1937-1945

Second World War

1937 - 1945

The Pilots

The Aircraft

The Airfields

Sgt M E Croskell in his Hurricane AK-F over southern England.

Original painting by Geoffrey Nutkins

Narrative and material courtesy of F Leeson

Squadron Postings March 1937 - May 1945

FLT LT J E J "JACKIE" SING, DFC.

Jackie Sing was one of the original members of the Squadron, who came from 111 Squadron, when it reformed on 8 March 1937. Born in 1916, he had joined the RAF on a short service commission in October 1935.

Much to his chagrin Jackie Sing was in hospital when the Squadron first went into action, so it was not until the Battle of Britain that he shot down his first enemy aircraft, by which time he had become a Flight Commander. During August and September 1940 he shot down seven and a half enemy aircraft, damaged two more and added two probables. On 22 October he was awarded the DFC.

As the Squadron moved up to 13 Group in December 1940 so Jackie Sing was rested from operations and left the Squadron.

George Westlake joined the Squadron at Tangmere as a Pilot Officer (P.O) in September 1940 and took over as acting C.O. in the Western Desert on 31 August 1942. During his time with the Squadron during which he destroyed nine enemy aircraft and shared two others, with one probable and three damaged, his aircraft was never hit by enemy fire either from the ground or air; a record that continued until the end of the war. At the conclusion of his tour with the Squadron, in September 1942, he was awarded the DFC.

Born on 21 April 1918 in Rangoon, Burma, George Westlake joined the RAFVR in September 1937while he was a student at De Havilland's Aeronautical technical School. At the outbreak of war he was called up and posted to RAF, Ansty as an ab initio instructor. On 17 September, after attending an OUT he was posted to 43 Squadron and a week later joined 213 Squadron at Tangmere.

SQN LDR G H WESTLAKE, DFC.

Wilf Sizer, was born in Chelmsford on 23 February 1920, he had always wanted to fly, and he joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission in March1938. Having completed his flying training in December 1938 he was initially posted to 17 Squadron, then in May 1939 he joined 213 Squadron at Wittering.

On 17 May 1940 he flew with "B" Flight of the Squadron to Merville in France to cover the withdrawal of the BEF, from then on until 1 December 1940 neither he nor the Squadron were ever out of the front line aerial fighting. After the return to England on 20 May this involved covering the retreat from Dunkirk and the whole of the Battle of Britain, initially flying from Exeter in 10 Group and then from 7 September 1940 from Tangmere in 11 Group.

During this time he destroyed six enemy aircraft and helped to destroy two others, additionally he damaged three others. On 8 November 1940 he was awarded the DFC. Twice during the operations over France he was shot down, on both occasions he quickly returned to England and was in action again with the Squadron in a matter of days.

His portrait is included in Cuthbert Orde's book "The Pilots of Fighter Command." As he says in the book every squadron has a Wilf Sizer, or if it does not it should have.

PLT OFF W M "Wilf" SIZER, DFC.

Bert Houle was the most successful of the many Canadian pilots who flew with the Squadron during the Second World War. Born in Massey, Ontario on 24 march 1914, he graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bsc and a P. Eng in 1936.

In September 1941, along with five other Canadian pilot's he joined 213 Squadron at Nicosia, Cyprus. With a short interlude as a test pilot at a Maintenance Unit in the Canal Zone, Bert remained with the Squadron until December 1942. During this time he destroyed three enemy aircraft, damaged three others had one probable and one shared. He was awarded the DFC on 27 November 1942.

In December 1942 he was posted to 143 Squadron as a Flight Commander.

FG OFF A U HOULE, DFC.

Reformed on 8 March 1937 the Squadron was initially equipped with Gloster Gauntlets, the last open cockpit fighter to see service with the RAF.

From the outset however the plan was to re-equip the Squadron as soon as possible with one of the new more powerful fighters then under development. This re-equipment commenced in January 1939 when the first Hawker Hurricane Mk. Is appeared.

