No. 132 (City of Bombay) Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed to be a bomber unit in World War I and reformed as a fighter unit in World War II.
No. 132 (City of Bombay) Squadron RAF
Active
1 Mar 1918 – 23 Dec 1918 7 Jul 1941 – 15 April 1946
No. 132 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed on 1 March 1918 and became a unit of the Royal Air Force a month later, but it disbanded on 23 December 1918 without becoming operational.
Reformation in World War II
The squadron reformed in 1941 as a fighter unit equipped with Spitfires and then provided air defence from Peterhead, Scotland, and Southern England. It then moved to Normandy after the D-Day landings. It returned to England in September 1944 before moving to Vavuniya, Ceylon, in January 1945. It was then based in Hong Kong, and was disbanded on 15 April 1946. The Squadron was a mixed RAF squadron meaning its members were from all over the world: The Caribbean, Poland, Canada, New Zealand etc.
The commanding officers for the Squadron were: J.R Ritchie, F.F Colloredo-Mansfield, A.G Page, and K.L Charney.
Flight Commanders in the Squadron were: D. Fopp, G. StClair, B.Rein, H.L. Smith, H.E Walmsley, A.E Tomblin, R.L.F Day, J.D Carpenter, A. Hvinden, T. Johnson, M. Graham, H.C Prudman, and J.M Maynyard.
DFCs were awarded to: F.F Colloredo-Mansfield, H.E Walmsley, A.E Tomblin, A.G Page, D.J Hawkings, R.L.F Day, M. Graham, K.L Charney, and H.C Prudman.
Of the 130 pilots who served on the Squadron, 14 lost their lives and 4 went missing with unknown fates.
Combat roles
The Sqn started as a fighter unit before transitioning to a Fighter-Bomber role to support the D-Day landings. They were the first Spitfire Sqn to carry a bomb load of 1000lbs per aircraft and dropped 110 tons of bombs during the course of the war. The Sqn claimed 29 victories over enemy aircraft with a further 15 probable destroyed. They also destroyed 253 transport ground vehicles, and 15 midget submarines - '...another of the Flight Commanders who was Norwegian by the name of Hvinden spotted these whilst on a routine patrol on the Normandy Beaches. They were obviously trying to attack our shipping forces lying off the beaches, but unfortunately for them 132 Squadron arrived on the scene' - A.G. Page.
Roll of Honour
References
^Pine, L G (1983). A dictionary of mottoes. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. p. 31. ISBN0-7100-9339-X.
^C.G.Jefford (1988). RAF Squadrons. UK Airlife Publishing. ISBN1-85310-053-6.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to No. 132 Squadron RAF.
History of No.'s 131–135 Squadrons at RAF Web
132 Squadron history on the official RAF website
132 Squadron bases
February 28, 2023
squadron, city, bombay, squadron, royal, force, squadron, formed, bomber, unit, world, reformed, fighter, unit, world, city, bombay, squadron, rafactive1, 1918, 1918, 1941, april, 1946countryunited, kingdombranchroyal, forcenickname, city, bombaymotto, latin, . No 132 City of Bombay Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed to be a bomber unit in World War I and reformed as a fighter unit in World War II No 132 City of Bombay Squadron RAFActive1 Mar 1918 23 Dec 1918 7 Jul 1941 15 April 1946CountryUnited KingdomBranchRoyal Air ForceNickname s City of BombayMotto s Latin Cave leopardum Beware the leopard 1 InsigniaSquadron Badge heraldryA leopard rampant Squadron CodesFF Jul 1941 Apr 1946 Contents 1 History 1 1 Formation and World War I 1 2 Reformation in World War II 2 Aircraft operated 3 Combat 3 1 Pilots 3 2 Combat roles 4 Roll of Honour 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditFormation and World War I Edit No 132 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed on 1 March 1918 and became a unit of the Royal Air Force a month later but it disbanded on 23 December 1918 without becoming operational Reformation in World War II Edit The squadron reformed in 1941 as a fighter unit equipped with Spitfires and then provided air defence from Peterhead Scotland and Southern England It then moved to Normandy after the D Day landings It returned to England in September 1944 before moving to Vavuniya Ceylon in January 1945 It was then based in Hong Kong and was disbanded on 15 April 1946 The Squadron was a mixed RAF squadron meaning its members were from all over the world The Caribbean Poland Canada New Zealand etc Aircraft operated EditAircraft operated by No 132 Squadron RAF 2 From To Aircraft VariantJul 1941 Nov 1941 Supermarine Spitfire ISep 1941 Apr 1942 Supermarine Spitfire IIBMar 1942 Jun 1943 Supermarine Spitfire VBMay 1943 Jun 1943 Supermarine Spitfire VCJun 1943 Oct 1943 Supermarine Spitfire VBSep 1943 Jan 1944 Supermarine Spitfire IXBJan 1944 Mar 1944 Supermarine Spitfire VBJan 1944 Mar 1944 Supermarine Spitfire VIMar 1944 Jul 1944 Supermarine Spitfire IXBJun 1944 Sep 1944 Supermarine Spitfire IXESep 1944 Nov 1944 Supermarine Spitfire IXBJan 1945 May 1945 Supermarine Spitfire VIIIMay 1945 Apr 1946 Supermarine Spitfire XIVCombat EditPilots Edit 132 Squadron had a number of prestigious pilots many of whom received the Distinguished Flying Cross The commanding officers for the Squadron were J R Ritchie F F Colloredo Mansfield A G Page and K L Charney Flight Commanders in the Squadron were D Fopp G StClair B Rein H L Smith H E Walmsley A E Tomblin R L F Day J D Carpenter A Hvinden T Johnson M Graham H C Prudman and J M Maynyard DFCs were awarded to F F Colloredo Mansfield H E Walmsley A E Tomblin A G Page D J Hawkings R L F Day M Graham K L Charney and H C Prudman A single Distinguished Flying Medal was awarded to F Campbell Of the 130 pilots who served on the Squadron 14 lost their lives and 4 went missing with unknown fates Combat roles Edit The Sqn started as a fighter unit before transitioning to a Fighter Bomber role to support the D Day landings They were the first Spitfire Sqn to carry a bomb load of 1000lbs per aircraft and dropped 110 tons of bombs during the course of the war The Sqn claimed 29 victories over enemy aircraft with a further 15 probable destroyed They also destroyed 253 transport ground vehicles and 15 midget submarines another of the Flight Commanders who was Norwegian by the name of Hvinden spotted these whilst on a routine patrol on the Normandy Beaches They were obviously trying to attack our shipping forces lying off the beaches but unfortunately for them 132 Squadron arrived on the scene A G Page Roll of Honour EditReferences Edit Pine L G 1983 A dictionary of mottoes London Routledge and Kegan Paul p 31 ISBN 0 7100 9339 X C G Jefford 1988 RAF Squadrons UK Airlife Publishing ISBN 1 85310 053 6 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to No 132 Squadron RAF History of No s 131 135 Squadrons at RAF Web 132 Squadron history on the official RAF website 132 Squadron bases Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 132 Squadron RAF amp oldid 1111217785, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
