|
Beginning
| WW1 | Interwar
Years | WW2 | Post-War
Years | 1989-Today
| Crest | Aircraft
Insignia | Standard
THE
BEGINNING
19
(F) Sqn was formed at Castle Bromwich on 1 Sep 1915 from a
nucleus of 5(R) Sqn under the command of Captain R M
Rodwell. Early
training was carried out on the Maurice Farmans, Gnome
Avros, Cauldrons, Renaults and Armstrong Whitworths.
A month later BE2Cs arrived, on which many pilots
were trained in night flying.
On
receipt of orders to mobilise in Dec 1915, the BE2Cs were
replaced with RE7s, powered by a 120hp Beardmore engine,
and the Sqn moved to Netheravon and settled down to
training pilots for its primary role of bombing.
However, mobilisation was delayed for the fitting
of more powerful engines into the RE7s, and in Apr 1916
the Sqn moved to Filton.
Further mobilisation orders were received in Jun
1916 when the Sqn was re-equipped with the single-seat
BE12s.
The
aircraft were flown to St Omer towards the end of Jul and
on 1 Aug, the Sqn set up its HQ at Fienvillers.
The battle of the Somme was now in full swing and
the Sqn’s first offensive patrol was carried out on 12
Aug 1916 on the line Bapaume-Cambrai-Epeby.
The Sqn experienced heavy losses in the next month
because the BE12 was inferior to the enemy types that were
being used at the front.
General Trenchard reported the unsuitability of the
BE12 as a single-seat fighter and re-equipment took place
in Nov 1916 with the French Spad S.V11, a single-seat
fighter with a fixed Vickers gun geared to fire through
the propeller.
WORLD
WAR 1
The
Sqn took part in the Battles of the Somme, Ypres,
Passchendaele, Arras, and others.
On 29 Dec 1917, a patrol of 6 Spads led by Major
Carter attacked 12 enemy Albatros north of the Houthulst
Forest. Seven
enemy aircraft (confirmed) were shot down without loss.
Two signals were received that day; one of
congratulations from 57 Sqn and the other a translation of
a message in German – “New Year 1918.
We should be greatly pleased to meet the Sqn of 12
Spads again over Houthulst Forrest in the near future.
Sporting greetings, the 4 Albatros”.
Further
re-equipment was carried out in Jan 1918 with the Sopwith
Dolphin 200hp single-seater, and it is from this aircraft
that the Sqn adopted its Crest.
By the end of the First World War the Sqn had run
up an official score of 281 kills.
THE
INTER-WAR YEARS
The
Sqn was reduced to cadre scale and on 31 Dec 1919 was
disbanded at Ternhill.
It was reformed at Duxford on 1 Apr 1923 and, until
1 Jun 1923, when it was finally brought up to strength, it
was used as an additional flt to No2 School of Flying
Training. They
were regularly involved in the RAF Display at Hendon from
1926 until the outbreak of war, being the first to perform
synchronized flight formation aerobatics with smoke. In 1932 the Sqn’s motto was adopted ‘Possunt Quia Posse
Videntur’ – ‘They can because they think they
can’. King
Edward approved the badge in 1936.
During the years of peace the Sqn remained at
Duxford and flew in turn: Snipes, Grebes, Siskins,
Bulldogs and Gauntlets. On 4 Aug 1938, 19(F) Sqn made RAF history by becoming the
first sqn to equip with Spitfires.
Squadron Leader H Cozens, the Commanding Officers
at the time, recalled: “It was like flying a lorry at
low levels and low speeds, but once you had reached 10,000
feet the true characteristics became apparent and it was
delightful to fly”.
All pilots were recalled from leave on 26 Sep 1938
and the Sqn remained ‘available’, at 2 hours notice,
until Germany had entered the Sudetan areas.
A Battle Flt was maintained at 30 minutes’
readiness in Aug 1939, due to growing unrest in Europe,
and at the outbreak of war on 1 Sep 1939, the Sqn was
fully prepared for it.
In Mar 1940, Douglas Bader arrived at Duxford to
join 19(F), his first Sqn since his horrific accident 8
years earlier.
WORLD
WAR 2
Initially
the Sqn was employed largely on convoy patrols, until
joining the fierce air battles over Dunkirk.
During this period, the first engagement took place
on 11 May 1940 when a Ju88 was shot down. On 11 Sep 1940, the heaviest aerial fighting was encountered,
proving to be the turning point of the Battle of Britain,
and on this day the Sqn accounted for 13 aircraft
destroyed and 5 ‘probables’ with the loss of only 4
Spitfires. The
first canon-equipped Spitfire Mk 1 Bs arrived at the end
of Jun 1940 but at first suffered reliability problems.
Early in Sep 1940, however, the Sqn was re-equipped
with 8-gun models and formed part of the Duxford Wing
along with 242 and 310 Sqns.
