No. 149 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force

No.149 Squadron was formed on 3rd March 1918 at RAF Ford, West Sussex. It moved to France in mid-April for night bombing missions above occupied France and Belgium. After the war the squadron was part in the occupation force in Germany, being stationed at Bickendorf. It moved to Ireland in March 1919 where the squadron was disbanded on 1st August 1919.
The squadron was reformed from 'B' Flight of No. 99 Squadron RAF on 12th April 1937 under No. 3 Group RAF at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk. Initially equipped with Heyford biplane bombers, the squadron was equipped with Vickers Wellingtons at Mildenhall by the outbreak of war. The Squadron flew bomber missions through out the war, initially with Wellingtons, later with Short Stirlings and finally with Avro Lancasters. For a period when equipped with Stirlings it also took part in SoE supply drop missions to resistance and partisan groups in occupied territories.
Airfields where 149 Squadron was based:

until 6th April 1942: Mildenhall
6th April 1942-15th May 1944: Lakenheath
from 15 May 1944: Methwold.

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

3rd Dec 1939 Ops

18th December 1939 Aircraft Lost The British Air Ministry decided to launch an attack on German surface ships to prevent them supporting the U-boats in the North Atlantic. Wellington bomber squadrons had undertaken a number of sweeps over the North Sea during October and November against any enemy shipping. On 18th December 1939, a force of 24 Wellington bombers – nine from no.9 Squadron at Honington, six from 37 Squadron at Feltwell, and nine from 149 Squadron at Mildenhall – was sent to attack German ships in the Heligoland Bight and sink or damage as many as possible. The mission was a disaster.
The Wellingtons took off for the daylight raid around 0930, led by the C/O of 149 Squadron, Wing Commander Richard Kellet. Two of the aircraft turned back early, leaving 22 Wellingtons to fly on to the target area. No German ships were found at sea. Several German Navy warships were sighted in Wilhelmshaven Harbour, but orders had been given not to bomb the port area in case civilians were hit, so the Wellingtons turned for home.
The theory was that the well armed Wellington had the fire power to defend itself from attack by fighters, especially if they were flying in tight formation. However the 22 aircraft on this return flight were strung out in a straggle when they were intercepted by 44 Luftwaffe fighters – a mixture of Me Bf 110s and Bf 109s. In the battle that followed 10 were shot down, two ditched in the sea before reaching the English coast and three more crash landed in East Anglia - a total loss of 68% of the force. 56 RAF aircrew were killed and five were taken prisoner. 37 Squadron lost five of its six aircraft shot down and 9 Squadron also lost 5 aircraft. The aircraft and crews lost were:
9 Squadron:

N2939 Crashed off Wilhelmshaven

Pilot: F/O John Thomas Irvine Challes
2nd Pilot: P/O Alistair Hugh Richmond Bourne
Observer: Sgt Frank Michael Mason
Wop/AG: Sgt Thomas Henry English
AG: LAC Gurth Ernest Cox
AG: AC1 Alexander Telfer

N2940 Crashed off Wilhelmshaven

Pilot: P/o Eric Francis Lines
2nd Pilot: Flt Sgt Alfred Kitto Fearnside
WOp/AG: AC1 Edward Malcolm George Polhill
AG: LAC Alex Morrison Dickie
AG: AC2 Clifford Walker

N2941 Crashed off Wilhelmshaven

Pilot: F/O Douglas Bellamy Allison
2nd Pilot: F/O Donald Charles Ephraim Bailey
Observer: Sgt John Archibald Brister
Air Bomber: Sgt Joseph Buglasi Adamson Turnbull
Wop/AG: Sgt Reginal Thomas Black
AG: LAC Albert George Goodenough

N2872 Crashed off Wilhelmshaven

Pilot: Squadron Ldr Archibald John Guthrie
2nd Pilot: P/O John Edgar Atkinson
Observer: Sgt Harold Walter Tyrrell
Wop/AG: LAC Thomas Leo Marlin
Wop/AG: Sgt Bertie Joseph Pickess
AG: LAC Josias Melville Fletcher Key

N2983 Badly damaged by gunfire and Crashed off Cromer, Norfolk. Four survivors were picked up by a trawler.

