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- No. 65 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

No. 65 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force



   No. 65 Squadron was formed at Wyton in 1916 and went to France in November 1917. It operated variously in a fighter, light bomber and ground attack role until the armistice, and was disbanded in October 1919.

The Squadron was reformed as a fighter squadron in 1934, equipped with Gladiators, converting to Spitfires in 1939. At the outbreak of war it was based at RAF Hornchurch



 

17th May 1940  Patrol over Belgium

26th May 1940 Pilot lost

28th May 1940 Gunnery training

18th June 1940 Patrols over France

25th June 1940 air battle

13th Jul 1940 Aircraft Lost

15th Jul 1940 Aircraft Shot Down

20th July 1940 Battle of Britain

24th July 1940 Battle of the Thames Estuary

25th July 1940 Channel Convoy attacked

5th August 1940  Battle of Britain

8th August 1940 Convoy attacked

12th August 1940 Battle of Britain

13th August 1940  Eagle Day

14th August 1940  Airfields attacked

16th August 1940 Aftermath of Eagle Day

18th August 1940 Airfields attacked

18th Aug 1940 Aircraft Lost

20th August 1940 Battle of Britain

20th August 1940  Battle of Britain

22nd August 1940 Battle of Britain

24th August 1940  Airfields bombed

27th August 1940  Relocated to Scotland

29th November 1940 Sorties Over France

5th February 1941 Pilots lost

26th February 1941 On the move

30th June 1941 Circus 27

7th October 1941  Ground attack role

11th March 1942 Postings

14th Aug 1942 Move

20th Aug 1942 Move

26th September 1942  Back to Scotland

3rd January 1943 Aircraft carrier training

12th March 1943 Bandit flying too high

29th March 1943 Move to Cornwall

18th May 1943  Tactical Airforce

December 1943 Re-equipped

15th April 1944 New Wing

6th June 1944 D-Day landings

25th June 1944 Move to France

29th September 1944 Respite

14th October 1944 Specialist long range escort role

16th January 1945 To Coastal Command

29th January 1945 Lost in bad weather

9th February 1945 Black Friday

9th April 1945 Three U Boats sunk and four Mosquitos lost

21st April 1945 Chance encounter with German bombers

4th May 1945 3 ships sunk and 3 Mosquitos lost

15th May 1945 


If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.



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Those known to have served with

No. 65 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Franklin . P/O
  • Franklin DFM & Bar William Henry. P/O. (d.12th Dec 1940)
  • Gordon John Arthur Gerald. Wing Co. (d.1st June 1942)
  • Larkman . P/O.
  • Reynolds Frederick Thomas. F/Lt. (d.6th Mar 1945)
  • Robison Owen. F/O

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. 65 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force from other sources.



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Want to know more about No. 65 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force?


There are:2048 items tagged No. 65 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force available in our Library

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


P/O Franklin 65 Squadron

P/O Franklin was stationed at RAF Hornchurch in 1940. I believe he was killed shortly after. I am seeking any information about him, especially a photograph. There is a road in Hornchurch named after him....Why?

Dr Garrod Hollis



Wing Co. John Arthur Gerald "Pete" Gordon 350 Squadron (d.1st June 1942)

Arthur Gordon was my great uncle. He was born in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, on 3rd March 1912. He joined the RCAF on 2nd July 1935 and transferred to the RAF in June 1936. He was a Pilot Officer by 22nd July 1936; a Flying Officer 22nd January 1937; an Acting Flight Lieutenant 22nd July 1938; a Flight Lieutenant 22nd January 1939; a Squadron Leader on 1st March 1940 and a Wing Commander on 1st December 1941. He was lost with no grave on 1st June 1942.

