No. 55 Squadron Royal Flying Corps

   No. 55 Squadron formed on the 27th of April 1916 at Castle Bromwich as a training squadron, but proceeded to France in a day bomber role in March 1917. It was redesignated No. 55 Squadron, Royal Air Force in April 1918.

27th April 1916   No 55 squadron formed at Castle Bromwich on the of 27th April 1916 as a training squadron and moved to RFC Lilbourne on 10 June 1916.

6th March 1917

April 1917 Fastest Machines

June 1917

21st September 1917 Railway stations attacked

11th October 1917

1st Jun 1918 Aircraft Lost

6th June 1918

12th September 1918 Under French direction

14th Sep 1918 Air Raid on Junction

25th Sep 1918 Attack Made

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There are:11 items tagged No. 55 Squadron Royal Flying Corps available in our Library

These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.

Those known to have served with
No. 55 Squadron Royal Flying Corps
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Haley Arthur. 2nd Lt. (d.1st Jun 1918)
Heyes Arthur. 2Lt.

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Records of No. 55 Squadron Royal Flying Corps from other sources.

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252495

2nd Lt. Arthur Haley 55 Squadron (d.1st Jun 1918)

Arthur Haley, born September 1895 and a telegraphist in civilian life, enlisted in the Royal Engineers on 10th of November 1914 to be attached to the 34th Signals Company. He joined the British Expeditionary Force in France on 26th of June 1915 as a signaller. On 16th September of that year he was admitted to hospital after being burned by a shell, and he returned to England for a short spell, but he rejoined his unit in France on 15th of October 1915.
He returned to England on Christmas Day 1916 for a commission. On 29th of May 1917 he was discharged from the Royal Engineers to take up his commission in the 3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment, firstly in Felixstowe before being sent to France as an observer in 55 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps, later to become the Royal Air Force in April 1918. He flew in a DH4 with his pilot, 2nd Lt Lennok de Graaf Godet. It is known that 55 Squadron undertook bombing raids over German-held territory in addition to their reconnaissance duties.
On 1st of June 1918 their aircraft was shot down over Antilly, near Metz in France, in German held territory at the time, killing them both instantly. According to a local French newspaper report, their Airco DH4 no. 7422 was shot down at 6.50am, the kill being claimed by Ltn G Weiner of K4. However, an alternative account of events has been found in the RAF Archives, "On 1st of June 1918, the D.H.4's of No.55 Squadron were detailed for the railway station at Karthaus. 12 machines in charge of Captain W.B. Farrington ascended between 4.20 a.m. and 4.25 a.m. The lines were crossed at 14,500 feet near Nomeny whence the formation proceeded up east of Metz and Thionville to Karthaus which was reached at 6.55 a.m. by eleven of the D.H.4's one having been forced to return with engine trouble. Captain Farrington reported that owing to the high wind which was blowing obliquely across the target the shooting was not very good. Seven enemy machines in all were observed at various places on the route. Near Metz one of the D.H.4's Second Lieutenants L. de G.Godet (pilot) and A.Haley (observer) - fell to pieces in the air. Some of the observers were of the opinion that Haley might have wrecked his own tail while aiming at an enemy machine firing from very long range." (Might this be classed as Friendly Fire?)
Both men were buried by local civilians who also erected a memorial at the site. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission later re-buried them at Chambieres Antilly (Moselle), near Metz in France.
Roger Bowen

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252274

2Lt. Arthur "Arch" Heyes 55 Squadron

My father, Arthur Heyes's war exploits, both WW1 and WW2 can be read at this link.
Tony Heyes

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No. 55 Squadron Royal Flying Corps

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Those known to have served withNo. 55 Squadron Royal Flying Corpsduring the Great War 1914-1918.

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Announcements

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- No. 55 Squadron Royal Flying Corps during the Great War -

Those known to have served with
No. 55 Squadron Royal Flying Corps
during the Great War 1914-1918.