Traces of World War 2 
RAF - 4 Squadron
01/01/1940 - 30/06/1940

4 SQUADRON - Army Air Cooperation, Westland Lysander

History | Losses | Sources | Links | Books | Questions and/or remarks



No. 4 Squadron began the Second World War as an army-co-operation squadron, equipped with the Westland Lysander. As such it moved to France with the BEF in September 1939. In May 1940 it moved forward into Belgium, where it suffered heavy loses - between 10 and 23 May nine crews and eleven (or ten?) aircraft were lost in 106 sorties over the battle line.

On 10/05/1940 the Squadron had 18 Lysanders at its disposal.

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Losses 01/01/1940 - 30/06/1940
Not all operations listed; those with fatal losses are.

09/03/1940: ?, France. 1 Plane lost, 1 KIA
16/04/1940: ?, France. 1 Plane lost, 1 DOI
13/05/1940: Tactical recce, B. 1 Plane lost, 2 KIA
14/05/1940: Recce, B. 3 Planes lost, 2 KIA, 2 MIA
16/05/1940: Observation and Tact. Recce, B/F. 2 Planes lost, 1 MIA
18/05/1940: Tactical Reconnaissance, B. 1 Plane lost, 2 KIA
19/05/1940: Practice landings, France. 2 Planes lost, 4 KIA, 1 MIA
21/05/1940: Reconnaissance, F and B. 2 Planes lost, 4 KIA
22/05/1940: supply drop, Calais, F
29/05/1940: ?, ?. 1 KIA or DOW
25/06/1940: ?, ?. 3 MIA (ground crew)
28/06/1940: Patrol, North Sea

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09/03/1940: ?, France

Type: Westland Lysander II
Serial number: L6852
Operation: ?
Lost: 09/03/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) William B. Adamson, RAF 40788, 4 Sqdn., age 22, 09/03/1940, Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France
LAC Satchell unhurt.
Crashed on landing at Lille-Ronchin at 09.45 hrs.

Sources: CWGC; Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008

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16/04/1940: ?, France

Type: Westland Lysander
Serial number: L4750
Operation: ?
Lost: 16/04/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Alexander F.B. Ramsay, RAF 42379, 4 Sqdn., age 19, 21/04/1940 [= 20/04/1940], Trefcon British Cemetery, Caulaincourt, France
LAC J.H. Gillham unhurt.
Crashed on take-off at Padville following forced-landing. The pilot was badly injured. He died four days later in the French Military Hospital at Marcoing, south of Cambrai.

Sources: CWGC; Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008

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Type: Westland Lysander
Serial number: P9063
Operation: Tactical reconnaissance
Lost: 13/05/1940
Aircraftman 2nd Class (Air Gnr.) Edin Mold, RAF 626134, 4 Sqdn., age 23, 13/05/1940, Outgaarden Communal Cemetery, B
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Peter W. Vaughan, RAF 33493, 4 Sqdn., age unknown, 13/05/1940, Outgaarden Communal Cemetery, B
Took off 07.30 hrs from Monchy-la-Gache. Flew over German positions on banks of Gete river. Shot down by Lt Horst Braxator from 2./JG1. (De Decker/Roba: 1.JG1). Plane crashes in field next to Outgaarden/Goetsenhoven road

Sources: CWGC; Cynrick De Decker and Jean Louis Roba, Mei 1940 boven België. de luchtstrijd tijdens de Achttiendaagse Veldtocht, De Krijger, 1993; Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008

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Type: Westland Lysander II
Serial number: L4742, TV-H
Operation: Recce
Lost: 14/05/1940
Flying Officer (Pilot) Terence C. Clarke, RAF 25129, 4 Sqdn., age 25, 14/05/1940, St. Remy-Geest Churchyard, B
Aircraftman 1st Class (W.Op./Air Gnr.) William S. Rodulson, RAF 551863, 4 Sqdn., age unknown, 14/05/1940, St. Remy-Geest Churchyard, B
Took off at 17.20 hrs. Presumed to have been shot down by Oberlt Kupka, Me 109, 9./JG3 during sortie over Gembloux, 18.30 hrs. The Lysander crashed in the village Campagne du Reck, near St.-Remigius-Geest.

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Type: Westland Lysander II
Serial number: L4745
Operation: Tactical Reconnaissance near Brussels
Lost: 14/05/1940
Pilot Officer David M. Barbour, RAF 33505, 4 Sqdn., age 19, 14/05/1940, missing - Runnymede Memorial
Corporal Raymond H. Waters, RAF 534506, 4 Sqdn., age unknown, 14/05/1940, missing - Runnymede Memorial
Failed to return, 18.30 hrs.

