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No. 615 Squadron RAF

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No. 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron RAuxAF
Members of the squadron meeting Winston Churchill in 1941
Active1 Jun 1937 – 10 Jun 1945
10 Jun 1945 – 25 Sep 1945
10 May 1946 – 10 Mar 1957
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Part ofRoyal Auxiliary Air Force
Nickname(s)County of Surrey
'Churchill's Own'[1]
Motto(s)Latin: Conjunctis viribus
(Translation: "By our united force")[2][3]
EngagementsBattle of France
Battle of Britain
Commanders
Honorary Air CommodoreWinston Churchill
Notable
commanders		Neville Duke (Test pilot)
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryOn a star of six points, an oak sprig fructed.[2][3]
Squadron CodesRR (Nov 1938 – Sep 1939)[4]
KW (Sep 1939 – Sep 1945)[5]
RAV (Jul 1946 – 1949)[6]
V6 (1949 – Apr 1951)[7]
Post-1950 squadron roundel

No. 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron was a unit of the British Auxiliary Air Force and later the Royal Auxiliary Air Force between 1937 and 1957.

History

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Formation and early years

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No. 615 squadron was formed at RAF Kenley as part of the Auxiliary Air Force on 1 June 1937 and was initially equipped with the Hawker Audax in the army-cooperation role. By the end of the year it had received Hawker Hectors which it flew until November 1938, when it became a fighter squadron and received Gloster Gauntlets[Nb 1].[2]

Second World War

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1939–1942

The squadron re-equipped with Gloster Gladiators in May 1939, taking them to France as part of the Air Component of the British Expeditionary Force in November 1939. Pilot conversion to the Hawker Hurricane took place in the early months of 1940, with the aircraft themselves finally arriving in May 1940 as the German invasion of France got under way. The next couple of weeks were marked by chaos and constant shuffling between bases that included Vitry-en-Artois, Saint-Inglevert, Poix, Abbeville & Moorsele (Belgium). On 20 May 1940 whilst some ground crew & equipment were already making their way towards evacuation via Boulogne, patrols were still being carried out, with an He-111 shot down by PO Petrus Hugo. Finally the last nine serviceable Hurricanes flew home to RAF Kenley, whilst non-flying crew returned to England in the steamer Biarritz from Boulogne, arriving at Dover on 21 May 1940. [3][8][9][10][11]

615 squadron took part in the early actions of the Battle of Britain, but then moved to Scotland to rest. It later took part in offensive sweeps over Europe and defence duties in Wales.

1942–45

In April 1942 the squadron was transferred to the South East Asian theatre, initially to India, before moving closer to the front lines in Burma, during December 1942. but returned to India to re-equip in May 1943, receiving Supermarine Spitfires in October. It returned to operations on the Burma front in November but was recalled to India again, for defensive duties in August 1944. The transfer, from Palel to Biagachi, near Calcutta was scheduled for 10 August. Despite a favourable weather forecast, the squadron encountered a violent monsoon storm en route. Eight of the 16 aircraft, including that of the commanding officer, Squadron Leader Dave McCormack, DFC, were lost.

1945

The squadron returned to Burma in February 1945.[3][8] On 10 June 1945, the 615 Squadron was officially disbanded – although No. 135 Squadron RAF was renamed 615 Squadron that same day, at RAF Cuttack, Orissa. The new 615 Squadron was equipped with Republic Thunderbolts and began training for proposed landings in Malaya. Air support was not required, however, following the surrender of Japan and the squadron disbanded on 25 September at RAF Vizagapatam, Andhra Pradesh.[3][8]

Post-war

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With the reactivation of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, No. 615 Squadron was reformed on 10 May 1946 at RAF Biggin Hill as a day fighter squadron equipped with Spitfire F.14s. Spitfire F.21s were received in 1947 and these were replaced by F.22s in 1948, both marks being flown until 1950.[citation needed]

600 and 615 squadron were great rivals. No 600 had the Queen Mother as Honorary Air Commodore and 615 had Sir Winston Churchill. When the Queen Mother first flew in the pilot's seat of a Comet she caused a telegram to be sent saying: "Today I have flown higher and faster than any of the pilots at Biggin Hill." On another occasion when Sir Winston Churchill was at Biggin he called over the CO of the rival squadron and asked him to send a telegram to the Queen Mother saying:"I have today presented to my squadron the Esher Trophy."[12] Later he wrote: 'It was a great joy to me to be made an honorary member of 615. They were equally good at work or play. I remember visiting them at summer camp at Horsham St Faith. After the day's flying the squadron funds were raided and launches hired on the Norfolk Broads. At one or two selected stopping-places the adjutant went into the nearest hostelry and to the consternation of the locals ordered 86 pints and four lemonades'.[13]

