No. 139 (Jamaica) Squadron Royal Air Force

139 Squadron was formed in Italy on 3 July 1918 as a fighter-reconnaissance squadron. It was disbanded in 1919.
The Squadron re-formed as a bomber squadron in 1936, and by the outbreak of war it was at RAF Wyton equipped with Blenheims. After bomber duties in France with heavy casualties, No 139 re-formed and attached fringe targets in northwest Europe: invasion ports and anti-shipping sweeps. No 139 was known as the Jamaica Squadron because of Jamaica's 'Bombers for Britain Fund' which contributed 12 Blenheims to the RAF by 1941.
In December 1941 the Squadron was despatched to Burma and re-equipped for a general reconnaissance role. In the collapse of Burma the Squadron was virtually wiped out. Remaining aircrew were transferred into 62 Squadron and 139 was formally disbanded in April 1942.
In June 1942 No. 139 was reformed back in Britain and re-equipped with Blenheims. However these were soon replaced with Mosquitos, and in conjunction with No. 105 squadron, the squadron made low-level daylight and dusk precision attacks on enemy-occupied Europe. In the summer of 1943, No 139 joined the Pathfinder Force and changed to night raiding, dropping Window (foil strips) in advance of heavy bombers, confusing early warning radar. It diverted enemy night fighters from planned bomber raids and in 1944 became a Mosquito marker squadron, marking Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Mannheim, Hanover, Duisburg and Lübeck to guide the main bomber force to its targets.
In early 1945 No. 139 made 36 consecutive night attacks on Berlin, and ended its war with a fourteen-Mosquito attack on Kiel. Airfields No. 139 Squadron flew from:

RAF Wyton, Huntingdonshire from 3rd September 1939 (82 Wing. Blenheim IV)
RAF Alconbury, Huntingdonshire, from 8th November 1939
RAF Wyton, from 17th November 1939 (to AASF 2nd December 1939)
AASF Betheniville, France from 2nd December 1939 (ex-2 Group, 71 Wing)
AASF Plivot, France, from 18th February 1940 (to 2 Group, 30th May 1940)
RAF West Raynham, Norfolk, from 30th May 1940 (ex-AASF)
RAF Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk, from 10th June 1940

Detachment Luqa, Malta 16th May to 5th June 1941

RAF Oulton, Norfolk from 13th July 1941

Detachment to RAF Manston, Kent, 27th August - 7th September 1941

RAF Horsham St. Faith, from 23rd October 1941
RAF Oulton, from 5th December 1941 (embarked for Far East, December 1941)

February 1942-22 March 1942: Akyab, Burma (equipped with Hudsons)
22 March-30 April 1942: Chittagong, India (disbanded)

RAF Horsham St. Faith, from 8th June 1942 (re-formed, Blenheim V, Mosquito IV)
RAF Marham, Norfolk, from 29th September 1942 (Mosquito IX)
RAF Marham, from 1st June 1943 (ex-2 Group, to 8 Group)
RAF Wyton, from 4th July 1943 (Mosquito IX, XX)
RAF Upwood, Huntingdonshire, from 1st February 1944 (Mosquito XVI, XXV)

