41. RAF Squadron
No. 41 Squadron RAF
XLI Squadron RAF
Period of existence/Active
41. RFC Squadron [1916-1916]
41. RFC Squadron [1916-1918]
41. RAF Squadron [1918-1919]
41 RAF Squadron [1923-1946]
41 RAF Squadron [1946-1958]
41. RAF Squadron [1958-1963]
41. RAF Squadron [1965-1970]
41. RAF Squadron [1972-1977]
41. RAF Squadron [1977-2006]
41. RAF Squadron [2006-]
Motto
Seek and destroy
History
The unit was established on April 15, 1916 at the airport Gosport, but on May 22 it ceased to be renamed the 27th (backup) Squadron RFC.
July 14, 1916 restored at the airport Gosport as a fighter. After completing the training, she moved to France in October of the same year and took part in the fighting on the Western Front. At first, it mostly attacked ground targets. After rearmament to the aircraft S.E.5a, on which it operated until the end of the war, escorted by Allied aircraft and fighter patrols began to prevail. After the end of the war, the unit was framed on February 7, 1919, then moved back to Great Britain, where it was disbanded on December 31, 1919.
Squadron pilots claimed 267 shot down, destroyed or damaged aircraft and observation balloons. Seventeen of them were entitled to ace status for 5 or more victories. The prize was 39 dead in combat or accidents, 48 wounded and 20 captured pilots.
Restored on April 1, 1923 at the base Northolt, again as a fighter. In October 1935, she was transferred to the then British colony Aden (now Yemen) to strengthen the British presence during the Italian-Abyssinian war. She returned to Britain in August of the following year.
In December 1938, the unit began upgrading to aircraft Spitfire and became the third unit to be armed with them. Thus she entered the battles of World War II.
At the time of its outbreak in early September 1939, it was deployed in the north of England. In May 1940, she was transferred to the south and covered the evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk and subsequently joined the Battle of Britain. In it, its pilots claimed over 100 victories, but at the cost of 22 killed or injured.
In February 1941, it was withdrawn to rest, supplemented by personnel and aircraft. In July, she returned to the south as part of a wing in Tangmere and is involved in an offensive over occupied Europe. In addition to traditional bomber escorts, she was also involved in the pursuit of German battleships Prinz Eugen, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, who escaped from the port in February 1942 Brest and also took part in the landing in Dieppe (Operation Jubilee) in August of that year.
Subsequently, it was withdrawn for rest and rearmament and became the first squadron armed with Griffon-powered Spitfires ( Spitfire Mk. XII). After returning to the south of England in April 1943, she attacked targets in France, Belgium and the Netherlands, ships in coastal waters and accompanied bombers. She also took part in the Allied invasion of Europe ( Operation Overlord), but on June 19 she was withdrawn to air defense to defend London before missiles V-1. The pilots of the unit recorded the destruction of 53 of these missiles. After this danger and rearmament passed, she returned to battle. In December 1944, it became part of 125. wing 2. TAF and moved to the continent, from where until the end of the war attacks on ground targets and reconnaissance supported the advancing Allied troops.
After the surrender was signed, it remained in Germany as part of the British occupying forces until April 1, 1946 (some sources state that March 31, 1946), when it ceased to be renumbered to 26. squadron. During the war, the squadron claimed 200 destroyed, 61 probably shot down and 109 damaged enemy aircraft and 53 destroyed V-1 missiles. However, she paid for these successes with the loss of 64 men who fell in battle or died in accidents, another 58 were injured and 21 captured. After being shot down over enemy territory, the three pilots escape and return to the unit.
However, the same day it is restored to the base Dalcross by renumbering the fighter 122. squadron. In July 1947 it was transformed into a school and training unit, but in June 1948 it returned to its original role. At the beginning of 1951, it was converted to jet technology and served as a daily fighter until January 31, 1958, when it was disbanded again.
The next day (February 1, 1958) it was restored by renumbering 141. squadron, but on December 6, 1963 it was dissolved again.