The squadron re-equipped with Gloster Meteor F.4 jet fighters starting in September 1950. Meteor F.8s were received in September 1951 and these were flown in the annual UK air defence exercises and at annual summer training camps. Along with all other flying units of the RAuxAF, No. 615 was disbanded on 10 March 1957.[3][8]

Notable Squadron members

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  • Winston Churchill, appointed Honorary Air Commodore of the Squadron on 4 April 1939.
  • Neville Duke, famous test pilot.
  • Hedley Fowler, achieved the squadron's first kill; became a PoW and later escaped from Colditz.
  • Arthur Vere Harvey, squadron commander; a Conservative Member of Parliament post-war.
  • Petrus Hugo, South African ace and Commanding Officer
  • Joseph Kayll, commander during Battle of France, then Battle of Britain Ace.
  • Ronald Gustave Kellett, Second World War ace and post-war commander of the squadron
  • James Sanders, Second World War ace
  • Henry Lafont, Famous Free French pilot of the Second World War, who died on 2 December 2011, the last surviving French veteran of the Battle of Britain. With René Mouchotte (below), escaped from Algeria in 1940 and flew to Gibraltar to join the Free French forces.
  • René Mouchotte, Famous Free French pilot of the Second World War who died on 27 August 1943, first Free-French officer to hold the position of flight commander in the RAF. His memoirs were published in 1946 under the title Les carnets de René Mouchotte.
  • Alexander Obolensky, A Russian Prince, and popularly known as "The Flying Prince", "The Flying Slav", or simply as "Obo". An international rugby player for England, scored 2 tries in a legendary All Blacks match. Died 29 March 1940 in a Hawker Hurricane training accident.

Aircraft operated

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Aircraft operated by no. 615 Squadron RAF, data from[8][14][15]
From To Aircraft Version
June 1937 March 1938 Hawker Audax
December 1937 November 1938 Hawker Hector Mk.I
November 1938 September 1939 Gloster Gauntlet [Nb 1] Mk.II
June 1939 October 1939 Gloster Gladiator Mk.I
October 1939 May 1940 Gloster Gladiator [Nb 2] Mk.II
April 1940 February 1941 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I
February 1941 April 1941 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIa
April 1941 July 1941 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I
July 1941 March 1942 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIb
September 1941 October 1943 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc
October 1943 August 1944 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc
June 1944 June 1945 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII
June 1945 September 1945 Republic Thunderbolt Mk.II
October 1946 January 1949 Supermarine Spitfire F.14
January 1947 June 1950 Supermarine Spitfire F.21
July 1948 September 1950 Supermarine Spitfire F.22
September 1950 September 1951 Gloster Meteor F.4
September 1951 March 1957 Gloster Meteor F.8

Notes on Aircraft Types

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  1. ^ Although only introduced in 1935, within two years the RAF began to procure even more advanced fighters for front-line squadrons, allowing Gauntlets to be transferred to freshly-formed or reserve units, serving as their first or interim equipment for training in advance of receiving newer aircraft.
  2. ^ Whilst 615 Squadron were re-equipping with Hawker Hurricanes towards the end of this period, "B" flight were still equipped with Gladiators, and it was 12 aircraft of this type that served in France until joined by 9 Hurricanes in mid May 1940. With the fall of Dunkirk, 615 sqdn returned to England, posting a detachment of Gladiators ("G" flight) to RAF Manston for the final days of May 1940

