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- No. 214 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

No. 214 Squadron Royal Air Force



   No 214 Squadron was formed in 1917 as a heavy night bombing squadron (No 14 RNAS, becoming No 214 RAF in April 1918). It flew in France and Belgium during WWI and in Egypt in 1919, disbanding in 1920. It reappeared as a bomber squadron in 1935 at Boscombe Down.

During WWII, No 214 served in No 3 Group, flying many missions against naval and industrial targets in Fortress Europe and taking part in mine laying operations. Its tour with No 3 Group ended in January 1944, it was re-equipped with American Flying Fortress aircraft and up until May 1945 was engaged in radio counter-measures - the detection and jamming of enemy radio and radar equipment.

Airfields No. 214 Squadron flew from:

  • RAF Methwold, Norfolk from 3rd September 1939 (Wellington Ia)
  • RAF Stradishall, Suffolk from 12th February 1940 (Wellington Ic, Wellington II)
  • RAF Honington, Suffolk from 5th January 1942
  • RAF Stradishall from 12th January 1942 (Stirling I)
  • RAF Chedburgh, Soffolk from 1st October 1942 (Stirling III)
  • RAF Downham Market, Suffolk from 10th December 1943 (to 100 Group)
  • RAF Sculthorpe, Norfolk from 16th January 1944 (Fortress II)
  • RAF Oulton, Norfolk from 16th May 1944 (Fortress III)
  • disbanded 27th July 1945


 

14th Sep 1939 Posting

31st August 1940 Bombing raids over Europe

6th Apr 1941 Posting

7th April 1941 Aircraft Lost

8th Apr 1941 Aircraft Lost

8th May 1941 Aircraft Lost

9th May 1941 Aircraft Lost

11th May 1941 Aircraft Lost

2nd Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost

4th June 1941 Aircraft Lost

24th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost

7th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

14th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

29th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

2nd Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost

7th September 1941 Aircraft Lost

13th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost

14th Sep 1941 214 Squadron Wellington lost

20th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost

29th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost

12th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

7th November 1941 Aircraft Lost

15th Nov 1941 Aircraft Lost

30th Nov 1941 Aircraft Lost

15th Jan 1942 Aircraft Lost

1st Apr 1942 Aircraft Lost

31st May 1942 Postings and Awards

5th October 1942  Bombing raid a failure

24th Jul 1943 Aircraft Lost

31st Aug 1943 Bomber Command

31st Aug 1943 Bomber Command

25th May 1944 214 Squadron Fortress lost

6th Jun 1944 Messages

20th April 1944 Operations

25th Feb 1945 214 Squadron Fortress lost

25th Feb 1945 214 Squadron Fortress lost

8th Mar 1945 214 Squadron Fortress lost

15th Mar 1945 214 Squadron Fortress lost

21st Mar 1945 214 Squadron Fortress lost

26th Aug 1944 214 Squadron Fortress lost

15th Mar 1945 214 Squadron Fortress lost


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



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Those known to have served with

No. 214 Squadron Royal Air Force

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Birch Alfred Broyden. LAC.
  • Carlyon DFC Paul Winstanley Manners. Sq.Ldr. (d.15th January 1943)
  • Carlyon DFC P. W.M. . S/Ldr. (d.16th Jan 1943)
  • Carr Lawrence. Sgt. (d.15th January 1943)
  • Clarke William. Sqd.Ldr. (d.3rd Feb 1943)
  • Cooper Eric Harold. Sgt. (d.24th Jul 1942)
  • Cooper Eric Harold. Sgt. (d.24th July 1942)
  • Dent Harold Charles . (d.15th Apr 1943)
  • Dutton Robert Ernest . (d.15th Apr 1943)
  • Ingram Eric Harold. Flt.Sgt. (d.15th Apr 1943)
  • Jacques Douglas Harold Morton. (d.15th April 1942)
  • James Ron.
  • Johnson George Eric. Sgt. (d.3rd Feb 1943)
  • Kemmett Kenneth Albert John. Flt.Lt.
  • Kemp John Lawrence. Sgt. (d.15th January 1943)
  • Nash John Desmond. F/O.
  • O'Donnell David Keith. F/O (d.15th Jan 1943)
  • Page Edgar James. Sgt. (d.7th September 1941)
  • Peck John Nelson. P/O (d.15th January 1943)
  • Pinder Peter Francis. F/O (d.15th January 1943)
  • Pittman William Henry. Cpl.
  • Powell Leslie. P/O. (d.15th Apr 1943)
  • Ransom Charles Edgar. Sgt. (d.15th January 1943)
  • Robertson Maxwell George. Sgt. (d.8th May 1941)
  • Scott Edward Henry . F/O. (d.15th Apr 1943)
  • Shepherd Thomas. Sgt. (d.15th Apr 1943)
  • Taylor Albert Edward. Sgt. (d.23rd Nov 1940)
  • Van Den Bok DFC. Ralph. A/Sqd.Ldr.
  • Van Den Bok DFC & 2Bar. Ralph. Sqdn Ldr
  • Waters Douglas Wilmott. Sgt.
  • Williams John William . (d.15th Apr 1943)

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. 214 Squadron Royal Air Force from other sources.



