pilots and Aircrew for : No.22 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 | |
| Beaumann, Click the name above to see a profile of Beaumann,
| Beaumann, | |
| Bell, Click the name above to see a profile of Bell, | Bell, 17/05/42,Boston III (AL347) Anti Sub Patrol 2hrs. Crew; Flt Lt Bell and WO/AG Flt Sgt Clifford Grove. of 22nd Squadron | |
| Bramley, Ron Click the name above to see a profile of Bramley, Ron | Bramley, Ron With 22 and 44 Squadrons he served on Bristol Beauforts as a W/Op and Air Gunner during the Battle of Britain and later attacked the German Battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and attacked Channel Ports and airfields on the French Coast including Cambrai. Also spending time on Beaufighters, he went on to serve in Malta and the Far East completing a total of over 220 operations. | |
| Glassop, Ross H Click the name above to see a profile of Glassop, Ross H | Glassop, Ross H Joined the RAAF in March 1941 and trained in Australia. In November 1941, Sgt Glassop joined 22 Sqn and in January 1942 was posted to 24 Sqn based at Rabaul with Wirraways. He was en route to Townsville when 24 Sqn was decimated by the Japanese. Ross was attached to 76 Sqn at Townsville on 24th May and flew his first Kittyhawk that same day. Arriving at Milne Bay on 24th July, he shot down a Zero strafing No.1 strip on 24th August. Glassop participated in many successful strafing ops during the battle and remained with 76 until they withdrew to Australia on 22nd September. In March 1943 he was posted to 2 OTU as an instructor until November 1943. Ross joined 5 Sqn equipped with Boomerangs in June 1944 and in November moved to Bouganville until the end of the war. Flt Lt Ross Glassop was awarded the DFC in February 1945 and a bar and MID whilst serving in Korea flying Mustangs and Meteors with 77 Sqn RAAF. | |
| Grove, Clifford Click the name above to see a profile of Grove, Clifford | Grove, Clifford 17/05/42,Boston III (AL347) Anti Sub Patrol 2hrs. Crew; Flt Lt Bell and WO/AG Flt Sgt Clifford Grove. of 22nd Squadron On December 14, 1942 Boston AL891 ( with fuselage code "DU-K". ) took off piloted by pilot F/O Wines with gunner Flt Sgt Clifford Grove on a bombing and strafing mission against the Membari River. On February 22, 1945 officially written off. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. | |
| Hackwill, George Click the name above to see a profile of Hackwill, George | Hackwill, George Born in Devon on 22nd December 1892, George Hackwill joined the Royal Flying Corps from the Army in 1915. He scored two victories with No.22 Squadron in the FE2b aircraft in July and October 1916, before moving to No.44 Squadron. Now flying Sopwith Camels, he scored one victory over a Gotha bomber with this squadron before joining 54 Squadron, where the rest of his claims wre made between April and September 1918. He was awarded the Military Cross after shooting down the Gotha bomber, and this was gazetted on 9th February 1918. London Gazette entry for Military Cross of George Henry Hackwill, 9th February 1918 | |
| Morgan, Tom Dalton Click the name above to see a profile of Morgan, Tom Dalton
| Morgan, Tom Dalton Flight Lieutenant T.F.Dalton-Morgan of No 43 Squadron was slightly wounded on the 13th of August 1940 after he baled out of his Hurricane I (P3972) following combat near to Cocking Down. | |
| Newton, William Ellis (Bill) Click the name above to see a profile of Newton, William Ellis (Bill)
| Newton, William Ellis (Bill) Newton had been a sergeant in his cadet corps at school, and joined the Citizens Military Force on 28 November 1938, serving as a private in the machine-gun section of the 6th Battalion, Royal Melbourne Regiment Still employed in the silk warehouse when World War II broke out in September 1939, he resigned to join the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on 5 February 1940 He had earlier attempted to enlist when he turned eighteen in 1937, but his mother refused to give her permission; with Australia now at war, she acquiesced His brothers—dentists by profession, like their father—also enlisted in the armed forces, John as a surgeon lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy and Lindsay as a captain in the Army Medical Corps Newton undertook his initial training with No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School in Parafield, South Australia, flying De Havilland Tiger Moths, and with No. 21 (City of Melbourne) Squadron at RAAF Station Laverton, Victoria, flying CAC Wirraways. He was awarded his wings and commissioned as a pilot officer on 28 June 1940. Following advanced training on Avro Anson's with No. 1 Service Flying Training School at RAAF Point Cook in September, he was selected to become a flight instructor. He completed the requisite course at Central Flying School in Camden, New South Wales, and was promoted to flying officer on 28 December.