45 SQUADRON - Bomber, Bristol Blenheim Mk IV
History | Operations and losses | Sources | Links | Books | Questions and/or remarks
With the outbreak of World War II, the Squadron and its newly arrived Blenheims moved to the Western Desert and flew border patrol sorties. It began operations on 11 June 1940, the day after the Italian declaration of war, and subsequently operated over the Western Desert, Abyssinia, Palestine and Iraq.From 1942, the Squadron was based in Burma and India, spending almost as much time working up on new types (Vengeance dive-bombers and Mosquitos) as in the front-line.
back up
Operations and losses 10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940
Not all operations listed; those with fatal losses are. (incomplete)
11/06/1940: ? 2 Planes lost, 3 KIA, 3 MIA
14/06/1940: ? 1 Plane lost, at least 2 KIA
back up
Losses 01/01/1940 - 09/05/1940 (incomplete)
Sergeant John W. Gillings, RAF 564649, 45 Sqdn., age 25, 16/03/1940, Ipswich Cemetery, UK
Leading Aircraftman Edward V. Morgan, RAF 532018, 45 Sqdn., age 21, 16/03/1940, Andover Cemetery, UK
Leading Aircraftman Eric W. Pizzey, RAF 566695, 45 Sqdn., age 23, 16/03/1940, Andover Cemetery, UK
Flying Officer (Pilot) William J. Swire-Griffiths, RAF 39833, 45 Sqdn., age unknown, 16/03/1940, Penzance Cemetery, UK
back up
11/06/1940: ?
Type: Bristol Blenheim Mk IV
Serial number: ?, OB-?
Operation: ?
Lost: 11/06/1940
Sergeant Peter Bower, RAF 524415, 45 Sqdn., age 23, 11/06/1940, Alamein Memorial
Sergeant Stanley G. Fox, RAFVR 747815, 45 Sqdn., age 21, 11/06/1940, Alamein Memorial
Aircraftman 1st Class John W. Allison, RAF 543233, 45 Sqdn., age 19, 11/06/1940, Alamein Memorial
back up
Type: Bristol Blenheim Mk IV
Serial number: ?, OB-?
Operation: ?
Lost: 11/06/1940
Sergeant (Obs.) Bernard A. Feldman, RAFVR 747967, 45 Sqdn., age 23, 11/06/1940, Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt
Aircraftman 1st Class (W.Op.) Henry Robinson, RAF 548048, 45 Sqdn., age 21, 11/06/1940, Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt
Sergeant (Pilot) Maurice C. Thurlow, RAF 565808, 45 Sqdn.,
11/06/1940, Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt
back up
14/06/1940: ?
Type: Bristol Blenheim Mk IV
Serial number: ?, OB-?
Operation: ?
Lost: 14/06/1940
Flying Officer (Pilot) John S. Davies, RAF 39505, 45 Sqdn., age unknown, 14/06/1940, Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Egypt
Sergeant (Obs.) Geoffrey E. Negus, RAFVR 749517, 45 Sqdn., age 30, 14/06/1940, Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Egypt
Leading Aircraftman John K. Copeland, RAF 531915, 45 Sqdn., age 25, 14/06/1940, Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Egypt
back up
Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Middle East - the opening rounds (from the RAF 1939-1945)
New Zealanders in the Royal Air Force (Vol III) - Africa
Royal Air Force - 45 Squadron
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
www.rafweb.org - 45 Squadron
back up
Books
Jefford 'Flying Camels: history of 45 Squadron' (Jefford 1995)
back up
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
back up
This page is dedicated to the men of 45 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
|