105 SQUADRON - Bomber, Fairey Battle
AASF - BEF
History | Operations and losses | Sources | Links | Books | Questions and/or remarks
In the early months of the Second World War it served with the Advanced Air Striking Force in France, and in May 1940, was one of the squadrons which attacked the Meuse bridges at Sedan in an attempt to stem the German advance. In July 1940, following its return to England, the squadron was re-armed with Blenheims and subsequently played a prominent part in No. 2 Group's bombing offensive against fringe targets in Germany, France and the Low Countries, and against shipping in the North Sea.
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Operations and losses 10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940
Not all operations listed; those with losses are.
10/05/1940: Luxembourg. 6 Planes lost, 3 POW
11/05/1940: ?. 1 KIA
12/05/1940: St Hubert, B. 2 planes lost, 3 KIA
14/05/1940: Sedan, F. 7 planes lost, 9 KIA, 3 MIA, 3 POW
16/05/1940: transfer
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Fatalities 01/01/1940 - 09/05/1940 (incomplete)
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Allan M. Edgar, RAF 41270 (Australia), 105 Sqdn., age 27, 26/03/1940, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France
Sergeant (Obs.) Hugh E. Pettit, RAF 580495, 105 Sqdn., age 20, 26/03/1940, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France
Corporal (W. Op.) Alexander E. Jones, RAF 531577, 105 Sqdn., age 22, 26/03/1940, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France
Corporal (Air Gnr.) Frank Coughtrey, RAF 533672, 105 Sqdn., age 23, 31/03/1940, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France
Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Cecil R. Mace, RAF 39467, 105 Sqdn., age 25, 31/03/1940, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France
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10/05/1940: Luxembourg
The overall British commander, Air Marshal Barratt, acting on his own initiative, orders 32 Battles from Nos 12, 103, 105, 142, 150, 218 and 226 Squadrons to attack German troops advancing through Luxembourg at noon. In a chilling scene-setting series of events, 13 are shot down by mobile anti-aircraft and machine guns. The remainder all suffer damage of some kind. In a second attack during the afternoon, a further 10 Battles from 32 ordered into the air are lost to German fighters and flak.
type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: K9939, GB-?
operation: Luxembourg
lost: 10/05/1940
Airborne 1530 Villeneuve-les-Vertus. Severely damaged in action and abandoned on evacuation to Echemines 16May40. Crew names not appended.
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type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: K9338, GB-?
operation: Luxembourg
lost: 10/05/1940
Sgt Bowles
Sgt Radford
LAC Clegg
Airborne 1530 from Villeneuve-les-Verus. Returned to base so badly damaged that it was beyond the unit's ability to repair. Abandoned to its fate when the Sqdn retreated to Echemines 16May40.
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type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: K9188, GB-?
operation: Luxembourg
lost: 10/05/1940
Sgt Richardson
Sgt Donlon
LAC R.W. McCarthy Inj.
Airborne 1530 from Villeneuve-les-Vertus to attack enemy troops advancing along the Echternach to Luxembourg Road. Badly shot about, and left at Villeneuve-les-Vertus when the Squadron retreated back to Echemines 16May40. LAC McCarthy was badly wounded in the legs and stomach, but he remained at his post throughout and showed great fortitude when lifted from the rear of the Battle. Awarded the DFM, Gazetted 28Jun40, the Squadron's in WW11, LAC McCarthy recovered from his injuries. Later he commissioned, he lost his life flying with 107 Squadron 6Dec42. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
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type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: P2190, GB-?
operation: Luxembourg
lost: 10/05/1940
F/O R.N.Wall
Sgt Woodhouse
Cpl Greenwood
Airborne 1530 from Villeneuve-led-Vertus. Returned to base so badly damaged that it was beyond the unit's abilitiy to repair. Moved to AD for repair, abandoned to its fate on the retreat.
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type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: K9339, GB-?
operation: Luxembourg
lost: 10/05/1940
Airborne 1530 Ecury-sur-Coole. Severely damaged by small arms ground fire. Returned safely but the aircraft was beyond field repair and was abandoned when the Sqdn fell back to Echemines 16May40. Crew names not appended.
