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No. 40 Squadron RAF
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No.40 Squadron, RFC, was formed at Gosport, Hampshire, in 1916, serving on the Western Front as a fighter squadron. Disbanded in 1919. No.40 was re-formed as a bomber squadron in 1931 and in the Second World War operated in several theatres: flying Blenheims and Wellingtons from bases in England, it bombed targets in France, the Low Countries and Germany; flying Wellingtons from bases in the Middle East, it bombed targets in North Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, Rhodes, Crete, Greece, Pantellaria, Lampedusa and Italy. Flying Wellingtons and Liberators from a base in Italy (Foggia Main) it bombed targets in Italy and the Balkans. In March 1945 the Squadron converted to Liberators which were moved to Egypt in October. In January 1946 the Liberators were replaced with Lancasters which were flown until No. 40 was disbanded on 1 April 1947.
Airfields No. 40 Squadron RAF flew from.
- Bethenville, France. from 3rd Sept to 2nd Dec 1939
- Wyton, Huntingdonshire. from 2nd Dec 1939 to 2nd Feb 1941
- Alconbury, Huntingdonshire. from 2nd Feb 1941 to 14th Feb 1942
- Malta. detachment October 1941
- Middle East. 14th Feb 1942
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List of those who served with No. 40 Squadron RAF during The Second World War
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Wing Commander Owen David Staple DFC 107 Squadron 14 Squadron 75 squadron 41 Squadron 40 Squadron Owen David Staple was from Dec-1942 with 36(Mosquito) Operational Training Unit in Canada as a pilot; from February 1944 with 60 OTU in the United Kingdom; from June 1944 with 107 Squadron (Mosquito); from April 1948 14 Squadron in Japan; from November 1954 75 Squadron; from September 1959 with 41 Squadron in Malaya.
Decorations,Medals,Awards:
DFC-1945, AFC-1960, 1939/45 STAR, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal
1939/45 War Medal, New Zealand War Service Medal, General Service Medal (Malaya).
Wing Commander Owen David Staple past away in 1974 at the age of 49.
I am looking for more information on him as he died when I was 3 months old. The information is going towards the family tree so we do not forget the memories of the brave men and women of war. |
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