150 SQUADRON - Bomber, Fairey Battle
AASF | Bomber Command, 1 Group
History | Operations and losses | Sources | Links | Books | Questions and/or remarks
In the early months of the Second World War No. 150 served with the Advanced Air Striking Force in France and in May 1940, was one of the Battle squadrons which attacked the Meuse bridges in an attempt to stem the German advance.
Despite their appalling losses the Battle Squadrons struggled on valiantly until mid June when, with the war situation in France now hopeless, the remaining serviceable aircraft were flown back to England. No.1 Group was reformed, again equipped with Battles and for several months operated by night from northern airfields against Dutch and French ports in which Hitler was massing his invasion craft for Operation Sealion.
By the end of the year No. 150 Sqdn. was flying Wellingtons and playing its part in the strategic night-bombing offensive. In December 1942, after having flown 1717 sorties from the United Kingdom with Battles and Wellingtons, the squadron moved to North Africa and subsequently took part in the Tunisian, Sicilian and Italian campaigns.
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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. 4 Planes lost, 1 KIA, 5 POW
12/05/1940: Neufchateau. 2 Planes lost, 3 KIA
14/05/1940: Sedan, F (1st attack). No losses
14/05/1940: Sedan, F. 4 Planes lost, 11 KIA
19/05/1940: Battle Area, F. 2 Planes lost, 3 POW
26/05/1940: Roumont, B, 1 Plane lost, 2 POW
07/06/1940: Abbeville, F. 1 Plane lost, 3 KIA
08/06/1940: Battle Area, F. 1 Plane lost, 3 KIA
13/06/1940: Vernon, F
. 2 Planes lost, 4 KIA, 2 POW (1 Evd)
13/06/1940: Forêt de Gault, F, 1 Plane lost
15/06/1940: Battle Area, F, 1 Plane lost
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LOSSES 01/01/1940 - 09/05/1940
type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: P2244, JN-?
operation: Low bombing exercise
lost: 31/03/1940
Flying Officer (Pilot) David Devoto, RAF 39228 (Ireland), 150 Sqdn., age 25, 31/03/1940, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France
Sergeant (Obs.) Clifford Wall, RAF 580439, 150 Sqdn., age 25, 31/03/1940, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France
Aircraftman 1st Class (W.Op.) William F. Taylor, RAF 545991 (Ireland), 150 Sqdn., age 33, 31/03/1940, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France
Lost control in turn and flew into rising ground near St-Hilaire-le-Grand during low-bombing exercise in heavy ground mist, at 05.30 hrs.
Sources: CWGC and Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008
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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. As it was impossible to provide fighter escort the bombers were briefed to make a very low approach to target and attack from as little as 250 foot (80 meters) using bombs with a delayed fuse.
Intense small arms fire was encountered and three Battles of the first wave were shot down. A similar fate befell the second wave during the afternoon. Of the 32 Battles that took part that day, 13 were lost and all the rest damaged.
4 No. 150 Sqdn. Battles despatched in 2 sections of 2 to bomb a German troop column on Luxembourg-Echternach road. 2nd section did not find column on above-mentioned road but attacked column on Luxembourg-Geuenmacher road instead. 1 of these a/c FTR.
type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: L5539, JN-?
operation: Luxembourg
lost: 10/05/1940
Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Eric R. Parker, RAF 39111, 150 Sqdn., age unknown, 10/05/1940, Luxembourg (Hollerich) Communal Cemetery, Luxembourg
Sgt J. Whalley PoW
Cpl R.K.Rye PoW
Airborne 1530 from Ecury-sur-Coole. Shot down in the target area. Cpl R.K.Rye was interned in Camps 8B/L6/357, PoW No.13046. Sgt J.Whalley in Camps 8B/L1. No PoW No. (Right thumb shot off).
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Type: Fairey Battle 1
Serial number: L5540, JN-C
Operation: Luxembourg
Lost: 10/05/1940
F/O A.C. Roberts PoW
Sgt E.H. Ward Inj. PoW
AC1 D. Meyrick PoW
Airborne 1530 from Ecury-sur-Coole. Crash landed in the target area; all were soon captured. AC1 D. Meyrick was interned in Camps 8B/L6/357, PoW No.13053. F/O A.C. Roberts in Camps 9AH/L3, PoW No.327. Sgt E.H. Ward was confined in Hospital due injuries. No PoW No.