Sources: CWGC; Cynrick De Decker and Jean Louis Roba, Mei 1940 boven België. de luchtstrijd tijdens de Achttiendaagse Veldtocht, De Krijger, 1993; Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008

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Sources: CWGC; Cynrick De Decker and Jean Louis Roba, Mei 1940 boven België. de luchtstrijd tijdens de Achttiendaagse Veldtocht, De Krijger, 1993; Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008

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Type: Westland Lysander
Serial number: N1263
Operation: Tactical Reconnaissance
Lost: 18/05/1940
Flying Officer (Pilot) Ernest C. Ford, RAF 25130, 4 Sqdn., age 24, 18/05/1940, Outer Communal Cemetery, B
Flying Officer (Air Gnr.) Kenneth W. Graham, RAF 72424, 4 Sqdn., age 36, 18/05/1940, Outer Communal Cemetery, B
Shot down by Me 109's. Crashed at Outer, near Ninove. Believed to be the aircraft claimed by Oberlt Rempel and Uffz Wischnewski of 6./JG2 south-east of Brussels 19.10 hrs.

Sources: CWGC; Cynrick De Decker and Jean Louis Roba, Mei 1940 boven België. de luchtstrijd tijdens de Achttiendaagse Veldtocht, De Krijger, 1993; Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008

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Type: Westland Lysander II
Serial number: ?
Operation: Training
Lost: 19/05/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) John A. Plumb, RAF 33547, 4 Sqdn., age unknown, 19/05/1940, St. Andre Communal Cemetery, F
Leading Aircraftman (Air Gnr.) Ronald J. Thornton, RAFVR 935525, 4 Sqdn., age 23, 19/05/1940, St. Andre Communal Cemetery, F
Shot down by Me 109's while making practice landings at Lille-Marcq. Possibly that a/c claimed by Oberlt von angerow (Staffelkapitän) of 2.(J)/LG2 11.00 hrs.

Type: Westland Lysander II
Serial number: N1305
Operation: Training
Lost: 19/05/1940
Flying Officer (Pilot) Leonard J. Oldacres, RAFVR 70511, 4 Sqdn., age 23, 19/05/1940, St. Andre Communal Cemetery, F
Leading Aircraftman (Air Gnr.) Clarence Butterill, RAF 900943, 4 Sqdn., age 38, 19/05/1940, St. Andre Communal Cemetery, F
Shot down by Me 109's while making practice landings at Lille-Marcq. Possibly that a/c claimed by Lt Tismar of 3.(J)/LG2, 11.15 hrs.

Sergeant (Air Frame Fitter) Leslie Armstrong, RAF 561022, 4 Sqdn., age 29, 19/05/1940, missing
See RAF Commands Forum

Sources: CWGC; Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008

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Type: Westland Lysander
Serial number: N1296
Operation: ?
Lost: 21/05/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Terence J.F. Davey, RAF 33527, 4 Sqdn., age 20, 21/05/1940, Zudausques Churchyard, F
Leading Aircraftman (W. Op./Air Gnr.) James H. Gillham, RAF 533930, 4 Sqdn., age 21, 21/05/1940, Zudausques Churchyard, F
Shot down by and crashed at Zudausques, west of St. Omer. Believed that claimed by Lt Heinel of 4./JG2 east of Boulogne, 14.10 hrs.

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Type: Westland Lysander
Serial number: N1298
Operation: Reconnaissance
Lost: 21/05/1940
Pilot Officer Peter M. Peace, RAF 41731, 4 Sqdn., age unknown, 21/05/1940, Bruyelle War Cemetery, B
Corporal (Air Gnr.) Reginald A. Tamblin, RAF 515204, 4 Sqdn., age unknown, 21/05/1940, Bruyelle War Cemetery, B
Belonged to B Flight, 4 squadron. Based at Lille-Ronchin
Believed that claimed by Lt Lohoff of 3./JG77. Crashed at Bruyelle, south of Tournai (Doornik), 08.00 hrs.

Sources: CWGC; Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008

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7 Westland Lysanders of No.16 Squadron Army Co-operation Command drop supplies to a besieged Allied garrison at Calais.

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Aircraftman 2nd Class Eric J. Ayers, RAF 646078, 4 sqdn., age 21, 29/05/1940, St. Albans Cemetery, UK
Died of wounds or injuries received on active service.


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25/06/1940: ?

