No. XIX Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 19 Squadron RAF was a flying squadron
of the Royal Air Force
.
was founded on 1 September 1915 training on a variety of aircraft before being deployed to France in July 1916 flying B.E.12s
and re-equipping with the more suitable French-built Spads
. In 1918, the squadron was re-equipped with Sopwith Dolphins, flying escort duties. By the end of the war, 19 Squadron had had a score of flying aces among its ranks, including Albert Desbrisay Carter
, John Leacroft
, Arthur Bradfield Fairclough
, Oliver Bryson
, Gordon Budd Irving
, Frederick Sowrey
, future Air Commodore
Patrick Huskinson
, Cecil Gardner
, Roger Amedee Del'Haye, future Air Chief Marshal
James Hardman, Finlay McQuistan
, Alexander Pentland
, John Candy
, Cecil Thompson
, John Aldridge
, and Wilfred Ernest Young
.
in May 1935, and with the Supermarine Spitfire
on 4 August 1938.
, and was part of No. 12 Group RAF
, RAF Fighter Command
, during the Battle of Britain
. Later versions of Spitfires were flown until the arrival of Mustangs for close-support duties in early 1944. After D-Day
, No. 19 briefly went across the English Channel
before starting long-range escort duties from RAF Peterhead for Coastal Command off the coast of Norway
.
s and later a variety of jet fighter aircraft, before being disbanded on 9 January 1992. Their final location before being disbanded was RAF Wildenrath
in Germany near Geilenkirchen
.
The numberplate was then assigned to the former No. 63 Squadron
, one of the Hawk squadrons at RAF Chivenor, in September 1992. Following the closure of Chivenor to jet flying the squadron was moved to RAF Valley
in September 1994 to provide advanced fast jet training on the BAE Hawk
.
In May 2008, a BAE Hawk T.1, XX184, was re-painted in a special Spitfire camouflage livery at RAF Valley. This was done to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the squadron as the first operational fighter squadron to fly the Supermarine Spitfire from Duxford in 1938.
The disbandment event, held at RAF Valley, was led by the Wg Cdr Kevin Marsh, the last Commanding Officer of 19 Squadron. In attendance were the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton KCB ADC BSc FRAeS CCMI RAF, former Air Chief Marshal Sir William Wratten, GBE, CB, AFC and Flt Lt Ken Wilkinson AE who flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain on 19 Squadron.
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
.
First World War
No. 19 Squadron of the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
was founded on 1 September 1915 training on a variety of aircraft before being deployed to France in July 1916 flying B.E.12s
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12
|-See also:-External links:*...
and re-equipping with the more suitable French-built Spads
SPAD S.VII
The SPAD S.VII was the first of a series of highly successful biplane fighter aircraft produced by Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés during the First World War. Like its successors, the S.VII was renowned as a sturdy and rugged aircraft with good climbing and diving characteristics...
. In 1918, the squadron was re-equipped with Sopwith Dolphins, flying escort duties. By the end of the war, 19 Squadron had had a score of flying aces among its ranks, including Albert Desbrisay Carter
Albert Desbrisay Carter
Albert Desbrisay Carter DSO & Bar was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with 28 victories.-Early life and career:Albert Desbrisay Carter was born in Point de Bute, New Brunswick....
, John Leacroft
John Leacroft
Group Captain John Leacroft MC & Bar was a World War I fighter ace credited with 22 victories. He remained in the Royal Air Force until 1937, and returned to service during World War II in administrative roles.-Early life:...
, Arthur Bradfield Fairclough
Arthur Bradfield Fairclough
Arthur Bradfield Fairclough MC was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 19 victories.-Military Cross:"Lt. Arthur Bradfield Fairclough, Can. M.G. Co. and R.F.C....
, Oliver Bryson
Oliver Bryson
Oliver Campbell Bryson MC, DFC with Bar, G.C. , was a career Royal Air Force officer who served in both World Wars. He was a flying ace credited with 12 aerial victories during World War I.-World War I service:...
