No. 158 Squadron RAF was a World War I proposed ground attack squadron that did not become operational in time to see action, and a World War II bomber squadron. After World War II had ended in Europe the squadron operated in the transport role until disbandment in December 1945.
No. 158 Squadron RAF
Active
9 May 1918 – 20 Nov 1918 14 Feb 1942 – 31 Dec 1945
No. 158 Squadron RAF was first formed on 9 May 1918, and the squadron was originally to be equipped with Sopwith Snipe fighters, but this was postponed and the squadron eventually formed at Upper Heyford on 4 September 1918, equipped with Sopwith Salamanderground attack aircraft. The squadron arrived too late to see action during the war, and disbanded on 20 November 1918.
The squadron reformed at RAF Driffield on 14 February 1942, via the renumbering of No. 104 Squadron, which was equipped with the Vickers Wellington medium bomber, and 158 sqn used these on night raids to Germany and occupied France.[10] In June 1942 the squadron re-equipped with the Halifax B.Mk.II heavy bomber and moved to RAF East Moor. On 6 November 1942 the squadron moved to RAF Rufforth, followed by a move to RAF Lissett on 28 February 1943. In January 1944 the squadron had re-equipped with the Halifax B.Mk.III and 'C' flight was used to form No. 640 Squadron at Leconfield. By 7 May 1945 the Second World War in Europe had finished and the squadron was transferred to RAF Transport Command, re-equipping with the Short Stirling Mk.V. The squadron moved to Stradishall on 17 August 1945, where it disbanded on 31 December 1945.
Friday the 13th, Handley Page Halifax II (III) Bomber from the Yorkshire Air Museum, UK
One of the 158 Squadron aircraft, a Halifax B.Mk.III, serial no. LV907, coded NP-F and nicknamed "Friday the 13th", completed 128 operational missions and was scraped after being displayed on Oxford Street in London.[3] A section of the nose from the aircraft was saved and is exhibited at the RAF Museum Hendon. The Halifax that is displayed at the Yorkshire Air Museum is made up of parts of various aircraft and painted as LV907, in honour of the aircraft and its crew. On 11 November 1945 a Stirling C.5 operated by the squadron was departing for the United Kingdom when it crashed on take off from RAF Castel Benito in Libya after the wing caught fire; 21 soldiers and five crew were killed, one person survived.[11]
Aircraft operatedEdit
Aircraft operated by no. 158 Squadron RAF, data from[12][13][14]
Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN0-85059-364-6.
Chorley, W.R. (1990). In Brave Company: 158 Squadron Operations. Self-published.
Chorley, W.R.; Benwell, R.N. (1978). In Brave Company: The History of 158 Squadron (2nd ed.). Taunton, UK: Barnicotts Ltd.
Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN1-85310-451-5.
Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN1-84037-281-8.
Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN0-85130-164-9.
Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN1-85310-053-6.
Moyes, Philip J.R. (1976). Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN0-354-01027-1.
Moyes, Philip J.R. (1968). Royal Air Force Bombers of World War Two, Volume Two. Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire, UK: Hylton Lacy Publishers. ISBN0-85064-000-8.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to No. 158 Squadron RAF.
158 Squadron association
Rickard, J (22 March 2007), No. 158 Squadron (RAF): Second World War
RAF Lissett history
International Bomber Command Centre
Flight Officer Norman Tilston DFC RCAF 158 Squadron Tribute website
October 21, 2023
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No 158 Squadron RAF was a World War I proposed ground attack squadron that did not become operational in time to see action and a World War II bomber squadron After World War II had ended in Europe the squadron operated in the transport role until disbandment in December 1945 No 158 Squadron RAFActive9 May 1918 20 Nov 1918 14 Feb 1942 31 Dec 1945CountryUnited KingdomBranchRoyal Air ForceRoleBomber Squadron Transport SquadronPart ofNo 4 Group RAF Bomber Command Feb 42 Jun 45 1 No 4 Group RAF Transport Command Jun 45 Dec 45 2 Motto s Strength in unity 3 4 InsigniaSquadron Badge heraldryA circular chain of seven links 3 4 The chain is indicative of the combined strength and co operation of aircrews 3 Squadron CodesNP Apr 1942 Jun 1945 5 6 DK Jul 1945 Dec 1945 7 8 Tail markingsTwo diagonal yellow stripes Apr 1945 May 1945 9 Aircraft flownBomberVickers Wellington Handley Page HalifaxTransportShort Stirling Contents 1 History 1 1 Formation in World War I 1 2 Reformation and World War II 2 Aircraft operated 3 Squadron bases 4 Commanding officers 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Bibliography 6 External linksHistory EditFormation in World War I Edit No 158 Squadron RAF was first formed on 9 May 1918 and the squadron was originally to be equipped with Sopwith Snipe fighters but this was postponed and the squadron eventually formed at Upper Heyford on 4 September 1918 equipped with Sopwith Salamander ground attack aircraft The squadron arrived too late to see action during the war and disbanded on 20 November 1918 Reformation and World War II Edit nbsp 158 Squadron Halifax Friday the 13th at RAF LissettThe squadron reformed at RAF Driffield on 14 