|
|
Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books
No.60 Squadron served in the Far East throughout the Second World War, originally as a Singapore-based Blenheim squadron and later as a Hurricane equipped ground-attack squadron.
The Blenheims arrived in June 1939, and for the next year carried out coastal patrol duties from bases scattered around India. In February 1941, as tension rose in the east, the squadron concentrated in Burma, where during the second half of 1941 it operated its Blenheims alongside the Brewster Buffalo I.
By the time the Japanese invaded Malaya in December 1941 the Buffalos had been passed to No.67 Squadron, and although No.60 was still officially based in Burma most of its Blenheims were at Singapore. By the end of February the squadron had lost its Blenheim Is, and when it reformed at Lahore on 1 March 1942 it was with new Blenheim IVs.
The Blenheim IVs were used for attacks on Japanese positions in Burma from March 1942 until 13 May 1943. The squadron then converted to the Hawker Hurricane, resuming operations on 10 November 1943. The Hurricanes were used for a mix of bomber escort and ground attack missions throughout the war in Burma. The last mission was flown on 16 May 1945, and the squadron then began to convert to the Republic Thunderbolt. The squadron returned to operations at the end of the war, and took part in the reoccupation of Malaya and Java.
Aircraft
June 1939-February 1942: Bristol Blenheim I
July-October 1941: Brewster Buffalo I
March 1942-August 1943: Bristol Blenheim IV
August 1943-July 1945: Hawker Hurricane IIC
July 1945-November 1946: Republic Thunderbolt II
Location
March 1939-September 1940: Ambala
August 1939: Z Flight to Dum Dum
September 1939: Y Flight to St. Thomas Mount
October 1939: V Flight to Juhu
November 1939: H then W Flight to Drigh Road
September 1940-February 1941: Lahore
February 1941-February 1942: Mingaladon
February-March 1942: Magwe
March-May 1942: Lahore
May-December 1942: Asansol
December 1942-January 1943: Jessore
January-May 1943: Dohazari
May-July 1943: Yelahanka
July 1943: St. Thomas Mount
July-September 1943: Yelahanka
September-October 1943: St. Thomas Mount
October-November 1943: Cholavarum
November 1943-March 1944: Agartala
March-May 1944: Silchar West
May-July 1944: Dergaon
July-September 1944: Kumbhirgram
September 1944-January 1945: Kangla
January-February 1945: Taukkyan
February-April 1945: Monywa
April 1945: Thedaw
April-May 1945: Kalewa
May 1945: Mingaladon
May-June 1945: Thedaw
June-October 1945: Tanjore
Squadron Codes: MU
Duty
Bomber squadron: 1939-1942
Fighter-bomber squadron: 1942-1945
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