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Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books
No.140 Squadron was a photo-reconnaissance squadron that was based in the UK for most of the war, before moving to Belgium in September 1944.
The squadron was formed on 17 September 1940 from No.1416 Flight, a pre-existing photo-reconnaissance unit. As a result the squadron began operations immediately, conducting a Spitfire reconnaissance sortie on the same day. A number of different types of aircraft were used over the next few years. The Spitfires remained until April 1944. They were joined by some Blenheims which were used for night reconnaissance from 15 November 1940, when one flew over Cherbourg, to August 1942. A number of Venturas were used early in 1943. Finally the Mosquito arrived in August 1943, becoming the squadron's only type when the Spitfires left in April 1944.
The squadron moved to Belgium in September 1944 to be closer to its operating areas, returning to the UK without its aircraft in July 1945. The squadron was disbanded on 10 November 1945.
Aircraft
September 1941-January 1944: Supermarine Spitfire I and IV
September 1941-August 1943: Bristol Blenheim IV
February 1943-January 1944: Lockheed Ventura I
September 1943-April 1944: Supermarine Spitfire XI
November 1943-December 1944: de Havilland Mosquito IX
December 1943-July 1945: de Havilland Mosquito XVI
Location
September-October 1941: Benson
October-November 1941: Weston Zoyland
November 1941-May 1942: Benson
May 1942-March 1943: Mount Farm
March 1943-April 1944: Hartfordbridge
April-September 1944: A.12 Lignerolles
September 1944: B.48 Amiens/ Glisy
September 1944-April 1945: B.58 Melsbroek
April-July 1945: B.78 Eindhoven
July 1945: Fersfield
July-September 1945: Acklington
September-November 1945: Fersfield
Squadron Codes: ZW
Duty
1940-1945: Photographic Reconnaissance
Spitfire Photo-Recce Units of World War 2, Andrew Fletcher.
Covers both the technical development of the PR Spitfire and its cameras and the operation history of the type, from the early days of one experimental aircraft to its use in many squadrons around the world and to provide coverage of topics from the German Navy to Hitler’s secret weapons as well as making vital contributions to the D-Day landings (Read Full Review)
Mosquito Photo-Reconnaissance Units of World World 2, Martin Bowman. The third of three books looking at the RAF career of the Mosquito, this volume looks at the career of the Mosquito as a unarmed photo-reconnaissance aircraft, relying on its exceptional speed to keep it safe. [see more]