The Hurricane, perhaps more than any other aircraft, will always be associated with 213 Squadron. The Squadron operated this remarkable aircraft throughout the withdrawal of the BEF from France, over Dunkirk, throughout the Battle of Britain, and during the Syrian Campaign. Switching to the Hurricane Mk. IIc in March 1942 for the air battles over North Africa, culminating in El Alamein and then Operation Chocolate, it was finally flown on convoy protection and air defence operations until February 1944.

The Aircraft

The Pilots

08-Mar-37

01-Jul-37

18-May-38

17-May-40

21-May-40

23-May-40

26-May-40

18-Jun-40

08-Jul-40

07-Sep-40

01-Dec-40

15-Jan-41

20-Feb-41

29-Mar-41

15 Apl 41

21-Apr-41

11-May-41

21-May-41

24-May-41

Jun 41

20-Jul-41

16-Aug-41

22-Oct-41

23-Oct-41

13-Dec-41

20-Dec-41

29-Dec-41

30-Dec-41

14-Jan-42

08-Mar-42

04-Jun-42

16-Jun-42

17-Jun-42

18-Jun-42

19-Jun-42

20-Jun-42

23-Jun-42

24-Jun-42

27-Jun-42

29-Jun-42

24-Jul-42

28-Jul-42

05-Aug-42

21-Aug-42

28-Sep-42

29-Sep-42

21-Oct-42

08-Nov-42

12-Nov-42

13-Nov-42

16-Nov-42

17-Nov-42

24-Nov-42

23-Jan-43

28-Jul-43

08-Sep-43

09-Nov-43

13-Nov-43

19-Nov-43

10-Jan-44

03-Feb-44

24-Feb-44

06-May-44

03-Jul-44

06-Jul-44

13-Jul-44

26-Aug-44

23-Jan-45

27 Aprl 45

14-May-45

SQDN

"B" Flt

"A" Flt

"B" Flt

"A" Flt

SQDN

"A" Flt

SQDN

"C" Flt

"A" Flt

"B" Flt

SQDN

"A" Flt

"B" Flt

"A" Flt

"B" Flt

SQDN

DETCH

SQDN

DETCH

OPSHQ

SQDN

Northolt, London, England

Church Fenton, Yorks, England

Wittering, Northants, England

Merville, Lille, France

Biggin Hill, Surrey, England

Wittering, Northants, England

Biggin Hill, Surrey, England

Exeter, Devon, England

Tangmere, Sussex, England

Leconfield, Yorks, England

Driffield, Yorks, England

Castletown, Caithness, Scotland

Sumburgh, Shetland, Scotland

Castletown, Caithness, Scotland

Turnhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland

HMS "Furious"

Abu Sueir, Suez Canal, Egypt

Sidi Haneish, Egypt

L G 10, Gerawala, Egypt

Aqir, Palestine

Haifa, Palestine

Ramat David, Palestine

Nicosia, Cyprus

Ismailia, Egypt

L G 229, Idku, Egypt

Shandur, Egypt

El Khanka, Egypt

L G 32, Dehkeila, Egypt

L G 90, Near Amriya, Egypt

L G 229, Idku, Egypt

Gambut West, Libya

L G 142, Gambut Satellite No. 2, Libya

L G 148, Sidi Azeiz, Libya.

