SQUADRON HISTORY

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=80 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="0c200500dvldtc.gif"> <div> <B>SQUADRON HISTORY</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=215 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="0c3d7c00dvldtc.gif"> <bR> <div> <A HREF="home_of_113_squadron.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WELCOME"><U>WELCOME</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_site_information.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ABOUT THIS SITE"><U>ABOUT THIS SITE</U></A></div> <div> <B>SQUADRON HISTORY</B></div> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_operational_theaters.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="OPERATIONAL THEATERS"><U>OPERATIONAL THEATERS</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE POST WAR YEARS"><U>THE POST WAR YEARS</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE BRIEFING ROOM"><U>THE BRIEFING ROOM</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="norman_say_113_squadron.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="VIEW FROM THE GROUND"><U>VIEW FROM THE GROUND</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_personnel.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SQUADRON PERSONNEL"><U>SQUADRON PERSONNEL</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="AIRCREWS LOSSES"><U>AIRCREWS & LOSSES</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TRUE TALL TALES"><U>TRUE TALL TALES</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_aircraft.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SQUADRON AIRCRAFT"><U>SQUADRON AIRCRAFT</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_records___documents.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RECORDS DOCUMENTS"><U>RECORDS & DOCUMENTS</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_photo_album.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PHOTO RECONNAISANCE"><U>PHOTO RECONNAISANCE</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_bulletin_board.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="AD INF BULLETIN BOARD"><U>AD INF BULLETIN BOARD</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id99.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE RESEARCH ROOM"><U>THE RESEARCH ROOM</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_links_and_resources.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LINKS RESOURCES"><U>LINKS & RESOURCES</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_guestbook.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GUESTBOOK"><U>GUESTBOOK</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="STORES ROOM"><U>STORES ROOM</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id89.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE 113 SQUADRON STORY"><U>STORY OF THE 113 SQUADRON</U></A>      <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="113 Squadron Timeline"><U>TIME LINE</U></A>      </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id108.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="1940, INTRODUCTION"><U>MIDDLE & FAR EAST - THE BIG PICTURE</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> 113 SQUADRON RAF</div> <div> <B><U>A BRIEF HISTORY</U></B></div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <IMG SRC="358a4db0.gif" border=0 width="164" height="219" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Motto: Velox et vindex. - 'Swift to vengeance'</B></div> <div> <B>     Badge: In front of a cross potent, between four like crosses, two swords in</B></div> <div> <B>     saltire, the points uppermost.</B></div> <bR> <div> No. 113 Squadron was formed on 1 August 1917 at Ismailia as a corps reconnaissance unit. In September it began tactical reconnaissance and artillery spotting missions in Palestine flying RE8's against the Turkish 7th and 8th Armies where it remained until the end of the war. Returning to Egypt immediately after the war in May 1919, the Squadron was renumbered 208 Squadron on 1 February 1920.</div> <bR> <div> No. 113 reformed at Upper Heyford on 18 May 1937 as a day bomber unit with Hinds. In April 1938 it left for the Middle East, converting to Blenheims in June 1939. After Italy joined the war in June 1940, the Squadron carried out bombing raids on Italian bases in Libya before moving to Greece in March 1941. There it was overtaken by the German invasion and lost all its aircraft, the Squadrons personnel being evacuated to Crete and Egypt. Bombing operations began in June 1941 but the after the outbreak of war in the Far East the Squadron was moved to Burma where it attacked Japanese columns until it was evacuated to Calcutta in March 1942. From their main base in Asansol the majority of the strikes were made against targets in the Arakan and over into Southern Central  Burma. The Squadrons anti shipping role was a very large effort (for the Burma theatre) and is worthy of note as it resulted in a large number of a/c and crews lost. The 113 continued to bomb Japanese communications and airfields until it converted to Hurricanes in March 1943. These were used for ground-attack duties being replaced by Thunderbolts in April 1945 which were flown until the Squadron was disbanded on 15 October 1945.</div> <bR> <div> On 1 September 1946 No. 620 Squadron at Aqir was renumbered No. 113 and was engaged in transport duties with Halifaxes until disbanded on 1 April 1947. The Squadron reformed on 1 May 1947 at Fairford again with Halifaxes, being disbanded on 1 September 1948. No.113 was reformed again on 22 July 1959 at Mepal as a Thor intermediate-range ballistic missile unit until it was disbanded on 10 July 1963.</div> <div> SOURCE: RAF</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="3ad95000.jpg" border=0 width="405" height="512" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 113 Squadron Poster, "they really did do it all as the Poster states and then some".</div> <div> No other RAF Squadron that I am aware of was put to such an incredibly diverse range of tasks. It says something of the character of the Squadron that they kept their humour</div> <div> despite this, and the fact they were required to do so under unbearable conditions with</div> <div> worn out equipment and a chronic lack of proper facilities. "Note the humorous "Escort For Hurricanes", remark which is a little jab at those with proper fighter aircraft, keeping in mind that throughout the early desert campaign, many of their  Blenheims were</div> <div> considered fighter variants. Hilariously the tiny writing after 'Refueling Unit' reads Bomber.