|
|
Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books
No. 34 Squadron went through two incarnations during the Second World War, first as a Blenheim squadron based in Singapore, before reforming in India after the Japanese entry into the war. The squadron ended the war as a fighter bomber squadron, operating over Burma
No.34 Squadron received its Blenheim Is in July 1938, and took them out to Singapore in the autumn of 1939 (as did No.62 Squadron). No.34 shared the fate of every Allied squadron in the areas attacked by the Japanese at the start of 1942 - heavy loses followed by a forced retreat, in this case to Sumatra, then Java. On Sumatra they joined with the survivors of No.27 Squadron and the newly arrived No.84 Squadron, but even with theses reinforcements the situation remained desperate. By the end of February the squadron had ceased to exist as a fighting unit, and the surviving ground crew were evacuated to India.
The squadron reformed in northern India on 1 April 1942. After a brief visit to the North West Frontier to help against a tribal revolt, the squadron moved to the Burma front. Bombing operations over Burma lasted until April 1943. The squadron then moved to the south of India to convert to the Hawker Hurricane IIC, resuming operations over Burma as a fighter-bomber squadron in November 1943. It continued in this role until the end of the war, converting to the Republic Thunderbolt in March 1945, by which time the squadron had advanced deep into Burma. No.34 Squadron was disbanded on 15 October 1945.
Aircraft
July 1938-November 1941: Bristol Blenheim I
November 1941-February 1942: Bristol Blenheim IV
April 1942-January 1943: Bristol Blenheim IV
January 1943-August 1943: Bristol Blenheim V
August 1943-March 1945: Hawker Hurricane IIC
March 1945-October 1945: Republic Thunderbolt II
Location
10 September 1939-18 January 1942: Tengah (Singapore)
18 January-15 February 1942: Palembang (Sumatra)
15-18 February 1942: Lahat
18-20 February 1942: Batavia
1-15 April 1942: Chakrata (Northern India)
15 April-17 June 1942: Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh)
17 June 1942-30 January 1943: Ondal (Now Andal, West Bengal)
30 January-7 March 1943: Jessore (Bangladesh)
7-18 March 1943: Silchar (Assam)
18 March-3 May 1943: Kumbhirgram (Assam)
3 May-15 September 1943: St. Thomas Mount (Tamil Nadu, SE India)
15 September-15 October 1943: Cholavarum
(Tamil Nadu)
15 October-1 November 1943: Alipore (West Bengal)
1 November 1943-10 April 1944: Palel (south of Imphal)
10 April-15 July 1944: Dergaon (Assam)
15 July-20 December 1944: Palel
20 December 1944-23 January 1945: Yazagyo (Burma)
23 January-15 March 1945: Onbauk (Burma)
15 March- 20 April 1945: Ondaw (Burma)
20 April-1 June 1945: Kwetnge (Burma)
1 June-1 July 1945: Kinmagan (Burma)
1 July-18 August 1945: Meiktila (Burma)
18 August-15 October 1945: Zayatkwin (Burma)
Squadron Codes: LB (Blenheim), EG (Thunderbolt)
Duty
1939-1941: Bomber Sqaudron, Singapore
1941-1943: Bomber Squadron, India
1943-1945: Fighter Bomber Squardon, India and Burma
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.
Bookmark this page:
Delicious
Facebook
StumbleUpon