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- No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron Royal Air Force



   No 242 Squadron was formed in August 1918 at the seaplane station at Newhaven, carrying out anti-submarine patrols over the English Channel until the end of WWI. It was disbanded in May 1919.

No 242 re-formed in October 1939 at Church Fenton as a fighter squadron, initially composed largely of RCAF personnel. It received Blenheim fighters in December and in January 1940, Hurricanes, becoming operational on 23rd March 1940 with operations over France during May. Douglas Bader was Squadron Leader by the end of June 1940.

After taking part in the Battle of Britain, the squadron began offensive sweeps and bomber escort missions from December 1940 until September 1941 when it was sent to north Wales for Irish sea shipping lane patrols. In December 1941 it left for the Far East, the pilots being absorbed into No 126 Squadron in Malta and the ground echelon, arriving in Singapore in January 1942, merging with No 232 and 605 Squadrons to service Hurricanes in a composite unit. The Japanese advance forces a withdrawal to Sumatra and Java where the squadron was dispersed in March 1942.

No 242 re-formed at Turnhouse in April 1942, flying defensive patrols, then moved its Spitfires to North Africa in November to provide air cover for the First Army in the Tunisian campaign. In June 1943 the squadron moved to Malta supporting the landings in Sicily, and then moved to Italy in September. In April 1944, No 242 was sent to Corsica to fly sweeps over northern Italy and covered Allied landings in southern France in August. From France it disposed of its aircraft in September, and was disbanded in Naples in early November 1944.

No 242 reformed at Stoney Cross in November 1944 as a transport squadron, receiving eighty crows from No 232 and No 242 squadrons. Training began on Wellington XVIs, then Stirling Vs and then Yorks. The squadron was disbanded in 1950.

Airfields No. 242 Squadron flew from:

  • RAF Church Fenton, Yorkshire from 30th October 1939 (re-formed. Blenheim I, Battle I, Hurricane I)
  • RAF Biggin Hill, Kent from 21st May 1940
  • RAF Coltishall, Norfolk from 18th June 1940
  • RAF Duxford, Cambridgeshire from 26th October 1940
  • RAF Coltishall, Norfolk from 30th November 1940
  • RAF Martlesham Heath, Suffolk from the 16th of December 1940 (Hurricane IIb)
  • RAF Stapleford Tawney, Essex from 9th April 1941
  • RAF North Weald, Essex from the 22nd May 1941
  • RAF Manston, Kent from 19th July 1941
  • RAF Valley, Anglesey from 16th September 1941
  • RAF Seletar from 13th January 1942
  • Palembang, Java (dispersed 10th March 1942)
  • RAF Turnhouse, Midlothian from 19th April 1942 (re-formed. Spitfire Vb)
  • RAF Ouston, Northumberland from the 15th May 1942
  • RAF Drem, East Lothian from the 1st June 1942
  • RAF North Weald, Essex from 11th August 1942
  • RAF Manston, Kent from 14th August 1942
  • RAF North Weald from the 20th August 1942
  • RAF Digby, Lincolnshire from the 1st September 1942
  • RAF Maison Blanche, Algiers from 30th October 1942
  • Syria, 1944
  • Corsica, 1944
  • disbanded in Italy 4th November 1944
  • RAF Stoney Cross, Hampshire from the 15th November 1944 (re-formed. Stirling IV)


 

20th August 1940 Battle of Britain

20th August 1940  Battle of Britain

30th August 1940 Battle of Britain

7th Sept 1940 Battle of Britain

9th Sept 1940 London Blitz begins

15th Sep 1940 Battle of Britain Day

18th Sept 1940 London bombed

17th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost

29th December 1941 4 Hurricane pilots killed over Malta

6th March 1942 Airfields bombed on Malta

9th March 1942 Spitfires into action

9th May 1942 More Spitfires delivered to Malta

20th April 1944 Abortive mission

24th April 1944 Fighters intercepted on dawn patrol

12th May 1944 Aerodrome bombed

17th May 1944 Replacement aircraft

25th May 1944 

18th March 1945 Training Programme set down


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



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Those known to have served with

No. 242 (Canadian) 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. 242 (Canadian) Squadron Royal Air Force from other sources.



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Want to know more about No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron Royal Air Force?


There are:2019 items tagged No. 242 (Canadian) 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.


Donald Raymond Rice 242 Squadron

I only know a little about my Canadian grandfather's service in Squadron 242 under Douglas Bader and I have been trying to find out more. The MOD sent me three of his service medals he never received, but I have hit a brick wall because he was held by the Japanese in Java. I would like to ask if there are any other avenues that I can go down to try and find some answers as he would not talk about his experiences to me, so I know nothing.

David Roberts



Cpl Lawrence Lovell Taverner 242 Squadron

Larry Taverner served with 242 Squadron.

Larry



F/Lt. Josef J. Bryks MBE. 242 Squadron

Josef Bryks was a Czechoslovak cavalryman and fighter pilot who escaped the German occupation of Czechoslovakia and became a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He flew a Hawker Hurricane with No. 242 Squadron RAF until he was shot down over German-occupied France on 17th of June 1941, whilst flying in Operation Circus 14 from North Weald.