</div> <div> The doctor on the tail is undoubtedly Dr LaFrenais. </div> <div> Poster submitted by Corp Norman Lamb</div> <bR> <bR> <div> See the full history of the squadron at  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#00FFFF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id89.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE 113 SQUADRON STORY"><U>HISTORY OF THE 113</U></A></FONT> </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#CC9900" FACE="Arial" ><B>***************</B></FONT><B> </B><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>AIRCRAFT FLOWN</U></B></div> <bR> <div> BE-2 and RE-8    01/08/1917 to 01/02/1920</div> <div> Hawker Hinds      18/05/1937 to </div> <div> Blenheim Mk 1     01/06/1939 through Aug 1939 to</div> <div> Blenheim Mk IV    early March 1940</div> <div> Blenheim Mk V (Bisley)</div> <div> Hurricane</div> <div> Thunderbolt</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>SQUADRON CODES</U></B></div> <bR> <div> The AD code was issued to 60 Sqdn and was retained by them  from about June 1939 to Feb 1940. 60 Sqdn received their Blenheim I's about Mar 39</div> <bR> <div> 113 Sqdn was issued the BT code in 1939, the AD code seems to show up about the time they received Blenheim IVs in early March 1940</div> <bR> <div> Often, in all theaters, the squadron either never bothered applying the squadron code or it was not maintained. ie: sandblasted off by the desert or sun faded.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>THEATERS of OPERATION</U></B></div> <bR> <div> Palestine - </div> <div> Egypt - </div> <div> Libya / Cryencia -</div> <div> Battle of Matapan</div> <div> Greece -</div> <div> Crete -</div> <div> China -</div> <div> Burma -</div> <div> India -</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>STATIONS / LANDING GROUNDS</U></B></div> <bR> <div> place & date</div> <div> not complete yet </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>COMMANDING OFFICERS</U></B></div> <bR> <div> UNKNOWN                                      August 1, 1917 to October 1918</div> <div> Major S.R. MacCrindle                    October 1918 to February 1920</div> <div> W/Cdr Collishaw                              May 18, 1937 to May 1938 (Later AOC)</div> <div> W/Cdr F. D. Cator                            May 1938 to March 1939</div> <div> S/Ldr Keily                                        March 1939 to July 1940</div> <div> S/Ldr Bateson                                  July 1940 to Feb 1941</div> <div> S/Ldr R. H. Spencer                        Feb. 41 - Aug. 28th 41</div> <div> W/Cdr. R. N. Stidolph                      Aug. 41. - April. 42.</div> <div> W/Cdr T. F Grey                               April. 42. - July. 42</div> <div> W/Cdr E. Walter, D. F. C., A. F. C.  July. 42. - Dec. 42</div> <div> W/Cdr W. L Jones, D .F. C.             Dec. 42. - July. 43</div> <div> (S.A.A.F.) Maj, J. L. B. Viney           July. 43. - Aug. 43</div> <div> S/Ldr. I. L. B. Aitkens                        Sept 43. - Jan. 44</div> <div> S/Ldr. R. N. H. Courtney, D. F. C.    Jan. 44. - Oct. 44</div> <div> S/Ldr. J. Rose, D. F. C.                    Oct. 44. - May. 45</div> <div> S/Ldr. M. Paddle                               May. 45. - Oct. 45</div> <div> W/Cdr Alexander (Aqir)                    Sept. 46 - Apr 47</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>HONOURS AND AWARDS</U></B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>EGYPT. </B></div> <bR> <div> S/Ldr  Ford                    Pilot                   D.F.C</div> <div> S/Ldr  Clifton Harper    Pilot                   D.F.C</div> <div> F/Lt  Rickson                 Pilot                    D.F.C</div> <div> Sgt  Roberts                  Pilot                    D.F.M</div> <div> F/Sgt  Bush Barry         Observer            D.F.M  </div> <div> Sgt  Rogers                   Observer            D.F.M</div> <div> Sgt Moore                     W/Op. A/G          D.F.M</div> <div> Cpl  Taylor                     A.C.H. G/G          M.M.</div> <div> Cpl Ian Blair                   Acting Obs          M.M   (added)</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>INDIA - BURMA. </B></div> <bR> <div> W/Cdr. Walters                    Pilot                D.F.C. </div> <div> S/Ldr. Penny                        Pilot                D.F.C</div> <div> S/Ldr Courtney                    Pilot                D.F.C</div> <div> F/Lt  Earnest Frost              Pilot                D.F.C</div> <div> F/Lt Hopkins                        Pilot                D.F.C</div> <div> F/Lt Bassingthwaite            Pilot                D.F.C</div> <div> F/O Hutt                                Pilot                D.F.C</div> <div> F/O Ruginius                        Pilot                D.F.C       </div> <div> F/O Smith. K. L.                   Pilot                D.F.C</div> <div> F/O Forbes-Gordon            Observer        D.F.C</div> <div> P/O Davies                          Observer        D.F.C</div> <div> P/O McKerracher                W/Op A/G      D.F.M</div> <div> Sgt.  Taylor                           W/Op A/G      D.F.M. </div> <div> W/O Lockwood                   Pilot                D.F.C. </div> <bR> <div> Approximately 1,000 campaign medals (Africa - Burma) have been awarded for Service with the squadron.</div> <bR> <div> NOTE: The above information on the medals awarded and C/O's of the squadron is known not to be complete and may have errors. All is as recorded from the Farwell dinner booklet of 1945 </div> <div> This will be updated in due course.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_history_m.htm" TITLE="SQUADRON HISTORY"><U><IMG SRC="22932320.gif" border=0 width="50" height="50" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="113_squadron_history_m.htm" TITLE="SQUADRON HISTORY"><U> </U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_history_m.htm" TITLE="SQUADRON HISTORY"><U>BACK TO TOP</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>