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type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: P2200, GB-?
operation: Luxembourg
lost: 10/05/1940
P/O D.G. O'Brien PoW
Sgt D.F. Eastick PoW
AC1 S.R. Wright PoW
Airborne 1530 from Villeneuve-les-Vertus. Last sighted diving towards an enemy column. The crew were later reported to be PoWs. Sgt D.F.Eastick was interned in Camps 8B/L6/357, PoW No.13079. P/O D.G.O'Brien in Camp L3, PoW No.597. AC1 S.R.Wright in Camps 8B/L6/L4, PoW No.13074.
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11/05/1940: ?
Sergeant (Pilot) Harold J. Barnwell, RAF 566573, 105 Sqdn., age 23, 11/05/1940, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, F
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12/05/1940: St Hubert
type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: K9485, GB-?
operation: St Hubert
lost: 12/05/1940
Sergeant (Nav.) William J. Anning, RAF 525720, 105 Sqdn., age 26, 12/05/1940, Bouillon Communal Cemetery, B
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Tom Hurst, 105 Sqdn., 12/05/1940, Bouillon Communal Cemetery, B
Leading Aircraftman (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Clifford R. Wells, RAF 551357, 105 Sqdn., age 19, 12/05/1940, Bouillon Communal Cemetery, B
Airborne 1430 Villeneuve-les-Vertus. Hit by Flak and crashed into a hillside near Bouillon, close to the border with France.
type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: P2176, GB-?
operation: St Hubert
lost: 12/05/1940
F/L H.C. Samuels
Sgt F.B. Abbott
LAC R.D. Hughes
Airborne 1430 from Villeneuve-les-Vertus. Badly damaged but returned safely, deemed beyond field repair and moved to No.6 RSU. Abandoned on the ground Jun40.
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14/05/1940: Sedan
The events of 14th May determined both of the A.A.S.F. and of the campaign. The French High Command called for a supreme effort at Sedan, where the ground forces massing for counter-attack had been rudely scattered. Arrangements were accordingly made for the whole strength of the Allied bombers in France to be hurled against the Sedan bridgehead in a series of waves, and soon after noon the few French aircraft available went into action. Attacking bridges and columns of troops, they suffered losses so severe that their remaining operations for the day were cancelled.
Then came the turn of the A.A.S.F. Between 1500 and 1600 hours the entire force of available Battles and Blenheims was flung against the same objectives. But the Me.109's absent in the morning, were now on guard. No. 12 Squadron lost four aircraft out of five; No. 105 Squadron, seven out of eleven; No. 150 Squadron, four out of four; No. 139 Squadron, four out of six; No. 218 Squadron, ten out of eleven. In all, from the seventy-one bombers which took off, forty did not return. No higher rate of loss in an operation of comparable size has even been experienced by the Royal Air Force.
type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: L5585, GB-?
operation: Sedan
lost: 14/05/1940
F/O C.F. Gibson Inj, PoW
Sgt A.W.H. Hadley PoW
AC1 W. Draper Inj, PoW
Airborne 1540 from Villeneuve-les-Vertus to attack bridges and roads in the area around Sedan. Shot down and crashed just behind enemy lines. F/O Gibson managed to slip away from his captors and reached the French lines. Unfortunately, he was wounded and had to be admitted to Hospital. he was still undergoing treatment when the French surrendered and, once again, he was taken prisoner. F/O C.F.Gibson and AC1 W.Draper were confined in Hospital due injuries. AC1 Draper was repatriated aboard SS Letitia 2Feb45. Sgt A.W.H.Hadley interned in Camps L1/L6/357, PoW No.65.
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type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: L5238, GB-?
operation: Sedan
lost: 14/05/1940
Flying Officer (Pilot) Richard N. Wall, RAF 37839, 105 Sqdn., age 25, 14/05/1940, Noyers-Pont-Maugis French National Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Obs.) Arthur C. Morgan, RAF 563340, 105 Sqdn., age 28, 14/05/1940, Noyers-Pont-Maugis French National Cemetery, F
Leading Aircraftman (W. Op Air) Harold Hatton, RAF 531631, 105 Sqdn., age 22, 14/05/1940, Noyers-Pont-Maugis French National Cemetery, F
1540 from Villeneuve-les-Vertus. Shot down attacking a bridge, crashing near the hamlet of Noyers-Pont-Maugis (Ardennes), 6 km S of Sedan, France.Sedan.
