No. 119 Squadron RAF

No. 119 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force, flying with RAF Coastal Command during the Second World War. It was the only RAF unit flying the Short G class and Short C class flying boats.

No. 119 Squadron RAF
Active1 Jan 1918 - 6 Dec 1918
13 Mar 1941 - 17 Apr 1943
19 Jul 1944 – 25 May 1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Motto(s)By night and day[1][2]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryA sword, the point downwards, and an anchor in saltire[1][2]
Squadron CodesNH (Jul 1944 - May 1945)[1][3][4]

History

Formation in World War I

No. 119 Squadron was originally formed on 1 January 1918 at RAF Andover to become a day bomber unit. It flew various aircraft, including Airco DH.4s and Airco DH.9s[1] in the working up period spent at RAF Duxford and later RAF Thetford,[5] but failed to become operational and was disbanded at RAF Wyton on 6 December of the same year.[2]

On Flying boats

The squadron was reformed form 'G' flight at RAF Bowmore, Strathclyde on 13 March 1941, as part of No. 15 Group of Coastal Command. The unit was equipped with the three Short G class and two Short C class (Clio and Cordelia) flying boats, re-equipping with the Catalina Mk.Ib in June 1941. The squadron deployed to RAF Pembroke Dock on 4 August, becoming non-operational there for lack of serviceable aircraft[1] until they moved to RAF Lough Erne on 19 April 1942, where they re-equipped with the Catalina Mk.IIIa the next month. In August they returned to Pembroke Dock, changing to Sunderland Mks.II and IIIs in September. The squadron was disbanded on 17 April 1943 at Pembroke Dock.[2]

On biplanes
Swordfish NF370, Imperial War Museum, Duxford (2011)

On 19 July 1944 however, 119 Squadron was reformed by redesignation of a flight of No. 415 Squadron RCAF at RAF Manston, equipped with Albacore Mk.Is, taking over the aircraft as well as the squadron code, 'NH' (till this moment the aircraft of no. 119 sqn had only carried single-letter individual aircraft codes).[1] They deployed to RAF Swingfield and (very briefly) RAF Beccles before being based at RAF Bircham Newton in September, flying anti-shipping patrols and hunting for German E-boats and R-boats. In October 1944 detachments of the squadron were sent to B.65/Maldeghem, B.63/St. Croix and B.83/Knocke-Le Zoute[5] in Belgium and added German midget-submarines to its prey. In January 1945 they re-equipped with the ASV-equipped Swordfish Mk.III which aided in the hunt on midget-submarines, destroying three before their final mission was flown on 8 May 1945.[6] The squadron disbanded at Bircham Newton on 25 May 1945.[2]

One of the Swordfish flown by the squadron, Swordfish Mk.III, NF370 is preserved and displayed at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, painted in its original 119 Squadron markings.[7]

Aircraft operated
From To Aircraft Variant
Jan 1918 Nov 1918 Various
Sep 1918 Dec 1918 Airco DH.9
Mar 1941 Oct 1941 Short G class S.26/M
Apr 1941 Aug 1941 Short C class S.23/M
Jun 1941 Jul 1941 Consolidated Catalina Mk.Ib
May 1942 Oct 1942 Consolidated Catalina Mk.IIIa
Sep 1942 Apr 1943 Short Sunderland Mk.III
Jul 1944 Feb 1945 Fairey Albacore Mk.I
Jan 1945 May 1945 Fairey Swordfish Mk.III

[1][2][5]

References

Notes
  1. Rawlings 1982, p. 102.
  2. Halley 1988, p. 195.
  3. Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 76.
  4. Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 91.
  5. Jefford 2001, p. 60.
  6. Thomas 1998, p. 77.
  7. Parsons, Gary (2005). "Back in Black". air-scene uk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2015.

Bibliography
  • Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937-56. Cambridge, 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 Ltd., 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) Ltd., 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, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
  • Thomas, Andrew. "Light Blue 'Stringbags':The Fairey Swordfish in RAF Service". Air Enthusiast, No. 78, November/December 1998. Stamford, UK:Key Publishing. ISSN 0143-5450. pp. 73–77.
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