No. 541 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 541 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force
Squadron formed as a photographic reconnaissance
squadron in World War II
.
Formation in World War II
The squadron formed at RAF Benson
on 19 October 1942 and was equipped with Spitfires
to fly missions over Europe. It also received Mustang aircraft in July 1944 and operated some Lancaster
bombers for UK mapping purposes after hostilities ceased. One of the squadrons first commanders following its formation was John Saffery.
which it operated from RAF Bückeburg
, RAF Laarbruch
and RAF Gütersloh
before it disbanded again on 7 September 1957.
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...
Squadron formed as a photographic reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
squadron in World War II
World 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...
.
Formation in World War IIWorld War IIWorld 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...
The squadron formed at RAF BensonRAF Benson
RAF Benson is a Royal Air Force station near Benson in South Oxfordshire, England. It is home to the Royal Air Force's support helicopters, the Aérospatiale Puma and the EH-101 Merlin, known as the Puma HC.Mk 1 and the Merlin HC.Mk 3 and Mk 3a....
on 19 October 1942 and was equipped with Spitfires
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...
to fly missions over Europe. It also received Mustang aircraft in July 1944 and operated some Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
bombers for UK mapping purposes after hostilities ceased. One of the squadrons first commanders following its formation was John Saffery.
Postwar
The squadron reformed at RAF Benson on 1 November 1947 and in December 1950 its Spitfires were replaced with MeteorsGloster 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...
which it operated from RAF Bückeburg
Bückeburg Air Base
Bückeburg Air Base is located northeast of the city of Bückeburg, Lower Saxony, Germany....
, RAF Laarbruch
RAF Laarbruch
The former Royal Air Force Station Laarbruch, more commonly known as RAF Laarbruch ICAO EDUL was a Royal Air Force station, a military airbase, located in Germany on its border with the Netherlands...
and RAF Gütersloh
RAF Gütersloh
The former Royal Air Force Station Gütersloh, more commonly known as RAF Gütersloh, was a Royal Air Force Germany military airbase, the nearest Royal Air Force airbase to the East/West German border, in the vicinity of the town of Gütersloh. It was constructed by the Germans prior to World War II...
before it disbanded again on 7 September 1957.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1942 | Jan 1943 | 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... |
D |
| Oct 1942 | Sep 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | IV |
| Nov 1942 | Dec 1942 | Supermarine Spitfire | IX |
| Dec 1942 | Mar 1946 | Supermarine Spitfire | XI |
| May 1944 | Apr 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | X |
| Jun 1944 | Oct 1946 | Supermarine Spitfire | XIX |
| Dec 1942 | Mar 1946 | Supermarine Spitfire | XI |
| Jul 1944 | Jun 1945 | North American P-51 Mustang | III |
| Oct 1945 | Apr 1946 | 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.3 |
| Feb 1946 | Oct 1946 | Avro Lancaster Avro Lancaster The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other... |
PR1 |
| Nov 1947 | May 1951 | Supermarine Spitfire | PR 19 |
| Dec 1950 | Sep 1957 | 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... |
PR 10 |