Caption: Hurricane IIc Trop RAF 60Sqn E LB941 Sadaung Burma IWM CF395

 Caption: Spitfire XVIII RAF 60Sqn TP222 and Beaufighter RD863 prop strike accident

RAF No 60 Squadron

RAF No. 60 Squadron

Motto: Per ardua ad arthera tendo (I strive through difficulties to the sky)

One of the foremost fighter squadron on the Western Front by the end of the war, this squadron was formed at Gosport on 30 April 1916, departing for France the following month. Equipped with Moranes, which were soon found to be obsolete, it re-equipped with Nieuport 17s in August. These were used by the squadron until July 1917 when they were replaced by SE5s. Amongst the pilots who served with the squadron and later became 'aces', were 'Billy' Bishop (final score 72) and Albert Ball (44), both of whom also received the VC. The squadron returned to Narborough in February 1919 and then Bircham Newton in December, disbanding there on 22 January 1922.

The squadron was reformed on 1 April 1920, when no 97 Squadron at Lahore was re-numbered. It was now equipped with DH10s which it operated in support of ground units along the North-West Frontier of India. DH9As replaced the twin-engined DH10s in April 1923 and these in their turn were replaced by Wapitis in July 1930. Modern equipment arrived in June 1939 when the first Blenheim I arrived, the unit being fully equipped two months later. Coastal patrols became the order of the day from various locations around India, until February 1941 when the squadron moved to Burma. It partly became a fighter squadron again in July, when it received some Buffaloes, but these were transferred to No 67 Squadron in October.

When the Japanese invaded Malaya and Burma, the bulk of the squadron was based in Singapore, and carried out operations against enemy shipping and airfields. At the same time the rest of the squadron returned to India to re-equip with the Blenheim IV, which were used against Japanese targets in Burma until May 1943. Fighters returned to the squadron in August 1943 when the squadron moved to Southern India to re-equip with Hurricanes, which were then used for ground attack and escort duties, flying in support of the 14th Army until May 1945 when it was withdrawn again to re-equip. Its new equipment was the Thunderbolt, but by the time it had completed working up, the war had ended and so it moved to Malaya in September and Java in October.

In December 1946 the squadron returned to Singapore and began converting to Spitfire FR Mk 18s. These were used during the early stages of Operation Firedog, but in December 1950, new equipment arrived in the form of Vampires and then in April 1955, Venoms. In October 1959 the squadron adopted an all-weather fighter role when it received Meteor NF Mk 14s, which in their turn were replaced by Javelins in July 1961 and these were operated until the squadron disbanded at Tengah on 30 April 1968.

Less than a year later on 3 February 1969, the RAF Germany Communications Squadron was redesignated No 60 Squadron at Wildenrath. It was now equipped with Pembroke C Mk 1s and Heron C Mk 4s, with Andover CC Mk 2s arriving in 1971, although these were withdrawn in 1975 and as the Herons had gone in 1972, this left the squadron only operating Pembrokes. Andovers, both C Mk 1s and CC Mk 2s, returned in 1987 and following the retirement of the Pembroke in May 1990, become the units sole types until disbanding on 1 April 1992, its aircraft being absorbed into No 32 Squadron.

A month later on 1 June 1992, the squadron reformed at Benson and Support Helicopter unit equipped with the Wessex HC Mk 2. With the retirement of the Wessex, the squadron disbanded on 31 March 1997. However, on 1 May 1997 the RAF Element of the tri-service Defence Helicopter Flying School at Shawbury was given the designation No 60 Squadron and continued to operate in the advanced training role equipped with the Griffin HT Mk 1.

Standards Battle Honours*
Award of Standard originally announced on 7 Sep 1943, effective from 1 Apr 1943 but presented:-
1st - 6 May 1955 ACM Sir John Baker.
2nd - 18 May 1984 ACM Sir David Lee.

Western Front, 1916-1918: Somme, 1916: Arras: Somme, 1918: Hindenburg Line: Burma, 1941-1942: Malaya, 1941-1942: Arakan, 1942-1944: North Burma, 1944: Manipur, 1944: Burma, 1944-1945:
Waziristan, 1920-1925: Mohmand, 1927: North West Frontier, 1930-1931: Mohmand, 1933: North West Frontier, 1935-1939:

Squadron Codes used: - AD Apr 1939 - Sep 1939; MU Sep 1943 - Feb 1942, Aug 1943 - Oct 1946; A - Z Carried on Wessex

Web References: http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn056-60.htm

No. 60 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1916 at Gosport. It is currently part of No. 1 Flying Training School based at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire flying the Airbus H135 Juno HT.1.

