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SQUADRONS THAT FLEW FROM RAF HARROWBEER

Most publications only list a few of the Squadrons that flew from Harrowbeer. Mike Hayes has been slowly compiling a more detailed list of these squadrons and it is presented here. Naturally, if anybody spots any errors, can fill in the blanks, or knows of ommisions, then we want to hear!

What you will no doubt find strange whilst reading this list, is that many of the Squadrons flew in, stayed a few days, and then flew out again. For Instance, look at No 1 Squadron. They flew in from Predannock, stayed a day and then flew on to Detling!

Jan 2007: We have removed some Squadrons that evidently didn't come here after all.

April 2009: Note that 302 Sqdn (mentioned below) was a Polish Air Force fighter squadron operating under RAF Command. We would like to thank the Polish Embassy for permission to use their badge.

May 2012: Updated the lists with new info. The number of question marks is slowly reducing!

For information on 193 Squadron click here
For information on the Bellows of Brazil Squadrons click here

Information on 276 Squadron will be added in due course

Information on 302 Squadron (City of Poznan) Polish Fighter Squadron
is well documented on the following website

302 Squadron

Squadrons associated with and operating from RAF Harrowbeer 1941-50

Sqdn no

Code letters

date
from:

date
to:

aircraft type

from airfield:

to airfield:

1

JX

20/6/44

21/6/44

Spitfire IX LF

Preddanack

Detling

2

XV

10/4/44

12/4/44

Mustang

Gatwick

Gatwick

2

XV

1/5/44

4/5/44

Mustang

Gatwick

Gatwick

16

UG

31/8/41

31/8/41

Mustang

Weston Zoyland

Weston Zoyland

16

UG

28/5/42

28/5/42

Mustang
Weston Zoyland
Weston Zoyland

16

UG

23/6/42

28/6/42

Mustang
Weston Zoyland
Weston Zoyland

16

UG

31/8/42

31/8/42

Mustang
Weston Zoyland
Weston Zoyland

19
RM

22/6/42

22/6/42

Spitfire

Perranporth
Perranporth

19
RM

3/10/42

8/10/42

Spitfire
Perranporth
Perranporth

26
XC

7/1/45

22/1/45

Mustang I

Exeter

North Weald

26
XC

3/4/45

13/4/45

Spitfire XIV

North Weald

Cognac

26
XC

1/5/45

23/5/45

Spitfire XIV

Cognac

Chilbolton

41
EB

7/6/44

7/6/44

Spitfire

Bolt Head

Bolt Head

64
SH

22/6/44

30/8/44

Spitfire VB
Spitfire IX

Deanland

Bradwell Bay

65
YT

4/4/43

4/4/43

Spitfire

Perranporth

Perranporth

126
5J

3/7/44

29/8/44
Spitfire IX
Culmhead

Bradwell Bay

129

DV

15/3/43

17/3/43
Spitfire Vb

Squadron based at Ibsley

129

DV

19/3/43

?/?/43

Spitfire Vb

130

PJ

25/10/41

30/11/41

Spitfire II

Portreath

Warmwell

131

NX

24/3/44

24/5/44

Spitfire VII

Colerne

Culmhead

165

GT

20/5/44

22/6/44

Spitfire IX

Predannack

Detling

175

HH

10/10/42

9/12/42

Hurrican IIb

Warmwell

Gatwick

183

HF

5/6/43

4/8/43

Typhoon 1a

Colerne

Tangmere

193

DP

18/12/42

20/2/44

Typhoon 1b

(Formed)

Fairlop

197

OV

29/4/44

30/4/44

Typhoon 1b

Needs Oar Point

Needs Oar Point

257

FM

?/3/44

?/4/44

Typhoon 1b

Squadron based at Tangmere

263

HE

20/2/43

15/3/43

Whirlwind F.1.