Arthur was in 19th Fighter Squadron from 25th October 1936 until 31st May 1939, including when the unit was the first to receive the Spitfire, in 1938. After that, he bounced around a bit according to what I have for military records. There were two stints at the School of Air Navigation, at Station Leuchars on 27th December 1939, but I'm not sure what unit he was attached to. Then he was at HQ for No 61 Group, and No 7 Op Training Unit, before Joining 151 Squadron as Squadron Leader on 29th July 1940, command 8th August. On 11th August, Arthur damaged a Ju 87. On 14th August, Arthur destroyed an Me 109. On 15th August Arthur was wounded in the head and leg during a dogfight with 109s, but made it home.

On 18th August Arthur was forced to bail out of his Hurricane, which was on fire. that day was the so-called bloodiest day of the Battle of Britain, with the most losses suffered in a single day by both sides. Arthur spent a few weeks in hospital as a result of his burns, and was apparently offered the chance to go home, but he refused. He then bounced around again. I wish I knew which Squadrons - his service records only list the stations: HQ No 50 Group, Station Penhros, No 58 Op Training Unit, HQ Fighter Command on 9th February 1942, Station Kenley, Station Tangmere.

Arthur's last posting was as Wing Commander of Debden Wing as of 7th March 1942, as C/O of No 65 and 350 squadrons. On 1st June 1942, he was leading 350 Squadron on operations over Belgium, escorting bombers, piloting Spitfire BL 936 "White 1". The Squadron was heavily engaged by 20 FW 190s, and Arthur was separated from the Squadron and never returned. A search party was later sent, but he was never found.

Medals: 1939/45 Star, Battle of Britain Clasp, Aircrew Europe Star, War Medal 1939/45. John Arthur Gerald Gordon is remembered at the Runnymede Memorial.

If anyone has any additional information, or ideas as to how to find more details about his military career, especially with which other squadrons he may have flown, I would love to know.

Damon Anderson



F/Lt. Frederick Thomas "Eric" Reynolds 65 Squadron (d.6th Mar 1945)

Flight Lieutenant Frederick Thomas Reynolds joined the R.A.F.V.R. in 1938, his original Service Number was 742592, This changed to 86373 on or around 29th September 1940 when he was promoted to 'Pilot Officer' (on probation) Ref 'London Gazette No 34986 Tuesday 5th November 1940'. He served in RAF No 65 Squadron and we know from a letter to his family he was stationed in with them at RAF Turnhouse near Edinburgh in the period August-November 1940. We also know from another letter he was with RAF Squadron 256 stationed February - March 1941 at Colerne near Chippenham, he flew Hurricanes at this time, and that he was involved in the defence of Liverpool. His sister (my mother) says she knew he destroyed a German aircraft in this period but we have no details, she also recalls he crashed his aircraft on Rhyl Beach but again we have no details.

In 1944/45 he was with 219 Squadron flying Mosquito NF30's under Wing Commander Peter Green based at Amiens-Glisy in France and he is recorded as destroying a Messerschmitt Me110 on night of 1-2 January 1945. He was killed when his Mosquito crashed in flames in the town of Amiens (eye witness account) on 6th March 1945. This was officially recorded as an Aircraft Accident but we do not know the cause or any details.

Peter L. Young



P/O. William Henry Franklin DFM & Bar 65 Squadron (d.12th Dec 1940)

William Henry Franklin is my uncle. I have been trying recently to find information on him. I have found out a little. He was one of the ace pilots in the Battle of Britain. He has a street named after him in Hornchurch where his squadron was based, which I thought was lovely. He was just 29 when he died on 12/12/1940. He was married, but had no children. I am hoping, as a near relation (niece), I will be ble to retrieve some information, records, photo, etc.

If anyone knows the best way to do this could they advise me, as I am new to this. I would appreciate any help with my search at this time. I will add more as I find out more information.

Christine Hawkwell



F/O Owen Robison 65 Sqd

Owen Robinson was born in Jamaica he took a Banana boat to Ireland in 1941 then joined the RAF becoming a pilot in January 1943. He flew with 65 Squadron 1944-45. He had two brothers in the Canadian Air Force and another in the Army.

Hugh Robison







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