64 SQUADRON - Fighter, Supermarine Spitfire Mk I
History | Operations and losses | Sources | Links | Books | Questions and/or remarks
On 1 March 1936, No. 64 reformed at Heliopolis, although for political reasons it was announced as having formed at Henlow. Its Demons had already been sent out to Egypt where they formed D Flights in 6 and 208 Squadrons which were transferred during March to 64 Squadron. With the Abyssinian crisis still on, the squadron's duties were to carry out attacks on enemy airfields and act as cover for bombers being refuelled at advance landing grounds.
In August 1936, the squadron embarked for the UK to form part of the fighter defences of London. In February 1938, Demons with turrets were received and by the end of the year these had been replaced by Blenheim fighters at Church Fenton.
On the outbreak of war, No. 64 Squadron was engaged in patrols off the East Coast and in December 1939 provided fighter defence for the Home Fleet from Evanton for a month. In April 1940, conversion to Spitfires took place in time for the Squadron to help cover the evacuation from Dunkirk and later to take part in the Battle of Britain.
In May 1941, No. 64 Squadron moved up to Scotland for air defence duties but moved back south in November to take part in sweeps over northern France, until March 1943 when it moved back up to Scotland again.
Stations
Kenley 16 May 1940
Leconfield 19 August 1940
Biggin Hill 13 October 1940
Coltishall 15 October 1940
Boscombe Down 1 September 1940
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Operations and losses 10/05/1940 - 31/05/1940
Not all operations listed; those with losses are.
29/05/1940, Dunkirk?, 3 Planes lost, 3 MIA
01/06/1940: Dunkirk? 1 Plane lost, 1 KIA
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29/05/1940, Dunkirk?
The missing pilots are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial
Type: Spitfire Mk I
Serial number: ?, SH-?
Operation: Dunkirk?
Lost: 29/05/1940
Flying Officer Reginald T. George, RAF 40296, 64 Sqdn., age 20, 29/05/1940, missing
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Type: Spitfire Mk I
Serial number: ?, SH-?
Operation: Dunkirk?
Lost: 29/05/1940
Pilot Officer Herbert B. Hackney, RAF 43167, 64 Sqdn., age 26, 29/05/1940, missing
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Type: Spitfire Mk I
Serial number: ?, SH-?
Operation: Dunkirk?
Lost: 29/05/1940
Squadron Leader Eric G. Rogers, RAF 37212, 64 Sqdn., age 24, 29/05/1940, missing
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01/06/1940: Dunkirk?
Type: Spitfire Mk I
Serial number: ?, SH-?
Operation: Dunkirk?
Lost: 01/06/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Thomas C. Hey, RAF 43169, 64 Sqdn., age 28, 01/06/1940, Sage War Cemetery, D
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Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Royal Air Force - 64 Squadron
Fighter Command Air Combat Claims 1939-1945
RAF Battle of Britain - 64 Squadron
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
War over Holland
Books
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Links
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
British Aviation Archaeological Council - Books and research links
CWGC Cemeteries Netherlands
Czechoslovak airmen in the RAF 1940-1945
Håkans aviation page (from Sweden, in English)
'High flight', poem by John Gillespie Magee
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death, poem by W.B. Yeats
Jagdgeschwader 27 (in German)
Luchtoorlog ('Arial War', in Dutch, with many photos)
The National Ex-Prisoners of War Association
Naval History.net
Nordic Aviation during WW2
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
World War II Aircraft wrecksites in Norway
www.bomber-command.de
Bills-Bunker.de
North East Diary 1939-1945
Wartime Leicester and Leicestershire
The Aerodrome -
Aces and Aircraft of World War 1
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This page is dedicated to the men of 64 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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