[13][18] He subsequently began training students under the Empire Air Training Scheme at No. 2 Service Flying Training School near Wagga Wagga, under the command of Group Captain Frederick Scherger.[18][19] In October 1941, Newton transferred to No. 5 Service Flying Training School at Uranquinty. He found instruction frustrating, as he longed for a combat assignment. His fortunes changed in February 1942, when he was selected for the navigation course on Anson's at the General Reconnaissance School based at Laverton. From there he was sent to No. 1 Operational Training Unit at Sale, Victoria, for conversion to Lockheed Hudson twin-engined light bombers during March and April Promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 April 1942, Newton was posted the following month to No. 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron, based at RAAF Station Richmond, New South Wales Previously equipped with Hudson's, the unit had just begun converting to the more advanced Douglas Boston when Newton arrived. A comrade described him as a "big brash, likeable man who could drink most of us under the table, was a good pilot, good at sports, and had a way with girls No. 22 Squadron was engaged in convoy escort and anti-submarine patrols off Sydney from July to September, before moving north to Townsville, Queensland ] In November, it was deployed to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, under the control of No. 9 Operational Group RAAF. | |
| Stewart, Oliver Click the name above to see a profile of Stewart, Oliver
| Stewart, Oliver Oliver Stewart was born in London on the 26th November 1896 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Middlesex Regiment in October 1914. In 1915 Stewart transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. After a brief stint with 22 Squadron, he was transferred 54 Squadron and flew the Sopwith Pup. Oliver Stewart became a ace with five victries between 6 April and 25 September 1917; and recieved the military cross on the 17th of September 1917. Stewart returned to England, was promoted to major in June 1918, and given command of the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment. Major Oliver Stewart also received an Air Force Cross. He passed away in 1976. London Gazette entry for the Military Cross, 17th September 1917 | |
Died : 5 / 12 / 1940Historical Notes :
05-12-1940 - Lost. F/L Beauman and crew Killed.
05-12-1940 - Lost. F/L Beauman and crew Killed.
Historical Notes :
19-05-1942 - Received from the USA. Delivered 29/03/42 to 1AD. Awaiting erection 30/03/42. Erected at Geelong. To 22 Sqn 27/04/42. 17/05/42, Anti Sub Patrol 2hrs. Crew; Flt Lt Bell and WO/AG Flt Sgt Clifford Grove. Crashed while taking off from Richmond NSW 19/5/42. Pilot was P/O R Fethers who was uninjured as was his crew. To 2AD 27/05/42. Converted to components 10/42.
17-05-1942 - 17/05/42, Anti Sub Patrol 2hrs. Crew; Flt Lt Bell and WO/AG Flt Sgt Clifford Grove.
19-05-1942 - Received from the USA. Delivered 29/03/42 to 1AD. Awaiting erection 30/03/42. Erected at Geelong. To 22 Sqn 27/04/42. 17/05/42, Anti Sub Patrol 2hrs. Crew; Flt Lt Bell and WO/AG Flt Sgt Clifford Grove. Crashed while taking off from Richmond NSW 19/5/42. Pilot was P/O R Fethers who was uninjured as was his crew. To 2AD 27/05/42. Converted to components 10/42.
17-05-1942 - 17/05/42, Anti Sub Patrol 2hrs. Crew; Flt Lt Bell and WO/AG Flt Sgt Clifford Grove.
Historical Notes :
04-07-1944 - Received from the USA. Delivered 29/03/42 to 1AD. Awaiting erection 30/03/42. To 1AD 14/04/42. To 22 Sqn 27/04/42. To 1AD 02/08/42. To 22 Sqn 10/08/42. To 5AD 12/10/42 for engine changes. To 3AD 19/10/42. To 22 Sqn 20/11/42. Crashed while taking off on a night operation 30/11/42. The crew escaped uninjured. To 3AD 03/12/42 for repairs. To 15 RSU 06/12/42. To 3AD 12/03/43. To 22 Sqn 22/04/44. Accident 23/04/44. To 13ARD 09/06/44. To 22 Sqn 17/06/44. Crashed 04/07/44 Kiriwina. To 10 RSU 06/07/44. Converted to components.
