No. 151 Squadron RAF

Last updated

No. 151 Squadron RAF
Active12 Jun 1918 - 10 Sep 1919
4 Aug 1936 - 10 Oct 1946
15 Sep 1951 - 19 Sep 1961
1 Jan 1962 – 25 May 1963
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
Sizesquadron
Motto(s) French: Foy pour devoir
(Translation: "Fidelity unto duty" [1] or "Faith for duty" [2] or "Fidelity into duty" [3] )
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Edward Mortlock "Teddy" Donaldson
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryOn a hurt, an owl affrontée wings elevated, alighting on a seax
The owl represents No. 151 Squadron's role of night-fighting whilst the seax comes from the arms of Essex in which county the squadron was formed [3] [4]
Squadron CodesTV (Sep 1938 - Dec 1938)
GG (Dec 1938 - Sep 1939)
DZ (Sep 1939 - Oct 1946)
Post 1950 squadron roundel RAF 151 Sqn.svg

No. 151 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force.

Contents

History

World War I

No. 151 squadron was founded at Hainault Farm in Essex on 12 June 1918, and was equipped with Sopwith Camel aircraft. During the five months in which 151 Squadron had taken part in hostilities overseas, the total number of hours flown by night was 1443 hrs 26 mins.

Sixteen enemy aircraft were destroyed at night on the Allies side of the lines, and five were destroyed on the enemy side and confirmed. Another five were unconfirmed, thus making a total of twenty six successful engagements. Of the enemy aircraft destroyed, twenty two were AEGs, Friedrichshafen or Gothas, with two engines and carrying a crew of three or more. Two were giant P 52's with five engines carrying a crew of up to eight or nine.

During all the numerous combats there were very few occasions when the guns jammed or caused trouble, reflecting the devotion to duty of Lt Eggar and his gunnery staff.

Too much cannot be said for the NCOs and men of the Squadron. The long hours from dawn to dusk and the urgent necessity of getting all machines serviceable during the daytime was evidence of their keen spirit and esprit de corps, and nothing was more gratifying to a pilot on landing after a successful combat than to hear the rousing cheers of the NCOs and men of his Flight, echoed by the Squadron, that greeted him."

— George Kelsey on www.151squadron.org, [4]

The squadron was disbanded on 10 September 1919.

World War II

On 4 August 1936 the squadron was reformed at RAF North Weald from 'B' Flight of 56 Squadron, as a fighter squadron, flying Gloster Gauntlets. In December 1938 these were exchanged for Hawker Hurricanes, when the squadron came under Squadron Leader Edward Mortlock Donaldson. It operated throughout the Second World War, flying with Hawker Hurricanes, Boulton Paul Defiants and later de Havilland Mosquitoes, disbanding on 10 October 1946 at RAF Weston Zoyland. One of its most successful pilots was Flight Lieutenant Richard Stevens, who destroyed 15 aircraft during 1941 while flying the Hurricane during The Blitz. [5]

After World War II

151 Squadron Gloster Meteor NF.11 night fighter in September 1955 Gloster Meteor NF.11 WM245 Q.151 Sqn BLA 07.09.55 edited-2.jpg
151 Squadron Gloster Meteor NF.11 night fighter in September 1955

The squadron was reformed again at RAF Leuchars, Scotland on 15 September 1951 as a night fighter unit, initially operating De Havilland Vampire NF.10s and later Gloster Meteor NF.11s. It disbanded on 19 September 1961.

On 1 January 1962 the Signals Development Squadron at RAF Watton was redesignated as No. 151 Squadron operating a variety of aircraft on development and training duties. It was joined by the pilots and ground crew from the disbanded No. 97 (Strategic Missile) Squadron from RAF Hemswell on 25 May 1963.

On 18 September 1981 151 Squadron reformed at RAF Chivenor as part of No. 2 Tactical Weapons Unit RAF (2 TWU) operating BAE Hawk T1 & T1A aircraft. When 2 TWU became No. 7 Flying Training School RAF in 1992, 151 Squadron was disbanded and its duties taken over by 92 Squadron.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 151 Squadron RAF, data from [6] [7] [8]
FromToAircraftVersion
June 1918February 1919 Sopwith Camel
August 1936March 1939 Gloster Gauntlet Mk.II
December 1938June 1941 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I
December 1940October 1941 Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I
June 1941January 1942Hawker HurricaneMk.IIc
September 1941July 1942Boulton Paul DefiantMk.II
April 1942July 1943 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.II
July 1943March 1944de Havilland MosquitoMk.XII
August 1943August 1943de Havilland MosquitoMk.VI
December 1943September 1944de Havilland MosquitoMk.XIII
July 1944September 1944de Havilland MosquitoMk.VI
August 1944October 1946de Havilland MosquitoMk.XXX
February 1952August 1953 de Havilland Vampire NF.10
March 1953October 1955 Gloster Meteor NF.11
September 1955June 1957 de Havilland Venom NF.3
June 1957September 1961 Gloster Javelin FAW.5
January 1962April 1963 Avro Lincoln B.2
January 1962May 1963 Handley Page Hastings C.1 & C.2
January 1962May 1963 Vickers Varsity T.1
January 1962May 1963 English Electric Canberra B.2
September 1981September 1992 BAE Hawk T.1 & T.1A

