|
|
Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books
At the start of the Second World War War No.614 "County of Glamorgan" Squadron was an army co-operation unit, equipped with the virtually obsolete Hawker Hector. These were replaced with Lysanders before operations began, but for the first three years of the war the squadron spent most of its time training with the army. One exception came during the Thousand Bomber Raids of May and June 1942. By this time the squadron had converted to the Bristol Blenheim. Bomber Command needed every aircraft it could find to carry out these raids, and No.614 Squadron's Blenheims were called up to take part in the support operations, attacking German airfields in the Low Countries.
The squadron's role changed dramatically in November 1942 when it moved to North Africa. For the next few months it operated as a bomber squadron, attacking German and Italian airfields in Tunisia. After the end of the Tunisian campaign the squadron was used to protect shipping in the Western Mediterranean, before being disbanded on 25 January 1944.
No. 614 Squadron was reformed in February 1944 in Italy by the renumbering of No. 462 Squadron, R.A.A.F., which had been felt to be rather short of Australians (a new Australian No. 462 Squadron was later formed in Britain). This squadron had been carrying out a mix of bombing raids over Italy and the Balkans and supply drops to partisans. Under its new name the squadron continued to perform these duties until the end of the war. On 27 July 1945 it was renumbered as No.214 Squadron.
Aircraft
November 1937-November 1939: Hawker Hector I
November 1939-October 1940: Westland Lysander II
October 1940-January 1942: Westland Lysander III
July 1941-September 1942: Bristol Blenheim IV
August 1942-February 1944: Bristol Blenheim V
March 1944-March 1945: Handley Page Halifax B.Mk III
August 1944-July 1945: Consolidated Liberator VIII
Location
1 June 1937-2 October 1939: Cardiff
2 October 1939-8 June 1940: Odiham
8 June 1940-5 March 1941: Grangemouth
5 March-27 September 1941: Macmerry
27 September-3 October 1941: Odiham
3 October 1941-25 August 1942: Macmerry
26 August-16 November 1942: Odiham
16-17 November 1942: Portreath
17 November-5 December 1942: Blida
5 December 1942-7 February 1943: Oulmene
22 May-28 August 1943: Tafaraoui
28 August 1943-25 January 1944: Borizzo
3 March-10 May 1944: Celone
10 May-15 July 1944: Stornara
15 Juy-27 July 1945: Amendola
Squadron Codes: LJ, D, T
Duty
1939-November 1942: Army Cooperation
November 1942-March 1943: Bomber Squadron, North Africa
March 1943-January 1944: Shipping Escort, Mediterranean
March 1944-July 1945: Bomber and Special Duties Squadron, Italy
Blenheim Squadrons of World War Two, Jon Lake. This book looks at the entire RAF service career of the Bristol Blenheim, from its debut as a promising fast bomber, through the deadly disillusionment of the blitzkrieg, on to its work in the Middle East and Mediterranean, where the aircraft found a new lease of life. Lake also looks at the use of the Blenheim as an interim fighter aircraft and its use by Coastal Command.
Halifax Squadrons of World War II , Jon Lake. This is a very good book on the combat record of the Handley Page Halifax. It covers much more than just its role as a front line bomber, with chapters on the Halifax with Coastal Command, the Pathfinders and SOE, amongst others. [see more]
Bookmark this page:
Delicious
Facebook
StumbleUpon