Pilot: Sgt Jack Richardson Ramshaw DFM – injured
2nd Pilot: Sgt Robert Hewitt – injured
Wop/AG: LAC D.J.Connolly – injured
AG: LAC Walter Lilley – killed
AG: AC1 Charles Ronald Driver DFM - injured

N2871 badly damaged and made forced landing at RAF North Coates Fitties
N2873 badly damaged and made forced landing at RAF Sutton Bridge, two crew injured.
37 Squadron:

N2904 LF-B Last reported with the Starboard wing burning furiously and heading out to sea off Wilhelmshaven.

Pilot: Squadron Ldt Ian Victor Hue-Williams
2nd Pilot: Flt Lt Thomas Gaufrey Wearmouth Appleby
Observer: F/O Arthur Richard Vaughan Williams
Wop/AG: Sgt Alister Raymond Norris
Wop/AG: LAC John Arundel Barstow
AG: LAC Ernest Lowe

N2888 LF-A crashed into the sea off Borkum Island

Pilot: F/O Peter Arabin Wimberley - survived and taken PoW
Observer: Sgt Leslie Alfred Sheppard - killed
Navigator: P/O Michael Ratcliffe - killed
Wop/AG: AC1 Alexander Maxwell Hill - killed
AG: LAC Alfred William Walter Lane - killed

N2889 LF-P Broke up in the air and crashed into the sea off Borkum following a sustained attack by Lt. Helmut Lent of 3./ZG-76.

Pilot: F/O Oliver John Trevor Lewis RAAF
Observer: Sgt Maurice William Barrington-Taylor
Wop/AG: LAC Peter Thomas Jones
Wop/AG: P/O Roderick Menzie Ross
AG: AC1 George Warne Geddes

N2935 LF-H Shot down out to sea off Wilhelmshaven: three of the crew are buried in the Sage War Cemetery but two were missing and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Pilot: F/O Arthur Telford Thompson
Navigator: P/O Matthew Infield Drawwater
Observer: Sgt Alfred John Tilley
Wop/AG: Cpl Wilson Robinson
AG: LAC Leonard Arthur Stock

N2936 LF-J Crashed Borkum Islands.

Pilot: Sgt Herbert Ruse – survived and taken PoW.
Observer: Sgt Thomas William Holley – killed and buried on Sage War Cemetery
Wop/AG: Sgt Thomas K.May – survived and taken PoW.
Wop/AG: Cpl Frederick James Taylor - killed and buried on Sage War Cemetery
AG: LAC Harry Jones – survived and taken PoW.
149 Squadron:

N2961 Ditched off Cromer Norfolk. There were no survivors

F/O Michael Franklin Briden
P/O W.S.F.Brown
Sgt Valentine Henry Garner Richardson
AC2 A.G.Foster
AC1 Isaac Davidson Leighton
AC1 Peter John Warren

N2962 OJ-B Shot down and crashed into the North Sea. All reported missing and commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial

P/O Fred Norman Lines
F/O James Heggie Cumming Speirs
AC2 William James Ellis
Sgt Richard Robin Hammond
LAC John Humble Sinton

A direct outcome of this air battle was the decision to fit Wellingtons with armour plate and self-sealing fuel tanks to make them more robust. Another outcome was that this was the last unescorted daylight bombing raid undertaken by Bomber Command until the closing stages of the war.
Wellington N2980 which was flown by the 149 Squadron crew of Squadron Ldr P.I.Harris is an exhibit in the Brooklands Museum.

18th December 1939 Aircraft Lost

2nd January 1940 Two Wellingtons loston recce

18th January 1940 Ground accident

2nd March 1940 Crashed shortly after take-off

12th April 1940 Attack on Stavanger

21st April 1940 Crash Landing in Jutland

10th May 1940 War over Holland

11th June 1940 Raid on Soissons

12th June 1940 Operation Haddock

12th July 1940 Wellington lost

31st August 1940 Bombing raids over Europe

14th Mar 1941 Bomber Command on Ops

17th Mar 1941 Aircraft Lost

18th March 1941 Feature film made at operational base.

