No. 237 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 237 Squadron was a Royal Air Force
aircraft squadron. During the Second World War the unit was formed from No. 1 Squadron Southern Rhodesian Air Force
for operations in North Africa.
The squadron was re-formed as No. 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron on 22 April 1940 when No. 1 Squadron Southern Rhodesia Air Force was taken into Royal Air Force control. It operated a number of Hawker biplanes and was based on the Abyssinian border as part of the East African Campaign (World War II)
a defence against the movement of Italian troops moving down from the North. In the Autumn of 1940 the squadron moved into Sudan for operations in Eritrea and added Westland Lysander
s and Gloster Gladiator
s to the unit strength. In May 1941 the squadron moved to Egypt and re-equipped with the Hawker Hurricane
, it was tasked with tactical reconnaissance duties in the Western Desert. In May 1942 the squadron moved to Iraq as a defence against any German invasion and then moved to Libya in the air defence role.
The squadron re-equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire
(Mark VCs first then Mark IXs) and moved to Corsica to fly operations over Southern France and Northern Italy. It eventually moved to Italy where it operated until is was re-numbered as 93 Squadron
and disbanded on 1 January 1946.
who was later Prime Minister of Rhodesia was assigned to the squadron in World War II, and was shot down over Italy.
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...
aircraft squadron. During the Second World War the unit was formed from No. 1 Squadron Southern Rhodesian Air Force
Royal Rhodesian Air Force
The Rhodesian Air Force was the air arm of the British colonial state of Rhodesia. It existed between 1935 and 1980 under various names, and is now the Air Force of Zimbabwe.-History:...
for operations in North Africa.
History
No. 237 Squadron was formed at RAF Cattewater in August 1918 from Nos 420, 421, 422 and 423 flights of the Royal Naval Air Service. The squadron operated the Short 184 on coastal and anti-submarine patrols in the English Channel until it was disbanded at the end of the First World War on the 14 May 1919.The squadron was re-formed as No. 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron on 22 April 1940 when No. 1 Squadron Southern Rhodesia Air Force was taken into Royal Air Force control. It operated a number of Hawker biplanes and was based on the Abyssinian border as part of the East African Campaign (World War II)
East African Campaign (World War II)
The East African Campaign was a series of battles fought in East Africa during World War II by the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations and several allies against the forces of Italy from June 1940 to November 1941....
a defence against the movement of Italian troops moving down from the North. In the Autumn of 1940 the squadron moved into Sudan for operations in Eritrea and added Westland Lysander
Westland Lysander
The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
s and Gloster Gladiator
Gloster Gladiator
The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it...
s to the unit strength. In May 1941 the squadron moved to Egypt and re-equipped with the Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
, it was tasked with tactical reconnaissance duties in the Western Desert. In May 1942 the squadron moved to Iraq as a defence against any German invasion and then moved to Libya in the air defence role.
The squadron re-equipped 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...
(Mark VCs first then Mark IXs) and moved to Corsica to fly operations over Southern France and Northern Italy. It eventually moved to Italy where it operated until is was re-numbered as 93 Squadron
No. 93 Squadron RAF
No. 93 Squadron RAF was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II. It operated Turbinlite-equipped Bostons from RAF Burtonwood, making night attacks and towing aerial mine charges with steel cables....
and disbanded on 1 January 1946.
Notable members
Ian SmithIan Smith
Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID was a politician active in the government of Southern Rhodesia, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe Rhodesia and Zimbabwe from 1948 to 1987, most notably serving as Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 13 April 1964 to 1 June 1979...
who was later Prime Minister of Rhodesia was assigned to the squadron in World War II, and was shot down over Italy.
Aircraft operated
| Dates | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1918–1919 | Short 184 | From the RNAS | |
| 1940 | Hawker Audax | From the SRAF | |
| 1940–1941 | Hawker Hardy | From the SRAF | |
| 1940 | Hawker Hart Hawker Hart The Hawker Hart was a British two-seater biplane light bomber of the Royal Air Force , which had a prominent role during the RAF's inter-war period. The Hart was designed during the 1920s by Sydney Camm and built by Hawker Aircraft... |
||
| 1940–1941 | Westland Lysander Westland Lysander The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War... |
I and II | |
| 1941 | Gloster Gladiator Gloster Gladiator The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it... |
II | |
| 1941–1942 | Hawker Hurricane Hawker Hurricane The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force... |
I | |
| 1943 | Hawker Hurricane | IIC | |
| 1943–1944 | 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... |
VB and VC | |
| 1944–1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | IX |