3rd Sep 1940 Ships Sighted

4th Sep 1939 Five Blenheims lost; first airmen taken PoW

1st October 1939 139 Squadron Blenheim lost

1st October 1939 Postings

30th Oct 1939 139 Squadron Blenheim lost

15th November 1939 Airmen caught in explosion

2nd December 1939 Move

18th February 1940 Relocated in France

14th March 1940 Airmen killed

12th May 1940 Seven 139 Squadron Blenheims lost

12th May 1940 Losses on Bombing missions

12th May 1940 Breaking Through

14th May 1940 Overwhelming losses

14th May 1940 Four Blenheims lost

16th May 1940 Last action by 139 Squadron in France

30th May 1940 Blenheim Squadron reassembled

10th June 1940 Back on Operations

7th August 1940 Ditched in training

24th September 1940 Shot down on shipping patrol

14th October 1940 Died on shipping patrol

7th November 1940 Lost over Germany

23rd December 1940 Two aircraft lost

31st December 1940 Missing in Action

22nd January 1941 Crashed in Suffolk

28th Feb 1941 139 Squadron Blenheims lost

4th April 1941 Operational Order 2GOO.24

7th April 1941 Aircraft Lost

1st May 1941 Aircraft Lost

6th May 1941 Aircraft Lost

8th May 1941 139 Squadron Blenheim lost

16th May 1941 Detachment to Malta

18th May 1941 Aircraft Lost

22nd May 1941 Tanker bombed off Tunisia

25th May 1941 Aircraft Lost

27th May 1941 Blenheim lost over Tunisia

28th May 1941 Ship blown up at Sfax

30th May 1941 Operational Order 2GOO.27

2nd Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost

3rd June 1941 Blenheim lost

4th June 1941 Aircraft Lost

5th June 1941 Return to England

8th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost

16th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost

25th June 1941 Bombing practice

29th June 1941 Training

30th June 1941 Circus 27

1st Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

3rd July 1941 Aircraft Lost

7th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

13th July 1941 Move

14th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

16th Jul 1941 139 Squadron Blenheim lost

16th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

20th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

30th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

8th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

12th Aug 1941 139 Squadron Blenheim lost

12th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

27th August 1941 Move

2nd Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost

16th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost

13th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

15th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

23rd October 1941 On the Move

22nd November 1941 Training Flight

5th December 1941 Prepared for move overseas

15th February 1942 Arrival

22nd February 1942 RAF in Burma reorganised

15th March 1942 Support for Java

22nd March 1942 Withdrawal

16th April 1942 Japanese reconnaissance flight destroyed

30th April 1942 Squadrons reorganised

8th June 1942 Squadron reformed

29th September 1942 Requipped

6th December 1942 Precision bombing

12th December 1942 Training flight

27th January 1943 Crash

30th January 1943 Goering attacked in Berlin

3rd March 1943 Raid

10th March 1943 Missing in Action

16th March 1943 Shot down by flak

20th March 1943 Crash on Landing

1st April 1943 Safe landing

3rd April 1943 Shot down

11th April 1943 Railway Sheds Attacked

13th May 1943 Raid

21st May 1943 Aircraft Shot down

27th May 1943 Mid-air collision

4th July 1943 Pathfinders

15th July 1943 Lost without trace

28th July 1943 Mosquito crew taken PoW

13th August 1943 Aircraft Lost

18th August 1943 Two Mosquitos lost

20th August 1943 Crash

31st August 1943 Two Mosquitos fail to return

15th September 1943 Mosquios and Lancaster lost

17th September 1943 Safe return

20th October 1943 Bailed out

31st October 1943 Mosquito missing

15th November 1943 Aircraft Lost

25th Nov 1943 139 Squadron Mosquito lost

1st February 1944 New radar system

6th April 1944 Aircraft Lost

4th May 1944 Crash

11th May 1944 Mosquito on fire

20th May 1944 Navigator killed

27th May 1944 Shot down

12th Jun 1944 Two 139 Squadron Mosquitos lost

24th June 1944 Mosquito shot down

28th June 1944 Forced landing

1st Jul 1944 139 Squadron Mosquito lost

8th July 1944 Forced landing

26th July 1944 Two Mosquitos lost

6th August 1944 Mosquitos lost

12th Aug 1944 139 Squadron Mosquito lost

11th September 1944 Two Mosquitos lost

13th October 1944 Crash on take-off

20th October 1944 Mosquito shot down

9th December 1944 Crash shortly after take-off

15th January 1945 Severe weather

6th Mar 1945 139 Squadron Mosquito lost

24th March 1945 Shot down

27th March 1945 Crash landing

28th March 1945 101 sorties

3rd April 1945 Mosquito Missing

4th April 1945 Lost without trace

3rd May 1945 Last mission

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Those known to have served with
No. 139 (Jamaica) Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

