No. 269 Squadron RAF

Last updated

No. 269 Squadron RAF
No. 269 Squadron RAF insignia.svg
The official No. 269 Squadron badge
Active6 October 1918 – 15 November 1919
7 December 1936 – 10 March 1946
1 January 1952 – 24 May 1963
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
TypeFlying squadron
Part of Coastal Command
Motto(s) Latin: Omnia videmus
("We see all things") [1]
Engagements World War I
World War II
Battle of the Atlantic
Cold War
Insignia
Squadron BadgeAn ancient ship in full sail [2]
Squadron CodesKL (Apr 1939 - Sep 1939)
UA (Sep 1939 - Jan 1944)
HK (Oct 1944 - Mar 1946)

No. 269 Squadron RAF was a maritime patrol unit of the Royal Air Force that saw service in World War I, World War II, and the Cold War.

Contents

Service history

World War I

On 6 October 1918, No. 269 Squadron was formed from Nos. 431 and 432 Flights at the seaplane station based at Port Said which had been established there since January 1916, under the command of Major P.L Holmes, RAF. No. 269 was part 64th Wing, and it operated seaplanes from the harbor, plus land-based flight of B.E.2e and Airco DH.9 aircraft. [3] The squadron conducted maritime patrols until the Armistice, and on 15 September 1919, its seaplanes were moved to Alexandria and merged with No. 270 Squadron as its landplane flight had been disbanded in March 1919. The squadron continued as No. 269 until it was disbanded on 15 November 1919. [3]

Inter-war Period

On 7 December 1936, C Flight of No. 206 Squadron at RAF Bircham Newton was redesignated 269 Squadron. The squadron was moved to RAF Abbotsinch, near Glasgow, later that month, and its Avro Anson aircraft undertook coastal reconnaissance patrols. On 9 March 1939, the squadron moved to RAF Montrose and began flying maritime patrols off the east coast of Scotland. [4]

World War II

1939

No. 269 Squadron was transferred to RAF Wick on 10 October 1939, and executed aerial attacks against surfaced German U-boats on 15 September, 18 October, 28 October, 3 November, 19 November, and 3 December. Postwar examination of Kriegsmarine records showed that these attacks either did little damage or a U-boat was not on patrol in the area of attack. [5]

1940

Aircraft from No. 269 Squadron made six separate attacks on German U-boats during February 1940, plus attacks on 8 August. No. 269 Squadron also carried out a number of missions in addition to its maritime patrol duties:

  • 1 March — The Stavanger airfield was attacked.
  • 11 June — The German battleships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Admiral Hipper were attacked while at anchor in Trondheim harbor.
  • 22 June — Aircraft from the No. 269 Squadron and No. 442 Squadron RAF attacked the German battleship Scharnhorst while at sea north of Bergen, but inflicted little damage on the German warship.
  • 27 June — No. 269 Squadron executed a special mission reconnaissance of Norwegian coast.

The squadron also began receiving new Lockheed Hudson patrol bombers starting in March 1940, completing the transition on 15 April, while it ceased operating Avro Anson aircraft as of 1 June. By 15 July, No, 269 Squadron was fully operational with 18 Hudson Mk1 aircraft. [5]

1941

After a year of operations against enemy shipping from RAF Wick, No. 269 Squadron began transferring to Iceland starting on 12 April 1941, with the last Hudson aircraft arriving on 30 May. The squadron completed its re-deployment to Iceland on 10 July. A detachment of No. 269 Squadron deployed to RAF Reykjavik on 12 December. [6]

On 9 April, six aircraft from RAF Wick bombed the aluminium factory at Hoyanger, Norway. Also during late May, the squadron participated in the hunt for the German battleship Bismarck. Aircraft from No. 269 Squadron also made four attacks on surfaced U-boats during June. On 6 August, Hudson patrol bombers from No. 269 Squadron escorted USAF fighter aircraft of the 33rd Pursuit Squadron to the Reykjavik airfield after being catapulted off the aircraft carrier USS Wasp. On 16 August, No. 269 Squadron flew twelve sorties escorting the battleship HMS Prince of Wales, with the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, aboard for the secret conference with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. [6] Aircraft from No. 269 Squadron made separate attacks on surfaced U-boats during June. Aircraft of the No. 269 Squadron also attacked U-432 on 29 August, U-85 on 2 September, U-439 and U-552 on 14 September and they were also present during the Greer Incident. [6]

