No. 113 Squadron RAF

Last updated

No. 113 Squadron RAF
Active1 Aug 1917 – 1 Feb 1920
18 May 1937 – 15 Oct 1945
1 Sep 1946 – 1 Apr 1947
1 May 1947 – 1 Sep 1948
22 Jul 1959 – 10 Jul 1963
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
RoleArmy cooperation
Bomber
Fighter
Transport
Missile operation
Nickname(s)'Crusader Squadron'
Motto(s) Latin: Velox et vindex
("Swift to vengeance") [1] [2] [3]
Engagements
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryIn front of a cross potent, between four like crosses, two swords in saltire, the points uppermost [3]
The crosses are from the arms of Jerusalem. The swords reflect the unit's service in defence of the Holy Land [1] [2]
Squadron CodesBT (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939) [4] [5]
VA (Sep 1939 – Sep 1943) [1]
AD (Apr 1945 – Oct 1945) [6] [7]

No. 113 Squadron began service in 1917 with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force commanded by General Edmund Allenby. Initially, the squadron was a unit of the Royal Flying Corps, serving during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign and as a reconnaissance, army cooperation, bomber, fighter, transport and missile operation squadron during its existence.

Contents

History

Formation in World War I as reconnaissance unit

No. 113 Squadron was formed on 1 August 1917 at what became RAF Ismailia, Egypt, as a corps reconnaissance and army co-operation unit, taking over duties of trench reconnaissance from No. 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps, otherwise known as 67 (Australian) Squadron RFC. [8] In September it began tactical reconnaissance and artillery spotting missions over Palestine, where it remained until the end of World War I. The squadron returned to Egypt on 16 February 1919 and a year later it was disbanded by being renumbered to No. 208 Squadron RAF on 1 February 1920. [3]

1937 – 1945

No. 113 reformed at RAF Upper Heyford on 18 May 1937 as a day bomber unit, equipped with Hawker Hinds. In April 1938 it left for the Middle East, converting to the Bristol Bisley/Blenheim in June 1939. After Italy joined the war, on 11 June 1940 the unit participated in the first attack by the RAF on the Italian air force base at El Adem, where 18 aircraft were destroyed or damaged on the ground, against the loss of three British aircraft from three squadrons. [9] On 12 June 1940 the squadron participated in an attack on Tobruk, damaging the San Giorgio. [10] The squadron then moved to Greece in March 1941. There it was overtaken by the German invasion and lost all its aircraft, the squadron personnel being evacuated to Crete and Egypt. Bombing operations in North Africa resumed in June 1941.

No. 113 Squadron was selected for a special operation in November 1941, as Allied ground forces began Operation Crusader. From a temporary airfield behind enemy lines in Libya – LG-215 (at 30°18′5″N 22°54′0″E) which had been prepared by the Long Range Desert Group – the squadron was to attack Axis rear area supply lines. The Blenheims were escorted by Hurricanes from No. 33 Squadron RAF. Their aircraft were spotted by a German reconnaissance flight on 21 November, and the following day LG-215 was attacked by Ju 88s, resulting in damage to many of the Blenheims. [11] The operation was considered to be a success,[ citation needed ] and No. 113 Squadron afterwards flew to Ma'aten Bagush, Egypt beyond the range of German bombers. [12]

After the outbreak of war with Japan the squadron was redeployed to Burma. At this point it was made up predominantly of personnel from other Commonwealth countries, particularly personnel from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), [13] and was commanded by a Rhodesian, Wing Commander Reginald Stidolph, DFC. It arrived in Burma on 7 January 1942 and immediately participated in the first allied bombing attack on Bangkok. [14] A second raid was undertaken on 24 January. The squadron suffered heavy casualties while attacking Japanese columns in Burma and the survivors withdrew to Calcutta in March. From Assam, No. 113 bombed Japanese communications and airfields. At least 16 RAAF personnel were killed in action with the squadron as a Blenheim unit in Burma and India. [13]

In March 1943 the squadron was reformed as a ground-attack unit and converted to Hurricanes. These were replaced by Thunderbolts in April 1945. The squadron was disbanded following the war's end, on 15 October 1945. [3]

Post war reformations as a transport squadron

On 1 September 1946 No. 620 Squadron RAF at RAF Aqir was renumbered to No. 113 Squadron RAF and was engaged in transport duties with Halifax A.7s until disbanded on 1 April 1947. The squadron reformed on 1 May 1947 at RAF Fairford now flying Douglas Dakotas alongside Halifax A.9s, being disbanded on 1 September 1948. [3]

On Thor missiles

The squadron was reformed – as 113 (SM) Squadron – on 22 July 1959 as one of 20 Strategic Missile (SM) squadrons associated with Project Emily. The squadron was equipped with three Thor Intermediate range ballistic missiles, based at RAF Mepal.

In October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the squadron was kept at full readiness, with the missiles aimed at strategic targets in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The squadron was disbanded on 10 July 1963, with the termination of the Thor Program in Britain.