04-07-1944 - Received from the USA. Delivered 29/03/42 to 1AD. Awaiting erection 30/03/42. To 1AD 14/04/42. To 22 Sqn 27/04/42. To 1AD 02/08/42. To 22 Sqn 10/08/42. To 5AD 12/10/42 for engine changes. To 3AD 19/10/42. To 22 Sqn 20/11/42. Crashed while taking off on a night operation 30/11/42. The crew escaped uninjured. To 3AD 03/12/42 for repairs. To 15 RSU 06/12/42. To 3AD 12/03/43. To 22 Sqn 22/04/44. Accident 23/04/44. To 13ARD 09/06/44. To 22 Sqn 17/06/44. Crashed 04/07/44 Kiriwina. To 10 RSU 06/07/44. Converted to components.
Known Individual Aircraft of No.22 Sqn RAF : | ||||||||
Type | Serial | Codes | First Flew | Squadron History | Aircrew History | History Notes | Engine | Factory |
- | ||||||||
27/04/1942 | ||||||||
DU-A | 26/04/1942 | no information | ||||||
| Aircraft for : No.22 Sqn RAF | ||
| A list of all aircraft associated with No.22 Sqn RAF. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name. | ||
| Aircraft | Info | |
Beaufort 
Manufacturer : Bristol Production Began : 1939 Retired : 1944 Number Built : 1821 | Beaufort The Beaufort was developed from the Bristol Blenheim - originally built in 1934 as an executive aircraft for the proprietor of the Daily Mail, Lord Rothermere, who wanted a fast plane capable of carrying six passengers. Equipped with two Bristol Mercury engines, the Bristol Type 142, as it was then called, was 30 mph (48km/h) faster than the RAF's latest biplane fighter, the Gloster Gauntlet. Beauforts first saw service with Royal Air Force Coastal Command and then the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm from 1940. They were used as torpedo bombers, conventional bombers and mine-layers until 1942, Some of the Beaufort's actions were attacks on warships of the German Kriegsmarine. The first attack was on 21 June 1940, when nine Beauforts of 42 Squadron attacked the German battleship Scharnhorst off the Norwegian coast. No torpedoes were available at RAF Wick and a dive bombing attack was carried out using two 500 lb (230 kg) bombs. The Beauforts encountered Messerschmitt Bf 109s protecting the battleship and only four returned; shortly after, Beauforts were grounded for modifications to their Taurus engines. In early April 1941, after an air raid on Brest by Bomber Command, the German battleship Gneisenau had to move out of dry-dock because of an unexploded bomb. Photo reconnaissance revealed that the ship was in the inner harbour. An estimated 1,000 flak guns of all calibres protected the base and adding complication to the danger was the realisation that Gneisenau was only about 500 yd (460 m) from a harbour mole, requiring extremely accurate torpedo drops. The aircraft would be forced into a steep banking turn during the escape to avoid rising ground surrounding the harbour. In spite of these dangers 22 Squadron, based at RAF St Eval, was ordered to make a torpedo attack, timed to take place just after dawn on 6 April 1941. It was planned to attack the torpedo nets thought to be protecting the ship, using three Beauforts armed with bombs; another three Beauforts would then attack the ship with torpedoes. Following heavy rain that had drenched the airfield, the bomb-carrying aircraft became bogged down. Because of a sea mist, the other three Beauforts arrived at Brest independently; one, flown by F/O Kenneth Campbell, managed to penetrate the harbour and torpedo Gneisenau but was shot down immediately afterwards. Campbell was awarded the VC and his Observer, Sergeant J. P. Scott of Canada, the Distinguished Flying Medal. The other two crew members were Sgts R. W. Hillman and W. Mallis; all were lost. On the night of 12/13 June 1941, 13 Beauforts of 42 Squadron, based at RAF Leuchars and a detachment of five Beauforts of 22 Squadron from Wick, were sent out to find the cruiser Lützow and an escort of four destroyers, which had been sighted near Norway. At midnight, a signal from a Blenheim of 114 Squadron confirmed the position of the ships but most of the Beauforts failed to find them.[43] One 42 Squadron aircraft piloted by Flight Sergeant Ray Loviett (who had become separated from the main force) took Lützow by surprise (the Beaufort had been mistaken for a Junkers Ju 88, known by the ships to be on patrol in the area) and without a defensive shot being fired, Loviett's torpedo hit her on the port side. One Beaufort found Lūtzow limping back to port and attacked but was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf 109; Lützow was under repair for six months. During the famous Operation Cerberus, the "Channel Dash" by Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, which took place from 12 February 1942, three Beaufort units, with 33 serviceable aircraft were available: 22 Squadron was under orders to move to Singapore. 