On 27 August 1941, Squadron Leader J.H. Thompson of the No. 269 Squadron made RAF history by becoming the only aircraft captain to have a U-boat (U-570) surrender to him. [7] Thompson and his navigator/bomb-aimer—Flying Officer John Coleman—were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 23 September 1941. [8]

1942

Aircraft of the No. 269 Squadron attacked U-510 on 14 July, U-609 on 23 July, U-164 and U-210 on 26 July, and U-595 on 30 July and 31 July. No. 269 aircraft made eight separate U-boat attacks during August. Six U-boats were attacked during September. U-183 was attacked on 3 October. No. 269 Squadron scored its first confirmed U-boat kill by sinking U-619 on 5 October. [9]

1943

No. 269 Squadron attacked four U-boats during January, and Four Hudson aircraft were deployed to the Bluie West One airfield in Greenland on 29 January. No. 269 Squadron attacked three U-boats in April and eight in May, as well as sinking U-646 and U-273 on 17 May and 19 May, respectively. Six U-boats were attacked in June, and No. 269 aircraft sank U-535 on 5 July. Three U-boats were attacked in August. U-336 was sunk on 27 September, and U-539 was attacked. U-275 was attacked on 3 October, U-641 was severely damaged, and sank U-389 on 5 October. [10]

On 13 December, No. 269 Squadron began its temporary transfer from RAF Reykjavik to RAF Davidstow Moor prior to its 1944 deployment to the Azores. The squadron was re-equipped with Supermarine Walrus I and Vickers Warwick I ASRI aircraft, as well as retaining its extant Hudson Mk III patrol aircraft. The squadron also received Miles Martinet I aircraft for target-towing purposes. This transfer was completed on 8 January 1944, [11]

1944 - 1946

No. 269 Squadron completed its deployment to RAF Lagens in the Azores with its Hudson Mk IIIA, Martinet, Walrus and Spitfire Mk V aircraft. The short-range aircraft were launched off the escort aircraft carrier HMS Premier. Later in October, some Warwick aircraft were added to the squadron. For the rest of the war it flew air-sea rescue missions, as well as meteorological and target towing sorties. Following the end of World War II, No. 269 Squadron was disbanded on 10 March 1946. [12]

Cold War

269 Squadron Avro Shackleton MR.1 from RAF Ballykelly in 1953 Avro 696 Shackleton MR.1 VP256 B-A 269 Sqn RWY 24.07.53 edited-2.jpg
269 Squadron Avro Shackleton MR.1 from RAF Ballykelly in 1953

No. 269 Squadron was reformed at North Front, Gibraltar, on 1 January 1952 from part of No. 224 Squadron and moved on 24 March to RAF Ballykelly, Ulster, as a maritime reconnaissance unit equipped with Avro Shackleton patrol bombers. [13] No. 269 Squadron participated in a number of military exercises, including Exercise Encompass in January 1956 and Operation Mosaic in February 1956, as well as NATO's Operation Strikeback in September 1957. On 1 December 1958 the squadron was re-numbered as No. 210 Squadron. [13] On 22 July 1959, No 269 Squadron reformed at RAF Caistor as a Thor Missile Squadron in Bomber Command as part of the Thor Missile Force based at RAF Hemswell. [13] No. 269 Squadron was disbanded on 24 May 1963. [13]

Aircraft

The following aircraft were assigned to No. 269 Squadron during its operation service arranged in chronological order: [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 206 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

No. 206 Squadron is a Test and Evaluation Squadron of the Royal Air Force. Until 2005 it was employed in the maritime patrol role with the Nimrod MR.2 at RAF Kinloss, Moray. It was announced in December 2004 that 206 Squadron would disband on 1 April 2005, with half of its crews being redistributed to Nos. 120 and 201 Squadrons, also stationed at Kinloss. This was a part of the UK Defence Review called Delivering Security in a Changing World; the Nimrod MR.2 fleet was reduced in number from 21 to 16 as a consequence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine Walrus</span> British-designed single-engine amphibious maritime patrol aircraft

