THE POST WAR YEARS

<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>THE POST WAR YEARS</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> <A HREF="113_squadron_history.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SQUADRON HISTORY"><U>SQUADRON HISTORY</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_operational_theaters.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="OPERATIONAL THEATERS"><U>OPERATIONAL THEATERS</U></A></div> <div> <B>THE POST WAR YEARS</B></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"> <div> 113 SQUADRON RAF</div> <bR> <div> POST WAR  <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PERSONNEL POST WAR"><U>SQUADRON PERSONNEL</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >   </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="35496c80.gif" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> BRIEF HISTORY POSTWAR</div> <div> AQUIR  FAIRFORD  MEPAL</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="11c17090.gif" border=0 width="535" height="9" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Note that to date we have very little information on the post war years but it is growing as more new contacts are made. If you served on the squadron or had a family member that did, please contact the site and contribute to this important part of the squadron's history. At the moment this postwar section is divided into two sections, this page containing what is known of the history for each period and the personnel section (see link above)</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="11c17090.gif" border=0 width="535" height="9" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>Aqir</U></div> <bR> <div> Immediately following the war,  on 04 October 1945 the Squadron was disbanded. It wouldn't be untill nearly a year later that the Squadron was resurrected, when on 1 September 1946 (01/09/1946) No. 620 Squadron at <B>Aqir</B> was renumbered to 113. This resulted from the depletion of personnel from 644 Squadron at Qastina and 620 Squadron at Aqir due to demobilisation and once again the 113 was back in business. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="58405030.jpg" border=0 width="517" height="259" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> SOURCE: From the estate of the late 437435 Sgt PBD Richardson WAAF,</div> <div> Clerk (SD), RAF Aqir 1946-47</div> <div> (see below for closeups of photo)</div> <bR> <div> Here the  revived squadron carried out transport duties using Douglas Dakotas and a late version of the Handley Page Halifax. This period however was far from simple transport chores. The political scene In Palestine was once again getting hot, and once again the 113 was in the thick of it. In February 1947 following escalating political unrest all non-essential civilians were ordered to be evacuated from Palestine.  This grand scheme was code named (Operation Polly) and the 113 Squadron flying Handley Page Halifax A9 transport aircraft rounded up a  total of 508 passengers and evacuated them to Egypt within in two days. </div> <bR> <div> Following this on Nov 29, 1947 The United Nations General Assembly passes the Plan of Partition, proposed by the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine, by a two-thirds majority. Under this plan, Palestine was to be partitioned into separate Arab and Jewish states, all British forces were to be withdrawn and all British military equipment removed or destroyed by 14 May 1948. </div> <bR> <div> Several months after the Operation Polly evacuation, on the 1st of April 1947 (01/04/1947) the Squadron disbanded for the third time in it's history. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="586ef760.jpg" border=0 width="495" height="374" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Far Left side,  RAF Aqir 1946-47</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="588f15c0.jpg" border=0 width="497" height="348" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Inside Left,  RAF Aqir 1946-47</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="58af6350.jpg" border=0 width="502" height="309" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Inside Right,  RAF Aqir 1946-47</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="58cad000.jpg" border=0 width="429" height="512" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Far right side,  RAF Aqir 1946-47</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> POST WAR  <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PERSONNEL POST WAR"><U>SQUADRON PERSONNEL</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> For a more complete history see the 113 Squadron Story, chapter titled </div> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_post_war.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE POST WAR YEARS"><U>POST WAR</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >.</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>FAIRFORD</U></div> <bR> <div> The Squadron reformed exactly a month after it ceased operations in Palestine.  This took place on 1 May 1947 (01/05/1947) at <B>Fairford</B> again with Halifaxes in transport and  glider training operations with Horsa and Hamilca gliders. A year and a half later it again disbanded on 1 September 1948 (01/09/1948). </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> POST WAR  <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PERSONNEL POST WAR"><U>SQUADRON PERSONNEL</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> For a more complete history see the 113 Squadron Story, chapter titled </div> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_post_war.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE POST WAR YEARS"><U>POST WAR</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >.</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>MEPAL</U></div> <bR> <div> Eleven years after the Squadron disbanded, it was once again resurrected on 22 July 1959 (22/07/1959) at <B>Mepal</B> as a Thor intermediate-range ballistic missile unit.  This period lasted nearly three years short a week and finally dissapeared possibly forever on 10 July 1963 (10/07/1963).</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> POST WAR  <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PERSONNEL POST WAR"><U>SQUADRON PERSONNEL</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> For a more complete history see the 113 Squadron Story, chapter titled </div> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_post_war.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE POST WAR YEARS"><U>POST WAR</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >.</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id146_m.htm" TITLE="THE POST WAR YEARS"><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="id146_m.htm" TITLE="THE POST WAR YEARS"><U> </U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id146_m.htm" TITLE="THE POST WAR YEARS"><U>BACK TO TOP</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>