No. 229 Squadron RAF

No. 229 Squadron RAF
No. 229 Squadron RAF
Active 20 August 1918 - 31 December 1919
6 October 1939 - 29 April 1942
3 August 1942 - 10 January 1945
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
Motto Be bold
Engagements Battle of Britain
Insignia
Squadron Badge A boar's head erased, pierced by a sword
The badge indicates triumph over a powerful and ferocious enemy
Squadron Codes RE (Oct 1939 - May 1941)
HB (May 1941 - Apr 1942, Jan 1944 - Apr 1944)
X (Aug 1942 - Jan 1944)
9R Apr 1944 - Jan 1945

No. 229 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force, and is an officially accredited Battle of Britain Squadron. It became No. 603 Squadron RAF in January 1945.

Contents

Formation & World War I

No. 229 Squadron RAF was formed on 20 August 1918 at Great Yarmouth. It was made up from Nos 428, 429, 454 and 455 Flights of the Royal Naval Air Service. The squadron's role was to fly coastal patrols. It continued with this until the end of the war and was officially disbanded on 31 December 1919.

World War II

On 6 October 1939, 229 Sqn was reformed at RAF Digby as a Fighter squadron and was equipped with Blenheims for a role protecting shipping. The squadron began convoy patrols on 21 December but also carried out night training and radar trials. In March 1940, the squadron was re-equipped with Hurricanes and soon after the German invasion of France in May 1940, sent one flight to reinforce the French-based fighter squadrons for eight days during the Battle of France.

Battle of Britain

After flying defensive patrols over the East Coast, No 229 moved to RAF Northolt in September and remained there for the rest of the Battle of Britain. ACM (then Sqn Ldr) Frederick Rosier was a flight commander on the squadron during this time.

Middle East

In December 1940 the squadron moved to Merseyside and in May 1941 left for the Middle East. The squadron's pilots were embarked in HMS Furious and flown off to Malta where, after refuelling, they moved on to Egypt, two separate detachments being convoyed fifteen days apart by the carrier. On arrival the first detachment was attached to No. 274 Squadron RAF to cover the evacuation of Crete and the second detachment was divided between Nos. 6, 208 and 213 Squadrons. A flight was transferred from No. 274 to No.73 Squadron on 11 June as the latters C Flight, and remained detached in Egypt at the end of July. It was September before the squadron began functioning as an independent unit. Fighter sweeps were flown over Libya until the end of March 1942 when the squadron was transferred to Malta to reinforce the islands fighter defences. On 29 April 1942, it ceased to function, its surviving aircraft and pilots being absorbed by other units.

Defence of Malta

On 3 August 1942, 229 Sqn reformed at Takali, Malta from No. 603 Squadron and flew Spitfires in Defence of Malta during the last months of the siege. In January 1943 the island's squadrons took the offensive, flying sweeps over Sicily, and in May 229 Sqn began began to operate fighter-bombers. After covering the landings in Sicily, in July 1943, the squadron remained in Malta for defensive duties until January 1944, when it moved to Sicily in July 1943, the squadron remained in Malta for defensive duties until January 1944, where it moved to Sicily.

On 1 April 1944, it was withdrawn for transfer to the UK and re-assembled at RAF Hornchurch on 24 April. After providing escort missions over the Low countries. Re-arming with Spitfire XVIs in December, it then flew fighter-bomber sweeps until renumbered No. 603 Squadron RAF on 10 January 1945.

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1981-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE,BA,RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • 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.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1978. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
  • Robinson, Anthony. RAF Squadrons in the Battle of Britain. London: Arms and Armour Press Ltd., 1987 (republished 1999 by Brockhampton Press, ISBN 1-86019-907-0.).

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • No. 603 Squadron RAF — No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron RAuxAF Active 14 October 1925 26 December 1944 10 January 1945 15 August 1945 10 May 1946 10 March 1957 1 October 1999 to present day. Country …   Wikipedia

  • No. 234 Squadron RAF — No. 234 (Madras Presidency) Squadron RAF Active 20 Aug 1918 15 May 1919 30 Oct 1939 1 Sep 1946 1 Aug 1952 15 Jul 1957 22 Oct 1958 31 Aug 1992 1 Sep 1992 1 Apr 1994 Country …   Wikipedia

  • No. 511 Squadron RAF — Active 14 Oct 1942 7 Oc 1946 16 Oct 1946 1 Sep 1958 15 Dec 1959 6 Jan 1976 Country United Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • No. 63 Squadron RAF — Active 31 August 1916 1920 February 1937 April 1940 15 June 1942 30 January 1945 1 September 1946 31 October 1958 30 November 1958 23 September 1992 Country …   Wikipedia

  • No. 35 Squadron RAF — No. XXXV (Madras Presidency) Squadron RAF XXXV Squadron crest. Active February 1, 1916 June 26, 1919 March 1, 1929 March 1, 1982 Country United Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • No. 56 Squadron RAF — Active 1916 (Royal Flying Corps) Country United Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • No. 158 Squadron RAF — Active 9 May 1918 20 Nov 1918 14 Feb 1942 31 Dec 1945 Country United Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • No. 19 Squadron RAF — No. XIX (Reserve) Squadron RAF Official Squadron Crest for no. XIX Squadron RAF Active 1 Sep 1915 31 Dec 1919 1 Apr 1923 31 Dec 1976 1 Jan 1977 9 Jan 1992 23 Sep 1992 present Country …   Wikipedia

  • No. 194 Squadron RAF — Active 9 Aug 1917 21 Jul 1918 14 Oct 1942 15 Feb 1946 1 Feb 1953 3 Jun 1959 Country United Kingdo …   Wikipedia

  • No. 353 Squadron RAF — Active 1 June 1942 1 October 1946 Country United Kingdom …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”