The Supermarine Walrus is a British single-engine amphibious biplane designed by Supermarine's R. J. Mitchell at their works at Woolston, Southampton. Primarily used as a maritime patrol aircraft, it was the first British squadron-service aircraft to incorporate an undercarriage that was fully retractable, crew accommodation that was enclosed, and a fuselage completely made of metal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed Hudson</span> Family of transport and patrol bomber aircraft

The Lockheed Hudson is a light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built by the American Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. It was initially put into service by the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by it thereafter. The Hudson was a military conversion of the Model 14 Super Electra airliner, and was the first significant aircraft construction contract for Lockheed — the initial RAF order for 200 Hudsons far surpassed any previous order the company had received.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 120 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 120 Squadron or No. CXX Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force which was established as a Royal Flying Corps unit late in World War I, disbanded a year after the end of the war, then re-established as a RAF Coastal Command squadron during World War II. Although disbanded again a month after Victory in Europe Day, during and after World War II it operated almost continuously, with maritime patrol aircraft; most recently with the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod, based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland until the type's withdrawal in March 2010. The squadron was disbanded again the following year. No. 120 Squadron stood up again in April 2018 at RAF Lossiemouth and became the first squadron to be equipped with the Boeing Poseidon MRA1 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft on 31 October 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFB Greenwood</span> Air force base in Canada

Canadian Forces Base Greenwood, or CFB Greenwood, is a Canadian Forces Base located 1.5 nautical miles east of Greenwood, Nova Scotia. It is primarily operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is one of two bases in the country using the CP-140 Aurora and CP-140A Arcturus anti-submarine/maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft. Its primary RCAF lodger unit is 14 Wing, commonly referred to as 14 Wing Greenwood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 490 Squadron RNZAF</span> Military unit

No. 490 (NZ) Squadron was an anti-submarine and maritime reconnaissance squadron of Coastal Command established for service during the Second World War. It was a New Zealand squadron formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Plan. Although many of its flying personnel were drawn from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the squadron served under the operational and administrative command of the Royal Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 461 Squadron RAAF</span> Royal Australian Air Force squadron

No. 461 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron during World War II which operated under Royal Air Force control flying in Europe and over the Atlantic. The squadron was formed in 1942 and was disbanded in mid-1945, just after the end of the war in Europe. Personnel were drawn from many countries of the British Empire, although the majority were Australians. Throughout the war, the squadron was credited with destroying a total of six German U-boats, and operated mainly in the Bay of Biscay and Atlantic.

No 36 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Cramlington in 1916 and was disbanded for the last time in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF St Eval</span> Former RAF base in Cornwall, England

Royal Air Force St. Eval or RAF St. Eval was a Royal Air Force station for the RAF Coastal Command, southwest of Padstow in Cornwall, England, UK. St Eval's primary role was to provide anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols off the south west coast. Aircraft from the airfield were also used for photographic reconnaissance missions, meteorological flights, convoy patrols, air-sea rescue missions and protection of the airfield from the Luftwaffe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 458 Squadron RAAF</span> Royal Australian Air Force squadron

No. 458 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force squadron that operated during World War II. It was formed in Australia under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme. The squadron flew various versions of Vickers Wellington bombers, first in Europe and later in the Middle East. It was disbanded in mid-1945, following the conclusion of hostilities in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 459 Squadron RAAF</span> Royal Australian Air Force squadron

No. 459 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force squadron that operated during World War II. It was formed in early 1942 and served as a maritime patrol and bomber unit in the Mediterranean theatre until early 1945, operating mainly Lockheed Hudson aircraft. In early 1945, the squadron was transferred to the United Kingdom with the intention of being transferred to RAF Coastal Command and converting to Vickers Wellington bombers; however, due to a series of delays the conversion was not completed and the squadron was disbanded in April 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 500 Squadron RAF</span> Royal Air Force flying squadron

No. 500 Squadron AAF was a Royal Air Force flying squadron. It was initially formed in 1931 as a Special Reserve squadron and in 1936 became part of the Auxiliary Air Force, at this time based at Manston and Detling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 210 Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

No. 210 Squadron was a Royal Air Force unit established in the First World War. Disbanded and reformed a number of times in the ensuing years, it operated as a fighter squadron during the First World War and as a maritime patrol squadron during the Spanish Civil War, the Second World War and the Cold War before it was last deactivated in 1971.