By the end of 1940, the Sqn tote had increased to
93 aircraft destroyed, 18 probables and 9 damaged.
By
summer 1941, the RAF was going over to the offensive and
19(F) Sqn’s long-range Spitfire 11As were used
increasingly to escort bombers, or join fighter sweeps,
operating from southern airfields such as West Malling,
Biggin Hill, Perranporth and Middle Wallop.
Throughout the remaining years of the war, the Sqn
re-equipped with Spitfire 5Bs and Spitfire Mk 9s.
In Jan 1944 the Sqn took up the dive-bombing role
when Mustangs replaced Spitfires.
On
D-Day, 6 Jan 1944, operating under the 2nd
Tactical Air Force, the Sqn became actively engaged in the
roles of Close Air Support to the ground forces and
Fighter Cover. A
large number of air combat engagements took place, the
enemy aircraft proving no match for the Mustang, and the
tally of kills was accordingly increased.
The Sqn’s tour with the 2nd TAF ended
on 29 Sep 1944 when they returned to Matlask in England.
This move brought about a change in their role from
tactical to long-range escorts for strategic heavy
bombers, carrying out daylight raids on the Ruhr.
A
move to Peterhead in Scotland was made on 14 Feb 1945.
Escorts were provided for Mosquitoes and
Beaufighters carrying out shipping strikes off Norway and
in the Kattegat areas.
The occasional fighter sweep also took place and
more enemy aircraft were intercepted and destroyed.
By 8 May 1945 (VE Day), the Sqn’s total ‘bag’
for World War 2 was 145 ½ aircraft destroyed, 24
probables and 57 damaged.
POST
WAR YEARS
1945-1956
Shortly
after the cessation of hostilities in Europe the Sqn moved
to Acklington and then to Molesworth in Sep 1945.
Normal peacetime training returned once again.
In Mar 1946 the Mustangs were replaced by Spitfire
Mk XVIs, and 2 months were spent at Leubeck in Germany on
armament training.
On
4 Oct 1946, the Spitfires were replaced by DH Hornet Mk
1s, twin-engined long-range fighters.
Training included fighter affiliation with
Lancasters and long-range cross-countries.
In Apr 1947, the Sqn moved to Church Fenton when
training continued with affiliation against B29s.
The
end of the piston-engine era for the Sqn was in 1950, and
in Jan 1951, the Sqn rearmed with Gloster Meteor Mk IV
aircraft and changed role to Day Fighters.
On 16 Apr 1951 the Meteor IV was replaced by the
Meteor VIII, with increased fuel capacity and many other
airframe and avionics improvements.
Sqn training continued with bomber affiliation,
air-to-air gunnery and several detachments.
1956-1957
The
Sqn was presented with its Standard on 11 Jul 1956 by Air
Chief Marshal Sir Ronald Hardman KCB DSO DFC, who had won
his DFC on the Western Front in 1918 whilst a Flt Cdr with
the Sqn. The
Standard is a fringed and tasselled silken banner mounted
on a pike, crowned by a golden eagle and bears the maximum
of 8 battle honours, including the Western Front and Ypres
from World War 1, and Normandy, Dunkirk and Arnhem from
World War 2.
The
first of the Hunter Mk 6s arrived in Oct 1956 and
conversion to them began in Nov.
The Meteors, which had given such long and worth
service, were relegated to the task of flag towing.
A shortage of aircraft on establishment, poor
weather, poor serviceability and lack of spares all
contributed to protract the period of conversion until 18
Feb 1957, when the Sqn once more became fully operational.
In Aug 1957, Major R G Newell (USAF) assumed
command of the Sqn, an event thought to be unique in
Fighter Command, of a Sqn being commanded by appointment
of other than an RAF officer.
1957-1989
After
12 years at Church Fenton the Sqn moved to Leconfield in
Jun 1959, and on 17 Dec 1962, the first BAC Lightning Mk 2
arrived, exclusive to 19 and 92 Sqns.
The Sqn was declared fully operational on
Lightnings on 1 Aug 1963.
On 23 Sep 1965 the Sqn was transferred from Fighter
Command to RAF Germany, and moved from Leconfield to
Gutersloh, becoming fully operational there on 6 Oct 1965.
The
Sqn continued to operate a Battle Flight at 5 minutes’
readiness as part of the NATO Air Defence System. Jan 1967 saw the introduction of the Lightning F Mk 2A with
its greater fuel capacity.
The Sqn remained at Gutersloh until 2300hrs on 31
Dec 1976 when 19 (Lightning) Sqn handed over Battle Flight
duties to 19 (Phantom) Sqn based at Wildenrath.
Since 1915 the Sqn had operated solely single-seat
fighters, and for the first time in its history the Sqn
took on a 2-seat fighter, the Phantom FGR2.
The Sqn then took over the RAF Germany Tri-partite
Battle Flight Commitment from the Lightnings, and became
part of No 2 ATAF’s Interception Alert Force.
