RAF Squadrons @ Colombo, Ceylon during WWII
Barrie
Does anyone know which RAF Squadrons were based in Colombo, Ceylon
during WWII? My father was from Barbados, W.I. and joined the RAF
as a VR during 1941. He was despatched to the Far East and India. He
served 8 months in Singapore (just before it fell??) and 3 years in
Colombo. According to his RAF papers his rank was LAC.
Any info on the above would be much appreciated.
Many thanks,
Barrie Callinan
A F Anderson
I can only find 2 RAF squadrons based at Colombo:
No 11, a bomber squadron, from Mar 42 to Jan 43 with Blenheim Mk IV's
"Within three weeks of its arrival [in Ceylon] it became involved in the
japanese attack of Easter 1942. Sent to bomb the Japanese naval force on
Easter Sunday, 5th April, nine of the squadron's Blenheims, led by Wing
Commander A J M Smyth, the CO, were unable to find it and brought their
bombs back - their failure being due to the fact that their briefing
had, through no fault of their own, been based on inaccurate
information. Five days later the Blenheims were sent out against the
enemy again. On this occasion they found them and made an unsuccessful
high-level bombing attack. One Blenheim was shot down by flak over the
target and crashed into the sea. The others turned for home and
subsequently ran into about 60 Japanese fighters returning from
escorting a raid on Ceylon. A thirty-minute battle ensued, and in this
each side lost four aircraft.
After the japanese attack on Colombo there followed for No 11 a very
dull period of garrison duties in Ceylon, occupied mainly in training
and co-operation with the Navy".
...and No 30, a fighter squadron, from Feb 43 to Aug 43 with Hurricane
IIc's
"On 5th April 1942, Easter Sunday, fifty japanese Navy 99 bombers,
escorted by Zero fighters attacked Colombo and Ratmalana airfield. No 30
waded in although its last aircraft were taking off as the airfield was
bombed [No 30 was based at Ratmalana from Mar to Aug 42]. The squadron
destroyed eleven with seven probables and five damaged but lost eight
aircraft (five pilots)"
Perhaps someone else can come up with some other squadrons?
Sources are:
"Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft" by Philip J R Moyes,
published by MacDonald & Janes, 1976, ISBN 0 354 01027 X
"Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft" by John D R Rawlings,
published by MacDonald & Janes, 1976, ISBN 0 354 01028 X
--
Forrest Anderson forre...@dial.pipex.com
Edinburgh
Scotland
Donald Phillipson
<521mm4$f...@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu>
Organization: The National Capital FreeNet
On 16 Sep 1996 03:05:12 GMT, bar...@enternet.co.nz (Barrie) wrote:
>
>>Does anyone know which RAF Squadrons were based in Colombo, Ceylon . . .
A F Anderson (forre...@dial.pipex.com) writes:
> I can only find 2 RAF squadrons based at Colombo:
>
> No 11, a bomber squadron, from Mar 42 to Jan 43 with Blenheim Mk IV's
> . . .
> ...and No 30, a fighter squadron, from Feb 43 to Aug 43 with Hurricane
The first official RAF history (by Richards & Saunders) gives the SE Asia
Air Command order of battle for July 1944 but not earlier -- perhaps just
too complicated, reaching as it did from NW India to Ceylon, Burma, South
Africa and Aden. It looks as if Catalinas (PBY) were the single commonest
type, but SEA Asia Air Command included all allies (US, Indian, RCAF) and
arms (transport, bomber, fighter, air/sea rescue etc.)
--
| Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs, |
| Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734 |
Robert Quirk
>
>A F Anderson (forre...@dial.pipex.com) writes:
>
>> I can only find 2 RAF squadrons based at Colombo:
>>
>> No 11, a bomber squadron, from Mar 42 to Jan 43 with Blenheim Mk IV's
>> . . .
>> ...and No 30, a fighter squadron, from Feb 43 to Aug 43 with Hurricane
>
Jefford, "RAF Squdrons, a comprehensive record of the movement..."
Shows 14 Airfields on Ceylon
Halley, "the Squadrons of the Roya Air Force & Commonwealth"
list 6 squadrons which served at China Bay 17, 261, 273, 321, 357, 413
2 at Kansesanturai --27,79
etc.
Robert Quirk