No. 233 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron that operated from 1918–1919, 1937–1945, 1952–1957 and 1960–1964. The squadron was formed from several Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) flights and took part in the tail end of the First World War before being disbanded. The squadron was reformed with the advent of World War II. At first No. 233 Squadron flew general reconnaissance patrols before being tasked with transportation duties just prior to D-Day. Shortly after the Second World War the squadron was again disbanded, to be reformed once more in 1960. No. 233 Squadron was finally disbanded in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 502 Squadron RAF</span> Reserve non-flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron was a Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron that saw service in World War II. It was reformed in September 2013, and is the oldest of all the reserve squadrons, being formed in 1925.

Number 58 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Talbenny</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Royal Air Force Talbenny, or more simply RAF Talbenny, is a former Royal Air Force station located 5.6 miles (9.0 km) north west of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire and 7.9 miles (12.7 km) south west of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 217 Squadron RAF</span> Former flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

No. 217 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the RAF. It was formed and disbanded four times between 1 April 1918 and 13 November 1959. In World War I it served in a strike role against enemy bases and airfields in Belgium. In World War II as part of RAF Coastal Command it served first in a maritime patrol role along the Western Approaches and later in an anti-shipping role in the English Channel. Ordered to the Far East in 1942, the squadron was retained for two months in Malta in an anti-shipping role, protecting Allied convoys, before moving to Ceylon to defend the approaches to India, serving in an anti-submarine and anti-shipping role. It was equipped and training for a strike role, when the war ended. In the postwar period, it served for five years in a maritime reconnaissance role, and then briefly in a support role for Operation Grapple, the British hydrogen bomb tests on Christmas Island.

No. 248 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force, active immediately after World War I, and again during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 247 Group RAF</span> Former Royal Air Force operations group

No. 247 Group was formed in October 1943 within RAF Coastal Command to control units operating from the Azores. It disbanded in March 1946.

References

Notes

  1. Pine, L G (1983). A Dictionary of mottoes . London: Routledge & K. Paul. p.  162. ISBN   0-7100-9339-X.
  2. Poulsen, C M, ed. (2 September 1937). "RAF Unit Badges". Flight International. 32 (1, 497): 235. ISSN   0015-3710.
  3. 1 2 "History of No. 269 Squadron Royal Air Force, 1914-1923". No. 269 Squadron RAF – Old Comrades' Association. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
  4. "History of No. 269 Squadron Royal Air Force, 1936-1940". No. 269 Squadron RAF – Old Comrades' Association. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2008.; "No. 269 Squadron RAF". RAF Command. Archived from the original on 27 August 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
  5. 1 2 "History of No. 269 Squadron Royal Air Force, 1936-1940". No. 269 Squadron RAF – Old Comrades' Association. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
  6. 1 2 3 "History of No. 269 Squadron Royal Air Force, 1941". No. 269 Squadron RAF – Old Comrades' Association. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
  7. "History of No. 269 Squadron Royal Air Force, 1941". No. 269 Squadron RAF – Old Comrades' Association. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2008.; "No 269 Squadron". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
  8. "No. 35283". The London Gazette . 23 September 1941. p. 5521.
  9. "History of No. 269 Squadron Royal Air Force, 1942". No. 269 Squadron RAF – Old Comrades' Association. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
  10. "History of No. 269 Squadron Royal Air Force, 1943". No. 269 Squadron RAF – Old Comrades' Association. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
  11. "History of No. 269 Squadron Royal Air Force, 1943". No. 269 Squadron RAF – Old Comrades' Association. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2008.; "History of No.2 69 Squadron Royal Air Force, 1944 - 1946". No. 269 Squadron RAF – Old Comrades' Association. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
  12. "History of No. 269 Squadron Royal Air Force, 1944 - 1946". No. 269 Squadron RAF – Old Comrades' Association. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "History of No. 269 Squadron Royal Air Force, 1952 - 1963". No. 269 Squadron RAF – Old Comrades' Association. Archived from the original on 14 August 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
  14. "No. 269 Squadron RAF - Aircraft and Markings". Air of Authority: A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2008.

Bibliography

  • 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: Airlife Publishing, 1998 (second edition 2001). ISBN   1-84037-141-2.
  • Rayner, Ted. Coastal Command Pilot, 1939-1945: Wartime Experiences with 220 & 269 Squadrons. Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK: Woodfield Publishing Ltd., 1994. ISBN   1-873203-29-2.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN   0-7106-0187-5.