No. 615 Squadron RAF

No. 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron was a unit of the British Auxiliary Air Force and later the Royal Auxiliary Air Force between 1937 and 1957.

No. 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron RAF
Active1 Jun 1937 – 10 Jun 1945
10 Jun 1945 – 25 Sep 1945
10 May 1946 – 10 Mar 1957
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Part ofRoyal Auxiliary Air Force
Nickname(s)'Churchill's Own'[1]
Motto(s)Latin: Conjunctis viribus
(Translation: "By our united force")[2][3]
EngagementsBattle of France
Battle of Britain
Commanders
Honorary Air CommodoreWinston Churchill
Notable
commanders
N.F. Duke
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryOn a star of six points, an oak sprig fructed.[2][3]
Squadron CodesRR (Nov 1938 – Sep 1939)[4]
KW (Sep 1939 – Sep 1945)[5]
RAV (Jul 1946 – 1949)[6]
V6 (1949 – Apr 1951)[7]
Post-1950 squadron roundel

History

Formation and early years

No. 615 squadron was formed at RAF Kenley as part of the Auxiliary Air Force on 1 June 1937 and was initially equipped with the Hawker Audax in the army-cooperation role. By the end of the year it had received Hawker Hectors which it flew until November 1938, when it received Gloster Gauntlets and became a fighter squadron at the same time.[2]

Second World War

1939–1942

The squadron went to France as part of the Air Component of the British Expeditionary Force in November 1939, having re-equipped with Gloster Gladiators in May.

Conversion to Hawker Hurricanes took place just prior to the German invasion of France, but by 20 May 1940 the squadron was back at Kenley.[3][8] "B" Flight were based at Saint Inglevert during the early part of 1940.[9]

615 squadron took part in the early actions of the Battle of Britain, but then moved to Scotland to rest. It later took part in offensive sweeps over Europe and defence duties in Wales.

1942–45

In April 1942 the squadron was transferred to the South East Asian theatre, initially to India, before moving closer to the front lines in Burma, during December 1942. but returned to India to re-equip in May 1943, receiving Supermarine Spitfires in October. It returned to operations on the Burma front in November but was recalled to India again, for defensive duties in August 1944. The transfer, from Palel to Biagachi, near Calcutta was scheduled for 10 August. Despite a favourable weather forecast, the squadron encountered a violent monsoon storm en route. Eight of the 16 aircraft, including that of the commanding officer, Squadron Leader Dave McCormack, DFC, were lost.

1945

The squadron returned to Burma in February 1945.[3][8] On 10 June 1945, the 615 Squadron was officially disbanded – although No. 135 Squadron RAF was renamed 615 Squadron that same day, at RAF Cuttack, Orissa. The new 615 Squadron was equipped with Republic Thunderbolts and began training for proposed landings in Malaya. Air support was not required, however, following the surrender of Japan and the squadron disbanded on 25 September at RAF Vizagapatam, Andhra Pradesh.[3][8]

Post-war

With the reactivation of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, No. 615 Squadron was reformed on 10 May 1946 at RAF Biggin Hill as a day fighter squadron equipped with Spitfire F.14s. Spitfire F.21s were received in 1947 and these were replaced by F.22s in 1948, both marks being flown until 1950.

600 and 615 squadron were great rivals. No 600 had the Queen Mother as Honorary Air Commodore and 615 had Sir Winston Churchill. When the Queen Mother first flew in the pilot's seat of a Comet she caused a telegram to be sent saying: "Today I have flown higher and faster than any of the pilots at Biggin Hill." On another occasion when Sir Winston Churchill was at Biggin he called over the CO of the rival squadron and asked him to send a telegram to the Queen Mother saying:"I have today presented to my squadron the Esher Trophy."[10] Later he wrote: 'It was a great joy to me to be made an honorary member of 615. They were equally good at work or play. I remember visiting them at summer camp at Horsham St Faith. After the day's flying the squadron funds were raided and launches hired on the Norfolk Broads. At one or two selected stopping-places the adjutant went into the nearest hostelry and to the consternation of the locals ordered 86 pints and four lemonades'.[11]

The squadron re-equipped with Gloster Meteor F.4 jet fighters starting in September 1950. Meteor F.8s were received in September 1951 and these were flown in the annual UK air defence exercises and at annual summer training camps. Along with all other flying units of the RAuxAF, No. 615 was disbanded on 10 March 1957.[3][8]

Notable Squadron members

  • Winston Churchill, appointed Honorary Air Commodore of the Squadron on 4th April 1939.
  • Neville Duke, famous test pilot.
  • Hedley Fowler, achieved the squadron's first kill; became a PoW and later escaped from Colditz.
  • Arthur Vere Harvey, squadron commander; a Conservative Member of Parliament post-war.
  • Petrus Hugo, South African ace and Commanding Officer
  • Joseph Kayll, commander during Battle of France, then Battle of Britain Ace.
  • Ronald Gustave Kellett, Second World War ace and post-war commander of the squadron
  • Henry Lafont, Famous Free French pilot of the Second World War, who died on 2 December 2011, the last surviving French veteran of the Battle of Britain. With René Mouchotte (below), escaped from Algeria in 1940 and flew to Gibraltar to join the Free French forces.
  • René Mouchotte, Famous Free French pilot of the Second World War who died on 27 August 1943, first Free-French officer to hold the position of flight commander in the RAF. His memoirs were published in 1946 under the title Les carnets de René Mouchotte.
  • Alexander Obolensky, A Russian Prince, and popularly known as "The Flying Prince", "The Flying Slav", or simply as "Obo". An international rugby player for England, scored 2 tries in a legendary All Blacks match. Died 29 March 1940 in a Hawker Hurricane training accident.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 615 Squadron RAF, data from[8][12][13]
From To Aircraft Version
June 1937March 1938Hawker Audax
December 1937November 1938Hawker HectorMk.I
November 1938September 1939Gloster GauntletMk.II
June 1939October 1939Gloster GladiatorMk.I
October 1939May 1940Gloster GladiatorMk.II
April 1940February 1941Hawker HurricaneMk.I
February 1941April 1941Hawker HurricaneMk.IIa
April 1941July 1941Hawker HurricaneMk.I
July 1941March 1942Hawker HurricaneMk.IIb
September 1941October 1943Hawker HurricaneMk.IIc
October 1943August 1944Supermarine SpitfireMk.Vc
June 1944June 1945Supermarine SpitfireMk.VIII
June 1945September 1945Republic ThunderboltMk.II
October 1946January 1949Supermarine SpitfireF.14
January 1947June 1950Supermarine SpitfireF.21
July 1948September 1950Supermarine SpitfireF.22
September 1950September 1951Gloster MeteorF.4
September 1951March 1957Gloster MeteorF.8

