No. 209 (Hong Kong) Squadron RAF
Official squadron badge of No. 209 Squadron RAF
ActiveRoyal Naval Air Service
1 February 1917 – 1 April 1918
Royal Air Force
1 April 1918 – 24 June 1919 ()
15 January 1930 – 1 January 1955
1 November 1958 – 31 December 1968
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
RoleGround support (World War I)
Maritime patrol (World War II & Korea)
Liaison and transport (Malaya)
Nickname(s)Hong Kong
Motto(s)Might and Main[1]
Battle honours *Honours marked with an asterisk are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard[2][3]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryAn eagle volant recursant descendant in pale, wings overture[1] The red eagle was chosen due to the squadron getting credit for shooting down Manfred von Richthofen (the Red Baron). Approved by King George VI in August 1941.[2]
Squadron CodesFK[4][5]
WQ (Sep 1939 – Mar 1942; 1950 – 1951)[6][7]

Number 209 Squadron of the British Royal Air Force was originally formed from a nucleus of "Naval Eight" on 1 February 1917 at Saint-Pol-sur-Mer, France, as No. 9 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS)[8] and saw active service in both World Wars, the Korean War and in Malaya. The use of the squadron number ceased in 1968 and it has not been reused since by an RAF squadron.[9] However the number, badge and motto is in current service within the RAF Air Cadets at 209 (West Bridgford) Squadron ATC in Nottinghamshire.

History

Formation and World War I

The Squadron was formed as a Royal Air Force Squadron on 1 April 1918, from No. 9 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service at Clairmarais aerodrome.[10] (All former RNAS squadrons were renumbered by the addition of 200 to their RNAS number.) During the remainder of World War I, 209 Squadron flew Sopwith Camels over the Western Front on fighter and ground support missions. The Squadron badge, the falling red eagle, symbolizes the destruction of Baron Manfred von Richthofen (commonly known as The Red Baron) who, in the 1914–1918 War, was credited to the guns of a pilot, Roy Brown from No. 209 Squadron.[8] On 21 January 1919, the squadron was reduced to a skeleton organisation and disbanded in the UK on 24 June 1919 at RAF Scopwick, Lincolnshire.[1][9]

The interbellum

No. 209 reformed at the flying boat base at RAF Mount Batten, Plymouth on 15 January 1930.[11][12] It was first equipped with Blackburn Iris flying boats and then from January 1934 by Blackburn Perth but neither of these types were built in sufficient quantities to equip the squadron fully. In July 1936, however, the squadron was fully equipped with Short Singapore Mk.IIIs and it was transferred to RAF Kalafrana, Malta in September 1937 for three months. In December 1938, No 209 began to convert to yet another flying boat type, the Supermarine Stranraer.[9][13]

World War II

Lerwick L7265, ‘WQ-Q’ of 209 Squadron. Taking off from Loch Ryan, March 1941

When the Second World War broke out, No.209 moved to Invergordon to patrol the North Sea between Scotland and Norway. From October 1939 it patrolled the Atlantic from Oban. Two further re-equipments occurred, in December 1939 (Saro Lerwicks) and then in April 1941 (Consolidated Catalinas).[9] Familiarisation with the U.S. supplied Catalinas was aided by the secondment of U.S. military personnel who also flew on active service patrols, despite the U.S. being a neutral power at the time. Anti-submarine patrols were flown over the Atlantic from RAF Castle Archdale on Lough Erne, in Northern Ireland, using the Donegal Corridor over neutral Eire. During this time, in May 1941, a patrol by No.209 (with an American crewman) located the German battleship Bismarck.[14]

In August 1941, the squadron moved to Iceland for two months. From March 1942 until July 1945, No.209 was stationed in East Africa. It flew patrols over the Indian Ocean with detached bases in South Africa, Madagascar, Oman and the Seychelles to extend its cover. In July 1945 the squadron moved to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), with recently acquired Short Sunderland MkVs, with a detachment at Rangoon (now Yangon), to harass Japanese shipping along the coast from Burma (now Myanmar) to Malaya.[9]

