The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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No. 46 Squadron No. 46 Squadron was formed at Wyton in 1916, disbanded in 1919 and reformed at Kenley in 1936. For the early months of World War Two, No. 46 Squadron defensive patrols with Hawker Hurricanes were flown to cover convoys off the east coast. In May 1940 the squadron formed part of the Expeditionary Force in northern Norway, augmenting the handful of Gladiators operating from improvised airfields. The Hurricanes were embarked on HMS Glorious and assembled at Bardufoss. After providing fighter cover for the Narvik area, the situation in France resulted in the evacuation of all forces from Norway and on 7 June, the squadron flew its Hurricanes on to the deck of the Glorious, despite their lack of arrester hooks. Ground crews embarked in other ships ( HMS Vindictive, SS Monarch of Bermuda) and re-assembled at Digby but HMS Glorious and her destroyer escort encountered German battlecruisers en route and were sunk. By the end of June 1940, No. 46 was operational again and early in September moved south to relieve a squadron depleted by continuous action during the first stages of the Battle of Britain. No. 46 remained here until the end of February 1941 when it was moved to Yorkshire for day and night defensive patrols. In May the Squadron embarked to the Middle East and acted as a maintenance unit as its pilots were flying from Malta. On 8 May 1942 the Squadron moved to Idku where it began reforming as a night fighter unit with Beaufighters patrolling over Egypt and coastal shipping both by day and night. In July 1944 some Mosquitoes were received but in December the Squadron returned to the UK, being reformed at Stoney Cross on 9 January 1945 as a transport unit with Stirlings. Airfields No. 46 Squadron flew from. RAF Digby, Lincolnshire from 3rd September 1939 RAF Acklington, Northumberland from 10th December 1939 RAF Digby from 17th January 1940 to 9th May 1940 Norway from 9th May 1940 RAF Digby from 13th June 1940 RAF Stapleford Tawney, Essex from 1st September 1940 RAF North Weald, Essex from 8th November 1940 RAF Digby from 14th December 1940 RAF Church Fenton, Yorkshire from 28th February 1941 RAF Sherburn-in-Elmet, Yorkshire from 1st March 1941 to 20th May 1941 RAF Abu Sueir from July 1941 RAF Kilo 17 from September 1941 RAF Idku from May 1942 RAF Stoney Cross from January 1945 List of those who served with No. 46 Squadron during The Second World War Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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