No. 151 Squadron RAF explained

Unit Name:No. 151 Squadron RAF
Dates:12 Jun 1918 - 10 Sep 1919
4 Aug 1936 - 10 Oct 1946
15 Sep 1951 - 19 Sep 1961
1 Jan 1962 – 25 May 1963
Country: United Kingdom
Branch: Royal Air Force
Size:squadron
Motto:French: Foy pour devoir
(Translation: "Fidelity unto duty" or "Faith for duty"[1] or "Fidelity into duty")
Notable Commanders:Edward Mortlock "Teddy" Donaldson
Identification Symbol:On 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[2]
Identification Symbol Label:Squadron Badge heraldry
Identification Symbol 2:TV (Sep 1938 - Dec 1938)
GG (Dec 1938 - Sep 1939)
DZ (Sep 1939 - Oct 1946)
Identification Symbol 2 Label:Squadron Codes
Identification Symbol 3 Label:Post 1950 squadron roundel

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

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.

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.

After World War II

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! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version
June 1918 February 1919
August 1936 March 1939 Mk.II
December 1938 June 1941 Mk.I
December 1940 October 1941 Mk.I
June 1941 January 1942 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc
September 1941 July 1942 Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.II
April 1942 July 1943 Mk.II
July 1943 March 1944 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XII
August 1943 August 1943 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.VI
December 1943 September 1944 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XIII
July 1944 September 1944 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.VI
August 1944 October 1946 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XXX
February 1952 August 1953 NF.10
March 1953 October 1955 NF.11
September 1955 June 1957 NF.3
June 1957 September 1961 FAW.5
January 1962 April 1963 B.2
January 1962 May 1963 C.1 & C.2
January 1962 May 1963 T.1
January 1962 May 1963 B.2
September 1981 September 1992 T.1 & T.1A

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 151 Squadron RAF, data from! From !! To !! Location !! Remark
12 June 1918 16 June 1918 Squadron formed
16 June 1918 21 June 1918
21 June 1918 25 June 1918
25 June 1918 2 July 1918
2 July 1918 8 September 1918
8 September 1918 24 October 1918
24 October 1918 5 December 1918
5 December 1918 21 February 1919
21 February 1919 10 September 1919 Squadron disbanded
4 August 1936 13 May 1940 Squadron reformed
28 February 1940 12 May 1940 Detachment
12 May 1940 17 May 1940 Complete squadron
17 May 1940 18 May 1940
18 May 1940 20 May 1940
20 May 1940 29 August 1940
29 August 1940 1 September 1940
1 September 1940 28 November 1940
28 November 1940 6 December 1940
6 December 1940 30 April 1943
22 April 1941 25 January 1942 Detachment
30 April 1943 16 August 1943
16 August 1943 17 November 1943
17 November 1943 24 March 1944
24 March 1944 7 October 1944
7 October 1944 19 November 1944
19 November 1944 1 March 1945
1 March 1945 17 May 1945
17 May 1945 1 June 1945
1 June 1945 8 July 1946
8 July 1946 10 October 1946 Squadron disbanded
15 September 1951 17 June 1957 Squadron reformed
17 June 1957 15 November 1957
15 November 1957 19 September 1961 Squadron disbanded
1 January 1962 25 May 1963 Squadron reformed and renumbered
18 September 1981 4 August 1992 Shadow Squadron reformed and disbanded

Commanding officers

data from! From !! To !! Name
Jun 1918 Jul 1918 Maj M Green, DSO, MC
Jul 1918 Feb 1919 Maj C J Q Brand, DSO, MC, DFC
Aug 1936 Nov 1938 Sqn Ldr W V Hyde
Dec 1938 Aug 1940 Sqn Ldr E M Donaldson, DSO, DFC
Aug 1940 Sep 1940 Sqn Ldr J A G Gordon
Sep 1940 Sep 1940 Sqn Ldr G King
Sep 1940 Dec 1940 Sqn Ldr West
Dec 1940 Oct 1941 Sqn Ldr Adams, DFC
Oct 1941 Feb 1942 Sqn Ldr McDougall
Feb 1942 Mar 1943 Wg Cdr I S Smith, DFC
Mar 1943 May 1943 Wg Cdr D V Ivins
May 1943 Oct 1943 Wg Cdr S P Richards, AFC
Oct 1943 Dec 1944 Wg Cdr G H Goodman DSO, DFC
Dec 1944 1946 Sqn Ldr J A Wright DFC
1946 Sqn Ldr P S Q Andersen
1951 1953 Sqn Ldr D Boyle
1953 1956 Sqn Ldr D B Ainsworth
May 1956 Oct 1956 Sqn Ldr I Cosby
Oct 1956 Mar 1958 Sqn Ldr Boardman
Mar 1958 Oct 1958 Sqn Ldr J W Frost
Oct 1958 Jan 1961 Sqn Ldr L C P Martin
Jan 1961 Sep 1961 Sqn Ldr D O Luke
Sep 1981 Dec 1983 Sqn Ldr R Bealer
Jan 1983 Feb 1983 Sqn Ldr D Sharp
Feb 1983 Nov 1984 Sqn Ldr J A Hall
Nov 1984 Jan 1987 Sqn Ldr R F Burroughs
Jan 1987 1992 Sqn Ldr G P H Croasdale

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://mikeduggan.tripod.com/otheritems/trade/player07.jpg mikeduggan.tripod.com mikeduggan.tripod
  2. Web site: FROM CAMEL TO HAWK - A Diary History of 151(F) Squadron RAF.