220 SQUADRON - Bomber, Lockheed Hudson
Coastal Command
History | Operations and losses | Sources | Links | Books | Questions and/or remarks
The outbreak of war saw the squadron carrying out patrols over the North Sea, converting from Avro Ansons to Hudsons between September and November 1939, which were used to extend operations over Norwegian and Dutch waters, for which a detachment was sent to St Eval in November 1940.
In May 1940 Squadron Leader Terence H. Carr was given command of No.220 Squadron, leading the Hudsons on patrols over the Dunkirk beaches during the retreat of the BEF from France during June.
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Operations and losses 01/01/1940 - 30/06/1940
Not all operations listed; those with fatal losses are.
01/01/1940: Search, North Sea/UK. 1 a/c lost, 4 MIA
11/02/1940: Patrol. 1 a/c lost, 3 KIA, 1 WIA
30/03/1940: Air Test, UK. 1 a/c lost
15/04/1940: Patrol. 1 a/c lost, 4 MIA
24/04/1940: Escort. 2 a/c lost, 8 MIA
06/06/1940: enemy raid, Thornaby, UK. 2 Planes lost
11/06/1940: ?, UK. 1 Plane lost, 4 KIA
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01/01/1940: Search, North Sea/UK
Type: Lockheed Hudson I
Serial number: N7232, NR-?
Operation: Search
Lost: 01/01/1940
Flight Lieutenant Trevor H. Clarke, RAF 37960, 220 Sqdn., age 30, 01/01/1940, missing
Sergeant Robert J. Peacock, RAF 562854, 220 Sqdn., age 27, 01/01/1940, missing
Leading Aircraftman Christopher F. Hudson, RAF 524576, 220 Sqdn., age 28, 01/01/1940, missing
Leading Aircraftman Donald M. Rowson, RAF 550760, Mentioned in Despatches, 220 Sqdn., age 20, 01/01/1940, missing
Took off from Thornaby, 08.35 hrs. Crashed into the North Sea in the vicinity of ZGSE0227 and ZGSE1634, some 20 miles east of St Abbs Head, Berwickshire, following an attack on a Ju 88 of 1/KG30. From 11.04 to 11.41 hrs a number of bearings were given by both RAF Thornaby and RAF Leuchars D/F stations to the aircraft.
The crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Sources: CWGC and Ross McNeill, 'Royal Air Force Coastal Command Losses: Aircraft and Crew Losses 1939-1941 v. 1', Midland Publishing, 2003
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11/02/1940: Patrol
Type: Lockheed Hudson I
Serial number: N7294, NR-E
Operation: Patrol
Lost: 11/02/1940
Flying Officer (Pilot) Tom M. Parker, RAF 39334, 220 Sqdn., age unknown, 11/02/1940, Thornaby-on-Tees Cemetery, UK
Sergeant (Pilot) Harold F. Bleksley, RAF 516366, 220 Sqdn., age 24, 11/02/1940, Bristol (Canford) Cemetery, UK
Corporal (W.Op.) Norman R. Drury, RAF 537272, 220 Sqdn., age 23, 11/02/1940, North Walsham New Cemetery, UK
LAC Barker - injured
Took off from Thornaby at 04.10 hrs. windscreen iced up after take-off and the hudson crashed a few minutes later almost at the summit of Cook Monument Hill near great Ayton. LAC Barker was the only member of the crew not killed and escaped with concussion and severe cuts. He managed to scramble down the hill to a farmhouse which he reached at about 08.00 hrs.
Sources: CWGC and Ross McNeill, 'Royal Air Force Coastal Command Losses: Aircraft and Crew Losses 1939-1941 v. 1', Midland Publishing, 2003
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30/03/1940: Air Test
Type: Lockheed Hudson
Serial number: N7237, NR-R
Operation: Air Test
Lost: 30/03/1940
P/O Murray C. Petrie, 40425 (NZ) - safe
P/O R.O. Lawry, 41301 - safe
S/L Langford - safe
F/O Barron - safe
Took off from Thornaby. While approaching the runway, a fire developed in the port engine. This was extinguished, but before the landing could be completed, flames again took hold and the Hudson crashed into a construction plant near the airfield perimeter and was totally destroyed. No serious injuries reported from either the crew, or the two passengers, S/L Langford being the Padre and F/O Barron the Dentist. P/O Petrie was to die on 24/04/1940
Source: Ross McNeill, 'Royal Air Force Coastal Command Losses: Aircraft and Crew Losses 1939-1941 v. 1', Midland Publishing, 2003
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15/04/1940: Patrol
Type: Lockheed Hudson I
Serial number: N7289, NR-J
Operation: Patrol
Lost: 15/04/1940
Flying Officer Charles F.L. Tulloch, RAF 39403, 220 Sqdn., age 24, 15/04/1940, missing
Flying Officer Henry O. Thwaite, RAF 39399, 220 Sqdn., age 23, 15/04/1940, missing
Aircraftman 2nd Class Eric B. Summerfield, RAF 615808, 220 Sqdn., age 18, 15/04/1940, missing
Aircraftman 1st Class George E. Ridgway [Ridgeway?], RAF 611142, 220 Sqdn., age 19, 15/04/1940, missing
Took off from Thornaby at 12.45 hrs. Set course for a search on Track U. Shot down at 15.50 hrs into the western Skagerrak by Unteroffizier Helmut Enerlein in a Me 110C-1 from 3./ZG1. The crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Sources: CWGC and Ross McNeill, 'Royal Air Force Coastal Command Losses: Aircraft and Crew Losses 1939-1941 v. 1', Midland Publishing, 2003
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24/04/1940: Escort
Type: Lockheed Hudson I
Serial number: N7285, NR-L
Operation: Escort
Lost: 24/04/1940
Sergeant Edward W.A. Peachey, RAF 566141, 220 Sqdn., age 25, 24/04/1940, missing
Pilot Officer Richard H. Sanders, RAF 41478, 220 Sqdn., age 19, 24/04/1940, missing
Aircraftman 1st Class Ronald J. Simpson, RAF 628649, 220 Sqdn., age unknown, 24/04/1940, missing
Leading Aircraftman [Air gunner] Thomas Dobson, RAF 535582, 220 Sqdn., age 24, 24/04/1940, missing
Took off from Leuchars at 04.32 hrs. Escorted destroyers until 07.46 hrs when in position MBRU 3452 at 2800 feet, sighted two Me 109's half a mile to starboard diving at 3000 feet from the sun. On the first machine-gun burst the port engine of the Hudson burst into flames. LAC Dobson was observed to continue firing, the aircraft then attempted to land alongside a destroyer but lost control at 500 fet and turned over.
