FAREWELL BOOKLET
The following booklet was distributed at the farewell dinner when the Squadron disbanded on the 4th October 1945. This particular one re-typed here duplicates the format and font as close as possible. The first page is the cover and the last page is the back cover. The booklet duplicated was that of F/O Pat Woodward and had numerous signatures on the back, some legible and some not. Pats particular copy has circled the globe as it was included as an Insert of his Squadron History book. Warning there are a couple of errors in it even though it was written by the squadron. One pleasant event that arose from this little booklet was Pat and F/Sgt Gerard Brigden, who had signed the back, became reaquainted after 60 years.
Crusader
Squadron
FAREWELL DINNER
&
SOUVENIR OF SQUADRON HISTORY
BY KIND PERMISSION OF
THE COMMANDING OFFICER
SQUADRON LEADER M. PADDLE.
AT
R.A.F. ZAYATKWIN
ON
THURSDAY 4TH OCTOBER, 1945
"Velox Et Vindex."
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113 Squadron History
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The squadron was originally formed in England during 1916, under the command of Major S. R. MacCrindle, was in service at Sarona, France in October 1918. Finally being disbanded in 1920 and merged with 208 Squadron.
It reformed during the first months of 1938 and was posted overseas in April of that year arriving in Egypt for May. On the commencement of hostilities the Squadron went into action with MKI Blenheim aircraft, then to Feb 1941. The squadron having the honour to be the second Allied Squadron to bomb the Italians on 10th June 1940.
Owing to that well remembered, drastic change in the war situation at this time the unit was despatched to Greece, where as we all know, the campaign was lost before we had commenced the opening stages. After several moves the Squadron finally arrived at Niamata (Greece) where, on 15th April 1941 all of our aircraft were lost on the ground in face of overwhelming air attack by Me109's
On 22nd April 1941 the unit was evacuated by sea to Crete, where a similar situation developed, and the last of the Squadron evacuated by sea and air on 9th May 1941, for Alexandria.
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They reformed at Ramleh (Palestine) and from there took part in the 2nd Libyan campaign, from June 1941 to Dec. 1941.
With the Japanese blow in the Far East, the Squadron was immediately posted to Burma leaving the Middle East on 31st December 1941 they arrived at Rangoon on 31st January 1942. From there, in the face of rapidly advancing Japanese, they moved north to Toungoo, with detachments to Magwe and ZAYATKWIN later, the situation proved hopeless and as many as possible were evacuated in our own aircraft, many escaped on foot over the mountains to India, and others north to China, the latter not being able in some cases, to rejoin the unit until a year after.
Reforming on April 6th 1942 in the United Provinces, the Squadron again went into action on the Arakan front, bombing Burma in Preparation for the second Burma Campaign. This commenced in March 1944, by which time the Squadron had been re-equipped with Hurricane II c fighter bombers and had been forward in Assam since December 1943.
Stationed at Palel, on the Burma border for six months they earned with 34 Squadron the name of the most effective close Army air support team ever in operation. After suffering enemy shelling and patrol activity during the siege of the Manipur valley (March `44 to July `44) the advance broke and the Squadron followed hotfoot on the heels of the famous 14th Army through the Kabaw (Death, Valley across the Chindwin to the barren plains of Central Burma, where at Ondaw more enemy patrols and air attacks were encountered successfully. An important part was played in the capture of Fort Dufferin , Mandalays bastion, and from there the advance being so swift, the Squadron operated from the Meiktila area. Now with P47 Thunderbolts, they assisted invaluably in rounding up isolated enemy pockets, also having the honour to carry out the last bombing sortie against the Japanese before their surrender. The end of hostilities came with the Squadrons final move South to ZAYTKWIN (Rangoon) in August 1945. There, in October the Squadron was disbanded, as close support was no longer needed after cessation of hostilities, so after leaving Zayatkwin temporarily defeated in Febuary 1942, they returned, fittingly to the same place for disbanding after the liberation of Burma.
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Message from the Commanding Officer
Proud as we all are to have served with 113, it comes as a sad blow to see the Old Squadron disband. However, being essentially operational, our job finished with the successful completion of the Jap War. I now wish you a speedy return home and the best of luck.
S/Ldr. "Buster" Paddle.
