6 SQUADRON - Army Air Cooperation, Westland Lysander
History | Operations and losses | Sources | Links | Books | Questions and/or remarks
Following problems in Palestine, the squadron relocated there in 1938 reverting to the Army Co-operation role with Hawker Hardy's, adding Gauntlets and Lysanders later.
It eventually left Palestine and started operations in the Western Desert, with Lysanders, in September 1940, although the squadron HQ remained in Palestine. Gradually Hurricanes replaced Lysanders in the tactical reconnaissance role, being fully equipped by June 1941. However, in August, these were replaced by Lysanders and Gladiators with some Blenheims and Hurricanes being added later, but all were removed again in January 1942 when the squadron assumed maintenance duties.
Receiving Hurricane IIDs in April 1942, the squadron now took on the role for which it would excel - 'tank busting', its Hurricanes being fitted with two 40mm under the wings. This role is commemorated in the nickname and its unofficial badge - 'The Flying Can-openers'. Converting to rocket firing Hurricanes, it fought through Italy and over the Adriatic and Balkans, returning to Palestine in July 1945.
Squadron Code: JV
Station
Ramleh, Palestine, 1938-1940
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Operations and losses 10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940
Not all operations listed; those with fatal losses are. (june incomplete)
May 1940: no losses
03/06/1940: ?, Palestine. 1 Plane lost, 2 KIA
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03/06/1940: ?, Palestine
Type: Westland Lysander
Serial number: L6888, JV-?
Operation: ?
Lost: 03/06/1940
Flying Officer (Pilot) Edward T. Williams, RAF 37953, 6 Sqdn., DFC, age 27, 03/06/1940, Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel
Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Edward M. Mould, RAF 531169, 6 Sqdn., age 25, 03/06/1940, Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel
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Sources
Air of Authority - 6 Squadron
Bail-outs for 1940
Comando Supremo: Italy at War
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Middle East - the opening rounds (from the RAF 1939-1945)
New Zealanders in the Royal Air Force (Vol III) - Africa and Middle East
RAF Museum: British Military Aviation in 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
P Hearne 'Flying Rebel' (RFC 1915) (HMSO 1994)
F.K. Mason 'The Westland Lysander', Profile Publications, ca. 1966
L A Strange 'Recollections of an airman' (RFC 1915) (1989)
M Westrop 'A history of no. 6 Squadron RNAS' (Schiffer 2006)
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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
HMS Cavalier
CWGC Cemeteries Germany
CWGC Cemeteries Netherlands
Czechoslovak airmen in
the RAF 1940-1945
Danish WW2 Pilots
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 Luftwaffe, 1933-1945
Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
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
War over Holland
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 6 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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