One crew member attempted to land by parachute but the canopy caught fire. The Hudson was claimed as shot down at 08.05 hrs. by Ltn Demes and Ofw Arnoldy of 4./JG77. The crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
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Type: Lockheed Hudson I
Serial number: N7286, NR-Z
Operation: Escort
Lost: 24/04/1940
Pilot Officer Murray C. Petrie, RAF 40425 (NZ), 220 Sqdn., age 21, 24/04/1940, missing
Pilot Officer Ronald O. Lawry, RAF 41301 (NZ), 220 Sqdn., age 20, 24/04/1940, missing
Aircraftman 1st Class Kenneth C. Maddocks, RAF 624355, 220 Sqdn., age 19, 24/04/1940, missing. Served as Kenneth C. Merrick.
Leading Aircraftman Percy Wilson, RAF 514613, 220 Sqdn., age unknown, 24/04/1940, missing
Took off from Leuchars at 04.32 hrs. Escorted destroyers until 07.46 hrs when in position MBRU 3452 at 2800 feet, sighted two Me 109's half a mile to starboard diving at 3000 feet from the sun. P/O Petrie was attacked by the second Me 109 and was seen to dive to sea level with black smoke issuing from an engine, followed by the enemy aircraft. The Hudson was claimed as shot down at 08.05 hrs. by Ltn Demes and Ofw Arnoldy of 4./JG77. The crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Sources: CWGC and Ross McNeill, 'Royal Air Force Coastal Command Losses: Aircraft and Crew Losses 1939-1941 v. 1', Midland Publishing, 2003
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06/06/1940: enemy raid, Thornaby, UK
At 00.15hrs on the 6th of June 1940 Thornaby Airfield suffered an enemy air raid, the attack destroyed two Hudsons, N7309 and P5157, which were being refueled at the time. The raid was destroyed two fuel bowsers, killed one (Aircraftman 2nd Class Frederick W. Nutter, 608 Squadron) and injured three men. The runway was also damaged. In all six bombs were dropped and exploded and a further two failed to explode.
Source: Aircraft crashes on and around the North Yorkshire Moors
Type: Lockheed Hudson
Serial number: N7309, NR-?
Operation: (-)
Lost: 06/06/1940
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Type: Lockheed Hudson
Serial number: P5157, NR-?
Operation: (-)
Lost: 06/06/1940
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11/06/1940: ?, UK
Type: Lockheed Hudson I
Serial number: P5127, NR-?
Operation: ?
Lost: 11/06/1940
Sergeant (Pilot) Eric Morgan, RAF 700305, 220 Sqdn., age unknown, 11/06/1940, Thornaby-on-Tees Cemetery, UK
Sergeant (Pilot) Dennis R. Holbeche, RAF 564819, 220 Sqdn., age 26, 11/06/1940, Thornaby-on-Tees Cemetery, UK
Aircraftman 1st Class (W. Op.) William C. Irvine, RAF 625299, 220 Sqdn., age 19, 11/06/1940, Thornaby-on-Tees Cemetery, UK
Sergeant (Air Gnr.) James R. Butterworth, RAF 525413, 220 Sqdn., age unknown, 11/06/1940, Thornaby-on-Tees Cemetery, UK
Took off from Thornaby. Swung after take-off and dived into the ground one mile from Thornaby, North Yorkshire, causing the bombs to explode.
Sources: CWGC and Ross McNeill, 'Royal Air Force Coastal Command Losses: Aircraft and Crew Losses 1939-1941 v. 1', Midland Publishing, 2003
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Sources
Air of Authority - 220 Squadron
Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database
Bail-outs for 1940
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Royal Air Force - 220 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
The War in France and Flanders, 1939-1940, by Major L.F. Ellis, 1954
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Books
Christi Goulter, 'A Forgotten Offensive: Royal Air Force Coastal Command's Anti-Shipping Campaign 1940-1945', Routledge, 1995
Ross McNeill, 'Royal Air Force Coastal Command Losses: Aircraft and Crew Losses 1939-1941 v. 1', Midland Publishing, 2003
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Links
Discussion Groups
Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
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Abbreviations used in the Royal Air Force
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Allied World War II Casualties in the Netherlands
Armée de l'Air - Order of Battle, 10th May 1940
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Axis History Factbook
Battle-of-Britain.com
De Belgen in Engeland 1940-1945 (in Dutch)
Belgian Aviation History Association Archaeological Team
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
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Foreign Aircraft Landings in Ireland 1939-1946
Håkans aviation page (from Sweden, in English)
'High flight', poem by John Gillespie Magee
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Jagdgeschwader 27 (in German)
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The National Ex-Prisoners of War Association
Naval History.net
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Pilotfriend.com: aircraft of WW2
Polish Air Force 1940-1947 Operations Record Books
RAF Battle of Britain
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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 220 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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