Squadron bases

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Bases and airfields used by no. 615 Squadron RAF, data from[3][8][16]
From To Base
1 June 1937 29 August 1938 RAF Kenley, Surrey
29 August 1938 4 September 1938 RAF Old Sarum, Wiltshire
4 September 1938 2 September 1939 RAF Kenley, Surrey
2 September 1939 15 November 1939 RAF Croydon, Surrey
15 November 1939 13 December 1939 Merville, France
13 December 1939 12 April 1940 Vitry-en-Artois, France
12 April 1940 27 April 1940 Poix, France
27 April 1940 16 May 1940 Abbeville, France
16 May 1940 20 May 1940 Morsele, Belgium
20 May 1940 29 August 1940 RAF Kenley, Surrey
29 August 1940 10 October 1940 RAF Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland
10 October 1940 17 December 1940 RAF Northolt, Middlesex
17 December 1940 21 April 1941 RAF Kenley, Surrey
21 April 1941 11 September 1941 RAF Valley, Anglesey, Wales
11 September 1941 27 November 1941 RAF Manston, Kent
27 November 1941 24 January 1942 RAF Angle, Pembrokeshire, Wales
24 January 1942 17 March 1942 RAF Fairwood Common, Swansea, Wales
17 March 194 17 June 1942 en route to British India
17 June 1942 5 December 1942 RAF Jessore, Bengal
5 December 1942 6 May 1943 RAF Feni, Bengal
6 May 1943 1 November 1943 RAF Alipore, Bengal
1 November 1943 13 December 1943 RAF Chittagong, Bengal
13 December 1943 25 February 1944 RAF Dohazari, Bengal
25 February 1944 19 March 1944 RAF Nazir
19 March 1944 5 May 1944 RAF Silchar West, Assam
5 May 1944 23 May 1944 RAF Dergaon, Assam
23 May 1944 10 August 1944 RAF Palel, Manipur
10 August 1944 23 February 1945 RAF Baigachi
23 February 1945 15 April 1945 RAF Nidania
15 April 1945 22 May 1945 RAF Chharra, United Province
22 May 1945 29 May 1945 RAF Chakulia, Bihar
29 May 1945 10 June 1945 RAF Cuttack, Orissa
10 June 1945 8 July 1945 RAF Akyab, Burma
8 July 1945 25 September 1945 RAF Vizagapatam, Andhra Pradesh
10 May 1946 10 March 1957 RAF Biggin Hill, Kent

Commanding officers

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Officers commanding no. 615 Squadron RAF, data from[17][18]
From To Name
June 1937 March 1940 S/Ldr. A.V. Harvey
March 1940 December 1940 S/Ldr. J.R. Kyall, DSO, DFC
December 1940 February 1941 S/Ldr. Holmwood
February 1941 April 1941 S/Ldr. Anthony Eyre, DFC[19]
April 1941 July 1941 S/Ldr. G.F. Powell-Shedden
July 1941 February 1942 S/Ldr. D.E. Gillam, DSO, DFC & Bar, AFC
February 1942 December 1942 S/Ldr. B.L. Duckenfield, DFC
January 1943 March 1943 S/Ldr. W.D. Williams, DFC
March 1943 January 1944 S/Ldr. R.H. Holland, DFC
January 1944 August 1944 S/Ldr. D.W. McCormack, DFC & Bar
August 1944 September 1944 F/Lt. K.F. Gannon
September 1944 June 1945 S/Ldr. T.H. Meyer
June 1945 September 1945 S/Ldr. P.J. Anson
July 1946 1949 S/Ldr. R.G. Kellett, DSO, DFC
1949 1950 S/Ldr. P.K. Devitt
1950 1951 S/Ldr. N.F. Duke, DSO, DFC & Two Bars, AFC
1951 January 1954 S/Ldr. F.B Sowrey, AFC
January 1954 March 1957 S/Ldr. R.A. Eeles

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Hunt 1972, pp. 5 and 357.
  2. ^ a b c Rawlings 1976, p. 503.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Halley 1988, p. 432.
  4. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 14.
  5. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 63.
  6. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 138.
  7. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 107.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Jefford 2001, p. 101.
  9. ^ Belcher, Keith A. "Correspondence — A "Vintage Aircraft" memory of 1940". Flight. No. 19 October 1956. pp. 654–44. (p654, p655)
  10. ^ Horne, Horace. "615squadron & The Battle of France". kenleyrevival.org. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  11. ^ Bashford, Vic. "Memories of 615 squadron". kenleyrevival.org. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Churchill Presents Esher Trophy to 615 Squadron Reel 2".
  13. ^ John Yoxall, Flight Magazine, 17 May 1962
  14. ^ Rawlings 1976, pp. 506–508.
  15. ^ Halley 1988, p. 433.
  16. ^ Rawlings 1976, pp. 505–506.
  17. ^ Rawlings 1976, p. 508.
  18. ^ Rawlings 1982, p. 240.
  19. ^ "Anthony Eyre DFC". Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2011.

Bibliography

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  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Hunt, Leslie (1972). Twenty-One Squadrons: The History of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 1925–1957. London: Garnstone Press. ISBN 0-85511-110-0.
  • Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
  • Rawlings, John (1976) [1969]. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft (2nd ed.). London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
  • Robinson, Anthony (1999) [1987]. RAF Squadrons in the Battle of Britain. London: Brockhampton Press. ISBN 1-86019-907-0.
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