Of the 36 squadrons involved in this raid on berlin no. The orbs, in series air 27, were created to provide a complete record of a unit from the time of its formation. Royal air force 78 squadron raf bomber command 78 squadron raf campaign diary the battle of france mayjune 1940 raf museum. The very fact that an infantry soldier is writing about the raafs helicopter support is a huge compliment to those pilots and crews of no 9 squadron who supported our soldiers in vietnam.
The definitive history of 603 city of edinburgh squadron, rauxaf volume ii. The formation of no 6 rcaf group and the allocation of linton to the new group, resulted in no 78 moving into east yorkshire. The aircraft and crews lost on each operation includes all the crew names and fate. It operated in support of british and south arabian troops in aden, developing new capabilities including the fitting of bomb racks and grew to operate 14 wessex including a sar flight by jul 1967. May 17, 2011 although a memorial stone to 78 sqn already exists near breighton, it was considered appropriate to have an additional memorial erected at raf benson, dedicated to all those lost serving on 78 sqn. For info the current 78 sqn maintain very good links with breighton airfield they have a website too lookup real areoplane company on either fb or the memorials exists at bubwith church 1m n of breighton and outside our hangar to either the wwii casualties or. Operations record books for later years c19601980 are not yet available online but can be viewed at the national. Raf 78 squadron ww2 world war two page 1 rootschat. Feb 23, 2009 i am new to wwii forums and i read your post from 2009 with interest, as i would love to find out as much about 78 squadron raf as i can. No 72 squadron association books relating to 72 sqn. Of wcr foale flew with 78 sqdn at an raf vr in wwii until his death in 1943, his halifax being shot down over holland and he and his crew are buried in eindhoven. For info the standard of no 78 bomber sqn along with the other 10 or 12 still operational ex bomber command raf sqns will be on parade for the unveiling of the bomber command memorial on 28 june 78 sqn lost 979 kiamia a mere fraction of the 55,573. Photos 78 squadron royal air force helicopter history site. To get an idea of what the records look like have a look at the below examples which show the summary of events and the records of events of 101 squadron for december 1943.
Squadron leader tapesh shankar 20444 flying pilot is on the posted strength of a fra squadron since 1 5 dec 2002. From 78 squadron there was one mia wo bill gilmore and one kia fo dick boyce. Authentic scale air is the most popular of the 4 squadron hobby books categories, then military history, and authentic scale land. For the information of anyone who has a personal interest in 78 sqn. There have been a myriad of books dealing with the australian involvement in vietnam in one way or another but this book, shockwave is long overdue. Sid finn was based at raf elsham wolds during world war ii. Initially equipped with a variety of be2 and be12 aircraft, these were replaced by sopwith 1. As sqn history officer, i was tasked to find an aircraft part hopefully from a 78 sqn aircraft for incorporation into this new memorial. Summary of events forms, also known as form 540, and detail of work carried out forms, also known as form 541, can be found in operation record books. Kings scout cambridge city cemetery, cambridgeshire. Summary of actions 78 squadron raaf kittyhawk fighters. Halifax shadow 78 squadron raf reuinion 2010 pprune forums. At the outbreak of war the squadron was classified as a grouppool squadron within no.
Developed from the civil bristol 173 concept, 3 variants 191193 were envisaged but only the 192 was produced for the raf as a support helicopter, and was both its first tandem rotor and twin turbine engine helicopter. Mar 01, 2018 there have been a myriad of books dealing with the australian involvement in vietnam in one way or another but this book, shockwave is long overdue. I was the voluntary history officer for 78 sqn up until oct 2012. Dad was a fitter armourer on the halifax bomber he is very proud of those days,when he served with the raf. By the start of the second world war, the squadron was flying the armstrong whitworth whitley and was acting as a reserve squadron taking on pilots who had passed out from the group pool training units. British aviation archaeological council research topics. Mainly provided air cover for strike forces into new britain and adjacent islands. Oct 1944 during the month 78 fighter wing were to lose six pilots killed or missing in action. Hello john, thank you for sending that report to me. He is a qualified flying instructor, holding catir b master green on il 78 mki aircraft. Patricia chapman the colours of the day 23 sqn 1941 country books 1999 lucas flying colours. F mason et al 75 glorious years history of 25 sqn leeming adams 1990.
This book is not so much a history as a record of the operations and losses of 78 squadron in wwii. Most of them date from the second world war but there are some from the 1920s and 1930s and a few from the first world war. Very detailed history of 410 sqn from 1941 to 1945. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Fo douglas john polman rafvr 20 78 sqn son of frederick james polman and victoria maude polman of hillingdon, uxbridge, middlesex. Jan 18, 2011 my dad, stanley john owen was assigned with 78 squadron first served at lossiemouth scotland then posted to breighton east yorkshire until the end of the war. In my researching all the pilots who served in fighter squadron fiftyone throughout its 68year history as vf33b55a51, navy records adequately document shipair groupsquadron action reports.