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 615 Squadron RAF, data from[3][8][14]
From To Base
1 June 193729 August 1938RAF Kenley, Surrey
29 August 19384 September 1938RAF Old Sarum, Wiltshire
4 September 19382 September 1939RAF Kenley, Surrey
2 September 193915 November 1939RAF Croydon, Surrey
15 November 193913 December 1939Merville, France
13 December 193912 April 1940Vitry-en-Artois, France
12 April 194027 April 1940Poix, France
27 April 194016 May 1940Abbeville, France
16 May 194020 May 1940Morsele, Belgium
20 May 194029 August 1940RAF Kenley, Surrey
29 August 194010 October 1940RAF Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland
10 October 194017 December 1940RAF Northolt, Middlesex
17 December 194021 April 1941RAF Kenley, Surrey
21 April 194111 September 1941RAF Valley, Anglesey, Wales
11 September 194127 November 1941RAF Manston, Kent
27 November 194124 January 1942RAF Angle, Pembrokeshire, Wales
24 January 194217 March 1942RAF Fairwood Common, Swansea, Wales
17 March 19417 June 1942en route to British India
17 June 19425 December 1942RAF Jessore, Bengal
5 December 19426 May 1943RAF Feni, Bengal
6 May 19431 November 1943RAF Alipore, Bengal
1 November 194313 December 1943RAF Chittagong, Bengal
13 December 194325 February 1944RAF Dohazari, Bengal
25 February 194419 March 1944RAF Nazir
19 March 19445 May 1944RAF Silchar West, Assam
5 May 194423 May 1944RAF Dergaon, Assam
23 May 194410 August 1944RAF Palel, Manipur
10 August 194423 February 1945RAF Baigachi
23 February 194515 April 1945RAF Nidania
15 April 194522 May 1945RAF Chharra, United Province
22 May 194529 May 1945RAF Chakulia, Bihar
29 May 194510 June 1945RAF Cuttack, Orissa
10 June 19458 July 1945RAF Akyab, Burma
8 July 194525 September 1945RAF Vizagapatam, Andhra Pradesh
10 May 194610 March 1957RAF Biggin Hill, Kent

Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 615 Squadron RAF, data from[15][16]
From To Name
June 1937March 1940S/Ldr. A.V. Harvey
March 1940December 1940S/Ldr. J.R. Kyall, DSO, DFC
December 1940February 1941S/Ldr. Holmwood
February 1941April 1941S/Ldr. Anthony Eyre DFC [17]
April 1941July 1941S/Ldr. G.F. Powell-Shedden
July 1941February 1942S/Ldr. D.E. Gillam, DSO, DFC & Bar, AFC
February 1942December 1942S/Ldr. B.L. Duckenfield, DFC
January 1943March 1943S/Ldr. W.D. Williams, DFC
March 1943January 1944S/Ldr. R.H. Holland, DFC
January 1944August 1944S/Ldr. D.W. McCormack, DFC & Bar
August 1944September 1944F/Lt. K.F. Gannon
September 1944June 1945S/Ldr. T.H. Meyer
June 1945September 1945S/Ldr. P.J. Anson
July 19461949S/Ldr. R.G. Kellett, DSO, DFC
19491950S/Ldr. P.K. Devitt
19501951S/Ldr. N.F. Duke, DSO, DFC & Two Bars, AFC
1951January 1954S/Ldr. F.B Sowrey, AFC
January 1954March 1957S/Ldr. R.A. Eeles

References

Notes

  1. Hunt 1972, pp. 5 and 357.
  2. Rawlings 1976, p. 503.
  3. Halley 1988, p. 432.
  4. Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 14.
  5. Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 63.
  6. Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 138.
  7. Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 107.
  8. Jefford 2001, p. 101.
  9. Belcher, Keith A. "Correspondence — A "Vintage Aircraft" memory of 1940". Flight. No. 19 October 1956. pp. 654–44. (p654, p655)
  10. https://www.britishpathe.com/video/churchill-presents-esher-trophy-to-615-squadron-re/query/royal+air+force
  11. John Yoxall, Flight Magazine, May 17, 1962
  12. Rawlings 1976, pp. 506–508.
  13. Halley 1988, p. 433.
  14. Rawlings 1976, pp. 505–506.
  15. Rawlings 1976, p. 508.
  16. Rawlings 1982, p. 240.
  17. "Anthony Eyre DFC". Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2011.

Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Hunt, Leslie (1972). Twenty-One Squadrons: The History of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 1925–1957. London: Garnstone Press. ISBN 0-85511-110-0.
  • Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • 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 (1976) [1969]. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft (2nd ed.). London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
  • Robinson, Anthony (1999) [1987]. RAF Squadrons in the Battle of Britain. London: Brockhampton Press. ISBN 1-86019-907-0.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.