A special chapter in the unit's history was the period between September 1, 1965 and September 18, 1970, when the unit operated at the base West Raynham as a ground air defense unit, equipped with missiles Bloodhound.
As a "flying" unit, it was restored on April 1, 1972 at the base Coningsby. Equipped with tactical aircraft Phantom served until its dissolution on March 31, 1977.
However, as early as July 1, 1976, 41 (Designate) Squadron was formed at the RAF Coltishall, which began training on machines Jaguar GR.1 and after the dissolution of the original 41st Squadron became the "new" 41st Squadron on April 1. The unit's primary role was tactical reconnaissance and attacks on ground targets. She took part in the first Gulf War ( Operation Desert Storm - 1991), controlled the no-fly zone over northern Iraq, and in 1993-1995 operated from Italy over the former Yugoslavia. It was then the first RAF unit to drop bombs on a target in Europe when its plane attacked a Serbian tank in Bosnia. In 2003, it joined the Second Gulf War (Operation Telic), but was dissolved again at the end of March 2006 due to budget cuts.
So far, the last chapter in the history of the unit began to be written in early April 2006, when it was restored as a test and research unit at the base Coningsby and still plays in this role today (April 2021) .
Battle Honors
Western Front, 1916-1918
Somme, 1916
Arras
Cambrai, 1917
Somme, 1918
Light
Amiens
Battle of Britain, 1940
Home Defense, 1940-1944
Fortress Europe, 1940-1944
Dieppe
France & Germany, 1944-1945
Arnhem
Walcheren
Gulf, 1991
Sources
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, Wing Commander C.G., MBE, BA, RAF (Retd.). 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.
Shores C. - Thomas C .: 2nd Tactical Air Force, volume 3, Classic Pub., Hersham 2006, ISBN 1-903223-60-1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._41_Squadron_RAF
https://www.rafweb.org/Squadrons/Sqn041-45.htm
https://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/41squadron.cfm
www.raf.mod.uk
www.historyofwar.org
https://www.seekanddestroy.info/
www.outermarker.co.uk
https://brew.clients.ch/41sqnraf.htm
No. 41 Squadron RAF
XLI Squadron RAF
Period of existence/Active
41. RFC Squadron [1916-1916]
41. RFC Squadron [1916-1918]
41. RAF Squadron [1918-1919]
41 RAF Squadron [1923-1946]
41 RAF Squadron [1946-1958]
41. RAF Squadron [1958-1963]
41. RAF Squadron [1965-1970]
41. RAF Squadron [1972-1977]
41. RAF Squadron [1977-2006]
41. RAF Squadron [2006-]
Motto
Seek and destroy
History
The unit was established on April 15, 1916 at the airport Gosport, but on May 22 it ceased to be renamed the 27th (backup) Squadron RFC.
July 14, 1916 restored at the airport Gosport as a fighter. After completing the training, she moved to France in October of the same year and took part in the fighting on the Western Front. At first, it mostly attacked ground targets. After rearmament to the aircraft S.E.5a, on which it operated until the end of the war, escorted by Allied aircraft and fighter patrols began to prevail. After the end of the war, the unit was framed on February 7, 1919, then moved back to Great Britain, where it was disbanded on December 31, 1919.
Squadron pilots claimed 267 shot down, destroyed or damaged aircraft and observation balloons. Seventeen of them were entitled to ace status for 5 or more victories. The prize was 39 dead in combat or accidents, 48 wounded and 20 captured pilots.
Restored on April 1, 1923 at the base Northolt, again as a fighter. In October 1935, she was transferred to the then British colony Aden (now Yemen) to strengthen the British presence during the Italian-Abyssinian war. She returned to Britain in August of the following year.
In December 1938, the unit began upgrading to aircraft Spitfire and became the third unit to be armed with them. Thus she entered the battles of World War II.
At the time of its outbreak in early September 1939, it was deployed in the north of England. In May 1940, she was transferred to the south and covered the evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk and subsequently joined the Battle of Britain. In it, its pilots claimed over 100 victories, but at the cost of 22 killed or injured.