Aircraftman 1st Class Reginald F. Abrams, RAF 621850, 4 Sqdn., age 19, 25/06/1940, missing
Leading Aircraftman Harold W.E. Hanson, RAF 517631, 4 Sqdn., age unknown, 25/06/1940, missing.
Aircraftman 2nd Class Samuel J. McConnell, RAF 632206, 4 Sqdn., age unknown, 25/06/1940, missing

Missing during evacuation from France? 25/06/1940 was used as a 'sweep' date to register missing men as 'missing per'-date. It is unknown what the start date for this 'sweep-up' was.



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28/06/1940: Patrol, North Sea

Type: Westland Lysander Mk I
Serial number: P1733, ?-?
Operation: ?
Damaged: 28/06/1940
P/O (Pilot) A.B. Corbett - save
Air gunner - unknown - save
Crashed at Broad Oak Farm, Sutton on the Forest. The crew of this aircraft was undertaking a dusk patrol of the North Sea, whilst on their return to base at Linton on Ouse they became lost, the pilot tried to force-land the aircraft in a field near Wigginton but struck HT cables and crashed soon after at 22.45hrs. The aircraft sustained Cat R damage and was repaired. There is some mention that this landing may have been made on or near Plainville relief landing ground, near Wigginton, York.

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Sources

British Aircraft of World War II - Westland Lysander
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Pilotfriend.com - Westland Lysander
Rickard, J (28 April 2007), No. 4 Squadron (RAF): Second World War
Royal Air Force - 4 Squadron
Royal Air Force Squadron page
RAF - Campaign Diary - The Battle of France (May-June 1940)
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

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Books

Cynrick De Decker and Jean Louis Roba, Mei 1940 boven België. De luchtstrijd tijdens de Achttiendaagse Veldtocht, De Krijger, 1993 (in Dutch)
F.K. Mason 'The Westland Lysander', Profile Publications, ca. 1966
P R Reid 'Winged diplomat' (Story of A/C "Freddie" West VC, CBE; CO 4 Sqn flying Audaxes) (Chatto & Windus 1962)

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Links

Discussion Groups
Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
RAF Commands Forum

Other
Abbreviations used in the Royal Air Force
Code Names & RAF Vocabulary

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Air Aces
Airwar over Denmark
Allied World War II Casualties in the Netherlands
Armée de l'Air - Order of Battle, 10th May 1940
Australian Wargraves
Axis History Factbook
Battle-of-Britain.com
De Belgen in Engeland 1940-1945 (in Dutch)
Belgian Aviation History Association Archaeological Team
Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War
The Bristol & District Blitz War Memorial - A register of those who lost their lives due to enemy action in Bristol and surrounding districts, 1940-1944
British Aircraft Directory
British Aviation Archaeological Council - Books and research links
Canada's Air Force History
HMS Cavalier
Ciel de Gloire (in French) RAF Squadrons
CWGC Cemeteries Germany
CWGC Cemeteries Netherlands
Czechoslovak airmen in the RAF 1940-1945
Danish WW2 Pilots
Dutch Pilots in RAF Squadrons
Eagles Squadrons (American pilots in the RAF)
Foreign Aircraft Landings in Ireland 1939-1946
'High flight', poem by John Gillespie Magee
Holocaust Memorial Day and Channel Islands Occupation Memorial
I Remember (in Russian and English)
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death, poem by W.B. Yeats
Jagdgeschwader 27 (in German)
Luchtoorlog ('Arial War', in Dutch, with many photos)
Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth
The Luftwaffe, 1933-1945
Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
The National Ex-Prisoners of War Association
Naval History.net
Nordic Aviation during WW2
Order of Liberation (in French/English/Spanish)
Pilotfriend.com: aircraft of WW2
Polish Air Force 1940-1947 Operations Record Books
RAF Battle of Britain
RAF Upwood
RAF WWII 38 Group Squadrons Reunited
De Slag om de Grebbeberg (Dutch)
Test Flying Memorial
Warbird Alley
War over Holland
World War II Aircraft wrecksites in Norway
www.bomber-command.de

Aircraft crashes on the North Yorkshire Moors, England
Bills-Bunker.de
The Lancastershire Aircraft Investigation Team
Luftfahrt-Archäologie in Schleswig Holstein (in German)
North East Diary 1939-1945
Wartime Leicester and Leicestershire

The Aerodrome - Aces and Aircraft of World War 1
WW1 Cemeteries


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This page is dedicated to the men of No. 4 Squadron

With special thanks to Leendert Holleman

© 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