31st March 1941 Aircraft Lost

12th Apr 1941 Aircraft Lost

13th April 1941 Crashed onto village street

16th Apr 1941 Aircraft Lost

8th May 1941 Aircraft Lost

10th May 1941 Aircraft Lost

17th May 1941 Aircraft Lost

11th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost

1st Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

14th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

17th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

5th August 1941 Aircraft Lost

12th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

18th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

7th September 1941 Aircraft Lost

11th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost

20th October 1941 Aircraft Lost

7th November 1941 Aircraft Lost

15th Nov 1941 Aircraft Lost

November 1941 Conversion to Stirlings

15th Jan 1942 Aircraft Lost

21st January 1942 Training flight created

31st Jan 1942 First Attack on the Tirpitz

6th April 1942 Squadron makes short move

16th April 1942 Shot down in Belgium

6th June 1942 Two Stirlings lost

29th Aug 1942 149 Squadron Stirling lost

17th September 1942 Shot down in France

7th October 1942 Heavy Conversion Unit created

29th November 1942 VC awarded

3rd January 1943 Killed in bad landing

2nd Mar 1943 149 Squadron Stirling lost

21st April 1943 19 Aircraft lost

1st May 1943 Safe after abandoning their aircraft

4th May 1943 Shot down over Friesland

14th May 1943 Stirling shot down

29th June 1943 Shot down over Belgium

23rd June 1943 Shot down over Holland

4th July 1943 Shot down over Belgium

5th September 1943 Three Stirling lost

January 1944 Increase in Special Duties squadrons

6th February 1944 Lost on Special Duties

12th February 1944 Detachment on Special Duties Training

10th April 1944 Lost on SOE Mission

11th April 1944 Hit by Flak over France

29th April 1944 No one hurt in crash landing

15th May 1944 Move

1st June 1944 Shot down off Belgian Coast

5th Jun 1944 Aircraft Lost

6th Jun 1944 149 Squadron Stirling lost on special duties

6th June 1944 Diversionary Tactics

6th July 1944 Killed in crash landing

August 1944 SOE squadrons re-equipped

November 1944 On-board Radar improvements

3rd May 1945 Operation Manna

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

Logbooks

Do you have a WW2 Flying Log Book in your possession?
If so it would be a huge help if you could add logbook entries to our new database. Thank you.

View Logbook entries

Those known to have served with
No. 149 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

Abrams. R W . Sergeant (d.6th June 1944 )
Bailey J.. Sergeant
Baillie James Henry. Sgt. (d.17th May 1942)
Ball Joe.
Barnes H G. Sergeant
Bellamy. F W . Sergeant (d.6th June 1944)
Blencowe John Dawson. F/O. (d.24th Feb 1944)
Brown Andrew Angus. Flt.Sgt (d.6th Sep 1943)
Brown. A H . Sergeant (d.6th June 1944)
Burton H. Flight Officer
Coldwell Gordon Willard. PO (d.17th May 1942)
Collins William. Sgt. (d.17th May 1942)
Culpan Johnny William Rae. Sgt
Gent Reginald Philip. PO (d.17th May 1942)
Gordon-Watkins DSO DFC DFM William David. Wing Cdr.
Hannaford. W A . Warrant Officer (d.6th June 1944)
Hart. R H S . Flight Sergeant (d.6th June 1944)
Hornby. J B . Flying Officer (d.6th June 1944)
Hutchins. C J K . Squadron Leader (d.6th June 1944)
Johnston David Garth. P/O
Jones C. G.. Sgt.
keates John Alfred. Sgt. (d.9th May 1941)
Keates John Alfred. Sergeant (d.9th May 1941)
Logue Spencer H.. FO
Lynn John Christian. P/O (d.18th Aug 1941)
Martin Alfred Charles. Sgt. (d.8th Sep 1940)
Matthews Christopher George. Sgt. (d.16th Dec 1940)
McArthur Neil Max. Sgt.
McCoy. W C . Flight Sergeant (d.6th June 1944)
McDougall William Armour. Sgt. (d.25th June 1944)
McFarlane D A. Pilot Officer
Medoza Michael Isaac Archibald. P/O (d.18th Aug 1941)
Millar Robert William. F/O. (d.31st March 1945)
Moores. Kenneth .
Peacock A R. Sergeant
Pullen Harold Brian. F/Sgt.
R. R. Henderson. P/O
Seagrave DFC Douglas. F/Sgt.
Shepherd Norman Alexander. Sgt.
Smart Shuthi Nandi Napolean Leslie Oswald Banerjee. Sgt. (d.10th Mar 1942)
Smith Alfred Henry. Sgt. (d.17th May 1942)
Smith G M R. Pilot Officer
Sterrett K. K.. Sgt.
Tootle Frederick. AC2. (d.12th April 1940)
Wakeling Laurie Charles. Sgt. (d.12th April 1940)
Wincott. A R . Flight Sergeant (d.6th June 1944)
Wiseman DFC. Edwin. Flt.Lt.