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Want to know more about No. 214 Squadron Royal Air Force?


There are:2040 items tagged No. 214 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.


Sgt. Eric Harold Cooper 214 Sqd. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (d.24th Jul 1942)

Eric Cooper answered his country's call and joined the RAF and became a rear gunner in 214 Sqn RAF flying Stirling bombers. His aircraft was shot down over Holland on the night of 24th July 1942, Eric along with all but one of the crew perished. Eric Harold Cooper was 21 years old. He is buried alongside his comrades in arms at Werkendam CWG cemetery in Noord-Brabant.

Richard Hallam



Sgt. Douglas Wilmott Waters No. 214 Squadron

28th December 1941 in Stalag Luft 1.

Stalag Luft 1, Dec 41 or Jan 42, Douglas Waters with Ron Ackerman Jackson F.A.A. Ramon

Douglas Waters with fellow POWs at Stalag Luft, 1st Jan 42

Christmas 1941 in Stalag Luft 1

Douglas Waters flew with No. 214 Squadron, he was held as a Prisoner of War in Stalag Luft 1.

Ian Waters



Sgt. Edgar James Page 214 Squadron (d.7th September 1941)

Edgar Page served with 214 Squadron was my grandfather's cousin. I know very little at the moment but I'm researching my family tree.

Alison Beaumont



Cpl. William Henry Pittman 214 Squadron

My father, William Pittman was stationed at Stradishall during WW2.I I have a book which Dad wrote about his time in the war. Dad was ground crew and an electrician.

Bill Pittman



Flt.Lt. Kenneth Albert John Kemmett 214 Squadron

Kenneth Kemmett learned to fly in Canada in 1942-44 and was commissioned after receiving his wings. He remained in Canada as an instructor.

He returned to England in January 1944 and was posted to 214 Squadron. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and flew Pathfinder missions over Germany in Flying Fortresses. He and his crew had a special bond of great friendship. He took part in the last raid of the war over Kiel on 2nd of May 1945. After the war he was offered a permanent commission, which he regretfully declined due to family circumstances. He loved the RAF all his life and died in 1993.

Isabel Wood



Sgt. George Eric Johnson 214 Squadron (d.3rd Feb 1943)

Sergeant (Navigator) George Johnson was the son of Lawrence George and Hilda Mary Johnson of Darlington, Co. Durham. He was aged 21 when he died and is buried in the Benschop General Cemetery, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

S flynn



Sqd.Ldr. William Clarke 214 Squadron (d.3rd Feb 1943)

Squadron Leader William Clarke was the son of George Alfred and Tallulah Clarke, husband of Winefride Mary Clarke of New Milton, Hampshire. He was aged 32 when he died and is buried in the Benschop General Cemetery, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

S Flynn



LAC. Alfred Broyden "Pop" Birch 214 Squadron

My father was Alfred Birch. He served in the Heavy Conversion Unit attached to 214 Squadron at Stradishall and Chedburgh. He was a ground crew member and was a L.A.C. He was also in some way attached to the US Army Air Corps as he told me of the horrific things he saw which had happened to the American fliers. I don't know if there are any personnel alive who remember him or if any pictures of him there exist. He was one of the oldest on the base and was given the nickname Pop because of his age.

Graham Birch



F/O Peter Francis Pinder 214 Sqdn. (d.15th January 1943)

Stirling W7637 was lost on a bombing run on Lorient on 15th/16th January 1943. T/o 1826 Chedburgh and lost without trace. All the crew members are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. They were:
  • S/L P.W.M. Carlyon DFC
  • Sgt C.E.C. Ransom
  • F/O D.K. O'Donnell RNZAF
  • Sgt J.L. Kemp
  • Sgt L. Carr
  • F/S J.N. Peck RCAF
  • P/O P.F. Pinder RCAF




  • P/O John Nelson Peck 214 Sqdn. (d.15th January 1943)

    Stirling W7637 was lost on a bombing run on Lorient on 15th/16th January 1943. T/o 1826 Chedburgh and lost without trace. All the crew members are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. They were:
  • S/L P.W.M. Carlyon DFC
  • Sgt C.E.C. Ransom
  • F/O D.K. O'Donnell RNZAF
  • Sgt J.L. Kemp
  • Sgt L. Carr
  • F/S J.N. Peck RCAF
  • P/O P.F. Pinder RCAF








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    I Was One of the Brylcreem Boys

    Ron James


    Ron James was born in Northampton, England in 1923 and he joined the RAF in 1942, aged 18. After the war, he served two years in South East Asia as Movements Control Officer, helping to release the prisoners of war and internees held by the Japanese in the prison camps of Java. Ron later worked in the commercial side of the engineering industry, owned a transport motel and later fulfilled his lifetime ambition by opening a bookshop in Northampton. He was a keen amateur historian and published a history of 214 Squadron 'Avenging in the Shadows' in 1989. His autobiographies 'I was one of the Brylcreem Boys' and 'Mercy Mission to Java' were completed a couple of years before his death in 1995 and published by his daughter in 2013.
    More information on:

    I Was One of the Brylcreem Boys










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