Armin DFC Norman. Sqd/Ldr.
Beckingham William Donald. WCdr.
Fenton K.. WO/Sgt.
George Alan.
Hassall DSO, DFC & bar. Cyril. Sqn. Ldr.
Menzies DFC. Guy Jerrold. Flt.Lt. (d.22nd January 1941)
Rattray Alexander. Flight Sergeant
Robins DFC J. D.. Sqdn.Ldr.
Wakeford DFC MiD. Lionel Hubert. Sqn Ldr.
Woollard DFM Allan John Alexander. 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. 139 (Jamaica) Squadron Royal Air Force from other sources.

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Want to know more about No. 139 (Jamaica) Squadron Royal Air Force?

There are:2126 items tagged No. 139 (Jamaica) 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.

Flight Sergeant Alexander "Sandy" Rattray 139 Squadron

I am looking for history of pilot Alexander "Sandy" Rattray, Flight Sergeant 1571518.
All I know is he was in 139 squadron and flew Mosquitos. Any information, or where I should look, would be of great assistance.

Darrell Hankins

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Sqn Ldr. Lionel Hubert "Waker" Wakeford DFC MiD. 139 Squadron

My father, Lionel Wakeford, was born in Weymouth in 1915 and joined the RAF, at age 15, as an apprentice at RAF Halton. By the outbreak of WW2 he was a Sergeant Pilot in Egypt (Heliopolis), flying Bristol Bombay aircraft with 216 Squadron throughout Egypt, North Africa and Greece. Later returning to the U.K. flying Wellington Bombers. He was an early member of the Pathfinders with 139 Squadron flying Mosquito aircraft.
By the end of the war he had flown over 2,400 hours at which time he had the rank of Squadron Leader. He was twice Mentioned in Dispatches and received the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Post war followed service with 29 Squadron. Moving to RAF Pembrey to form 233 Squadron a conversion unit in 1952 where he ran the tactical wing. On September 22nd 1953 he was training Pilot W.H. Williams in flying the Vampire Jet, and the aeroplane took off from Pembrey Airfield. However shortly after take-off he requested permission to return to base. The aircraft was seen to weave for 2 miles approaching the airfield which was a method of losing speed. Unfortunately, the Vampire crashed at the edge of the runway. The inquest found that the aircraft had suffered a severe fire probably starting immediately after take-off (possibly a re-ignite after a flame out) which had led to the crash. Both my father and PO Williams were killed on impact, Sqn Ldr Wakeford is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard. At his death he had completed 3,281 Flying Hours.

David Wakeford

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Flt.Lt. Guy Jerrold Menzies DFC. 139 Squadron (d.22nd January 1941)

Guy Menzies was born in Christchurch, 5 Nov 1920, son of Charles and Blanche Grove Menzies. He joined the RAF in October 1938 and flew as captain of a Blenheim bomber both during the Battle of France and in subsequent raids against targets in France. Guy was killed on air operations with 139 Squadron, on the 22nd of Jan 1941. He took off at 1020 from Horsham St. Faith. On return, and while crossing the East Anglia coast, Blenheim Bomber MkIV T2435 1220, the crew failed to give any recognition signals and the Blenheim was promptly engaged by AA fire from naval ships. Shortly afterwards the tail assembly broke away and the Blenheim dived into a field 250 yards from the Police House at Oulton, 2 miles WNW of Lowestoft, Suffolk. All the crew were killed, F/L G.J.Menzies DFC, Sgt E.J.Bonney and Sgt R.Tribick.
Guy Menzies is my Grand Mother Jean's brother. I remember she told me (some time in the 70`s) that his navigation and identification lights were shot up and that he could not signal that he was friendly. My first cousin has the DFC. My Grand Mother said that Guy flew in The Battle of Britain.I will do some research. Next time I am in England I will visit Guy`s grave at, Old Catton (St Margaret) Churchyard, Norfolk, England.