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

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

Announcements

The Wartime Memories Project has been running for 24 years. If you would like to support us, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting and admin or this site will vanish from the web.

22nd April 2024 - Please note we currently have a huge backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 263973 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible.
Looking for help with Family History Research? Please read our Family History FAQ's
The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web.
If you enjoy this site
please consider making a donation.

Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text.

We are now on Facebook. Like this page to receive our updates.

If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page.

Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home.
If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion
Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.

Want to know more about No. 149 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force?

There are:2072 items tagged No. 149 (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.

Joe Ball 149 Squadron

My Great Uncle is John Alfred Keates (Sergeant) 940033 Wireless Operator / Gunner who died 9th May 1941 aged 20. His friend, pictured here, is Joe Ball, who he grew up with and also served in Squadron 149

Gary Dolman

Add to this record.

Sergeant John Alfred Keates Squadron 149 (d.9th May 1941)

Here are some postcards of Squadron 149 with all the autographs on the back.

My great uncle was John Alfred Keates (Sergeant) 940033 Wireless Operator / Gunner who died 9th May 1941 aged 20. In the formal group photograph he is front and centre.

His friend is Joe Ball, who he grew up with and also served in Squadron 149.

Do you have any more information or photographs that may be of interest?

Gary Dolman

Add to this record.

Sergeant J. Bailey 149 Squadron

I am looking for any relatives or friends who knew or served with the crew of Wellington bomber R3163 G for George of 149 Sqn:
Sgt. J Bailey 511887
Sgt. H G Barnes 652148
F/O H Burton
Sgt. A R Peacock 652031
P/O G M R Smith 42900
P/O D A McFarlane 79377 The plane was lost on the 5th of September 1940. I have some information including that they were POWs at Stalag 3 but would be very greatful if anyone has any other information to share.

Dan Gardner

Add to this record.

Sgt. K. K. Sterrett 149 Sqd.

Sgt Sterrett was taken POW when his Wellington was shot down by a night fighter whilst on Ops to Duisburg, it crashed at Haelen in Holland.

Add to this record.

Sgt. C. G. Jones 149 Sqd.

Sgt Jones was taken POW when his Wellington was shot down by a night fighter whilst on Ops to Duisburg, it crashed at Haelen in Holland.

Add to this record.

P/O R. Henderson R. 149 Sqd.

P/O Henderson was taken POW when his Wellington was shot down by a night fighter whilst on Ops to Duisburg, it crashed at Haelen in Holland.

Add to this record.

P/O John Christian Lynn pilot 149 Sqd. (d.18th Aug 1941)

John Lynn lost his life on Ops to Duisburg when his Wellington was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Haelen in Holland. He is in Jonkerbos War Cemetery near Nijmegen in Holland, he was 31 years old and was married.

Add to this record.

P/O Michael Isaac Archibald Medoza air gunner. 149 Sqd. (d.18th Aug 1941)

Michael Mendoza was fatally wounded on Ops to Duisburg when his Wellington was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Haelen in Holland. He is in Jonkerbos War Cemetery near Nijmegen in Holland, he was 36 years old and was married.

Add to this record.

Wing Cdr. William David Gordon-Watkins DSO DFC DFM 15 Sqd

Wing Cmdr Gordon-Watkins was the Commanding Officer of 15 Sqd. He was shot down on the 16th of November 1944 whilst piloting the lead bomber on a mission to Heinsburg. He was the only member of the crew to survive the incident and was captured and held as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft 1. He had completed over 50 operations and had previously served with 149 sqd.

Add to this record.

Sgt. Norman Alexander Shepherd 149 (East India) Squadron

Norman Shepherd was a tail-gunner and flew Lancasters in Italy returning POWs. He once heard that the Lanc's guns were being replaced by a new weapon and asked if that was true. He was answered that that information was highly classified and could not be released. The following week, a newspaper item reported that local Boy Scouts had seen the new weapon slotted for the Lancaster.

Ian Shepherd

Add to this record.

Recomended Reading.

Available at discounted prices.

The Wartime Memories Project
- No. 149 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -

No. 149 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force

Logbooks

Those known to have served with
No. 149 (East India) 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. 149 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project - No. 149 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -

No. 149 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force

Logbooks

Those known to have served with No. 149 (East India) 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. 149 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- No. 149 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -

Those known to have served with
No. 149 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.