L G 155, Egypt

L G 75, Sidi Barani South, Egypt

L G 76, Mischefa, Egypt

L G 07, Mersa Matruh West, Egypt

L G 12, Sidi Haneish North, Egypt

L G 105, El Daba, Egypt

L G 154, Near Amriya, Egypt

L G 172, Near Burg-el-Arab, Egypt

L G 154, Near Amriya, Egypt

L G 219, Kilo 8, Egypt

L G 85, Amriya South, Egypt

L G 172, Near Burg-el-Arab, Egypt

L G 85, Amriya South, Egypt

L G 172, Near Burg-el-Arab, Egypt

L G 20, Qotafiyah I, Egypt

L G 101, Near Sdi Haneish, Libya

L G 125, Libya

L G 101, Near Sidi Haneish, Libya

L G 164, El Adem, Tobruk, Libya

Maturba No 2, Libya

Misurata West, Libya

Idku, Egypt

Paphos, Cyprus

Idku, Egypt

St. Jean, Palestine

Paphos, Cyprus

Lakatamia, Cyprus

Idku, Egypt

El Gamil, Near Port Said, Egypt

Idku, Egypt

Brindisi, Italy

Leverano, Italy

Biferno, Termoli, Italy

Prkos, Zara, Yugoslavia

Biferno, Termoli, Italy

11 Group, Fighter Command

12 Group, Fighter Command

British Air Forces France Command

11 Group, Fighter Command

12 Group, Fighter Command

11 Group, Fighter Command

10 Group, Fighter Command

11 Group, Fighter Command

12 Group, Fighter Command

13 Group, Fighter Command

Liverpool to Mediterranean

Air Headquarters, Middle East

Attached 73 Squadron

Attached 274 Squadron

Attached 80 Squadron

Air Headquarters, Middle East

243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD

243 Wing, 211 Group, AHQ WD

243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD

243 Wing, 211 Group, AHQ WD

243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD

243 Wing, 212 Grpop, AHQ WD

243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD

243 Wing, 219 Group, AHQ EGYPT

259 Wing, 219 Group, AHQ LEVANT

243 Wing, 219 Group, AHQ EGYPT

259 Wing, 219 Group, AHQ LEVANT

243 Wing, 219 Group, AHQ EGYPT

283 Wing, Balkan Air Force

254 Wing, Balkan Air Force

283 Wing, Balkan Air Force

254 Wing, Balkan Air Force

283 Wing, Balkan Air Force

281 Wing, Balkan Air Force

THE SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE.

The Squadron never was a "Spitfire squadron" but for a few weeks at the beginning of 1944 it was equipped with this famous aircraft.

After moving to RAF, Idku in February 1944 the Squadron was still equipped with its now very obsolete Hurricane IIcs, and was providing air cover for Alexandria and the Canal Zone to the best of its ability. The Operations Record Book is loud in its complaints concerning the poor performance of the worn out Hurricanes and their inability to catch the high flying Ju88s and Ju86s that occasionally appeared in the skies.

Suddenly without any warning on February 13 eight brand new Spitfire MkIXs appeared, and in the following weeks a stream of MkVs and MkIXs continues to arrive. However no sooner was the Squadron operational with the Spitfire than it was replaced by yet another legendary World War Two fighter.

THE NORTH AMERICAN MUSTANG

On 17th May, only some three months after re-equipping with Spitfires, again without any prior notice, two Mustang MkIIIs arrived at Idku, and the Squadron set about converting to this formidable aircraft which it would operate until the end of the war.

During its time with the Balkan Air Force the Squadron flew both MarkIII and MarkIV versions of the Mustang. The MarkIV, or P-51K, was identical to the P-51D flown by the USAAF, other than for its Aeromatic propeller.

The Mark III had been modified in the UK, mainly for straight fighter interception work. It had four 0.5" machine guns and some of the later versions had a very pleasant bubble canopy which replaced the standard fold over and clip-down "cottage pane" type of canopy, which was probably the worst feature of the Mustang. Later in the war the Squadron's Mustangs were also modified to carry two five hundred pound bombs.