Michael J Williams



Sgt. W. Harris 242 Squadron

Halifax III - LV-951 coded QB-A - was shot down on 13th August 1944 near Bremen, Germany. The crew were:
  • F/O G. Campbell RCAF–POW
  • Sgt E. Harvey RCAF–POW
  • F/O W. Barrett RCAF–POW
  • F/O W. Cram RCAF–POW
  • Sgt L. Maki RCAF–POW
  • Sgt W. Harris RAF
  • Sgt R. Austin RCAF–POW

    Six of the crew were POWs and one was killed after being shot down by a nightfighter.




  • Sgt. R. Austin 242 Squadron

    Halifax III - LV-951 coded QB-A - was shot down on 13th August 1944 near Bremen, Germany. The crew were:
  • F/O G. Campbell RCAF–POW
  • Sgt E. Harvey RCAF–POW
  • F/O W. Barrett RCAF–POW
  • F/O W. Cram RCAF–POW
  • Sgt L. Maki RCAF–POW
  • Sgt W. Harris RAF
  • Sgt R. Austin RCAF–POW

    Six of the crew were POWs and one was killed after being shot down by a nightfighter.




  • Sgt. L. Maki 242 Squadron

    Halifax III - LV-951 coded QB-A - was shot down on 13th August 1944 near Bremen, Germany. The crew were:
  • F/O G. Campbell RCAF–POW
  • Sgt E. Harvey RCAF–POW
  • F/O W. Barrett RCAF–POW
  • F/O W. Cram RCAF–POW
  • Sgt L. Maki RCAF–POW
  • Sgt W. Harris RAF
  • Sgt R. Austin RCAF–POW

    Six of the crew were POWs and one was killed after being shot down by a nightfighter.




  • F/O W. Cram 242 Squadron

    Halifax III - LV-951 coded QB-A - was shot down on 13th August 1944 near Bremen, Germany. The crew were:
  • F/O G. Campbell RCAF–POW
  • Sgt E. Harvey RCAF–POW
  • F/O W. Barrett RCAF–POW
  • F/O W. Cram RCAF–POW
  • Sgt L. Maki RCAF–POW
  • Sgt W. Harris RAF
  • Sgt R. Austin RCAF–POW

    Six of the crew were POWs and one was killed after being shot down by a nightfighter.




  • F/O W. Barrett 242 Squadron

    Halifax III - LV-951 coded QB-A - was shot down on 13th August 1944 near Bremen, Germany. The crew were:
  • F/O G. Campbell RCAF–POW
  • Sgt E. Harvey RCAF–POW
  • F/O W. Barrett RCAF–POW
  • F/O W. Cram RCAF–POW
  • Sgt L. Maki RCAF–POW
  • Sgt W. Harris RAF
  • Sgt R. Austin RCAF–POW

    Six of the crew were POWs and one was killed after being shot down by a nightfighter.




  • E. Harvey 242 Squadron

    Halifax III - LV-951 coded QB-A - was shot down on 13th August 1944 near Bremen, Germany. The crew were:
  • F/O G. Campbell RCAF–POW
  • Sgt E. Harvey RCAF–POW
  • F/O W. Barrett RCAF–POW
  • F/O W. Cram RCAF–POW
  • Sgt L. Maki RCAF–POW
  • Sgt W. Harris RAF
  • Sgt R. Austin RCAF–POW

    Six of the crew were POWs and one was killed after being shot down by a nightfighter.




  • F/O G. Campbell 242 Squadron

    F/O Campbell was piloting a Halifax III - LV-951 coded QB-A - when it was shot down on 13th August 1944 near Bremen, Germany. The crew were:
  • F/O G. Campbell RCAF–POW
  • Sgt E. Harvey RCAF–POW
  • F/O W. Barrett RCAF–POW
  • F/O W. Cram RCAF–POW
  • Sgt L. Maki RCAF–POW
  • Sgt W. Harris RAF
  • Sgt R. Austin RCAF–POW

    Six of the crew were POWs and one was killed after being shot down by a nightfighter.

    (Original from Mr Campbell in his own words: "Could not find the railroad. I was very hungry and thirsty and decided to sleep in a ditch by the side of the road. Fell asleep exhausted and hurting etc (ed. broken ankle). Daylight came and a farmer’s dog sniffed me out. The farmer came back with a soldier who was on leave and they took me to the farmhouse located above the stables. The old grandmother gave me the biggest mug of coffee. Then the soldier hobbled me to the enclosed chicken coop to await army officers who would then take over. Four showed up and demanded my parachute. I told them in German that I did not understand.

    They put me in the back of their staff car and drove to the Luftwaffe night fighter station where I was turned over to the Luftwaffe who looked after all the Air Force prisoners. One pilot (German) came into see me and to give me some food. He was quite sympathetic and said that the same thing could happen to him. What next?!"

  • W Reichert







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