James Stuart Brown

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Sqdn.Ldr. J. D. Robins DFC 139 Squadron

On the night of 7th of July 1944, Mosquito MM146 (XD-H), a B.XVI bomber, took off from RAF Upwood, one of the twelve machines from 139 Squadron detailed to bomb Berlin. After being hit and damaged by flak, it was flown to Sweden, where it landed at Kalmar and the crew was interned for a while. F/Lt J D Robins (pilot) RNZAF -and Sub/Lt (A) B M Vlielander- Hein (nav.) RNNAS were classified as evaders and likely returned via Sweden to the UK I am unable to find the full name of F/L J D Robins nor his service number with the Royal New Zealand Air Force. He was later Gazetted a DFC, as a Squadron Leader. Any information regarding J D Robins, DFC will most welcome.

Adriano Silva Baumgartner

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Sqn. Ldr. Cyril Hassall DSO, DFC & bar. 142 Squadron

Squadron Leader Cyril Hassall, DSO, DFC and BAR flew Mosquitos in 1944 with 139 and 692 Squadrons. He then apparently served as a Navigation Flight Instructor before joining 142 Squadron on Mosquitos. He completed a total of 102 sorties, of which 67 were on Mosquitos.
Any picture of S/L Hassall, DSO, DFC and BAR is welcomed. It seems he started operations in August 1940, but I do not know in which Squadron. Any information is most welcomed.

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WO/Sgt. K. Fenton 139 Sqdn.

My father was born in Drax, Yorkshire. He was Warrant Officer (Sgt) K. Fenton, No. 1053472 and was shot down on 1st July 1941 in Blenheim IV V6258 XD of 139 (Jamaica) Squadron, from Horsham St. Faith. His aircraft was shot down by Bf109F of Fw. Fredrich Karl Bachmann (3/JG 52, Leeuwarden) and ditched 60Kms NW of Vlieland. Other crew were Sgt A.A. Fuller (observer) and R.W. McDonald (wireless operator and air gunner). All became POWs in Stalag Luft III, Sagan. Also a note of Stalag IXc. Prisoner No. 39204. Noted in Blenheim Strike by Theo Boiten as Stalag 357, Kopernikus and 'among one of very few crews to survive a Blenheim crash in 1941'. I have his log book and a number of photos and would love to talk or correspond with anyone who might have known him or whose father was there also. Names listed in his log book include:

Harry Mahoney
Lioniel Raymond Silver
Balson
W W Hall
A A Fuller
W H E Harwood
R Evans
Joe Walker
Gordon Bottomley
Walter Kershaw
D A MacLeod
J Jones
N M Campbell
R MacDonald
R Duffield
Norman J Smith
Arthur Thomson
Harold E Bennett
Malcolm Gillies
W H Hard
E G Caban
Al Hard
E G R Daggett
Irena Spring
Ann Hemmingway

Not suggesting that the ladies were there but their names are.

Nick Fenton

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Sqd/Ldr. Norman "Red" Armin DFC Pilot 57,139 & 608 Squadrons

