Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

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No 251 - 255 Squadron Histories

No 251 Squadron

Formed on 31 May 1918 from Nos 504, 505, 506 & 510 (Special Duty) Flights at Hornsea, although the aircraft operated as detachments at Atwick, Greenland Top and Owthorne.  It was equipped with DH6 aircraft, which were used to carry out anti-submarine patrols along the East Yorkshire coast.  The squadron disbanded on 30 June 1919.

The squadron was reformed on 1 August 1944 at Reykjavik in Iceland from No 1407 Flight.  Its role was Air-Sea Rescue and Meteorological reconnaissance using Ansons, Venturas and Hudsons, two of the latter being modified to carry airborne lifeboats.  The Venturas were retired in October 1944 and in March 1945, Fortress IIs began to arrive and by August the last Hudson had left the squadron.  However, at the same time some Warwicks were taken on strength and the squadron continued to operate the three types (Fortress, Warwick and Anson) until it disbanded on 30 October 1945.

Motto:     However wind blows

Squadron Codes used: -  

Aircraft & Markings

No 252 Squadron

Formed on 1 May 1918 at Tynemouth by amalgamating the ex-RNAS 495, 507, 508, 509 and 510 Flights. It was equipped with Sopwith Baby, Kangaroos and DH6s, the first two being given up in August 1918 and the third being retained until January 1919.  These were operated as detachments at Cramlington, Seaton Carew and Redcar.  Reduced to cadre in January 1919, the squadron moved to Killingholme where it disbanded on 30 June.

The squadron was reformed on 21 November 194o as Coastal Command's first Beaufighter unit, although it also operated Blenheims and did not become wholly equipped with Beaufighters until April 1941.  In April 1941 the squadron moved to Northern Ireland but the following month a detachment was sent to Gibraltar, to assist in the protection of Malta bound convoys.  On 15 June the squadron was re-numbered No 143 Squadron with the Mediterranean detachment continuing to operate alongside  No 272 Squadron, from Egypt.  However, on 15 September 1941 the detachment re-assumed the 252 number-plate.

The squadron continued by based in Egypt and Libya and to operate in the Mediterranean carrying out anti-shipping strikes against Axis targets in and around Crete and Greece.  The squadron eventually moved to Greece in February 1945 carrying out operations in the Aegean as well as undertaking air-sea rescue duties and operating against communist ground forces following the German withdrawal.  The squadron remained in Greece finally disbanding there on 1 December 1946.

Motto:     With or on

Squadron Codes used: -

Aircraft & Markings

No 253 (Hyderabad State) Squadron

Formed by amalgamating  Nos 412, and 413 (Seaplane) Flights with Nos 511, 512 and 513 (Special Duties) Flights at Bembridge on 7 June 1918.  The seaplane flights were equipped with Short 184s and Short Campanias, whilst the land based special duties flights used DH6s.  All types were used for anti-submarine patrols right up until the Armistice, with the unit being disbanded on 5 May 1919.

The squadron reformed on 30 October 1939 at Manston as a Blenheim coastal fighter unit, however, no aircraft were received and in February 1940, it began to receive Hurricanes, becoming operational in April.  As the losses in France mounted, one flight was detached to join the BAFF, whilst the other flew over daily to operate from French bases but returned to Kenley every evening.  With the fall of France, the squadron retired to Kirton-in-Lindsey, where it re-equipped until July, when it moved even further north to Turnhouse and later Prestwick.

The squadron finally joined the action in the south in August when it moved to Kenley, remaining there until January 1941 when it was rested at Leconfield.  From February to September 1941, the squadron provided air defence cover for the Orkneys, returning south to fly convoy and coastal patrols along the East Coast.  In August 1942, it was detached to Friston, from where it flew in support if the Dieppe landing, but two months later  it was preparing for a move overseas.

It arrived in Algeria on 13 November 1942 and provided air cover for the 1st Army and its supply lines for the remainder of the North African campaign.  In June 1943 it moved over to Sicily and the following October transferred to Italy.  During this period, the squadron converted from Hurricanes to Spitfires and from February to April 1944 it flew anti-shipping operations and escort mission from Corsica, before returning to Italy, from where it continued these types of operations over the Balkans.  The squadron finally moved into its area of operations in April 1945 when it relocated to  Prkos in Yugoslavia itself.  With the end of the war, it undertook occupation duties in Northern Italy and Austria, disbanding at Treviso on 16 May 1947.

No 253s final incarnation began on 18 April 1955 when it reformed as a night fighter squadron at Waterbeach, equipped with Venom NF Mk 2s, but this part of its career was short-lived as it was disbanded on 1 September 1957.

Motto:  Come One, Come All

Squadron Codes used: -

Aircraft & Markings

No 254 Squadron

Formed on 25 July 1918 from Nos 492, 515, 516, 517 & 518 (Special Duty) Flights at Prawle Point.  It was equipped with DH6 and DH9 aircraft, which were used to carry out anti-submarine patrols over the English Channel and along the Cornish coast.  The squadron disbanded on 22 February 1919.

  The squadron was reformed as a coastal fighter unit on 30 October 1939 at Stradishall.  Equipped with Blenheims, it carried out coastal patrols and convoy escort operations along the East Coast.  From April 1940, it added reconnaissance and fighter escort for anti-shipping strikes to its range of duties.  The squadron moved to Aldergrove in May 1941 and then to Dyce in December, where it converted to Beaufighters in June 1942. 

 In August the squadron began to carry out training in the torpedo bombing role and in November it joined the North Coates Strike Wing, remaining as part of the Wing, until June 1945 when the squadron moved to Chivenor.  It received some Mosquito XVIIIs in April 1945 but these left in May. Moving to Langham in November it received a Buckmaster for crew conversion onto the Brigand, but it was decided not to issue this type to coastal strike squadrons and so it remained equipped with the Beaufighter until disbanded by being renumbered No 42 Squadron on 1 October 1946.

The squadron's final incarnation took place between 1 December 1959 and 23 August 1963 when it operated as a Thor IRBM missile unit at Meltom Mowbrey.

Motto:      Fljuga vakta ok Ijosta (to fly, to watch, and to strike)

Squadron Codes used: -

Aircraft & Markings

No 255 Squadron

Formed on 25 July 1918 from Nos 519, 520, 521, 522, 523 & 524 (Special Duty) Flights at Pembroke.  It was equipped with DH6 aircraft, which were used to carry out anti-submarine patrols over St George's Channel and the Irish Sea.  The squadron disbanded on 14 January 1919.

The squadron reformed on 23 November 1940 at Kirton-in-Lindsey as a night fighter unit.  Equipped with Defiants, the squadron began operations on 5 January 1941, and in March it acquired some Hurricanes and in May moved to Hibaldstow.  Here it began the conversion to Beaufighters in July and these were taken to Coltishall in September.  Further moves to High Ercall (March) and Honiley (June) preceded it move to North Africa in November 1942.

In Tunisia, it continued to provide night defence of bases in Algeria and Tunisia before moving over to Sicily in August 1943.  The squadron arrived on the Italian mainland in November and transferred to the night intruder role over the Balkans.  Mosquitos replaced the Beaufighters in January 1945, which were taken to Hal Far in Malta in September.  Another move came in January 1946 to Egypt, but on 30 April 1946 the squadron was disbanded.

Motto:      Ad Auroram (To the break of dawn)

Squadron Codes used: -

Aircraft & Markings    

All Squadron badges on this page are courtesy of Steve Clements

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