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No. 19 Squadron was a Fighter Command squadron that spent most of the Second World War in Britain, fighting in the battle of Britain.
The squadron's first combat experience came during the collapse of France, covering the Dunkirk evacuation. It was one of the first squadrons to test out the cannon-armed Spitfire, but in 1940 the 20mm cannon was not really ready for combat, and the cannon armed aircraft were withdrawn.
From 1943 the squadron formed part of the Second Tactical Air Force, preparing for the invasion of France. The squadron moved to France late in June 1944, stating with the Allied armies as far as Belgium, before returning to Great Britain to carry out long range escort missions with their Mustangs. In February 1945 the squadron moved to Scotland, supporting anti-shipping wings attacking German shipping off the Norwegian coast.
Aircraft
August 1938-September 1940: Supermarine Spitfire Mk I
September 1940-October 1941: Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIA
October 1941-August 1943: Supermarine Spitfire Mk VB and VC
August 1943-February 1944: Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX
February 1944-March 1946: Mustang III and Mustang IV
Group and Duty
1939-1943: Fighter Command
1943-:Second Tactical Air Force
Spitfire Mark I/II Aces 1939-41, Dr Alfred Price. Slightly different to many books in the Aircraft of the Aces series, Price splits his material, concentrating on the wider picture in the first part of the book before looking at eleven of the top Spitfire aces in the last two chapters of the book [see more]
Spitfire Mark V Aces, 1941-45, Dr Alfred Price. A well written and nicely balanced look at the combat career of the Spitfire Mk V and of the men who flew it. The Spitfire V fought in more theatres than the more famous Mk I/II, including over France in 1941, on Malta, in North Africa and even in northern Australia. [see more]
Locations
Great Britain
20 July 1935-27 April 1940: Duxford
27 April-16 May 1940: Horsham St. Faith
16-25 May 1940: Duxford
25 May-5 June 1940: Hornchurch
5-25 June 1940: Duxford
25 June-3 July 1940: Fowlmere
3-24 July 1940: Duxford
24 July-30 October 1940: Fowlmere
30 October 1940-6 February 1941: Duxford
6 February-16 August 1941: Fowlmere
16 August-1 December 1941: Matlask
1 December 1941-4 April 1942: Ludham
4 April-6 May 1942: Hutton Cranswick
6 May-1 June 1942: Perranporth
1-14 June 1942: Warmwell
14 June-1 July 1942: Perranporth
1-7 July 1942: Biggin Hill
7-23 July 1942: Perranporth
23-31 July 1942: Colerne
31 July-16 August 1942: Perranporth
16-20 August 1942: Rochford
20 August 1942-1 March 1943: Perranporth
1-10 March 1943: Middle Wallop
10-13 March 1943: Membury
13 March-5 April 1943: Middle Wallop
5 April-18 May 1943: Fairlop
18 May-4 June 1943: Digby
4-20 June 1943: Matlask
20-26 June 1943: Gravesend
26 June-2 July 1943: Bognor
2 July-18 August 1943: Newchurch
18 August-30 September 1943: Kingsnorth
30 September-15 October 1943: Weston Zoyland
15-24 October 1943: Gatwick
24 October 1943-15 April 1944: Gravesend
15 April-12 May 1944: Ford
12-20 May 1944: Southend
20 May-15 June 1944: Funtington
15-25 June 1944: Ford
France
25 June-15 July 1944: B.7 Martragny
15 July-2 September 1944: B.12 Ellon
2-3 September 1944: B.24 St. Andre del'Eure
3-9 September 1944: B.40 Nivillers
Belgium
9-28 September 1944: B.40 Grimbergen
Great Britain
28 September-14 October 1944: Matlask
14 October 1944-13 February 1945: Andrews Field
13 February-13 May 1945: Peterhead
13 May 1945-13 August 1945: Acklington