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Type: Fairey Battle 1
Serial number: K9390, JN-I
Operation: Luxembourg
Lost: 10/05/1940
Sgt R.A.de C. White
Sgt C.W.K. Booth
LAC R.H. Burrows
Airborne 1530 from Ecury-sur-Coole. Crash landed near Gosselies (Hainaut) on the northern outskirts of Charleroi, Belgium; the crew returned safely to theur Squadron on 13May40.
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Type: Fairey Battle 1
Serial number: K9369, JN-?
Operation: Luxembourg
Lost: 10/05/1940
F/O W.M. Blom
Sgt E.D. Martin
AC1 C.Cooper
Airborne 1530 from Berry-sur-Coole to attack troop columns along the Echternach to Luxembourg road. Badly shot about and though the crew mad a safe return, the Battle was beyond field repair. Abandoned on evacuation.
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12/05/1940: Neufchateau
Type: Fairey Battle Mk. I
Serial number: P2236, JN-?
Operation: Neufchateau
Lost: 12/05/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Ian Campbell-Iron, RAF 40603, 150 Sqdn., age unknown, 12/05/1940, Neufchateau Communal Cemetery, B
Sergeant (Obs.) Thomas R. Barker, RAF 580937, 150 Sqdn., age unknown, 12/05/1940, Neufchateau Communal Cemetery, B
Leading Aircraftman (W.Op) Reginald H. Hinder, RAF 551612, 150 Sqdn., age 20, 12/05/1940, Neufchateau Communal Cemetery, B
There were two 150 Sqdn Battles lost on this operation. Serial numbers recorded are inaccurate. i.e P2136 and P2336. They were both airborne 1445 from Ecury-sur-Coole. The first one got back safely but too badly damaged for repair, the second was shot down near Neufchateau, 26 km SW of Bastogne, Belgium. Leading Aircraftman (W.Op) Reginald H. Hinder is listed as 'LAC H.R. Figg' on 'Lost Bombers'.
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14/05/1940: Sedan, F (1st attack)
On the 14th of May ten Battles from Nos. 103 and 150 Squadron attacked German pontoon bridges in the Sedan area. By employing a high level approach and by not encountering any enemy aircraft they suffered no losses.
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14/05/1940: Sedan, F
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.
In the afternoon all available Battles and Blenheims were despatched to the same target. This time BF109's were present and the losses were:
No. 12 Squadron (Battle) - lost four out of five
No. 88 Squadron (Battle) - lost one out of ten
No. 103 Squadron (Battle) - lost three out of eight
No. 105 Squadron (Battle) - lost six out of eleven
No. 114 Squadron (Blenheim) - lost one out of two
No. 139 Squadron (Blenheim) - lost four out of six
No. 142 Squadron (Battle) - lost four out of eight
No. 150 Squadron (Battle) - lost four out of four
No. 218 Squadron (Battle) - lost ten out of eleven
No. 226 Squadron (Battle) - lost three out of six
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: P5232, JN-?
operation: Sedan
lost: 14/05/1940
Flight Sergeant (Pilot) George T. Barker, RAF 563835, 150 Sqdn., age 27, 14/05/1940, Choloy War Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Obs.) James D.F. Williams, RAF 562632, 150 Sqdn., age 27, 14/05/1940, Choloy War Cemetery, F
LAC A.K. Summerson Evd
Airborne 1520 from Ecury-sur-Coole to attack bridges and roads in the area around Sedan. Crashed, killing the pilot and his observer. LAC Summerson, evaded and escaped to the Allied lines.
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type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: P2182, JN-?
operation: Sedan
lost: 14/05/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) John Boon, RAF 40597, 150 Sqdn., age 27, 14/05/1940, Douzy Communal Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Obs.) Thomas Fortune, RAF 521800, 150 Sqdn., age unknown, 14/05/1940, Douzy Communal Cemetery, F
Aircraftman 1st Class Sydney Martin, RAF 550964, 150 Sqdn., age unknown, 14/05/1940, Douzy Communal Cemetery, F
Airborne 1520 Ecury-sur-Coole to attack bridges and roads in the area around Sedan. Shot down near Douzy (Ardennes), just N of the River Chiers, 8 km ESE of Sedan, France.