RFC Morane-Saulnier Type N Bullet

The squadron badge is a markhor's head and was approved by King George VI in December 1937. Chosen to commemorate many years of service in North-West India, the markhor being a mountain goat frequenting the Khyber Pass. The horns of a markhor were presented to the squadron in 1964.

The squadron motto is Per ardua ad aethera tendo – 'I strive through difficulties to the sky'.

First World War service

Formed at Gosport on 30 April 1916, barely a month had passed before the unit and its Morane-Saulnier N's were despatched to France. The squadron's initial pilot officers included Harold Balfour and Charles Portal, later Under-Secretary of State for Air and Chief of the Air Staff respectively, while Robert Smith-Barry, later to revolutionise British pilot training, was a flight commander and (from July to December 1916), the squadron's commanding officer.

After suffering heavy losses during the Battle of the Somme, the squadron re-equipped with Nieuport Scouts and soon acquired a first-class reputation for itself. On 2 June 1917, Captain W. A. "Billy" Bishop received the Victoria Cross for his solo attack on a German aerodrome destroying three enemy aircraft in the air and several 'probables' on the ground before returning unhurt in a badly damaged aircraft. A month later, S.E.5 fighters arrived and these remained with the squadron until it was disbanded on 22 January 1920.

Bishop and a Nieuport 17 fighter

S.E.5a aircraft of No. 32 Squadron RAF. Similar to those operated by No. 60 Squadron

The squadron claimed 320 aerial victories. Twenty-six flying aces served in the squadron during the war; notable among them were:

Aircraft Operated by RAF No. 315 Squadron

Flying Aces
Albert Ball – Victoria Cross winner
Alexander Beck
James Belgrave
Alan Duncan Bell-Irving
William Avery Bishop – Canadian Victoria Cross winner
Keith Caldwell – future Air Commodore
Robert L. Chidlaw-Roberts
John Doyle
Art Duncan
Gordon Duncan
William M. Fry
John Griffith
Harold A. Hamersley
H. George Hegarty
Spencer B. Horn
William Molesworth
Sydney Pope
John William Rayner
Alfred William Saunders
Alan Scott
Frank O. Soden
Robert Kenneth Whitney

The inter-war years

Reformed at Lahore in India from the disbanded No. 97 Squadron RAF on 1 April 1920, the squadron, now equipped with Airco DH.10 Amiens bombers, began an association with the Middle and Far East that was to last for 48 years. Between the wars, the unit found itself involved in many conflicts along the North West Frontier, including Pink's War, flying Airco DH.9A and Westland Wapiti general-purpose aircraft until Bristol Blenheims arrived six months before the start of the Second World War.

Second World War

Burma and Malaya

Blenheims of No. 60 Squadron flying at low level for a mast-head attack on a Japanese coaster off Akyab, Burma on 11 October 1942

The squadron moved to Burma in February 1941. After the outbreak of war against Japan the squadron fought in Malaya. Two aircraft, L4912 and L4915, remained in Burma. Both were Blenheim Is and they were destroyed on 20 and 21 January 1942 respectively. L4912 had been damaged beyond repair during a mission in Burma and L4915 was destroyed by enemy bombing.

When the war against Japan broke out on 8 December 1941 No. 60 Squadron was ordered to attack Japanese shipping near Kota Bharu. L4913 was shot down by Japanese anti-aircraft fire over the Gulf of Siam while attacking the Awagisan Maru. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant William Bowden, survived the crash and was taken prisoner. He was the first allied airman captured by the Japanese. He was imprisoned at the Zentsuji POW Camp where he remained until late June 1945. He was then transferred to Tokyo No. 12D Camp at Mitsushima where he was eventually freed in September 1945.

On 24 December 1941 the remnant of squadrons ground crew and a few of its air crew, having lost all their aircraft in action, sailed from Singapore on the SS Darvel to Burma. They arrived in Rangoon on 1 January 1942 and were joined on 7 January 1942 by No. 113 Squadron and a couple of No. 45 Squadron's Bristol Blenheim IVs. No. 60 Squadron's spare aircrew were assigned to No. 113 Squadron as needed. Because the three squadrons lacked both aircraft and supplies they were seldom able to put more than seven aircraft up at one time, meaning they tended to operate as one. No. 60 Squadron's Blenheim aircrews manned No. 113 Squadron's planes for the first bombing raid on Bangkok and participated again in the second one later in January.

