The Wartime Memories Project

- No. 216 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

No. 216 Squadron Royal Air Force



Oct 1939 Change of Duty

10th Nov 1941 Orders

17th Nov 1941 Prisoners

18th Nov 1941 Prisoners

19th Nov 1941 Prisoners

30th April 1941 New Squadron formed in Sudan

3rd November 1941 Relocated and requipped

9th Nov 1941 Orders

3rd June 1943 Delivery Flight shot down


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



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Those known to have served with

No. 216 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. 216 Squadron Royal Air Force from other sources.



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Want to know more about No. 216 Squadron Royal Air Force?


There are:2007 items tagged No. 216 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.


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



Jack Bell 216 Squadron

Jack Bell is an Australian who served in the RAF. He was shot down over North Africa. You can read is story in a book titled Jack Bell's War. In 2018 he is 100 years old as of writing. Jack was a POW in Stalag Luft 4b

Paul Sharp







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