42 Squadron, based at Leuchars in Scotland, were supposed to move to Manston but had been delayed by snow. Only 86 and 217 squadrons were in position to attack the German ships. Of the 33 Beauforts, 28 eventually set out to attack the German ships: 13 failed to find them, three were shot down and on one the torpedo failed to release. Only 11 Beauforts sighted the battleships and launched torpedoes, none of which struck a target. One of the conclusions reached by a later Court of Inquiry was that a faster, longer-ranged torpedo bomber than the Beaufort was needed. Bristol was already working on a torpedo carrying conversion of the Beaufighter and were later to develop the Brigand. when they were removed from active service and were then used as trainer aircraft until being declared obsolete in 1945. Beauforts also saw considerable action in the Mediterranean; Beaufort squadrons based in Egypt and on Malta The Beaufort was particularly successful from Malta. No. 217 Squadron was based there from June to July 1942, when it was replaced by No. 86 Squadron. From Malta the Beaufort played an important role in denying Rommel desperately needed supplies. by attacking Axis shipping supplying Rommel's Deutsches Afrikakorps in North Africa. Although it was designed as a torpedo-bomber, the Beaufort was more often used as a medium day bomber. The Beaufort also flew more hours in training than on operational missions and more were lost through accidents and mechanical failures than were lost to enemy fire. The Beaufort was adapted as a long-range heavy fighter variant called the Beaufighter, which proved to be very successful and many Beaufort units eventually converted to the Beaufighter.[ | |
Boston 
Manufacturer : Douglas Aircraft Company Production Began : 1941 Retired : 1849 Number Built : 1942 | Boston There are three marks, the I has two 1,050hp PW Wasps, the II has two 1,200hp PW Wasps and the III has two 1,600hp Wright Cyclones. The Boston I was used by the RAF as a trainer and the II was used as a night fighter and called the Havoc I. The French order called for substantial modifications, resulting in the DB-7 (for Douglas Bomber 7) variant. It had a narrower, deeper fuselage, 1,000 hp (746 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SC3-G radials, French-built guns, and metric instruments. Midway through the delivery phase, engines were switched to 1,100 hp (820 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S3C4-G. The French designation was DB-7 B-3 (the B-3 signifying "three-seat bomber"). The DB-7s were shipped in sections to Casablanca for assembly and service in France and French North Africa. When the Germans attacked France and the Low Countries on 10 May 1940, the 64 available DB-7s were deployed against the advancing Germans. Before the armistice they were evacuated to North Africa to avoid capture by German forces. Here, they fell under control of the Vichy government and briefly engaged the Allies during Operation Torch. After French forces in North Africa had sided with the Allies, DB-7s were used as trainers and were replaced in front line units by Martin B-26 Marauders. In early 1945, a few DB-7s were moved back to France, where they saw action against the remaining isolated German pockets on the western coast. The remainder of the order which was to have been delivered to France was instead taken up by the UK via the British Purchasing Commission. In the course of the war, 24 squadrons operated the Boston. The type saw its first active operations with the RAF in early 1941, when 181 Boston IIs began to be deployed in night fighter and intruder roles. On 4 July 1942 United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) bomber crews, flying RAF Boston aircraft, took part in operations in Europe for the first time attacking enemy airfields in the Netherlands. They replaced the Bristol Blenheims of No. 2 Group RAF for daylight operations against occupied Europe until replaced in turn by de Havilland Mosquitos. Some Havocs were converted to Turbinlite aircraft which replaced the nose position with a powerful searchlight. The Turbinlite aircraft would be brought onto an enemy fighter by ground radar control. The onboard radar operator would then direct the pilot until he could illuminate the enemy. At that point a Hawker Hurricane fighter accompanying the Turbinlite aircraft would make the attack. The Turbinlite squadrons were disbanded in early 1943. The III is now used in large numbers on fighter escorted raids on France and the Low Countries and is also used extensively in the Middle East. They have done very good work, and with the Ventura have replaced the Blenheim in this country. The Mk.III is also used as a night fighter and is known as the Havoc II. The A-20G became the largest