- No. 16 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -
Air Force Index
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No. 16 Squadron Royal Air Force
No. 16 Squadron was founded at St Omer on 10th February 1915 out of elements of 2,5 and 6 Squadrons. It served on the Western Front throughout WW1 as an Army Cooperation unit and was disbanded in Germany in 1919.16 Squadron was reformed in April 1924 at RAF Old Sarum for cooperation with Army units in Southern Command equipped with Bristol Fighters, and later the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas and then Audaxs. With these types it took part in exercises all over southern England. In June 1938 it became the first unit to be equipped with the Westland Lysander.
Airfields at which 16 Squadron was based during the war:
- 1 April 1924-16 February 1940: Old Sarum
- 16 February-14 April 1940: Hawkinge
- 14 April-19 May 1940: Bertangles (France)
- 19 May-2 June 1940: Lympne (United Kingdom)
- 2-29 June 1940: Redhill
- 29 June-3 August 1940: Cambridge
- 3-14 August 1940: Okehampton
- 14 August 1940-25 September 1941: Weston Zoyland
- 25 September-3 October 1941: Thruxton
- 3 October-23 November 1941: Weston Zoyland
- 23-27 November 1941: Lympne
- 27 November 1941-2 January 1943: Weston Zoyland
- 2 January-1 June 1943: Andover
- 1-29 June 1943: Middle Wallop
- 29 June 1943-7 April 1944: Hartfordbridge
- 7 April-4 September 1944: Northolt
- 4-9 September 1944: A.12 Balleroy (France)
- 9-27 September 1944: B.48 Amiens/ Glisy
- 27 September-15 April 1945: B.58 Melsbroek
- 15 April-22 September 1945: B.78 Eindhoven
More info.
2nd Sep 1939 Posting
February 1940 Move into France
17th May 1940 Lysander lost in France
18th May 1940 Aircraft lost
19th May 1940 Retreat
19th May 1940 Lost on reconnaissance
22nd May 1940 Supplies
26th May 1940 Friendly fire incident
28th May 1940 Aircraft lost
31st May 1940 Two aircraft lost
2nd June 1940 Move
29th June 1940 Airfield cleared for fighter use
28th July 1940 Air-Sea Rescue
15th August 1940 Maritime search role
April 1942 Re-equipped
30th Apr 1942 Postings to 161 Squadron
24th February 1943 Preparations for Exercise Spartan
26th February 1943 Preparation for Exercise Spartan
1st March 1943 Trial of vertical photography
3rd March 1943 Exercise Spartan
3rd March 1943 Exercise Spartan
4th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
5th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
6th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
7th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
8th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
9th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
10th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
11th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
12th March 1943 Exercise Spartan ends
13th March 1943 Return to base
2nd June 1943 Re-equipped and moved
16th April 1944 D-day preparations
June 1944 Back to France
1st January 1945 Operation Bodenplatte
31st August 1945 Aerial mapsIf you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Those known to have served with
No. 16 Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List
Records of No. 16 Squadron Royal Air Force from other sources.
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