The squadron formed at RAF Benson on 19 October 1942 from A and E Flights of the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit. For a period, it used nearby RAF Mount Farm as its operational base. The squadron was equipped with the Spitfires with to fly photo reconnaissance missions over Europe. Originally equipped with the Spitfire IV, it received the Mark VII in November, the Mk IX in February 1943, the Mk XI in April, the Mk XIX in May 1944, and the Mk X in July. After the end of the war, No. 542 Squadron was disbanded on 27 August 1945.[1]
Postwar
The squadron reformed at RAF Wyton on 17 May 1954 with photo reconnaissance Canberras, the first unit fully equipped with the Canberra,[2] but was disbanded again on 1 October 1955. During this first Canberra period the squadron detached four PR 7s to RAF Changi in May 1955 to conduct photo reconnaissance during the Malayan Emergency; the detachment remained there for three months before it rotated out.[3] It was reformed at Wyton the following month from No. 1323 Flight, moving to Westonzoyland on 15 December to prepare for its detachment to Australia. At Laverton it carried out survey and sampling flights during the Operation Mosaicnuclear weapons tests in Australia between 1956 and 1957.[4] On 31 March 1957 it returned to RAF Hemswell in the UK before being renumbered to No. 21 Squadron on 1 October 1958.[1]
^C.G.Jefford (1988). RAF Squadrons. UK Airlife Publishing. ISBN1-85310-053-6.
Bibliography
Brookes, Andrew (2014). RAF Canberra Units of the Cold War. Combat Aircraft 105. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN978-1-78200-411-0.
Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN978-0-85130-164-8.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to No. 542 Squadron RAF.
Squadron history on the official RAF website
February 11, 2023
squadron, royal, force, squadron, formed, photographic, reconnaissance, squadron, world, that, reformed, post, period, active19, october, 1942, august, 194515, 1954, 19551, 1955, 1958countryunited, kingdombranchroyal, forcemotto, above, allinsigniasquadron, ba. No 542 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as a photographic reconnaissance squadron in World War II that reformed in the post war period No 542 Squadron RAFActive19 October 1942 27 August 194515 May 1954 1 Oct 19551 Nov 1955 1 Oct 1958CountryUnited KingdomBranchRoyal Air ForceMotto s Above allInsigniaSquadron BadgeA Globe surrounded by stars Contents 1 History 1 1 Formation in World War II 1 2 Postwar 2 Aircraft operated 3 References 3 1 Citations 3 2 Bibliography 4 External linksHistory EditFormation in World War II Edit The squadron formed at RAF Benson on 19 October 1942 from A and E Flights of the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit For a period it used nearby RAF Mount Farm as its operational base The squadron was equipped with the Spitfires with to fly photo reconnaissance missions over Europe Originally equipped with the Spitfire IV it received the Mark VII in November the Mk IX in February 1943 the Mk XI in April the Mk XIX in May 1944 and the Mk X in July After the end of the war No 542 Squadron was disbanded on 27 August 1945 1 Postwar Edit The squadron reformed at RAF Wyton on 17 May 1954 with photo reconnaissance Canberras the first unit fully equipped with the Canberra 2 but was disbanded again on 1 October 1955 During this first Canberra period the squadron detached four PR 7s to RAF Changi in May 1955 to conduct photo reconnaissance during the Malayan Emergency the detachment remained there for three months before it rotated out 3 It was reformed at Wyton the following month from No 1323 Flight moving to Westonzoyland on 15 December to prepare for its detachment to Australia At Laverton it carried out survey and sampling flights during the Operation Mosaic nuclear weapons tests in Australia between 1956 and 1957 4 On 31 March 1957 it returned to RAF Hemswell in the UK before being renumbered to No 21 Squadron on 1 October 1958 1 Aircraft operated EditAircraft operated by no 542 Squadron RAF From To Aircraft VariantOct 1942 Jul 1943 Supermarine Spitfire IVMar 1943 Aug 1945 Supermarine Spitfire XIMay 1944 Aug 1945 Supermarine Spitfire XJun 1944 Aug 1945 Supermarine Spitfire XIXMay 1954 Oct 1955 English Electric Canberra PR 7Nov 1955 Oct 1958 English Electric Canberra B 2Nov 1955 Oct 1958 English Electric Canberra B 6 5 References EditCitations Edit a b Halley 1988 p 407 Brookes 2014 p 28 Brookes 2014 pp 69 70 Brookes 2014 p 54 C G Jefford 1988 RAF Squadrons UK Airlife Publishing ISBN 1 85310 053 6 Bibliography Edit Brookes Andrew 2014 RAF Canberra Units of the Cold War Combat Aircraft 105 Oxford Osprey ISBN 978 1 78200 411 0 Halley James J 1988 The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force amp Commonwealth 1918 1988 Tonbridge Kent UK Air Britain Historians Ltd ISBN 978 0 85130 164 8 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to No 542 Squadron RAF Squadron history on RafWeb Squadron history on the official RAF website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 542 Squadron RAF amp oldid 992441157, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