February 1942 via the renumbering of No 104 Squadron which was equipped with the Vickers Wellington medium bomber and 158 sqn used these on night raids to Germany and occupied France 10 In June 1942 the squadron re equipped with the Halifax B Mk II heavy bomber and moved to RAF East Moor On 6 November 1942 the squadron moved to RAF Rufforth followed by a move to RAF Lissett on 28 February 1943 In January 1944 the squadron had re equipped with the Halifax B Mk III and C flight was used to form No 640 Squadron at Leconfield By 7 May 1945 the Second World War in Europe had finished and the squadron was transferred to RAF Transport Command re equipping with the Short Stirling Mk V The squadron moved to Stradishall on 17 August 1945 where it disbanded on 31 December 1945 nbsp Friday the 13th Handley Page Halifax II III Bomber from the Yorkshire Air Museum UKOne of the 158 Squadron aircraft a Halifax B Mk III serial no LV907 coded NP F and nicknamed Friday the 13th completed 128 operational missions and was scraped after being displayed on Oxford Street in London 3 A section of the nose from the aircraft was saved and is exhibited at the RAF Museum Hendon The Halifax that is displayed at the Yorkshire Air Museum is made up of parts of various aircraft and painted as LV907 in honour of the aircraft and its crew On 11 November 1945 a Stirling C 5 operated by the squadron was departing for the United Kingdom when it crashed on take off from RAF Castel Benito in Libya after the wing caught fire 21 soldiers and five crew were killed one person survived 11 Aircraft operated EditAircraft operated by no 158 Squadron RAF data from 12 13 14 From To Aircraft VersionFebruary 1942 June 1942 Vickers Wellington Mk IIJune 1942 December 1943 Handley Page Halifax Mk IIDecember 1943 May 1945 Handley Page Halifax Mk IIIApril 1945 May 1945 Handley Page Halifax Mk VIMay 1945 December 1945 Short Stirling Mk VNovember 1945 December 1945 Short Stirling Mk IVSquadron bases EditBases and airfields used by no 158 Squadron RAF data from 3 13 14 15 From To Base Remark14 February 1942 6 June 1942 RAF Driffield Yorkshire Det at RAF Pocklington Yorkshire 14 Feb 5 Mar 1942 16 6 June 1942 6 November 1942 RAF East Moor Yorkshire Det at RAF Beaulieu Hampshire for operations with Coastal Command in October 19426 November 1942 28 February 1943 RAF Rufforth Yorkshire Det at RAF Manston Kent for operations with Coastal Command 7 25 November 1942 28 February 1943 17 August 1945 RAF Lissett Yorkshire17 August 1945 31 December 1945 RAF Stradishall SuffolkCommanding officers EditOfficers commanding no 158 Squadron RAF data from 15 From To Name Remark14 February 1942 7 October 1942 W Cdr P Stevens DFC Posted to 10 OTU7 October 1942 10 March 1943 W Cdr C G S R Robinson DFC Posted to 138 Squadron10 March 1943 10 August 1943 W Cdr T R Hope DFC MIA 10 August 194311 August 1943 7 June 1944 W Cdr C C Calder DFC Posted to 1652 HCU7 June 1944 7 March 1945 W Cdr P Dobson DFC AFC DSO7 March 1945 12 June 1945 W Cdr G B Read DFC12 June 1945 10 July 1945 W Cdr F J Austin DFC10 July 1945 30 July 1945 S Ldr W H Whitty30 July 1945 31 December 1945 W Cdr D Iveson DSO DFCReferences EditNotes Edit Delve 1994 pp 56 62 69 Delve 1994 p 81 a b c d e Moyes 1976 p 180 a b Halley 1988 p 229 Bowyer amp Rawlings 1979 p 77 Flintham amp Thomas 2003 p 94 Bowyer amp Rawlings 1979 p 30 Flintham amp Thomas 2003 p 68 No 152 158 Squadron Aircraft amp Markings Chorley amp Benwell 1978 pp 127 128 The Times London England Thursday 15 November 1945 pg 4 Issue 50300 Moyes 1976 pp 180 181 a b Halley 1988 p 230 a b Jefford 2001 p 66 a b Chorley amp Benwell 1978 p 126 158 Squadron history Bases Bibliography Edit Bowyer Michael J F Rawlings John D R 1979 Squadron Codes 1937 56 Cambridge UK Patrick Stephens Ltd ISBN 0 85059 364 6 Chorley W R 1990 In Brave Company 158 Squadron Operations Self published Chorley W R Benwell R N 1978 In Brave Company The History of 158 Squadron 2nd ed Taunton UK Barnicotts Ltd Delve Ken 1994 The Source Book of the RAF Shrewsbury Shropshire UK Airlife Publishing ISBN 1 85310 451 5 Flintham Vic Thomas Andrew 2003 Combat Codes A Full Explanation and Listing of British Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938 Shrewsbury Shropshire UK Airlife Publishing Ltd ISBN 1 84037 281 8 Halley James J 1988 The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force amp Commonwealth 1918 1988 Tonbridge Kent UK Air Britain Historians Ltd ISBN 0 85130 164 9 Jefford C G 2001 RAF Squadrons a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 2nd ed Shrewsbury Shropshire UK Airlife Publishing Ltd ISBN 1 85310 053 6 Moyes Philip J R 1976 Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft London Macdonald and Jane s Publishers Ltd ISBN 0 354 01027 1 Moyes Philip J R 1968 Royal Air Force Bombers of World War Two Volume Two Chalfont St Giles Buckinghamshire UK Hylton Lacy Publishers ISBN 0 85064 000 8 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to No 158 Squadron RAF 158 Squadron association Rickard J 22 March 2007 No 158 Squadron RAF Second World War RAF Lissett history International Bomber Command Centre Flight Officer Norman Tilston DFC RCAF 158 Squadron Tribute website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 158 Squadron RAF amp oldid 1177169392, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