Commanding officers

1918–1919
NameDatesNotes
Major S.R. McCrindleOctober 1918-February 1920
1937–1946
NameDatesNotes
Squadron Leader G. BartholomewMay 1937–December 1937Later Air Commodore and British Air Attache to Turkey.
Died in flying accident, Ankara, August 1949. [15]
Wing Commander F.G. CatorJanuary 1938-March 1939Group Captain Cator CBE retired in 1951.
Squadron Leader G.B. Keily DFC AFCMarch 1939–July 1940PoW Libya September 1940. Retired as Air Commodore 1952. [16]
Squadron Leader R.N. Bateson DFC Sep 1940-January 1941Retired as Air Vice-Marshal, CB DSO & Bar DFC, August 1967. [17]
Squadron Leader R.H. SpencerFebruary 1941–August 1941
Wing Commander R.N. StidolphMarch 1941-April 1942
Wing Commander J.F. GreyApril 1942-July 1942
Wing Commander E.L.A. Walter DFC AFCJuly 1942-December 1942
Wing Commander W.L. Jones DFCDecember 1942–July 1943
Major J.L.B. Viney SAAFJuly–August 1943
Squadron Leader I.L.B AitkensSeptember 1943–December 1943
Squadron Leader R.N.H. CourtneyJanuary–September 1944
Flight Lieutenant Ernest.M. FrostSeptember–November 1944
Squadron Leader Jack Rose DFCNovember 1944–May 1945
Squadron Leader M. PaddleMay–October 1945

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by No. 113 Squadron RAF [1] [2] [3] [18]
FromToAircraftVariant
Aug 1917Apr 1918 Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 BE.2e
Sep 1917Feb 1920 Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8
Feb 1918Oct 1918 Nieuport 17 17, 23 & 24
Feb 1919Dec 1919Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2BE.2e
May 1937Jun 1939 Hawker Hind
Jun 1939Mar 1940 Bristol Blenheim Mk.I
Jun 1941Dec 1941Bristol BlenheimMk.I
Mar 1940Apr 1941Bristol BlenheimMk.IV
Jun 1941Oct 1942Bristol BlenheimMk.IV
Oct 1942Sep 1943Bristol BlenheimMk.V
Sep 1943Apr 1945 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc
Apr 1945Oct 1945 Republic Thunderbolt Mks.I & II
Sep 1946Dec 1946 Handley Page Halifax A.7 & C.8
Sep 1946Apr 1947Handley Page HalifaxA.9
Sep 1946Sep 1948 Douglas Dakota C.4
Nov 1947Sep 1948Handley Page HalifaxA.9
22 July 195910 July 1963 Thor IRBM SM.75

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desert Air Force</span> Allied tactical air unit during World War II

The Desert Air Force (DAF), also known chronologically as Air Headquarters Western Desert, Air Headquarters Libya, the Western Desert Air Force, and the First Tactical Air Force (1TAF), was an Allied tactical air force created from No. 204 Group RAF under RAF Middle East Command in North Africa in 1941 to provide close air support to the British Eighth Army against Axis forces. Throughout the Second World War, the DAF was made up of squadrons from the Royal Air Force (RAF), the South African Air Force (SAAF), the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and other Allied air forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 42 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 42 Squadron, also known as No. 42 Squadron, is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It reformed at RAF Lossiemouth on 21 September 2023 as the Operational Conversion Unit for both the Boeing Poseidon MRA1 and Boeing Wedgetail AEW1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 27 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

No. 27 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Boeing Chinook from RAF Odiham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 30 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 30 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft and is based at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 34 Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

No. 34 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. During the First World War it operated as a reconnaissance and bomber squadron and in the 1930s operated light bombers. It was re-equipped with fighter-bombers in the later half of the Second World War and in the post-war period was reformed four times; first as a photo-reconnaissance unit, then anti-aircraft co-operation, then as a jet fighter squadron through the 1950s. It was last active in the 1960s, as a Blackburn Beverley transport squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 452 Squadron RAAF</span> Royal Australian Air Force squadron

No. 452 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) air traffic control unit. It was established in 1941 as a fighter squadron, in accordance with Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme during World War II. The squadron flew Supermarine Spitfires for the entire war, initially over the United Kingdom and Nazi-occupied Europe. It was later based in Australia and the Netherlands East Indies, before being disbanded in 1945. It was re-raised in its current role in February 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 451 Squadron RAAF</span> Royal Australian Air Force squadron

No. 451 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force army cooperation and fighter squadron of World War II. It was formed at Bankstown, New South Wales, on 12 February 1941 and began flying operations on 1 July as part of the North African Campaign in Egypt and Libya. No. 451 Squadron was withdrawn for refitting in early January 1942 and spent the remainder of the year performing garrison duties in Syria. In January 1943, it was transferred to Egypt to contribute to local air defence but saw almost no combat. This inactivity caused morale among the squadron's personnel to greatly deteriorate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 245 Squadron RAF</span> Military unit

No. 245 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It flew as an anti-submarine squadron during World War I and as a fighter squadron during World War II. After the war it was first a jet-fighter squadron and its last role was as a radar-calibration unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 455 Squadron RAAF</span> Royal Australian Air Force squadron