Squadron hobby books shop online for 144 squadron hobby books at discounts up to 63%. This book is the history of the 78 raaf fighter squadron, smuttee was the codename used by the squadron after they joined the war in the pacific, in 1943. Over three centuries, the unit has established itself as one of the foremost fighting forces in the universe, enduring political and social turmoil to continue doing what. A bartmann jug from german bartmann, bearded man, also called bellarmine jug, is a type of decorated stoneware that was manufactured in europe throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, especially in the cologne region in what is today western germany. These forms are records of the daily events of all raf units. Binbrook bottesford coningsby ludford magna metheringham north coates north witham scampton south witham waddington woodhall spa sutton bridge aircraft books. It was involved in reconnaissance, fighter patrols and escort missions, as well as the landing of spies behind enemy lines. Having passed i was sent to bomber command 4 group york and subsequently taken to 78 squadron breighton, one of the groups many active halifax bomber squadrons. For info the standard of no 78bomber sqn along with the other 10 or 12 still operational ex bomber command raf sqns will be on parade for the unveiling of the bomber command memorial on 28 june 78 sqn lost 979 kiamia a mere fraction of the 55,573. Save this unit unit saved share this unit halifax bomber squadron ww2. As with molkentins previous ww1 aviation history books, this work leaves the reader with a great admiration for michaels prodigious ability to research primary sources, turn up interesting insights and integrate everything into a compelling narrative. Some of the entries for the record of operations are very brief and none are overly detailed. This is an excellent full colour book covering the history of north weald from ww1 until its closure as an raf station in 1964. Formed on 1 nov 1916, 78 squadron began its rotary wing career on 7 jun 1965 at khormaksar in aden with nine wessex hc.
Royal air force operations record books 19111963 the. For those few years before the end of the war, the squadron accumulated an impressive list of battle honours. It also records, rightfully so that the last 12 to 18 months were probably the most difficult for the squadron and its maintenance. Lacking is the identification of the pilots who performed the actions in the victory. On 17 oct 2004 sqn ldr shankar was detailed to fly. The belvedere was designed and built initially by bristol until its helicopter business was absorbed by westland in 1958. Until december 2007 it was the operator of two westland sea king har3s from raf mount pleasant, falkland islands. Halifax shadow 78 squadron raf reuinion 2010 if anyone has any personal links or has any relatives with past connection with 78 squadron please pass on the details below to make them aware of an upcoming event that the squadron is running at the beginning of june this year. By the autumn of 1916, with the formation of the new jagdstaffeln, the pendulum of aerial supremacy had once again swung in favour of the german air force. It was formed in july 1943 as part of expansion of the raafs fighter force, and was assigned to mobile striking forces for the duration of the war. No 78 squadron another home defence unit, no 78 was formed on 1 november at harrietsham, to cover the south coast area. The majority of the records consist of standard raf form 540 diary pages with a mix of handwritten and typed formats. The 78th squadron is a united empire of earth military regiment with a history stretching back to the mid 20th century during times when earth suffered from internal civil wars. In april 1941 the squadron moved to middleton st george, being housed at its satellite of croft from 20 october to 10 june 1942 and then in september 1942 it returned to linton.
Although a memorial stone to 78 sqn already exists near breighton, it was considered appropriate to have an additional memorial erected at raf benson, dedicated to all those lost serving on 78 sqn. One book already exists on 78 nobody unprepared another is in progress. Exercise halifax shadow a 78 sqn commemerative event is taking place between 4th7th june 2010 at various locations in the greater york area this event is open to all former members of 78 sqn from any era of our operational past be they aircrew or groundcrew. For info the current 78 sqn maintain very good links with breighton airfield they have a website too lookup real areoplane company on either fb or the memorials exists at bubwith church 1m n of breighton and outside our hangar to either the wwii casualties or all who have lost their lives serving on 78 sqn. Bomber command, 4 group york, 78 squadron breighton, 1943 bbc. Strutters in october 1917, by which time the squadron had moved to suttons farm in essex. The battle of the somme in 1916 saw the rfc suffer losses of nearly 400 aircrew between september and november, and british casualties were to reach a zenith in the bloody april of 1917 when 319 aircrew were lost, killed or taken prisoner. Bomber command, 4 group york, 78 squadron breighton, 1943. These are air ministry operations record books orbs for squadrons. Sgt thomas henry sharpe rafvr air bomber 20 78 sqn son of henry and kathleen s. Popular raf squadron books showing 2 of 33 the greatest squadron of them all. Squadron 78, breighton, england photos members login. This tome covers the history of 103 sqn during wwi and wwii.
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