Adair H H *

Adye

Allcock P O P

Atkinson H D *

Atkinson A *

Baker

Barrow H I R *

Beamish

Beguin

Bigood I K *

Blackwood G D M *

Bowen

Boyd

Bramah H G K *

Broughton

Bruce E G

Buchin M S H C *

Burton

Bushell G D *

Butterfield S L *

Carthew G C T

Chatfield

Clark H D *

Cooke C A

Cooney

Cormack

Cottam H W *

Croskell M E *

Czernin Count M S

David W D *

Davies M P

Denison R W

Deport R *

Dewar J S *

Dixon

Downie

Drake B

Dunscombe R D *

Edwardes Jones H J

Duryasz M *

Fisher

Gray W N

Grayson C *

Greasley G

Glover

Gould

Grove H C

Hallam

Hanock A

Howes

Hemingway

Holdaway D

Hutley R R *

Janicki Z

Jankiewiez J S

Jeram D N *

Kearsey P J *

Kelsey

Kellow R W *

Laricheliere J E P *

Lindsell A M

Lishman J A

Llewellyn R T *

Lockhart J *

Lynch

MacDonald D S *

Marshal

McGregor H D *

Miller

Moss W J M *

New

Norris P P *

Osmand A I *

Pain

Phillipart J A L *

Robinson K N G

Pound P

Savill

Schou

Schwind L H *

Sing J E J *

Sizer W M *

Snowden E G *

Sporny

Stevens G

Stone L G E

Strickland J M *

Stuckey S G *

Sumner

Talman J M *

Thomson T R *

Toyne W A

Valentine A F C

Wallace T J

Weatherill

Westlake G H *

Wight R D G *

Wilkes G N *

Wilson

Winning E G

Wlosnowalski B *

Wojcicki A *

Sgt.

Fg Off

Plt Off

Plt. Lt. DFC

Plt. Off.

Sgt.

Flt. Lt.

Plt Off

Sgt

Sub.-Lt.

Sgt

Sgt.

Plt. Off.

Sgt.

Sgt

Sgt.

Plt Off

Plt. Off.

Sgt

Sgt.

Plt. Off.

Sgt.

Plt Off

Flt. Lt.

Sgt.

Fg Off

Flt.Sgt.

Wg. Cdr.

Sgt.

Plt. Off.

Fg. Off.

Sgt.

Sqn Ldr

Fg. Off.

Plt Off

Fg Off

Flt. Sgt.

Sgt

Sgt.

Fg. Off.

Sgt.

Flt. Sgt.

Sgt

Plt Off

Fg Off

Sub-Lt. RN.

Plt Off

Flt Lt

Plt Off

Sgt

Plt Off

Sqn Ldr

Sgt

Sqn Ldr

Plt Off

Sub-Lt RN

Fg Off

Sgt

Plt Off

Fg Off

Plt Off

Sgt

Plt Off

Fg Off

Flt. Lt., DFC

Plt. Off., DFC

Sgt

Plt Off

Sgt

Plt Off

Fg Off

Sgt

Plt Off

Plt. Off., DFC

Plt Off

Fg Off

Sgt

Fg Off

Plt Off

Flt Lt, DFC

Sgt

Fg Off

Plt Off

Sgt

French

Belgian

French

Polish

Canadian

Belgian

Norwegian

Polish

Killed 06.11.1940

Killed 25.08.1940

Killed 17.10.1940

Killed 28.11.1940

Killed

Missing

Killed 10.01.1941

Killed 15.08.1940

Killed 31.12.1940

Killed 11. 08.1940.

Killed

Killed 12.09.40

POW 21.05.41

Missing

Killed

Killed 29.10.40

Killed 16.08.40

Wounded

Wounded 15.09.40

Killed 25.08.40

Killed 27.09.40

Killed 28.05.40

Killed 21.08.40

Wounded 28.10.40

Wounded 17.05.40

Killed 11.08.40

Killed 12.08.40

Missing 28.05.40

Killed 29.10.40

Killed 11.09.40

France, Dunkirk & Battle of Britain

* Denotes Battle of Britain clasp to the 1939-1945 Star

Syria, Cyprus,Egypt & The Western Desert.

