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Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books
No. 114 Squadron was reformed in December 1936 (its first incarnation lasted from 1917 until 1920), and in March 1937 became the first RAF squadron to receive the new high-speed Bristol Blenheim light bomber. Unfortunately for many of its pilots it would retain the Blenheim well into 1943, by which time the Blenheim was almost obsolete.
In December 1939 No. 114 took its Blenheim IVs to France. Like most squadrons in the AASF, No. 114 lost most of its aircraft during the German invasion, and escaped back to Britain in poor shape at the end of May.
Once the squadron received new aircraft, it began a series of attacks on the Invasion ports, which lasted until March 1941. The squadron was then transferred to Coastal Command, flying anti-shipping strikes until July, when it returned to Bomber Command.
In November 1942 the squadron moved to Algeria to take part in the invasion of North Africa, remaining in the Mediterranean until the end of the war. While in North Africa the Blenheims were finally replaced by Boston bombers, with which the squadron moved to Sicily (August 1943) and then to mainland Italy (August 1943), where it remained until September 1945, attacking German communications and airfields behind the front line.
Aircraft
April 1939-September 1942: Bristol Blenheim IV
September 1942-April 1943:
Bristol Blenheim V
March 1943-July 1944: Boston III, IIIA
July 1944-May 1945: Boston IV
January 1945-May 1946: Boston V
Location
1 December 1936-9 December 1939: Wyton
9 December 1939-21 May 1940: Conde-Vraux
21-31 May 1940: Nantes/ Chateau Bougon
31 May-10 June 1940: Wattisham
10 June-10 August 1940: Horsham St. Faith
10 August 1940-2 March 1941: Oulton
2 March-13 May 1941: Leuchars
19 July 1941-15 November 1942: West Raynham
15 November-2 December 1942: Blida
5 December 1942-12 February 1943: Setif
12 February-13 April 1943: Canrobert
13 April-31 May 1943: Kings Cross
31 May-3 August 1943: Grombalia
3-8 August 1943: Gela
8 August-7 October 1943: Comiso
7 October-30 October 1943: Brindisi
30 October 1943-1 May 1944: Celone
1 May-21 June 1944: Marcianise
12-25 June 1944: Nettuno III
25 June-18 July 1944: Tarquinia
18 July-13 October 1944: Cecina
13 October-21 October 1944: Perugia
21 October 1944-7 March 1945: Falconara
7 March-12 May 1945: Forli
12 May-15 September 1945: Aviano
Squadron Codes: FD, RT
Group and Duty
26 September 1939: Bomber squadron with No.2 Group, 82 Wing Force
December 1939-May 1940: Advanced Air Striking Force, France
May 1940-March 1941: Bomber Command
March 1941-July 1941: Coastal Command
July 1941-November 1942: Bomber Command, UK
November 1942-August 1943: North Africa
August 1943-October 1943: Sicily
Otober 1943-September 1945: Italy
Bomber Offensive, Sir Arthur Harris.
The autobiography of Bomber Harris, giving his view of the strategic bombing campaign in its immediate aftermath. Invaluable for the insights it provides into Harris’s approach to the war, what he was trying to achieve and the problems he faced. Harris perhaps overstates his case, not entirely surprisingly given how soon after the end of the war this book was written (Read Full Review)
Blenheim Squadrons of World War Two, Jon Lake. This book looks at the entire RAF service career of the Bristol Blenheim, from its debut as a promising fast bomber, through the deadly disillusionment of the blitzkrieg, on to its work in the Middle East and Mediterranean, where the aircraft found a new lease of life. Lake also looks at the use of the Blenheim as an interim fighter aircraft and its use by Coastal Command.
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