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Menu.
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VEGETABLE SOUP
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GRILLED FISH
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ROAST CHICKEN, VEGETABLE & POTATOES
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PEACHES & CUSTARD
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COFFEE
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Commanding Officers of 113 Squadron.
_____
Oct. 1918 to Feb. 1920. Maj. S. R. MacCrindle
Reformation to May. 1938. W/Cdr. Collishaw (Later A. O. C. Western Desert.)
May. 38 - March. 39. W/Cdr. F. G. Cater.
March. 39 - July. 40. S/Ldr. Keiley (Shot down by Italians July 40.)
July. 40 - Feb. 41. S/Ldr. Bateson
Feb. 41 - Aug. 28th 41 S/Ldr R. H. Spencer (Shot down over Benghazi.)
Aug. 41. - April. 42. W/Cdr. R. N. Stidolph
April. 42. - July. 42. W/Cdr T. F Grey.
July. 42. - Dec. 42. W/Cdr E. L. A. Walter, D. F. C., A. F. C.
Dec. 42. - July. 43. W/Cdr W. L Jones, D .F. C.
July. 43. - Aug. 43. (S.A.A.F.) Maj, J. L. B. Viney.
Sept 43. - Jan. 44. S/Ldr. I. L. B. Aitkins.
Jan. 44. - Oct. 44. S/Ldr. R. N. H. Courtney, D. F. C.
Oct. 44. - May. 45. S/Ldr. J. Rose, D. F. C.
May. 45. - Oct. 45. S/Ldr. M. Paddle.
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Honours Granted for Service with 113 Squadron
_____
EGYPT.
S/Ldr. Ford Pilot D. F. C.
,, Harper ,, ,,
F/Lt. Rickson ,, ,,
Sgt. Roberts ,, D. F. M.
F/Sgt. Barry Observer ,,
Sgt. Rogers ,, ,,
,, Moore W/Op. A/G ,,
Cpl. Taylor A.C.H. G/G M.M.
INDIA - BURMA.
W/Cdr. Walters Pilot D. F. C.
S/Ldr. Penny ,, ,,
,, Courteney ,, ,,
F/Lt. Frost ,, ,,
,, Hopkins ,, ,,
,, Bassingthwaite ,, ,,
F/O Hutt ,, ,,
,, Ruginius ,, ,,
,, Smith. K. L. ,, ,,
,, Forbes-Gordon Observer ,,
P/O Davies ,, ,,
,, McKerracher W/Op. A/G ,,
Sgt. Taylor ,, D. F. M.
W/O Lockwood Pilot D. F. C.
_____
Approximately 1,000 campaign medals (Africa - Burma) have been awarded for Service with the squadron.
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Royal Air Force Stations Of 113 Squadron
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Grantham ... ... England
Heliopolis ... ... Egypt
Ma'aten Bagush ... ... ,,
Waterloo ... ... ,,
Sidi Barrani ... ... Libya
Gambut ... ... ,,
Kabrit ... ... ,,
Pyorions ... ... Greece
Menidi ... ... ,,
Lorrissa ... ... ,,
Niamata ... ... ,,
Argos ... ... Egypt
... ... Crete ... ...
Alexandria ... ... Egypt
Ramleh ... ... Palestine
Giarabub (Sollum) ... Libya
Helwan ... ... Egypt
Port Tewfik ... ... ,,
Rangoon ... ... Burma
Toungoo ... ... ,,
Magwe ... ... ,,
Zayatkwin ... ... Burma
Fyzabad ... ... India
Asansol ... ... ,,
Jessore ... ... ,,
Manston ... ... ,,
Chandina ... ... ,,
Feni ... ... ,,
Bangalore ... ... ,,
Madras ... ... ,,
Dimapur ... ... ,,
Tullihal (Manipur) ... ,,
Palel (Manipur) ... ,,
Yazagyo ... ... Burma
Onbauk ... ... ,,
Ondaw ... ... ,,
Kwetnge ... ... ,,
Kinmagan ... ... ,,
Meiktila ... ... ,,
Zayatkwin ... ... ,,
1916 - 1920
1938 - 1945
The Calcutta Printing Works, 40I - 407, Dalhousie Street, Rangoon.
