No. 144 Squadron RAF facts for kids
Quick facts for kids No. 144 Squadron RAF |
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|---|---|
| Active | 20 March 1918 – 4 February 1919 11 January 1937 – 25 May 1945 1 December 1959 – 23 August 1963 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Role | various |
| Motto(s) | Who shall stop us |
No. 144 Squadron RAF was a special group of aircraft and pilots in the British Royal Air Force. It was first created in 1918 during the First World War. Back then, it flew bomber planes in the Middle East. The squadron was started again in 1937. During the Second World War, it flew bombers and attacked enemy ships. Later, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the squadron became a strategic missile unit.
Contents
History of No. 144 Squadron RAF
First World War Service
On March 20, 1918, a new squadron was formed. It was part of the Royal Flying Corps in Port Said, Egypt. This squadron was meant to scout for the army. It used different planes like the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 and Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12.
In August, the squadron got new Airco DH.9 light bombers. They joined the 40th (Army) Wing. This was to prepare for a big attack against the Ottoman Empire. On September 19, the Battle of Megiddo began. 144 Squadron attacked Ottoman communication centers. This included the headquarters of the Ottoman Seventh Army at Nablus.
The Ottoman forces soon started to retreat. All available planes, including 144 Squadron, attacked them. They targeted the Ottoman Seventh Army as it fled through the Wadi al-Far'a. These constant air attacks largely destroyed the Seventh Army.
On October 17, 1918, the squadron moved to Moudros on Lemnos island. This island is near the Dardanelles. But the Armistice of Mudros ended the war against the Ottoman Empire on October 30. The squadron returned to the United Kingdom in December. It was officially ended at RAF Ford on February 4, 1919.
Reforming the Squadron
No. 144 Squadron was started again on January 11, 1937. A small group from 101 Squadron formed its core. They had four Boulton & Paul Overstrand bombers. These planes were based at RAF Bicester in Oxfordshire.
The new 144 Squadron quickly received Avro Anson planes. These were modern monoplanes, replacing the older Overstrand biplanes. On February 8, 1937, the squadron moved to RAF Hemswell in Lincolnshire. In March, they added Hawker Audax biplanes. By August, both were replaced by newer Bristol Blenheim I bombers.
The squadron became part of 5 Group of Bomber Command. In March 1939, they switched to Handley Page Hampden planes.
Second World War Operations
When the Second World War began in September 1939, the squadron still used Hampdens. Their first mission was on September 26. Twelve planes searched for German naval forces in the North Sea. They did not find any targets that day.
Three days later, 11 planes flew over the Heligoland Bight. They were again looking for German warships. The group split into two. One group saw two German destroyers but missed them. The second group was attacked by Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters. All five Hampdens in that group were shot down.
From February 1940, the squadron started dropping leaflets over Germany at night. On March 6, they flew their first bombing raid on a German target. This was a seaplane base at Hörnum on Sylt island. The squadron continued night bombing through 1940 and 1941.
In February 1942, German battleships like Scharnhorst escaped through the English Channel. This showed the RAF needed better anti-shipping planes. So, two Hampden squadrons were chosen to become torpedo bomber units. 144 Squadron was one of them.
On April 21, 1942, the squadron moved to Coastal Command. They joined 18 Group and moved to RAF Leuchars in Scotland. Their first torpedo bomber mission was on July 27, 1942.
In September 1942, during Operation Orator, 32 Hampdens from 144 Squadron and 455 Squadron RAAF flew to Murmansk in Russia. Their job was to protect Arctic convoy PQ 18. They would also attack any German warships leaving Norway. 144 Squadron lost 5 Hampdens on the flight to Russia. 455 Squadron lost four more. German warships did not attack PQ 18. The squadron's crew returned to Britain in October. They left their planes for the Soviets.
In January 1943, the squadron switched to the better Bristol Beaufighter. They continued as torpedo bombers. After training, they moved to Algeria in June 1943. They attacked ships over the Mediterranean Sea. In August, they returned to the United Kingdom.
They continued anti-shipping missions over the North Sea from RAF Wick in Scotland. In May 1944, they moved to RAF Davidstow Moor in Cornwall. This was to prepare for Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy. Their task was to protect the invasion forces from German E-boats.
In July, they moved to RAF Strubby in Lincolnshire. From there, they attacked E-boats and German convoys off the Dutch coast. In September, they moved to Banff, Aberdeenshire. They became part of the Banff Strike Wing for operations near Norway. In January 1945, the squadron stopped using torpedoes. They focused on suppressing flak (anti-aircraft fire) for the Strike Wing. The squadron was ended on May 25, 1945, at RAF Dallachy.
Flight Lt. R.S.A. Churchill from 144 Squadron was part of the Great Escape from Stalag Luft 3. Churchill was one of the escapees who was not executed by the SS. He was the last survivor of those who lived.
Missile Squadron Role
On December 1, 1959, the squadron was started again. It was based at RAF North Luffenham in Rutland. It had three Thor Intermediate-range ballistic missiles. These missiles were provided by the United States under Project Emily.
The missiles used a "dual key" system. The British controlled the launch sequence. The Americans were in charge of arming the nuclear warhead. This meant both nations had to agree to use the missiles. The squadron, like other Thor units, was put on high alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The squadron was ended on August 23, 1963.
