No. 239 Squadron (RAF): Second World War

Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books

No.239 Squadron served as an army co-operation squadron and a tactical reconnaissance and ground attack squadron, before ending the war as a night intruder squadron supporting Bomber Command.

Mosquitoes of No.239 Squadron
Mosquitoes of
No.239 Squadron

The squadron was reformed on 18 September 1940 as a army co-operation squadron by merging two flights, one from No.16 Squadron and one from No.225 Squadron. The squadron was equipped with Lysanders, and was mainly used for training exercises. This began to change in June 1941 when a number of Tomahawks arrived for tactical reconnaissance missions. In January 1942 the squadron was fully equipped with a mix of Hurricanes and Tomahawks, and was to serve as a fighter/ reconnaissance squadron.

These aircraft were replaced with Mustangs in May 1942, and in the following month ground attack and tactical reconnaissance missions over France began. The squadron joined 2nd Tactical Air Force when it was formed in 1943, but in September 1943 gave up its Mustangs and moved to Scotland for night fighter training.

In December 1943 the squadron converted to the Mosquito, and moved to East Anglia to join No.100 Group. The squadron spent the rest of the war flying night intruder missions in support of Bomber Command, intercepting German night fighters. The squadron was disbanded on 1 July 1945.

Aircraft
September 1940-January 1942: Westland Lysander II and IIIA
June 1941-May 1942: Curtiss Tomahawk I and IIA
January-May 1942: Hawker Hurricane I
January-May 1942: Hawker Hurricane IIC
May 1942-September 1943: North American Mustang I
December 1943-January 1945: de Havilland Mosquito II
September 1944-January 1945: de Havilland Mosquito VI
January-July 1945: de Havilland Mosquito 30

Location
September 1940-January 1941: Hatfield
January 1941-May 1942: Gatwick
May 1942: Abbotsinch
May 1942: Gatwick
May 1942: Detling
May-August 1942: Gatwick
August-October 1942: Twinwood Farm
October-November 1942: Cranfield
November-December 1942: Odiham
December 1942-January 1943: Hurn
January-April 1943: Stoney Cross
April-June 1943: Gatwick
June 1943: Fairlop
June-July 1943: Martlesham Heath
July-August 1943: Fairlop
August-September 1943: Hornchurch
September-December 1943: Ayr
December 1943-July 1945: West Raynham

Squadron Codes: HB

Duty
1940-1941: Army co-operation
1941-1943: Ground attack/ tactical reconnaissance
1944-1945: Night intruder missions supporting Bomber Command

Books

 

Bookmark this page: Bookmark with Delicious  Delicious  Bookmark with Facebook  Facebook   Bookmark with StumbleUpon  StumbleUpon

How to cite this article: Rickard, J (11 July 2011), No. 239 Squadron (RAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/239_wwII.html

Help - F.A.Q. - Contact Us - Search - Recent - About Us - Privacy