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type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: K9189, GB-?
operation: Sedan
lost: 14/05/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Frederick H. Ridley, RAF 41208, 105 Sqdn., age unknown, 14/05/1940, Donchery Communal Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Obs.) Gordon Atkinson, RAF 580557, 105 Sqdn., age 19, 14/05/1940 Donchery Communal Cemetery, F
Aircraftman 1st Class (W. Op.) James S. Thomson, RAF 613420, 105 Sqdn., age unknown, 14/05/1940 (Donchery Communal Cemetery, F)
Airborne 1540 from Villeneuve-les-Vertus to attack bridges and roads in the area around Sedan. shot down at Donchery (Ardennes), 4 km WSW of Sedan, France.
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type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: L5250, GB-?
operation: Sedan
lost: 14/05/1940
P/O D.C.F. Murray
Sgt Hemingway
AC1 Hill
Airborne 1540 from Villeneuve-les-Vertus to attack bridges and roads inthe area around Sedan. Forced landed and left to its fate at Suipped.
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type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: L5230, GB-?
operation: Sedan
lost: 14/05/1940
Flight Lieutenant Harold C. Sammels, RAF 37901, 105 Sqdn., age 24, 14/05/1940, missing
Sergeant Frank B. Abbott, RAF 563017, 105 Sqdn., age 28, 14/05/1940, missing
Leading Aircraftman Raymond D. Hughes, RAF 551679,105 Sqdn., age 20, 14/05/1940, missing
Airborne 1540 from Villeneuve-les-Vertus to attack bridges and roads in the area around Sedan. Lost without trace. The crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
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type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: K9342, GB-?
operation: Sedan
lost: 14/05/1940
P/O F.A.G. Lascelles
Sgt Ordway
AC1 Weir
Airborne Villeneuve-les-Vertus to attack bridges and roads in the area around Sedan. Shot down near Sedan (Ardennes), France.
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type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: L5523, GB-?
operation: Sedan
lost: 14/05/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Hugh E. White, RAF 40787, 105 Sqdn., age 26, 14/05/1940, Choloy War Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Obs.) Geoffrey A. Cartwright, RAF 580604, 105 Sqdn., age 23, 14/05/1940, Choloy War Cemetery, F
Aircraftman 1st Class (W. Op. Air) James Potter, RAF 610963, 105 Sqdn., age unknown, 14/05/1940, Choloy War Cemetery, F
Airborne 1540 Villeneuve-les-Vertus to attack bridges and roads in the area around Sedan. Crashed, with total loss of life, cause not established.
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16/05/1940: transfer
Two of the Battle squadrons—Nos. 105 and 208—had only four aircraft left between them; these and the surviving crews were transferred to the other Battle squadrons.
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Sources
Belgian Aviation History Association Archaeological Team
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Log From 1940 of Retreat Through France (BBC WW2 People's War
Lost Bombers
Milestones - Sedan area - 14 th May 1940
Royal Air Force - 105 Squadron
RAF - Campaign Diary - The Battle of France (May-June 1940)
RAF History - Bomber Command
RAF Museum: British Military Aviation in 1940
RAF Order of Battle, France, 10th May 1940
Royal Air Force History Section
The Royal Air Force, 1939-1945
The Second World War - a day by day account
War over Holland
Books
W.R. Chorley, Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Volume 1, 1939/40, Midland Counties Publications, ISBN 0 904597 85 7
Links
Airwar over Denmark
Allied World War II Casualties in the Netherlands
Battle-of-Britain.com
British Aviation Archaeological Council - Books and research links
CWGC Cemeteries Netherlands
The National Ex-Prisoners of War Association
Pilotfriend.com: aircraft of WW2
RAF Battle of Britain
De Slag om de Grebbeberg (Dutch)
Warbird Alley
www.bomber-command.de
The Aerodrome -
Aces and Aircraft of World War 1
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This page is dedicated to the men of 105 Squadron.
© Bart FM Droog / Rottend Staal Online 2008. Permission granted for use of the data gathered here for non commercial purposes, if this source is mentioned with a link to http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/index.html
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