No. 137 Squadron RAF existed briefly as a day bomber unit in World War I but never became operational. During World War II it flew as one of the two Whirlwind squadrons before converting to Hurricane Mk.IV fighter-bombers and later the Hawker Typhoon in the same role. The squadron was disbanded in August 1945.
No. 137 Squadron RAF existed briefly as a unit working up to be a day bomber unit on Airco DH.9s during World War I, but it never became operational. It was formed at Shawbury on 1 April 1918 and was disbanded there on 4 July 1918, together with 12 other such units. Plans to reinstate the squadron in September as laid out in Air Organisation Memorandum 939 of 13 July 1918 came to nought as Air Organisation Memorandum 999 of 17 August 1918 cancelled these.[5][6]
Second World War
A Westland Whirlwind as used by 137 squadron
The squadron was reformed at Charmy Down on 20 September 1941 and equipped with the then brand new two-engined Westland Whirlwind four-cannon fighter. The squadron became operational with them on 20 October and flew its first mission (a mandolin) four days afterwards. Unfortunately the new CO, S/Ldr Sample, was killed four days after this in a mid-air collision with a new pilot. Two days later another pilot crashed into the sea. After this bad start, No. 137 became non-operational for a period before resuming with coastal missions on 11 November. On one such mission on 12 February 1942, to escort some destroyers, they met by accident the fighter screen around the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau, losing four pilots in the event.[7]
A Hawker Hurricane Mk.IV
Crew attaching a long-range fuel tank to a Hawker Typhoon Mark IB of No. 137 Squadron at B78 Eindhoven, the Netherlands
In June 1943 the by now worn-out Whirlwinds were replaced with Hurricane Mk.IV fighter-bombers and in July the squadron flew operationally with them again until February 1944 when the Hurricane was exchanged for the more modern and higher performance Hawker Typhoon. 137 flew this new fighter-bomber operationally from 8 February 1944 until 25 August 1945, when it was disbanded at RAF Warmwell by being renumbered to 174 Squadron.
Organisation
Commanding officers
Officers commanding No. 137 Squadron RAF in the past:[8]
Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN0-85059-364-6.
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. ISBN1-84037-281-8.
Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN0-85130-164-9.
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). ISBN1-85310-053-6.
Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1969 (2nd edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN0-354-01028-X.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to No. 137 Squadron RAF.
External links
RAFWeb – Air of Authority
March 24, 2023
squadron, existed, briefly, bomber, unit, world, never, became, operational, during, world, flew, whirlwind, squadrons, before, converting, hurricane, fighter, bombers, later, hawker, typhoon, same, role, squadron, disbanded, august, 1945, active1, 1918, 1918,. No 137 Squadron RAF existed briefly as a day bomber unit in World War I but never became operational During World War II it flew as one of the two Whirlwind squadrons before converting to Hurricane Mk IV fighter bombers and later the Hawker Typhoon in the same role The squadron was disbanded in August 1945 No 137 Squadron RAFActive1 Apr 1918 4 Jul 1918 20 Sep 1941 25 Aug 1945CountryUnited KingdomBranchRoyal Air ForcePart ofRAF Fighter CommandMotto s Do right fear naught 1 2 InsigniaSquadron Badge heraldryA horse s head couped 1 2 Squadron CodesSF Feb 1941 Aug 1945 3 4 Contents 1 History 1 1 Formation and World War I 1 2 Second World War 2 Organisation 2 1 Commanding officers 2 2 Squadron Bases 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Bibliography 5 External links 6 External linksHistory EditFormation and World War I Edit No 137 Squadron RAF existed briefly as a unit working up to be a day bomber unit on