Warmwell

Warmwell

263

HE

19/3/43

19/6/44

Typhoon

Warmwell

Bolt Head

266

ZH

21/9/43

7/3/44

Typhoon 1b

Exeter

Bolt Head

266

ZH

12/3/44

15/3/44

Typhoon 1b

Bolt Head

Acklington

275

PV

10/1/45

15/2/45

Walrus

Exeter

(Disbanded)

276

AQ

21/10/41

3/4/44

Lysander
Walrus

(Formed)

Portreath

276

TQ

21/10/41

3/4/44

Defiant
Spitfire
Anson

(Formed)

Portreath

279

OS

?/6/43

?/11/43

Hudson A.S.R. II

?

?

286

NW

?/5/42

?/?/42

Defiant
Master
Oxford
Spitfire

Lulsgate

Colerne

302
(Polish)

WX

6/10/41

26/4/42

Spitfire VB
Hurricane

Ibsleyl

Warmwell

312
(Czech)

DU

2/5/42

10/10/42

Spitfire VB
Hurricane

Fairwood Common

Churchstanton

Further information on all Czech Squadrons can be found here: http://cz-raf.hyperlink.cz/index.html
329
(Free French)
5A
25/5/45
16/6/45
Spitfire IX
Skaebrae
Dreux
329
(Free French)
5A
19/6/45
14/7/45
Spitfire IX
Dreux
Fairwood Common
340
GW
?
?
Spitfire IX
?
?
414
Canadian
RU
25/5/43
4/6/43
Mustang b
Middle Wallop
Portreath
486
New Zealand
SA
22/2/44
?
Hurricane

Squadron based at Ibsley
500
'B' Flight
MK
?/9/41
30/10/41
Blenheim IVL
Bircham Newton
?
501
SD
31/7/42
?/?/42
Spitfire Vb

Squadron based at Ibsley
504
TM
15/3/43
17/3/43
Spitfire Vb
Squadron based at Ibsley
504
TM
19/3/43
?/3/43
Spitfire Vb
Squadron based at Ibsley
602
LO
4/4/43
?
Spitfire
Perranporth
?
610
DW
?/6/44
2/7/44
Spitfire XVI
Bolt Head
West Malling
611
FY
23/6/44
3/7/44
Spitfire LF VB
Dean Land
Predannack
616
YQ
15/3/43
17/3/43
Spitfire VI

Squadron based at Ibsley
616
YQ
19/3/43
?/3/43
Spitfire VI
691
5S
21/2/45
1/8/45
Oxford
Vengeance
Barracuda
Defiant
Hurricane
Roborough
Exeter
834 F.A.A. R.N.
?/4/43
?
6 x Fairey Swordfish
?
?
*834 Seconded to Coastal Command on Night Patrols
838 F.A.A. R.N.
20/4/44
8/8/44
Fairey Swordfish
Machrihanish
Worthy Down
*838 Squadron Fleet Air Arm (FAA) was used for operations in the English Channel to seek and destroy enemy U-Boats and E-Boats. A general reconnaissance wing was formed at Knightstone House on 22/4/44 under the control of No 19 Group. 838 joined the 156 Wing RAF Coastal Command.
19 Group
G2
15/12/47
?/7/48
Dominie
Avro Anson
Roborough
St Eval
78 Wing
EY
11/10/41
31/7/46
Hornet Moth
Blenheim
Reformed
Disbanded
*Calibration Flight. Coastal Command set up in September 1941 from 500 Squadron
A.D.L.S
?/5/44
?/6/44
Hurricane II
?
?
* Air Despatch Letter Service. Internal mail Flights - No 1697 Flight
US Navy/
Army Air Force
?/?/42
?
PBY5A (Catalina)
Oxford
Spitfire
?
?
82 Gliding School
19/2/48
16/8/50
Cadet
Sedbergh
Prefect
Roborough
Disbanded
229 M.U.
Maintenance Unit
25/9/42
19/4/43
n/a
Quedgely
Brasted

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