This task involved keeping one aircraft at 5
minutes’ readiness, prepared to scramble and intercept
any unidentified aircraft in Northwest German airspace.
1989
– TODAY
The
Sqn was presented with its new Standard on 15 Jan 1988 by
Air Marshall Sir Anthony Kingsley KCB NIA.
The 32-year-old former Standard was laid to rest in
St Clement-Danes Church in Jun 1988.
In Sep 1990, the Sqn deployed to Akrotiri, Cyprus,
to provide air defence for the sovereign base during
Operation Granby and the 1991 Gulf War.
The
Sqn was finally disbanded in Jan 1992 as a result of
cutbacks following the end of the Cold War.
It reformed in Sep that year at Chivenor to take
over from 63 Sqn as a flying training unit with the BAe
Hawk. Further
cut-backs saw the closure of Chivenor, and the Sqn moved
to Valley in 1995 becoming the CFS unit there, training
Flying, Tactics and Weapons instructors on the Hawk.
Air Vice Marshall Michael Lyne, a pilot on the Sqn
in 1940, opened the new Sqn accommodation in May 1997, and
the Sqn remained there until 1999 when it relocated to
share the 74 Sqn buildings on the other side of the
airfield. In
Sep 2000, 74 Sqn disbanded, and 19(F) Sqn accepted the
extra-role of training ab-initio fast-jet pilots in
tactics and weaponry, which it retains to this day.
19
SQN CREST
‘Possunt
Quia Posse Videntur’ – ‘They can because they think
they can’.
Between
wings elevated and conjoined in base, a dolphin, head
downwards.
The
dolphin signifies the fact that it was the first Sqn to
fly the Sopwith Dolphin, the wings showing that it was a
flying unit.
It
was devised and approved by the AOC-in Chief, ADGB in
February 1932, and approved by HRH King Edward VIII in May
1936. On the
3rd December 1936 Air Marshal Sir Hugh C.T
Dowding, KCB, CMG, visited Duxford to present the Sqn
crest to 19 Sqn.
19
SQN AIRCRAFT INSIGNIA
First
World War – 19 Sqn’s Spads and Dolphins originally
carried a white square aft of the roundels.
For
a while in 1917 the Sqn carried red, white and blue bands
around the fuselage of the Spads.
This
changed to a dumbell in the last year of the War.
The
Inter-War Years – Upon reforming in 1923, 19 Sqn’s
aircraft had a blue and white check marking along the
fuselage and across the upper wing.
World
War 2 – The Spitfires at first carried the squadron
number ‘19’ on the fin in red for ‘A’ Flt and
white for ‘B’ Flt .
This was changed to the code letters ‘WZ’ in
1938 and from September 1939 onwards ‘QV’.
During 1945 the Mustang spinners were yellow with
black bands.
Post
War – In 1947, the blue and white check was unofficially
restored on a Hornet, and officially from 1951 onwards on
the Meteors, Hunters, Lightnings, and Phantoms.
19
SQN STANDARD
History: Standards have been in use by the British Forces for many
centuries. It
is probable that their original purpose was to be a
rallying point during a confused battle. Enshrined on them are the battle honours recording the proud
traditions of the unit concerned and constituting a
memorial to those who have gone before and have
contributed to these traditions. Above all, a colour or standard is a symbol of a
Sovereign’s trust in the Unit concerned.
RAF
Standards: Created
by His late Majesty King George VI to mark the 25th
anniversary of the Royal Air Force in 1943.
It is awarded only to Sqn’s of 25 years’
standing, or with a history of special outstanding
operations. Her
Majesty The Queen affirmed her father’s decision and
gives personal approval to each standard created.
19
Sqn Standard: 19
Sqn was presented with it’s Standard on 11th
July 1956 by Air Chief Marshal Sir Ronald Hardman KCB DSO
DFC, who had won his DFC on the Western Front in 1918
whilst a Flt Cdr with the Sqn.
A new Standard was presented on 15 January 1988 by
Air Marshal Sir Anthony Kingsley, KCB, NIA.
The 32 year old former Standard was laid to rest in
St Clement-Danes Church, London in June 1988.
The
Sqn Standard is 4ft x 2ft 8in in size, and consists of a
fringed and tasselled silken banner mounted on a pike
crowned by a golden eagle.
Eight selected battle honours in scroll surround
the Sqn Badge, and the decorative border contains the
rose, leek, thistle, and shamrock, beautifully
embroidered.
Battle
Honours:
*Western
Front 1916-1918
*Somme 1916
Arras
*Ypres 1917
Somme
1918
Lys
Amiens
Hindenburg Line
*Dunkirk
Home Defence 1940-1942
*Battle
of Britain 1940
Channel and North
Sea 1941-1942
Dieppe
*Fortress Europe 1942-1944
*Normandy
1944
Arnhem
France
and Germany 1944-1945
*Denotes
Honours emblazoned on Standard.
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