, Gordon Budd Irving
Gordon Budd Irving
Captain Gordon Budd Irving was a World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.-Early life:Gordon Budd Irving was the sole son of attorney William Henry Irving and Mary Maude Smith Irving. His childhood home was at 76 Spadina Street, Toronto; he attended church nearby at Trinity...
, Frederick Sowrey
Frederick Sowrey
Major Frederick Sowrey began his career as a World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories. He was most noted for his first victory, when he shot down Zeppelin L32 during its bombing raid on England...
, future Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Patrick Huskinson
Patrick Huskinson
Air Commodore Patrick Huskinson began his military career in the Royal Air Force as a World War I fighter ace, but later switched to bombers. He became versed enough in armaments that he was appointed Director of Armament Production by Sir Winston Churchill at the start of World War II...
, Cecil Gardner
Cecil Gardner
Captain Cecil Vernon Gardner was a World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories.Cecil was born in or near Banbury c1888, the son of James and Hannah Elizabeth Gardner, who raised him at Grovehill Farm in the parish of Tingewick, near Buckingham. He enlisted in the British Army in...
, Roger Amedee Del'Haye, future Air Chief Marshal
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
James Hardman, Finlay McQuistan
Finlay McQuistan
Captain Finlay McQuistan was a World War I flying ace who was credited with 11 aerial victories.-Early life:Finlay McQuistan is the son of Finlay and Agnes J...
, Alexander Pentland
Alexander Pentland
Alexander Augustus Norman Dudley Pentland MC, DFC, AFC , known as "Jerry" Pentland, was an Australian fighter ace in World War I. Born in Maitland, New South Wales, he commenced service as a Lighthorseman with the Australian Imperial Force in 1915, and saw action at Gallipoli...
, John Candy
John Candy (aviator)
Lieutenant John Geoffrey Sadler Candy was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. He served in the Royal Air Force through 1946.Candy was assigned to 19 Squadron to fly a SPAD...
, Cecil Thompson
Cecil Thompson (aviator)
Lieutenant Cecil Robert Thompson was a South African World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.Thompson served two and a half years in the ground forces in both the East and West African campaigns against the Germans. He then transferred into the Royal Flying Corps in August 1917...
, John Aldridge
John Aldridge (aviator)
Lieutenant John Arthur Aldridge was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. He returned to the colours during World War II, joining the Air Training Corps....
, and Wilfred Ernest Young
Wilfred Ernest Young
Major Wilfred Ernest Young was an English World War I flying ace credited with 11 confirmed aerial victories.- World War I :Wilfred Ernest Young began his military service in the Dorsetshire Regiment of the British army. On 13 June 1916, Young was seconded from the Dorsetshires to the Royal Flying...
.
Between the World Wars
The Squadron was disbanded after the First World War on 31 December 1919, to be reformed again at RAF Duxford on 1 April 1923. They then flew a number of different fighters, and were the first squadron to be equipped with the Gloster GauntletGloster Gauntlet
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Crawford, Alex. Bristol Bulldog, Gloster Gauntlet. Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2005. ISBN 83-89450-04-6....
in May 1935, and with the Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
on 4 August 1938.
World War II
The Squadron was stationed in the UK after the outbreak of the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was part of No. 12 Group RAF
No. 12 Group RAF
No. 12 Group of the Royal Air Force was a command organization that exisited over two separate periods, namely the end of World War I when it had a training function and from just prior to World War II until the early 1960s when it was tasked with an air defence role.No. 12 Group was first formed...
, RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...
, during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. Later versions of Spitfires were flown until the arrival of Mustangs for close-support duties in early 1944. After D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, No. 19 briefly went across the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
before starting long-range escort duties from RAF Peterhead for Coastal Command off the coast of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Post World War II
In the post-war period, the squadron flew at first de Havilland HornetDe Havilland Hornet
The de Havilland DH.103 Hornet was a piston engine fighter that further exploited the wooden construction techniques pioneered by de Havilland's classic Mosquito. Entering service at the end of the Second World War, the Hornet equipped postwar RAF Fighter Command day fighter units in the UK and was...
s and later a variety of jet fighter aircraft, before being disbanded on 9 January 1992. Their final location before being disbanded was RAF Wildenrath
RAF Wildenrath
The former Royal Air Force Station Wildenrath, commonly known as RAF Wildenrath, was a Royal Air Force military airbase which opened on 15 January 1952. Wildenrath was the first of four 'Clutch' stations built for the RAF in Germany during the early 1950s...
in Germany near Geilenkirchen
Geilenkirchen
Geilenkirchen is a town in the district Heinsberg, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated near the border with the Netherlands, on the river Wurm, approx. 15 km north-east of Heerlen and 20 km north of Aachen....