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type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: L4946, JN-?
operation: Sedan
lost: 14/05/1940
Flying Officer (Pilot) John Ing, RAF 39987, 150 Sqdn., age unknown, 14/05/1940 Donchery Communal Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Obs.) John D. Turner, RAF 564992,150 Sqdn., age unknown, 14/05/1940, Donchery Communal Cemetery, F
Aircraftman 1st Class (W. Op.) William J. Nolan, RAF 613363, 150 Sqdn., age 20, 14/05/1940, Donchery Communal Cemetery, F
Airborne 1520 from Ecury-sur-Coole to attack bridges and roads in the area around Sedan. Crashed near Douchery (Ardennes), 5 km WSW of Sedan, France. The body of AC1 Nolan was re-interred at Donchery 7Mar43.
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type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: K9483, JN-?
operation: Sedan
lost: 14/05/1940 (3 KIA)
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Arthur F. Posselt, RAF 41319, 150 Sqdn., age 21, 14/05/1940, Choloy War Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Obs.) Donald J. Bowen, RAF 581262, 150 Sqdn., age 22, 14/05/1940, Choloy War Cemetery, F
Aircraftman 2nd Class (W. Op.) Norman V. Vano, RAF 630788, 150 Sqdn., age 18, 14/05/1940, Choloy War Cemetery, F
Airborne 1520 from Ecury-sur-Coole to attack bridges and roads in the area around Sedan. Crashed.
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19/05/1940: Battle Area, F
type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: L5583, JN-?
operation: Battle Area
lost: 19/05/1940
F/O A.D.Frank
Airborne from Pouan. Badly damaged by ground fire. Forced landed on Sommesousse Airfield and abandoned.
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type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: P5235, JN-?
operation: Battle Area
lost: 19/05/1940
P/O D.E.T. Osment PoW
Sgt G.W. Clifford PoW
AC1 W.G. Slade PoW
Airborne from Pouan. Crashed in the Battle Area. Sgt G.W.Clifford was interned in Camps 8B/L6/357. PoW No.13058 with AC1 W.G.Slade, PoW No.13093. P/O D.E.T.Osment in Camps 9AH/L3, PoW No.506.
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26/05/1940: Roumont
type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: L5459, JN-?
operation: Roumont
lost: 26/05/1940
F/O J.G. Vernon Evd
Sgt G. Busby PoW
LAC A.W. Rutland PoW
Airborne 0925 from Pouan to attack a Château at Roumont. Attacked by Me110s and crash landed near Avioth (Meause), 6 km NNE of Montmedy, France and burned by the crew. Sgt G.Busby was interned in Camp 357. PoW No.38248. LAC L.W.Rutland in Camps 8B/L6/357, PoW No.18162.
Flying Officer Vernon, who was with No. 150 Battle Squadron, led a particularly daring attack on a German headquarters at a chateau near Recogne, in Belgium. In the vicinity of the target the formation he was leading lost touch while flying through a storm, but Vernon went on to locate and bomb his objective.
On the return flight he was attacked by six Messerschmitts, but by skilful flying he evaded their initial attacks and his gunner was able to shoot down one Messerschmitt and set fire to another. However, the remaining fighters continued to attack and seriously damaged the British bomber. With its engine failing, the Battle began to lose height rapidly and Vernon was forced to land in enemy territory. He assisted his wounded crew from the aircraft and set it on fire.
A German patrol approached and took the wounded men prisoner, but Vernon managed to escape, reach the French lines, and make his way back to his unit.On 07/06/1940 he was lost while making a low-level attack on a German convoy.
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07/06/1940: Abbeville, F
type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: L5288, JN-?
operation: Abbeville
lost: 07/06/1940
Flying Officer (Pilot) James E. Vernon, RAF 36145 (NZ), DFC, 150 Sqdn., born Roxburgh, 21 Aug 1915; joined RAF Aug 1938; killed on air operations, 7 Jun 1940, Vergies Communal Cemetery, F.
Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Jack F. Atkins, RAFVR 751819, 150 Sqdn., age 20, 07/06/1940, Vergies Communal Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Obs.) George W. Clawley, RAF 533480, 150 Sqdn., age unknown, 07/06/1940, Vergies Communal Cemetery, F
Airborne from Echemines. Shot down attacking a vehicle convoy nearVergies (Somme), 15 km SSE of Abbeville, France.
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08/06/1940: Battle Area, F
type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: L5288, JN-?
operation: Battle Area
lost: 08/06/1940
Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Reginald A. Weeks, RAF 37534, 150 Sqdn., age 27, 08/06/1940, Fallencourt Communal Cemetery, F
Leading Aircraftman (W. Op.) Leonard O. Grant, RAF 536339, 150 Sqdn., age unknown, 08/06/1940, Fallencourt Communal Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Obs.) William D.P. Pittar, RAF 580624, 150 Sqdn., age 23, 08/06/1940, Fallencourt Communal Cemetery, F
Airborne from ALG Decima. Hit by ground fire, Hornoy, and crashed near Fallencourt (Seine-Maritime), 28 km ESE of Dieppe, France. all are buried in Fallencourt's Communal Cemetery.
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13/06/1940: Vernon, F
type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: L5437, JN-?
operation: Vernon
lost: 13/06/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Roy C. Beale, RAF 44679, 150 Sqdn., age 26, 13/06/1940, Merey Communal Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Obs.) Harold J.F. Tutt, RAF 506095, 150 Sqdn., age 32, 13/06/1940, Merey Communal Cemetery, F
Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Douglas B. Carter, RAF 534454, 150 Sqdn., age 22, 13/06/1940, Merey Communal Cemetery, F
Airborne 1005 from Houssay to attack roads around Vernon. Shot down by Bf109s. Crashed near Merey (Eure), 19 km ESE of Evreux, France.
type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: L5524, JN-?
operation: Vernon
lost: 13/06/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Alfred R. Gulley, RAF 33385, 150 Sqdn., age 21, 14/06/1940, Aigleville Churchyard, F
Sgt Berry PoW
LAC D.L.Phillips PoW (Evd)
Airborne 1005 from Houssay to attack roads around Vernon/Poix. Shot down by Me109s at Aigleville (Eure), 20 km ESE of Evreux, France. The two survivors were captured, but LAC Phillips evaded and eventually reached England, via Gibraltar. He was decorated with the Military Medal. Sgt Berry escaped from captivity and escaped via Spain. MiD.
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13/06/1940: Forêt de Gault, F
Attack on Panzer column, with 142 Sqdn.
type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: L5591, JN-?
operation: Forêt de Gault
lost: 13/06/1940
S/L R.M. Bradley
F/S Leitch
LAC Rickard Inj
Airborne from Houssay to attack a Panzer column reported refuelling in the woods. Shot up by Me109s and crash landed at Rebais (Seine- et-Marne), 34 km NNW of Provins, France.
iD.
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15/06/1940: Battle Area, F
type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: L5591, JN-?
operation: Battle Area
lost: 15/06/1940
P/O Benjamin
Sgt Armstrong
LAC Hillyard Inj
Airborne 0430 from Houssay. Badly shot about by Bf109s in the battle area, and crash-landed at la Ferté-Vidame (Eure-et- Loir), 40 km SW of Dreux, France. There is a report 'Footsteps on the Sands of Time p.318) that LAC Hillyard, with right arm amputated, escaped via Spain. Awarded MiD.
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Sources
150 Squadron Royal Air Force
Air Force POWs 1939-1945
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fairey Battle
Lost Bombers
Milestones - Sedan Area - 14th May 1940
New Zealanders in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force - 150 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
Jones 'Bomber intelligence' (Midland Counties 1983)
Chris Ward '150 Squadron' (Bomber Command Profile no. 51)
Edwin Wheeler 'Just to get a bed' (Square One 1990)
Links
Airwar over Denmark
Allied World War II Casualties in the Netherlands
Battle-of-Britain.com
Belgian Aviation History Association Archaeological Team
British Aviation Archaeological Council - Books and research links
CWGC Cemeteries Netherlands
The National Ex-Prisoners of War Association
Pilotfriend.com: aircraft of WW2
Polish Air Force 1940-1947 Operations Record Books
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 150 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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