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 151 Squadron RAF, data from [7] [8] [9]
FromToLocationRemark
12 June 191816 June 1918 Hainault Farm Squadron formed
16 June 191821 June 1918 Marquise, Pas-de-Calais, France
21 June 191825 June 1918 Fontaine-sur-Maye, France
25 June 19182 July 1918 Famechon, Somme, France
2 July 19188 September 1918 Fontaine-sur-Maye, France
8 September 191824 October 1918 Vignacourt, France
24 October 19185 December 1918 Bancourt, France
5 December 191821 February 1919 Liettres, France
21 February 191910 September 1919 RAF Drem, Scotland Squadron disbanded
4 August 193613 May 1940 RAF North Weald Squadron reformed
28 February 194012 May 1940 RAF Martlesham Heath Detachment
12 May 194017 May 1940 RAF Martlesham Heath Complete squadron
17 May 194018 May 1940 RAF Manston
18 May 194020 May 1940 Vitry-en-Artois, France
20 May 194029 August 1940 RAF North Weald
29 August 19401 September 1940 RAF Stapleford Tawney
1 September 194028 November 1940 RAF Digby
28 November 19406 December 1940 RAF Bramcote
6 December 194030 April 1943 RAF Wittering
22 April 194125 January 1942 RAF Coltishall Detachment
30 April 194316 August 1943 RAF Colerne
16 August 194317 November 1943 RAF Middle Wallop
17 November 194324 March 1944 RAF Colerne
24 March 19447 October 1944 RAF Predannack
7 October 194419 November 1944 RAF Castle Camps
19 November 19441 March 1945 RAF Hunsdon
1 March 194517 May 1945 RAF Bradwell Bay
17 May 19451 June 1945 RAF Predannack
1 June 19458 July 1946 RAF Exeter
8 July 194610 October 1946 RAF Weston Zoyland Squadron disbanded
15 September 195117 June 1957 RAF Leuchars Squadron reformed
17 June 195715 November 1957 RAF Turnhouse
15 November 195719 September 1961 RAF Leuchars Squadron disbanded
1 January 196225 May 1963 RAF Watton Squadron reformed and renumbered
18 September 19814 August 1992 RAF Chivenor Shadow Squadron reformed and disbanded

Commanding officers

data from [4] [10]
FromToName
Jun 1918Jul 1918 Maj M Green, DSO, MC
Jul 1918Feb 1919Maj C J Q Brand, DSO, MC, DFC
Aug 1936Nov 1938 Sqn Ldr W V Hyde
Dec 1938Aug 1940Sqn Ldr E M Donaldson, DSO, DFC
Aug 1940Sep 1940Sqn Ldr J A G Gordon
Sep 1940Sep 1940Sqn Ldr G King
Sep 1940Dec 1940Sqn Ldr West
Dec 1940Oct 1941Sqn Ldr Adams, DFC
Oct 1941Feb 1942Sqn Ldr McDougall
Feb 1942Mar 1943 Wg Cdr I S Smith, DFC
Mar 1943May 1943Wg Cdr D V Ivins
May 1943Oct 1943Wg Cdr S P Richards, AFC
Oct 1943Dec 1944Wg Cdr G H Goodman DSO, DFC
Dec 19441946Sqn Ldr J A Wright DFC
1946Sqn Ldr P S Q Andersen
19511953Sqn Ldr D Boyle
19531956Sqn Ldr D B Ainsworth
May 1956Oct 1956Sqn Ldr I Cosby
Oct 1956Mar 1958Sqn Ldr Boardman
Mar 1958Oct 1958Sqn Ldr J W Frost
Oct 1958Jan 1961Sqn Ldr L C P Martin
Jan 1961Sep 1961Sqn Ldr D O Luke
Sep 1981Dec 1983Sqn Ldr R Bealer
Jan 1983Feb 1983Sqn Ldr D Sharp
Feb 1983Nov 1984Sqn Ldr J A Hall
Nov 1984Jan 1987Sqn Ldr R F Burroughs
Jan 19871992Sqn Ldr G P H Croasdale

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ Halley 1988, p. 223.
  2. ↑ mikeduggan.tripod.com mikeduggan.tripod
  3. 1 2 Rawlings 1978, p. 287.
  4. 1 2 3 "FROM CAMEL TO HAWK - A Diary History of 151(F) Squadron RAF".
  5. ↑ Shores & Williams 1994, p. 570.
  6. ↑ Rawlings 1978 , pp. 289–290.
  7. 1 2 Halley 1988 , p. 224.
  8. 1 2 Jefford 2001 , p. 65.
  9. ↑ Rawlings 1978 , pp. 288–289.
  10. ↑ Rawlings 1978 , p. 290.

Bibliography

  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1981-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN   0-85130-164-9..
  • Jefford, C. G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN   1-84037-141-2.
  • Rawlings, John D. R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN   0-7106-0187-5.
  • Rawlings, John D. R. (1978). Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN   0-354-01028-X.
  • Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994). Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII. London: Grub Street. ISBN   1-8-9869-7000.
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