.
The numberplate was then assigned to the former No. 63 Squadron
No. 63 Squadron RAF
-In World War I:No. 63 Squadron was formed on 31 August 1916 at Stirling, Scotland as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. The squadron was intended to operate as a day-bomber unit over the Western Front in France, and was therefore equipped with de Havilland DH4 aircraft; however at the last...
, one of the Hawk squadrons at RAF Chivenor, in September 1992. Following the closure of Chivenor to jet flying the squadron was moved to RAF Valley
RAF Valley
RAF Valley is a Royal Air Force station on the island of Anglesey, Wales, and which is also used as Anglesey Airport. It provides fast-jet training using the BAE Hawk and provides training for aircrew working with Search and Rescue. Unofficially the motto for RAF Valley is 'One Valley, Training...
in September 1994 to provide advanced fast jet training on the BAE Hawk
BAE Hawk
The BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft...
.
In May 2008, a BAE Hawk T.1, XX184, was re-painted in a special Spitfire camouflage livery at RAF Valley. This was done to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the squadron as the first operational fighter squadron to fly the Supermarine Spitfire from Duxford in 1938.
Disbandment
As a consequence of the UK's Strategic Defence and Security Review in 2010, the Air Force Board decided in 2011 that 19 Squadron's training role with the Hawk T2 at RAF Valley should be transferred to the resurrected IV Squadron number-plate. 19 Squadron, one of the last surviving Battle of Britain Squadrons, disbanded on 24 November 2011, 96 years after it was first formed.The disbandment event, held at RAF Valley, was led by the Wg Cdr Kevin Marsh, the last Commanding Officer of 19 Squadron. In attendance were the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton KCB ADC BSc FRAeS CCMI RAF, former Air Chief Marshal Sir William Wratten, GBE, CB, AFC and Flt Lt Ken Wilkinson AE who flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain on 19 Squadron.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 1915 | October 1915 | Farman MF.11 Shorthorn Farman MF.11 |-See also:-External links:* * *... |
|
| September 1915 | October 1915 | Avro 504 Avro 504 The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during... |
|
| September 1915 | October 1915 | Caudron G.3 Caudron G.3 The Caudron G.3 was a single-engined French biplane built by Caudron, widely used in World War I as a reconnaissance aircraft and trainer. In comparison to its competitors, it had a better rate of climb and it was considered especially suitable in mountainous terrain.-Development:The Caudron G.3... |
|
| October 1915 | December 1915 | Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 | c |
| December 1915 | December 1915 | Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.7 Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.7 |-See also:-References:*... |
|
| February 1916 | July 1916 | Avro 504 | |
| February 1916 | July 1916 | Caudron G.3 | |
| February 1916 | July 1916 | Bristol Scout Bristol Scout The Bristol Scout was a simple, single seat, rotary-engined biplane originally intended as a civilian racing aircraft. Like other similar fast, light aircraft of the period - it was acquired by the RNAS and the RFC as a "scout", or fast reconnaissance type... |
|
| February 1916 | July 1916 | Martinsyde S.1 Martinsyde S.1 -See also:-References:*Bruce, J.M. War Planes of the First World War: Volume One Fighters. London:Macdonald, 1965.... |
|
| February 1916 | July 1916 | Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 | c |
| February 1916 | July 1916 | Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 The Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 was a two-seat pusher biplane that was operated as a day and night bomber and as a fighter aircraft by the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War... |
b |
| February 1916 | July 1916 | Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.5 Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.5 |-See also:... |
|
| February 1916 | July 1916 | Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.7 | |
| June 1916 | February 1917 | Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12 Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12 |-See also:-External links:*... |
|
| Octopber 1916 | January 1918 | SPAD S.VII SPAD S.VII The SPAD S.VII was the first of a series of highly successful biplane fighter aircraft produced by Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés during the First World War. Like its successors, the S.VII was renowned as a sturdy and rugged aircraft with good climbing and diving characteristics... |