Post war

Hong Kong and Seletar

After the Japanese surrender in August 1945, a detachment was sent to Hong Kong in September, followed by the rest of the squadron in October. In April 1946 the squadron moved to Singapore. A detachment remained at RAF Kai Tak and became No.1430 flight and then No.88 Squadron. The squadron headquarters was established at RAF Seletar (sometimes referred to as "Seltar"), on Singapore Island on 18 May 1946 and No.209 and was named "City of Hong Kong" Squadron on 23 January 1947.[9]

To Korea

Operation Firedog missions during the Malayan Emergency began on 7 July 1948. In September 1950, during the Korean War, the aircraft were moved to Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, Japan to patrol off the Korean coast from 15 September. On 1 January 1955 the squadron merged with No. 205 Squadron.[9]

With Pioneers in the transport role

On 1 November 1958 No. 267 Squadron at RAF Kuala Lumpur was renumbered 209 Squadron and flew Scottish Aviation Pioneers and Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneers on liaison and transport duties in Malaysia. No.209 Squadron was finally disbanded on 31 December 1968 at RAF Seletar.[9][15]

Notable personnel

Aircraft operated

A Saro Lerwick in the markings of No. 209 squadron RAF
Aircraft operated by no. 9 Squadron RNAS or No. 209 Squadron RAF, data from[11][15][25]
FromToAircraftVersion
February 1917June 1917Nieuport 17
February 1917July 1917Sopwith Pup
February 1917July 1917Sopwith Triplane
July 1917February 1919Sopwith Camel
January 1930December 1932Blackburn IrisMk. III
February 1932July 1932Saro A.7
June 1932June 1934Blackburn IrisMk. V
August 1932November 1932Short SingaporeMk.II
February 1933June 1934Supermarine SouthamptonMk.II
January 1934December 1934Blackburn Perth
October 1934November 1934Supermarine SouthamptonMk.II
October 1934November 1934Saro LondonMk.I
December 1934August 1935Supermarine Scapa
January 1935February 1935Supermarine SouthamptonMk.II
January 1935February 1936Saro LondonMk.I
February 1935September 1935Supermarine StranraerMk.I
April 1935September 1935Short Knuckleduster
July 1935May 1936Blackburn Perth
January 1936July 1936Supermarine SouthamptonMk.II
February 1936April 1939Short SingaporeMk.III
November 1938April 1940Supermarine StranraerMk.I
December 1939April 1941Saro LerwickMk.I
April 1941April 1945Consolidated CatalinaMks.I
July 1942April 1945Consolidated CatalinaMk.IIa
February 1945December 1954Short SunderlandGR.5
November 1958March 1959Auster AOP6
November 1958November 1959Douglas DakotaC.4
November 1958February 1960Percival PembrokeC.1
November 1958December 1968Scottish Aviation PioneerCC.1
March 1959December 1968Scottish Aviation Twin PioneerCC.1
October 1960December 1968Scottish Aviation Twin PioneerCC.2