Aitken H A

Anthony R

Avise J E

Baines R P

Ballantyne J F C

Barnes L E

Baxter R V

Beedham D W

Bird S V

Bolton G S

Bootherstone A R

Boucher L D M

Bradley C F

Breheny R J

Brice E W L

Briggs J L

Brook S G

Brookes K G

Cameron N

Campbell D J

Campbell

Cantin C F

Carrick G

Chadwick D F

Chapman

Chappell S

Chatfield R M

Cochrane J M

Compton H M

Cooke D E

Crowther

Dixon J M

Double

Douthwaite

Downie

Duncan

Du Pasquier

Edmonds

Edwards

Etchells F A

Field J T

Firman D E

Ford K A L

Fry S R

Furneaux R H

Garrood A

Garwood R H

Geoffrion L P

Gordon W I

Gould

Green N

Griffiths R

Gwynne W D

Halvorsen R

Hancock A J

Hartley P W

Haslam P C

Hay J F

Helm H B

Henderson

Hoffreins J A

Horne

Houle A U

Howard H

Howell

Humphries

Ismay W H

Jackson

Jackson R

Janes C L B

Jowett T A

Kettlewell G V W

Knapton P W

Lack W

Leach L J

Lee M S

Lockhart L J

Luxton C

Marshall

McAll C T

McAnn T A

McClelland B J

MacDonald D S

McGuire P E

McKay D J

McKay D R S

McKay G R S

McKay R W

McKenzie J

Mitchell F E

Moor J W

Newick J D

Nightingale A D

O'Halloran S M

Oliff J E

Olver P

Pain

Phipps C H

Pickford S G

Pienaar S W

Potter F G

Price L E

Pound P

Purchase T E G

Rebstock J R

Redhill D R

Ritchie J D

Rorvik R E

Ross A D

Rowlands H R

Ryley R J

Sissons K N R

Smailes A A

Smith C D A

Sowrey J A

Steele W J

Steinberg T G

Stephenson W H

Stevens T A

Steward F H

Stratton W H

Stringer E A

Sweney W G

Swinden W W

Temlett C B

Temple-Murray P T

Thomlinson W H

Thrift D J

Turner E B

Usher D C

Vair-Turnbull S J

Vorster C S

Vos C S

Waite G A

Wallace R J

Walker P C

Watkins J G

Westlake G H

White

Whiting S R

Wilson D

Wilson F A W J

Wilson F

Wilson G A

Wilson P P

Wollaston R F

Woodward V C

Wyatt-Smith

Young M

Young M H

Plt Off

Fg Off

Plt Off

Sgt

Plt Off

Flt Sgt

Plt Off

Flt Lt

Sgt

Plt Off

Flt Lt

Sgt

Fg Off

Flt Sgt

Sgt

Flt Lt

Plt Off

Sgt

Plt Off

Flt Lt

Plt Off

Flt Lt

Fg Off

Flt Lt

Plt Off

W O

Plt Off

Sgt

Fg Off

Plt Off

Fg Off

Plt Off

FG Off

Flt Sgt

Fg Off

Flt Sgt, RCAF

Sgt

W O

Flt Sgt

Plt Off

Flt Sgt

Fg Off

Fg Off, RCAF

Flt Lt

Flt Sgt

Sgt

Plt Off

Sqn Ldr

W O

Fg Off

2Lt (SAAF)

Plt Off

W O

Flt Sgt

Fg Off

Sgt

Plt Off

Sgt

Fg Off

Sgt

W O

Sqn Ldr

Fg Off

Flt Lt

Lt(SAAF)

Sgt

Sqn Ldr

Plt Off

Sgt

Plt Off

Sqn Ldr

Sgt

FltSgt

Flt Lt

Fg Off

Sgt

W O

2Lt(SAAF)

Sgt

Flt Lt

Flt Sgt

Sqn Ldr

Plt Off

Fg Off

W O

2Lt(SAAF)

Sgt

Flt Lt

Plt Off

Fg Off

Flt Sgt

Plt Off

Sgt

2Lt(SAAF)

Flt Sgt

Flt Lt

FG Off

Plt Off

Flt Lt

Fg Off

Sgt

Fg Off

Plt Off, DFM

Flt Lt

Sgt

Sqn Ldr

Sgt

Fg Off

Flt Lt. DFC

Fg Off

Plt Off

Fg Off

Flt Lt

Sgt

FG Off

2Lt(SAAF)