My dad joined the RAF in 1942. He had red hair and a quick temper hence the nickname 'Red'. He was not the stereo typical RAF officer and got into numerous scrapes off duty. On the day he signed up the guy behind the desk slung the signing up forms at him and they landed on the floor. Typically he got down on the floor signed the forms and left. He detested arrogance and bad manners. After a brief introduction to the Lewis machine gun at RAF Shoreham he saw his first action as an AC2 against German tip and run raiders coming in low level across the English Channel. The enemy bombers were so low they had to depress their guns to take aim. They also managed to shoot at each other across the airfield. They did manage to shoot one bomber down and it crash landed in the field next to the airfield. One airman streaked ahead of the rest and by the time they caught up he had bayoneted the emerging pilot who according to him had resisted arrest. The airman's brother had been killed at Dunkirk. The reality of war was never far away. He completed his flying training in Canada On Tiger Moths and Avro Ansons and passed out as Pilot Officer. On his return to England he joined 57 Squadron flying Vickers Wellingtons. The Wellington could take a tremendous amount of punishment with its geodetic construction and fabric covering. It was a very heavy aircraft to fly. The controls had no power assistance. One night on a raid they were coned after the master searchlight locked on to then. My dad put the aircraft into a dive to evade the searchlights and it took him and his navigator their full combined force with their feet on the instrument panel to pull the aircraft out of the dive. My dad completed his first tour of operations with 57 Squadron and then joined an OTU Operational Training Squadron at Wellesbourne for a 'rest' He always maintained that this was as dangerous as operational flying because the Wellingtons they used for training were clapped out. On one training flight he was called away and had to leave the student with the aircraft with the engines ticking over. The student failed to periodically open and shut the engines which meant there was a danger of them overheating. He frantically tried to signal from the other side of airfield to the student to open up the engines but to no avail. On getting back to the aircraft he raised merry hell with the student while opening and closing the throttles. On take off they had just retracted the undercarriage when one of the engines caught fire and had to be immediately shut down. Climbing a Wellington on one engine particularly a clapped out one was unheard of at the time. With much cursing the hapless student was given the task of putting out the fire then manually lowering the undercarriage with a lever because the dead engine powered the hydraulics. After what was later considered to be an outstanding piece of airmanship dad managed to land the aircraft in one piece. By then he was raging and in a typical temper got out of the cockpit walked along the wing and peed on the offending engine. Unknown to him a party of WAAF's had been on a visit to the control tower and had observed the entire event. Needless to say the Station CO after commending him for his airmanship gave him a right old earwigging. On return to operations my dad joined the famous 139 Jamaica Squadron flying Mosquitoes. He loved the Mossie, no crew to worry about apart from the Navigator and they were so fast very few fighters could catch them. More importantly it kept him alive. As he was nearing the end of his second tour of operations he was asked to transfer to the newly re-formed 608 Squadron which needed some experienced crews to help bed the Squadron in. Most of the raids in 1944 were against Berlin and on his last raid he flew with a heavy head cold, came down too fast on his return and damaged his eardrums. This was the end of his flying career as he was grounded. His navigator was re-crewed and was killed over Berlin a few weeks later. He ended the war in Rangoon running an operational admin unit for General Slim. He caught malaria and it had a marked effect on his health for many years after his return to civilian life.

John Armin

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F/O Allan John Alexander Woollard DFM navigator 106 Squadron

My late father was a navigator and flew in Lancasters of 106 squadron under Guy Gibson and then 139 Jamaica Squadron Mosquito Pathfinders one of which he had to bale out of when a held up flare went off. I once saw a picture of him standing with Guy Gibson with his dog by his kennel and some other officers.Please, do you have a copy of this or similar. I am trying to put together his story for my sons and Grandchildren and this site may be the answer. I also have his log book with Guy Gibsons signature on a flight when he navigated for him and various other memorobilia. Please can you help. Regards Graham Woollard

Graham Woollard

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No. 139 (Jamaica) Squadron Royal Air Force

Logbooks

Those known to have served with
No. 139 (Jamaica) Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements

Want to know more about No. 139 (Jamaica) Squadron Royal Air Force?

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No. 139 (Jamaica) Squadron Royal Air Force

Logbooks

Those known to have served with No. 139 (Jamaica) Squadron Royal Air Forceduring the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements

Want to know more about No. 139 (Jamaica) Squadron Royal Air Force?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- No. 139 (Jamaica) Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -

Those known to have served with
No. 139 (Jamaica) Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.