No. 455 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) torpedo bomber squadron during World War II and became famous as part of the "ANZAC Strike Wing" that was formed from Australian and New Zealand squadrons. Raised in early 1941, mainly from Australian personnel, the squadron served over Europe during the war, operating from various bases in the United Kingdom; it also briefly sent a detachment to the Soviet Union in 1942. Operating Handley Page Hampdens and Bristol Beaufighters, the squadron mainly undertook anti-shipping and anti-submarine operations during the war. It was disbanded in May 1945 following the cessation of hostilities against Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 456 Squadron RAAF</span> Royal Australian Air Force squadron

No. 456 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) night fighter squadron, operational over Europe during World War II. Formed in mid-1941, the squadron was the RAAF's only night fighter squadron. It was also the first RAAF unit to use a roundel featuring a red kangaroo in a blue circle, on some parts of its aircraft. While this insignia was unofficial and the squadron's main markings conformed to the RAF roundels used by British and other Commonwealth units, it inspired the post-war roundel used by the RAAF.

<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.

No. 160 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force unit during the Second World War, when it flew for four years in a number of roles including heavy bomber, minelaying, reconnaissance, special operations and transport unit in the Middle East and South-East Asian theatre of World War II.

<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.

No. 608 Squadron was an Auxiliary Air Force squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. It flew during its existence as a bomber, fighter and reconnaissance unit and was the only RAF squadron to be equipped with the unsuccessful Blackburn Botha torpedo bomber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 600 Squadron RAF</span> Military unit

No. 600 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force is a squadron of the RAF Reserves. It was formed in 1925 and operated as a night fighter squadron during the Second World War with great distinction. After the war, 600 Squadron went on to operate jet fighters until 1957. Reactivated in 1999, 600 Squadron is the only RAF Reserve unit within the M25. It is a Headquarters Support Squadron and provides trained part-time reservists to support RAF operations around the world.

No. 82 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron that was first formed in 1917 and last disbanded in 1963. It served at times as a bomber unit, a reconnaissance unit and lastly as an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 614 Squadron RAF</span> Military unit

No. 614 Squadron was originally formed on 1 June 1937 as an army co-operation squadron unit of the Auxiliary Air Force. It served during the Second World War first in this role and later as a bomber squadron. Upon reformation it served as a fighter squadron until the disbandment of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force on 10 March 1957.

No. 107 Squadron RAF was a Royal Flying Corps bomber unit formed during the First World War. It was reformed in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and was operational during the Cold War on Thor Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles.

No. 114 Squadron was a squadron of the British Royal Air Force. It was first formed in India during the First World War, serving as a light bomber squadron during the Second World War and as a transport squadron post-war. It was last disbanded in 1971.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 Moyes 1976, pp. 156–158.
  2. 1 2 3 Rawlings 1978, pp. 248–249.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Halley 1988, p. 190.
  4. Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 13.
  5. Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 49.
  6. Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 15.
  7. Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 62.
  8. Cutlack 1941 p. 74
  9. Playfair, Vol. I, page 112.
  10. Playfair, Vol. I, pages 110, 112.
  11. Six Hurricanes got airborne and shot down two of the Ju 88s, a third being damaged by future ace and Pilot Officer Lance Wade, a Texan serving in the RAF.
  12. The RAF repeated the operation almost a year later, under the code name Operation Chocolate, when No. 213 Squadron RAF and No. 238 Squadron RAF flew their Hurricane IICs into LG125 to attack Rommel's forces retreating from the Second Battle of El Alamein.
  13. 1 2 Alan Storr, 2006, RAAF World War 2 Fatalities (various volumes), passim.
  14. "Timeline". 113squadron.com. 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  15. Barrass, M. B. (2015). "Air Commodore Gilbert Bartholomew". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  16. Barrass, M. B. (2015). "Air Commodore Gerald Barnard Keily". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  17. Barrass, M. B. (2015). "Air Vice-Marshal Robert Norman Bateson". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  18. Jefford 2001, p. 159.

Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN   0-85059-364-6.
  • F. M. Cutlack (1941). "The Australian Flying Corps in the Western and Eastern Theatres of War, 1914–1918". Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 Volume VIII (11th ed.). Canberra: Australian War Memorial.
  • Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN   1-84037-281-8.
  • 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, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN   1-85310-053-6.
  • Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 2nd edition 1976. ISBN   0-354-01027-1.
  • Playfair, Major-General I.S.O.; Molony, Brigadier C.J.C.; with Flynn, Captain F.C. (R.N.) & Gleave, Group Captain T.P. (2009) [1st. pub. HMSO:1954]. Butler, Sir James (ed.). The Mediterranean and Middle East, Volume I: The Early Successes Against Italy, to May 1941. History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Uckfield, UK: Naval & Military Press. ISBN   1-84574-065-3.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald & Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (2nd edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN   0-354-01028-X.
  • Embry, Sir Basil (1976) [1957]. Mission Completed. London: White Lion Publications. ISBN   0-7274-0260-9.