Airco DH 9s during World War I but it never became operational It was formed at Shawbury on 1 April 1918 and was disbanded there on 4 July 1918 together with 12 other such units Plans to reinstate the squadron in September as laid out in Air Organisation Memorandum 939 of 13 July 1918 came to nought as Air Organisation Memorandum 999 of 17 August 1918 cancelled these 5 6 Second World War Edit A Westland Whirlwind as used by 137 squadron The squadron was reformed at Charmy Down on 20 September 1941 and equipped with the then brand new two engined Westland Whirlwind four cannon fighter The squadron became operational with them on 20 October and flew its first mission a mandolin four days afterwards Unfortunately the new CO S Ldr Sample was killed four days after this in a mid air collision with a new pilot Two days later another pilot crashed into the sea After this bad start No 137 became non operational for a period before resuming with coastal missions on 11 November On one such mission on 12 February 1942 to escort some destroyers they met by accident the fighter screen around the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau losing four pilots in the event 7 A Hawker Hurricane Mk IV Crew attaching a long range fuel tank to a Hawker Typhoon Mark IB of No 137 Squadron at B78 Eindhoven the Netherlands In June 1943 the by now worn out Whirlwinds were replaced with Hurricane Mk IV fighter bombers and in July the squadron flew operationally with them again until February 1944 when the Hurricane was exchanged for the more modern and higher performance Hawker Typhoon 137 flew this new fighter bomber operationally from 8 February 1944 until 25 August 1945 when it was disbanded at RAF Warmwell by being renumbered to 174 Squadron Organisation EditCommanding officers Edit Officers commanding No 137 Squadron RAF in the past 8 Served from Name NotesSeptember 1941 Sqn Ldr J Sample DFCNovember 1941 Sqn Ldr H St J CoghlanMay 1943 Sqn Ldr J B Wray DFCDecember 1943 Sqn Ldr J R Dennehey DFCApril 1944 Sqn Ldr G Piltingsrud DFCSeptember 1944 Sqn Ldr E T Brough DFCDecember 1944 Sqn Ldr R G V BarracloughMarch 1945 Sqn Ldr D Murray DFCSquadron Bases Edit Squadron Bases used by No 137 Squadron RAF 2 8 9 Arrival Base1 April 1918 RAF Shawbury20 September 1941 RAF Charmy Down8 November 1941 RAF Coltishall1 December 1941 RAF Matlaske detachments at RAF Snailwell amp RAF Drem24 August 1942 RAF Snailwell17 September 1942 RAF Manston12 June 1943 RAF Rochford8 August 1943 RAF Manston14 December 1943 RAF Lympne2 January 1944 RAF Colerne4 February 1944 RAF Lympne1 April 1944 RAF Manston13 August 1944 Coulombs B 6 29 August 1944 Creton B 30 3 September 1944 Amiens Glisy B 48 6 September 1944 Melsbroek B 58 22 September 1944 Eindhoven Welschap B 78 13 January 1945 Helmond B 86 11 April 1945 Twente B 106 13 April 1945 Hopsten B 112 17 April 1945 Langenhagen B 120 30 April 1945 Luneburg B 156 7 May 1945 RAF Celle B118 9 May 1945 Kastrup B160 21 June 1945 Husum B172 11 July 1945 Lubeck B158 20 August 1945 RAF WarmwellSee also EditList of Royal Air Force aircraft squadronsReferences EditNotes Edit a b Rawlings 1978 p 276 a b c Halley 1988 p 210 Bowyer and Rawlings 1979 p 93 Flintham and Thomas 2003 p 106 Historic Squadrons Archived from the original on 16 March 2011 Retrieved 12 July 2009 Jefford 2001 pp 107 108 Rawlings 1978 pp 276 277 a b Rawlings 1978 p 278 Jefford 2001 pp 63 and 224 228 Bibliography Edit 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 amp 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 Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft London Macdonald and Jane s Publishers Ltd 1969 2nd edition 1976 reprinted 1978 ISBN 0 354 01028 X External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to No 137 Squadron RAF External links EditHistory of squadron at RAF mod uk RAFWeb Air of Authority Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 137 Squadron RAF amp oldid 1120345938, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