|
| June 1917 | January 1918 | SPAD S.XIII SPAD S.XIII |-See also:-Bibliography:* Bruce, J.M. The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps . London: Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0-370-30084-X.* Sharpe, Michael. Biplanes, Triplanes, and Seaplanes. London: Friedman/Fairfax Books, 2000. ISBN 1-58663-300-7.... |
|
| November 1917 | February 1919 | Sopwith Dolphin | |
| April 1923 | December 1924 | Sopwith Snipe Sopwith Snipe The Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe was a British single-seat biplane fighter of the Royal Air Force . It was designed and built by the Sopwith Aviation Company during the First World War, and came into squadron service a few weeks before the end of that conflict, in late 1918.The Snipe was not a fast aircraft... |
|
| December 1924 | April 1928 | Gloster Grebe Gloster Grebe -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* James, Derek N. Gloster Aircraft since 1917. London: Putnam and Company Ltd., 1987. ISBN 0-85177-807-0.* Thetford, Owen. Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57. London:Putnam, First edition 1957.... |
|
| March 1928 | September 1931 | Armstrong Whitworth Siskin Armstrong Whitworth Siskin The Armstrong Whitworth Siskin was a British biplane single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1920s produced by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. The Siskin was one of the first new RAF fighters to enter service after the First World War; it was noted for its aerobatic qualities.-Design and development:The... |
Mk.IIIa |
| September 1931 | January 1935 | Bristol Bulldog Bristol Bulldog |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Andrews, C.F. The Bristol Bulldog . Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1965.* Barnes, C.H. Bristol Aircraft Since 1910. London: Putnam, 1964.... |
Mk.IIa |
| January 1935 | March 1939 | Gloster Gauntlet Gloster Gauntlet -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Crawford, Alex. Bristol Bulldog, Gloster Gauntlet. Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2005. ISBN 83-89450-04-6.... |
Mk.I |
| September 1936 | February 1939 | Gloster Gauntlet | Mk.II |
| August 1938 | December 1940 | Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s... |
Mk.I |
| June 1940 | September 1940 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.Ib |
| September 1940 | November 1941 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.IIa |
| October 1941 | August 1943 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.Vb |
| September 1942 | March 1943 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.Vc |
| August 1943 | January 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.IX |
| January 1944 | April 1945 | North American Mustang | Mk.III (P-51 B/C) |
| April 1945 | March 1946 | North American Mustang | Mk.IV (P-51D) |
| March 1946 | November 1946 | Supermarine Spitfire | LF.16e |
| October 1946 | May 1948 | de Havilland Hornet De Havilland Hornet The de Havilland DH.103 Hornet was a piston engine fighter that further exploited the wooden construction techniques pioneered by de Havilland's classic Mosquito. Entering service at the end of the Second World War, the Hornet equipped postwar RAF Fighter Command day fighter units in the UK and was... |
F.1 |
| March 1948 | January 1951 | de Havilland Hornet | F.3 |
| January 1951 | June 1951 | Gloster Meteor Gloster Meteor The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force... |
F.4 |
| April 1951 | January 1957 | Gloster Meteor | F.8 |
| October 1956 | February 1963 | Hawker Hunter Hawker Hunter The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary... |
F.6 |
| November 1962 | October 1969 | English Electric Lightning English Electric Lightning The English Electric Lightning is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, noted for its great speed and unpainted natural metal exterior finish. It is the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. The aircraft was renowned for its capabilities as an interceptor; Royal Air Force ... |
F.2 |
| January 1968 | December 1976 | English Electric Lightning | F.2a |
| January 1977 | January 1992 | McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II | FGR.2 |
| September 1992 | November 2011 | BAe Hawk BAE Hawk The BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft... |
T.1 / T.2 |