No. 248 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 248 Squadron was a squadron
of the Royal Air Force
, active immediately after World War I, and again during World War II.
, it operated Short 184
s and Sopwith Baby
s on anti-submarine patrols along the East Yorkshire coast. It disbanded on 6 March 1919.
night fighter unit, but it was December before any aircraft were received. At that time the resources for successful night fighting (airborne radar) were in very short supply and as a result it was transferred to Coastal Command in February 1940. Initially based at North Coates, it moved to Thorney Island
in Essex in April and Gosport a week later. In May a move to Scotland brought it back to Fighter Command for patrols over the North Sea, but in June it was again transferred to Coastal Command.
Still based in Scotland, it now began anti-shipping attacks along the Norwegian coast as well as escort patrols and reconnaissance missions. In June 1941 a move to RAF Bircham Newton
occurred and a month later its Blenheims were replaced by Beaufighters
. For three months at the end of the year it operated a detachment in Cornwall carrying-out similar operations over the English Channel
and Western Approaches
. It continued in its anti-shipping role from Bircham Newton until February 1942, when it returned to RAF Dyce in Scotland. Here it carried out long range patrols over the North Sea
. In August it was sent to Malta
, where it conducted similar operations over the Mediterranean.
In September 1942 it left its aeroplanes in Malta and returned to the UK, where it collected new aircraft and resumed operations from RAF Talbenny
in Pembrokeshire. In December 1943 the Beaufighters were replaced by Mosquito VIs
, its main task now was fighter reconnaissance over the Channel and along the French coast in preparation for Operation Overlord
. Following the invasion, the squadron was moved to Banff
in Scotland to join the Banff Strike Wing. It operated as part of this wing until the end of war and from January 1945 it operated Mosquito XVIIIs, equipped with a Molins 6-pounder gun in the nose. After the war it moved to RAF Chivenor, where it was disbanded by being renumbered No.36 Squadron
on 30 September 1946.
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...
, active immediately after World War I, and again during World War II.
Post-World War I
The squadron was first formed in August 1918 from No's 404, 405 and 453 Flights at Hornsea MereHornsea Mere
Hornsea Mere is generally described as the largest natural freshwater lake in Yorkshireand lies to the west of Hornsea in the East Riding. It covers an area of , is long, ¾ mile at its widest point and at its deepest point....
, it operated Short 184
Short Type 184
|-Manufacturers:Source: Barnes and James#Brush Electrical Engineering Co. Ltd. #Frederick Sage & Co. Ltd. #J. Samuel White #Mann, Egerton & Co. Ltd. #Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Company #Robey & Co. Ltd. #S E Saunders Limited...
s and Sopwith Baby
Sopwith Baby
-See also:...
s on anti-submarine patrols along the East Yorkshire coast. It disbanded on 6 March 1919.
World War II
The squadron reformed at RAF Hendon on 30 October 1939 as a BlenheimBristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
night fighter unit, but it was December before any aircraft were received. At that time the resources for successful night fighting (airborne radar) were in very short supply and as a result it was transferred to Coastal Command in February 1940. Initially based at North Coates, it moved to Thorney Island
Thorney Island
There are two Thorney Islands known to Wikipedia, both in England:*Thorney Island *Thorney Island...
in Essex in April and Gosport a week later. In May a move to Scotland brought it back to Fighter Command for patrols over the North Sea, but in June it was again transferred to Coastal Command.
Still based in Scotland, it now began anti-shipping attacks along the Norwegian coast as well as escort patrols and reconnaissance missions. In June 1941 a move to RAF Bircham Newton
RAF Bircham Newton
RAF Bircham Newton was a Royal Air Force airfield in the west of the county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom, eight miles west of Fakenham.-History:...
occurred and a month later its Blenheims were replaced by Beaufighters
Bristol Beaufighter
The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design...
. For three months at the end of the year it operated a detachment in Cornwall carrying-out similar operations over 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...
and Western Approaches
Western Approaches
The Western Approaches is a rectangular area of the Atlantic ocean lying on the western coast of Great Britain. The rectangle is higher than it is wide, the north and south boundaries defined by the north and south ends of the British Isles, the eastern boundary lying on the western coast, and the...
. It continued in its anti-shipping role from Bircham Newton until February 1942, when it returned to RAF Dyce in Scotland. Here it carried out long range patrols over the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. In August it was sent to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, where it conducted similar operations over the Mediterranean.
In September 1942 it left its aeroplanes in Malta and returned to the UK, where it collected new aircraft and resumed operations from RAF Talbenny
RAF Talbenny
RAF Talbenny was a World War II Royal Air Force airfield in Pembrokeshire operational from 1942 to December 1946. There were 3 concrete runways encircled by a perimeter track and 36 dispersal points....
in Pembrokeshire. In December 1943 the Beaufighters were replaced by Mosquito VIs
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
, its main task now was fighter reconnaissance over the Channel and along the French coast in preparation for Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
. Following the invasion, the squadron was moved to Banff
Banff, Aberdeenshire
Banff is a town in the Banff and Buchan area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Banff is situated on Banff Bay and faces the town of Macduff across the estuary of the River Deveron...
in Scotland to join the Banff Strike Wing. It operated as part of this wing until the end of war and from January 1945 it operated Mosquito XVIIIs, equipped with a Molins 6-pounder gun in the nose. After the war it moved to RAF Chivenor, where it was disbanded by being renumbered No.36 Squadron
No. 36 Squadron RAF
No. 36 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Cramlington on February 1, 1916 and was disbanded for the last time in 1975.-First World War:No...
on 30 September 1946.