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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII
No. 226 Squadron
No 226 Squadron started as No 6 Wing, RNAS, in Otranto, Italy to combat submarine activity in the Adriatic and Mediterranean. With the formation of the RAF in April 1918, units were reorganised into squadrons and No 226 was based in Taranto, doing anti-submarine patrols, reconnaissance of the coasts and bombing Austrian submarine bases. In December 1918, it was disbanded in Taranto. No 223 was re-formed in March 1937 at Upper Heyford under the RAF Expansion Scheme. In September 1939 it landed at Rheims as part of No 72 Wing of the Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF) attempting to delay the German advance through Belgium and France. It withdrew to England in June 1940, and from July was based in Northern Ireland, sharing with No 88 Squadron dawn and dusk patrols along the coast of Northern Ireland.
In May 1941 No 226 moved to Wattisham, converting to Blenheims and engaged in anti-shipping operations against fringe targets in north-west Europe. In the summer of 1942 No 226 was joined at Swanton Morley by the 15th Bombardment Squadron of the USA Eighth Air Force. In the summer of 1943 the squadron converted to Mitchells and took part in pre-invasion attacks on northern France and Noball sites in the Pas de Calais. After D-Day it closely supported the advancing Allied armies, and from October 1944 was based on the continent.
Airfields No. 226 Squadron flew from:
- AASF Reims-Champagne, France from the 3rd of September 1939 (72 Wing. Battle I)
- AASF Faux-Villecerf from 16th May 1940 (76 Wing)
- AASF Artins from 1st June 1940
- to Coastal Command from the 16th June 1940
- RAF Thirsk from 18th June 1940
- RAF Sydenham from 27th June 1941
- RAF Wattisham, Norfolk from the 26th May 1941(ex-Coastal Command. Blenheim IV, Boston III, Boston IIIa)
- RAF Swanton Morley, Norfolk from the 9th December 1941 (Mitchell II)
- RAF Hartfordbridge from 13th February 1944
- B.50 Vitry-en-Artois from 17th October 1945
- B.77 Gilze-Rijen from 22nd April 1945
List of those who served with No. 226 Squadron during The Second World War
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