production run of the Havoc series, numbering some 2,850 total aircraft. The A-20G followed on the heels of the A-20C production model and was a dedicated ground attack platform as opposed to the light bomber designation carried by preceding models. The initial production A-20G block (259 total A-20G-1's) featured the distinctive solid nose assembly mounting 4 x 20mm cannons (deleting the bombardier's nose position and bringing the crew total down to three personnel). The follow-up production block (Block 5) reverted back to a more conventional array of 6 x 12.7mm machine guns as the cannons were prone to jamming and offered up a slow rate of fire. The cannon-armed versions were mostly operated under the Soviet banner via Lend-Lease and understandably proved quite devastating in the ground attack role. Additional armament for either form of this aircraft included 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in a flexible dorsal position and a single 7.62mm machine gun in the ventral position (flexible mount). Bomb load totalled 2,000lbs of internally-held ordnance and/or 374-gallon drop tank. Engines for the aircraft were Wright R-2600-23 Cyclone supercharged radials of 1,600 horsepower each. Top speed was 317 miles per hour with a combat range of 950 miles and a modest ceiling of 23,700 feet. | |
Bristol F2B 
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 | |
Sea King 
| Sea King The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British license-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopterand built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the US Seaking, being powered by Rolls-Royce Gnome engines, British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a fully computerised control system. The Westland Sea King also has a role as a Commando troop transport mainly for export. Sea Kings are used extensivily in Air Sea rescue and many Sea King were used during the Falklands War, performing mainly anti-submarine search and attack, and also replenishment, troop transport, and Special Forces insertions into the occupied areas. On 23 April 1982, a Sea King HC4 was ditched while performing a dangerous transfer of supplies to a ship at night, while operating from the flagship aircraft carrier HMS Hermes. Another Sea King was lost, again from ditching into the sea, due to a systems malfunction. and. Five days later another Sea King, again from HMS Hermes, crashed into the sea due to an altimeter problem both sets of crew were rescued. | |
Vildebeest
Manufacturer : Vickers Production Began : 1933 Retired : 1942 Number Built : 209 | Vildebeest The Vildebeest entered service with No 100 Squadron at RAF Donibristle in October 1932 and was soon equipping four front line units, two in the UK and two in Singapore. The Vincent, entered service with No 84 Squadron at RAF Shaibah, Iraq in 1934 and, by 1937, was equipping six Middle East squadrons. At the outbreak of the Second World War, 101 Vildebeests were still in service with the RAF. The two British-based squadrons flew coastal patrol and convoy escort missions until 1940 when their Vildebeests were replaced by the Bristol Beaufort. The two Singapore-based squadrons were still waiting for their Beauforts when Japan invaded Malaya in December 1941 and the obsolete biplanes had to be deployed against the Japanese attackers, making an abortive torpedo attack on a Japanese cruiser off Kota Bharu on 8 December. The Vildebeests continued to attack the Japanese as their forces advanced down Malaya, sustaining heavy losses from Japanese fighters, particularly when no fighter cover could be provided. On 26 January 1942, the Japanese landed at Endau, 250 miles from Singapore, and 12 Vildebeests of 100 and 36 Squadrons were sent to attack the landings. Despite an escort of Brewster Buffalo and Hawker Hurricane fighters, five Vildebeests were lost. The attack was repeated later that day by eight Vildebeests of 36 Squadron and three Fairey Albacores, resulting in six more Vildebeests and two Albacores being shot down. The surviving Vildebeests were withdrawn to Java on 31 January and attacked another Japanese landing force off Rembang, claiming eight ships sunk but sustaining further losses. The final two Vildebeests of 36 Squadron attempted to escape to Burma on 6 March but were lost over Sumatra. The last Vildebeests in RAF service, operated by 273 Squadron at Ceylon were retired in March 1942 | |
Last edited : 18:22, March 17, 2017
Last editor : HMS
No.22 Sqn RAF Artwork |
  Bristol Beaufort by Ivan Berryman. |   Sergeant John H Jones and pilot Captain W G Mostyn, Bristol F2b Fighter claiming a Luft-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft LVG by Ivan Berryman. |
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