Flt Lt

Plt Off

W O

Plt Off

W O

Sqn Ldr

Sgt

Sqn Ldr

Plt Off

Flt Lt

Sgt

Plt Off

Fg Off

Sqn Ldr

Flt Lt

Sgt

Sqn Ldr

American

Canadian

American

Canadian

Killed 17.10.42

P O W 18.11.42

Killed 16.7.42

Killed 31.8.42

Killed 3.7.42

Wounded 3.7.42

P O W 27.10.42

P O W 13.11.42

Missing 9.10.42

Wounded

P O W 21.5.41

Killed

Missing 12.6.42

Missing 22.6.42

Killed

Wounded

Missing

Killed

P O W

Killed

Missing

Killed 4.3.42

P O W

Killed

Missing

Wounded

Died of Wounds 18.11.42

Killed 4.7.42

Killed 3.7.42

Wounded

Killed 17.2.44

P O W 21.10.42

Killed

Killed 3.6.42

Killed 4.6.42

POW 13.11.42

Missing 13.6.42

Killed 1.9.42

The Balkan Air Force

France, Dunkirk & Battle of Britain

Syria, Cyprus,Egypt & The Western Desert.

The Balkan Air Force

Allan G F

Anthony R

Ashley A G R

Barrett FJ

Bell D H

Bootherstone A R

Borthwick W A

Brierley L W

Buchan E P

Butterworth W H

Chappell S

Chiazzari B N

Clarkson K M J

Cooke D E

Darling T K

Donnelly P

Dowling A A

Elliott G P

Fairbairn J H

Farley S W

Firmin D E

Ford K A L

Friendly C V

Gamble F M

Gardener E

Garwood R H

Heard F

Hearndon A W

Helm H B

Holdsworth G R

Howard H

Hulse G S

Hunt A F W W

Iago I R H

Johnston P M

Jones O

Kenyon I D

Laurence R J

Leach L J

Lludzius A

MacFarlane A

MacLellan E H

Mulcahy-Morgan J A

Nethersole T O

Payne J

Peck D L A

Penson F A E

Pickford F G

Pienaar S W

Postlethwaite G

Purchase T E G

Ralph F A O

Robertson D E

Robinson I C

Rorvik R E

Scarff C S

Smailes A A

Smith C D A

Squire F J

Stevenson N

Straker W J P

Thomson A

Thomson P C

Thomson W

Vaughan-Fowler P E

Vorster V

Vos C S

Watkins J P G

Welch P N

Whiting S R

Wilson-North O

Fg Off

Sgt

Plt Off

Flt Sgt(RAAF)

Sgt

Flt Sgt

Fg Off

Lt(SAAF)

W O

Plt Off

Fg Off(RAAF)

Fg Off

Sgt

Flt Lt

Sgt

W O

Lt(SAAF)

Flt Lt (RAAF)

Lt(SAAF)

Flt Lt

W O

Flt Sgt

Lt(SAAF)

Flt Sgt

Flt Lt

Sgt

W O

Lt(SAAF)

Flt Sgt

Lt(SAAF)

Flt Sgt

Sgt

Flt Sgt

Flt Lt

Sgt

Lt(SAAF)

Fg Off

W O

Lt(SAAF)

Flt Sgt

Fg Off

Plt Off

Fg Off(RNZAF)

W O

Lt(SAAF)

Flt Sgt(RAAF)

Plt Off

Flt Lt

Flt Sgt(RAAF)

Flt Sgt

Flt Lt

W O

Lt(SAAF)

Sqn Ldr

Lt(SAAF)

Sqn Ldr

Plt Off

Fg Off

Sqn Ldr

Plt Off

Australian

South African

Australian

South African

Australian

South African

New Zealand

South African

Australian

South African

Killed 11.12.44

Killed 30.7.44

Wounded 21.3.45

Killed 10.8.44

Killed 5.4.45

Wounded

Missing 11.7.44

Missing 2.3.45

Missing 27.9.44

Killed 13.9.44

Missing

Killed 7.11.44

Missing 10.4.45

Missing 26.1.45

Killed 11.3.45

Killed 9.8.44

Killed 23.11.44

Killed 29.8.44

Missing 30.10.44

Killed 4.1.45

Killed

Killed 4.8.44

POW

Missing 30.10.44

POW 27.11.44

Wounded

Missing 15.2.45

Killed 24.3.45

Missing 21.3.45

Gloster Gauntlet

Hawker Hurricane Mk.I