R.A.F. 242 SQUADRON -DETAILS OF MOVEMENT TO W. AFRICA MANIFEST C1944 RARE 2505T

Description

R.A.F. 242 SQUADRON -DETAILS OF MOVEMENT TO W. AFRICA MANIFEST C1944 RARE 2505T
R.A.F. 242 SQUADRON -DETAILS OF MOVEMENT TO W. AFRICA MANIFEST C1944 RARE 2505T
Click images to enlarge
Description
DOUGLAS BADERS' FAMOUS
242 SWUADRON RAF
FLIGHT MANIFEST FOR AIRCRAFT MOVEMENT FROM CASTEL BENITO TO VARIOUS DESTINATIONS IN WEST AFRICA
CIRCA 1944
This extremely rare original RAF document details flights leaving from RAF Castel Benito in Tripoli to various locations in West Africa. It is undated but would coincide with the squadrons redesignation as a transport wing in 1944.
(
Castel Benito
(called originally in Italian "Tripoli-Castel Benito Airport") was an airport of Tripoli created by the Italians in Italian Libya. Originally, it was a small military airport, but it was enlarged in the late 1930s and was later used by the British RAF after 1943. It was called RAF Castel Benito by the Allies.
RAF Castel Benito (later RAF Idris) was a Royal Air Force station near Tripoli in Libya between 1943 and 1966.)
REF-WOODBSH-2503T
VH:V.SS
GS 80
Country [United Kingdom]  United Kingdom
Branch [Air Force Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg]  Royal Air Force
Nickname(s) "All Canadian"
Motto(s) French: Toujours prêt
("Always ready")
Engagements Battle of Britain, Invasion of Sicily, Berlin Airlift
Commanders
Notable commanders Douglas Bader
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry A moose's head erased
At the time that the badge was awarded, many of the air crew serving with the squadron were Canadian.
Squadron Codes LE (Feb 1940 – Dec 1941,
Apr 1942 – Nov 1944)
KY (Nov 1944 – 1948)
No. 242 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force (RAF) squadron. It flew in many roles during the First World War, Second World War and Cold War.
During the Second World War, the squadron was notable for (firstly) having many pilots who were either RCAF personnel or Canadians serving in the RAF – to the extent that it was sometimes known, unofficially, as "242 Canadian Squadron" – and (secondly) for being the first squadron to be commanded by Douglas Bader.
History
In World War I
No. 242 Squadron was formed on 15 August 1918  from the numbers 408, 409 and 514 Seaplane Flights at Newhaven Seaplane Base, and continued using the Short 184 from there and the nearby airfield at Telscombe Cliffs on anti-submarine patrols over the English Channel until the end of the First World War.
In World War II
The squadron was reformed at RAF Church Fenton on 30 October 1939  with Canadian personnel. At first using the Bristol Blenheim and Fairey Battle, it converted to the Hawker Hurricane in February 1940.
Battle for France Hawker Hurricane IIC wearing the 'LE' code of 242 SquadronIn May 1940 the squadron moved to RAF Biggin Hill and went into action over France.[6] Douglas Bader was posted to command the Squadron, as a Squadron Leader, at the end of June 1940, when the unit was mainly made up of Canadian pilots that had suffered high losses in the Battle of France and had low morale. Despite initial resistance to their new commanding officer, the pilots (including such aces as Willie McKnight) were soon won over by Bader's strong personality and perseverance, especially in cutting through red tape to make the squadron operational again. Upon the formation of No. 12 Group RAF, No. 242 Squadron was assigned to the Group while based at RAF Duxford.
Battle of Britain
In June 1940 it moved to RAF Coltishall in eastern England, as part of No. 12 Group RAF and was involved in the Battle of Britain. During this period 242 Squadron moved to RAF Duxford as part of the Duxford Wing, 12 Group's Big Wing formation. In 1941 it started offensive sweeps and bomber escorts and convoy patrols.
Dispersed at Java
In December 1941 the squadron moved to the far East arriving at RAF Seletar on 13 January 1942. The situation was desperate and it had to move to Palembang on Sumatra where the squadron collapsed through lack of spares and was dispersed by 10 March 1942  On 29 December 1941 Pilot Officer M. C. Blanchard (RCAF) was reported missing believed killed after a mid-air collision off the coast of Ghar Hassan, Malta, during an operational flight. The collision was between Hurricane BE343 (Blanchard) and Hurricane BE344 (Flight Lieutenant Andrews (RCAF) who was later found safe).
Reformed on Spitfires
On 10 April 1942 the squadron re-formed at RAF Turnhouse, Scotland with the Supermarine Spitfire and was involved in coastal patrols. In October it was deployed to North Africa defending Algiers. It fought into Tunisia then moved on to Malta and was involved in the invasion of Sicily and the Salerno beach-head operations. In 1944 it was moved to Syria for a rest period before moving to Corsica where it was part of the invasion of southern France and attacks on northern Italy. The squadron was disbanded in Italy on 4 November 1944.
In Transport Command
The squadron reformed again on 15 November 1944 at RAF Stoney Cross as a transport squadron, training on the Vickers Wellington then getting operational on the Short Stirling. By 1946 it had become an operator of the Avro York running scheduled freight services into India and to the Azores; in June 1946 it was located at RAF Oakington as part of No. 47 Group.  In 1948 it became involved in the Berlin Air Lift operating from Wunstorf. After the air lift it returned to England and reequipped with Handley Page Hastings. The squadron was disbanded at RAF Lyneham on 1 May 1950
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