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 9 Squadron RNAS or No. 209 Squadron RAF, data from[11][15][25][26]
FromToBaseRemark
1 February 191715 May 1917Saint-Pol-sur-Mer, France
15 May 191715 June 1917Veurne (Furnes), Belgium
15 June 19175 July 1917Flez-Cuzy, France
5 July 191710 July 1917Izel-lès-Hameau, France
10 July 191725 July 1917Bray-Dunes, FranceFrontier Aerodrome
25 July 191728 September 1917Leffrinckoucke, France
28 September 191710 October 1917Bray-Dunes, FranceFrontier Aerodrome
10 October 191716 February 1918Bray-Dunes, FranceMiddle Aerodrome
16 February 191820 March 1918RNAS Dover, KentGuston Road
20 March 191823 March 1918Bray-Dunes, FranceMiddle Aerodrome
23 March 191827 March 1918Cappelle-la-Grande, France
27 March 191829 March 1918Bailleul, FranceAsylum Ground
29 March 19187 April 1918Clairmarais-North, France
7 April 191820 July 1918Bertangles, France
20 July 19186 August 1918Quelmes, France
6 August 191814 August 1918Bertangles, France
14 August 191824 October 1918Izel-lès-Hameau, France
24 October 191822 November 1918Bruille-lez-Marchiennes, France
22 November 191811 December 1918Saultain, France
11 December 191814 February 1919Froidmont, Belgium
14 February 191924 June 1919RAF Scopwick, Lincolnshire
15 January 19301 May 1935RAF Mount Batten, Devon
1 May 193522 September 1937RAF Felixstowe, Suffolk
22 September 193731 September 1937RAF Kalafrana, Malta
31 September 193717 December 1937Arzew, Algeria
17 December 193727 September 1938RAF Felixstowe, Suffolk
27 September 19388 October 1938RAF Invergordon, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
8 October 193822 May 1939RAF Felixstowe, Suffolk
22 May 193917 June 1939RAF Stranraer, Wigtownshire
17 June 193912 August 1939RAF Felixstowe, Suffolk
12 August 193922 August 1939RAF Invergordon, Ross and Cromarty, ScotlandDets. at Sullom Voe, Shetland, Scotland and Falmouth, Cornwall
22 August 193930 August 1939RAF Felixstowe, Suffolk
30 August 19397 October 1939RAF Invergordon, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
7 October 193912 July 1940RAF Oban, Argyll and Bute, ScotlandDet. at Falmouth, Cornwall
12 July 19403 January 1941RAF Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, WalesDet. at RAF Stranraer, Wigtownshire
3 January 194123 March 1941RAF Stranraer, Wigtownshire
23 March 194126 July 1941RAF Castle Archdale(Lough Erne)
26 July 194110 October 1941RAF Reykjavik, Iceland
10 October 194130 March 1942RAF Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales
30 March 194215 June 1942En route to East Africa
15 June 194221 July 1945Kipevu, KenyaDets. at Kisumu, Kenya; Kilindini, Kenya;
RAF Khormaksar, Aden; Masirah, Oman;
Congella, South Africa; Seychelles
and Diego Suarez, Madagascar
21 July 194517 September 1945RAF Koggala, Ceylon
17 September 194528 April 1946RAF Kai Tak, Hong Kong
28 April 19461 January 1955RAF Seletar, Singapore
18 May 19465 August 1946RAF Kai Tak, Hong KongDetachment
11 September 195018 December 1950Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, JapanDetachment
1 November 19581 October 1959RAF Kuala Lumpur, SingaporeDet. at Penang, Malaysia
1 October 195931 December 1968RAF Seletar, SingaporeDets. at Kuching, Labuan and Bayan Lepas in Malaysia

See also

References

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 Halley 1988, p. 272.
  2. 1 2 "209 Sqn". RAF Heraldry Trust. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  3. ↑ "RAF Battle Honours". RAF Heraldry Trust. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  4. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 14.
  5. ↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 50.
  6. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 109.
  7. ↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, pp. 117 + 159.
  8. 1 2 Rawlings 1978, p. 324.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "History of No. 209 Squadron". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 22 January 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  10. ↑ Halley 1988, p. 272
  11. 1 2 3 Jefford 2001, p. 72.
  12. ↑ Rawlings 1982, p. 139.
  13. ↑ Halley 1988, p. 273
  14. ↑ Kennedy 1975, p. 137.
  15. 1 2 3 Rawlings 1982, p. 140.
  16. ↑ Shores et al., p. 61.
  17. ↑ Shores et al., p. 147.
  18. ↑ Shores et al., p. 159.
  19. ↑ Shores et al., p. 181.
  20. ↑ Shores et al., p. 264.
  21. ↑ Shores et al., p. 280.
  22. ↑ Shores et al., pp. 229–230.
  23. ↑ Shores et al., p. 314.
  24. ↑ Shores et al., p. 359.
  25. 1 2 Halley 1988, p. 273.
  26. ↑ Jefford 2001, pp. 216–219.

Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Michael J.F and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes Since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians), 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Kennedy, Ludovic. Pursuit: The Sinking of the "Bismarck". London: Book Club Associates, 1975.
  • Lewis, Peter. Squadron Histories: R.F.C, R.N.A.S and R.A.F., 1912–59. London: Putnam, 1959.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers), 1969 (new edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
  • Shores, Christopher; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russel. Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. Oxford: Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
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