In February 1941, it was withdrawn to rest, supplemented by personnel and aircraft. In July, she returned to the south as part of a wing in Tangmere and is involved in an offensive over occupied Europe. In addition to traditional bomber escorts, she was also involved in the pursuit of German battleships Prinz Eugen, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, who escaped from the port in February 1942 Brest and also took part in the landing in Dieppe (Operation Jubilee) in August of that year.
Subsequently, it was withdrawn for rest and rearmament and became the first squadron armed with Griffon-powered Spitfires ( Spitfire Mk. XII). After returning to the south of England in April 1943, she attacked targets in France, Belgium and the Netherlands, ships in coastal waters and accompanied bombers. She also took part in the Allied invasion of Europe ( Operation Overlord), but on June 19 she was withdrawn to air defense to defend London before missiles V-1. The pilots of the unit recorded the destruction of 53 of these missiles. After this danger and rearmament passed, she returned to battle. In December 1944, it became part of 125. wing 2. TAF and moved to the continent, from where until the end of the war attacks on ground targets and reconnaissance supported the advancing Allied troops.
After the surrender was signed, it remained in Germany as part of the British occupying forces until April 1, 1946 (some sources state that March 31, 1946), when it ceased to be renumbered to 26. squadron. During the war, the squadron claimed 200 destroyed, 61 probably shot down and 109 damaged enemy aircraft and 53 destroyed V-1 missiles. However, she paid for these successes with the loss of 64 men who fell in battle or died in accidents, another 58 were injured and 21 captured. After being shot down over enemy territory, the three pilots escape and return to the unit.
However, the same day it is restored to the base Dalcross by renumbering the fighter 122. squadron. In July 1947 it was transformed into a school and training unit, but in June 1948 it returned to its original role. At the beginning of 1951, it was converted to jet technology and served as a daily fighter until January 31, 1958, when it was disbanded again.
The next day (February 1, 1958) it was restored by renumbering 141. squadron, but on December 6, 1963 it was dissolved again.
A special chapter in the unit's history was the period between September 1, 1965 and September 18, 1970, when the unit operated at the base West Raynham as a ground air defense unit, equipped with missiles Bloodhound.
As a "flying" unit, it was restored on April 1, 1972 at the base Coningsby. Equipped with tactical aircraft Phantom served until its dissolution on March 31, 1977.
However, as early as July 1, 1976, 41 (Designate) Squadron was formed at the RAF Coltishall, which began training on machines Jaguar GR.1 and after the dissolution of the original 41st Squadron became the "new" 41st Squadron on April 1. The unit's primary role was tactical reconnaissance and attacks on ground targets. She took part in the first Gulf War ( Operation Desert Storm - 1991), controlled the no-fly zone over northern Iraq, and in 1993-1995 operated from Italy over the former Yugoslavia. It was then the first RAF unit to drop bombs on a target in Europe when its plane attacked a Serbian tank in Bosnia. In 2003, it joined the Second Gulf War (Operation Telic), but was dissolved again at the end of March 2006 due to budget cuts.
So far, the last chapter in the history of the unit began to be written in early April 2006, when it was restored as a test and research unit at the base Coningsby and still plays in this role today (April 2021) .
Battle Honors
Western Front, 1916-1918
Somme, 1916
Arras
Cambrai, 1917
Somme, 1918
Light
Amiens
Battle of Britain, 1940
Home Defense, 1940-1944
Fortress Europe, 1940-1944
Dieppe
France & Germany, 1944-1945
Arnhem
Walcheren
Gulf, 1991
Sources
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, Wing Commander C.G., MBE, BA, RAF (Retd.). 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.
Shores C. - Thomas C .: 2nd Tactical Air Force, volume 3, Classic Pub., Hersham 2006, ISBN 1-903223-60-1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._41_Squadron_RAF
https://www.rafweb.org/Squadrons/Sqn041-45.htm
https://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/41squadron.cfm
www.raf.mod.uk
www.historyofwar.org
https://www.seekanddestroy.info/
www.outermarker.co.uk
https://brew.clients.ch/41sqnraf.htm