India

Nakajima Ki-43-IIa

The squadron had suffered heavily at the hands of the advancing Japanese forces and was declared non-operational and moved to Asansol, India along with No. 45 and 113 Squadrons. Once in India the squadron was re-equipped with Blenheim Mk IV's. While returning to India from Burma after a bombing mission to Sitwe, Burma, on 22 May a Blenheim the squadron was attacked by Nakajima Ki-43 fighters from 64 Sentai. Flight Sergeant Jock McLuckie was one of the Blenheim's gunners. McLuckie shot down Japanese ace Lt Colonel Tateo Katō who commanded the Sentai and damaged two other Ki-43s.

No. 60 Squadron Hurricane and crewmen, possibly in Burma

On 30 March 1943 an English-Argentinian from Estancia Dos Hermanos, Los Pinos, Richard (Ricardo) Campbell Lindsell, who had joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, was appointed squadron leader. Lindsell had been educated at Stowe School in England and had been based with No. 139 Squadron RAF.

In May the squadron was stood down while replacement aircraft were sought. By August the decision had been made to re-equip the squadron with Hawker Hurricane IIc fighter-bombers. Training was commenced in August at Madras and by November the Hurricanes were providing escort duties. In January 1944 the squadron began ground attack missions and troop support against the Japanese in Burma. During one month in 1944 the squadron completed 728 sorties and also received considerable praise for the accuracy of its bombing by allied ground troops. For their efforts and his leadership Lindsell was awarded the DFC.

In May 1945 the Hurricanes were replaced by Republic Thunderbolt fighters

Aircraft Operated by RAF No. 60 Squadron

From	To	Aircraft	Version
April 1930	September 1930	Airco DH.9A
June 1930	June 1935	Westland Wapiti	Mk.IIa
September 1934	June 1935	Hawker Hart
June 1935	January 1939	Hawker Demon
January 1939	January 1941	Bristol Blenheim	Mk.If
May 1940	May 1940	Gloster Gladiator	Mk.I
September 1940	April 1943	Bristol Beaufighter	Mk.I
April 1943	April 1944	Bristol Beaufighter	Mk.VIf
February 1944	September 1944	de Havilland Mosquito	Mk.XII
April 1944	April 1945	de Havilland Mosquito	Mk.XIII
October 1946	May 1950	Supermarine Spitfire	LF.16e
November 1949	September 1952	de Havilland Vampire	F.3
August 1952	March 1957	Gloster Meteor	F.8

Squadron bases of RAF No. 60 Squadron

From	To	Base
17 March 1930	29 September 1938	RAF Hendon, Middlesex
29 September 1938	3 October 1938	RAF North Weald, Essex
3 October 1938	2 September 1939	RAF Hendon, Middlesex
2 September 1939	16 January 1940	RAF North Weald, Essex (det. at RAF Martlesham Heath, Suffolk)
16 January 1940	15 May 1940	RAF Northolt, Middlesex
15 May 1940	20 June 1940	RAF Manston, Kent
20 June 1940	3 July 1940	RAF Northolt, Middlesex
3 July 1940	27 July 1940	RAF Gravesend, Kent
27 July 1940	12 August 1942	RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire (Det. at RAF Coltishall, Norfolk)
12 August 1942	23 August 1942	RAF Warmwell, Dorset
23 August 1942	7 December 1942	RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire
7 December 1942	18 February 1943	RAF Predannack, Cornwall
18 February 1943	24 April 1943	RAF Ford, West Sussex
24 April 1943	25 April 1944	RAF Scorton, North Yorkshire
25 April 1944	3 May 1944	RAF Church Fenton, North Yorkshire
3 May 1944	13 July 1944	RAF Hurn, Dorset
13 July 1944	25 July 1944	RAF Colerne, Wiltshire
25 July 1944	28 July 1944	RAF Zeals, Wiltshire
28 July 1944	6 August 1944	RAF Colerne, Wiltshire (Det. at A.15/Maupertus, France)
6 August 1944	9 September 1944	A.8/Picauville, France
9 September 1944	24 September 1944	B.17/Carpiquet, France
24 September 1944	5 December 1944	RAF Predannack, Cornwall
5 December 1944	31 December 1944	RAF Odiham, Hampshire
31 December 1944	18 April 1945	B.51/Lille-Vendeville, France
10 May 1946	28 March 1949	RAF Hendon, Middlesex
28 March 1949	10 March 1957	RAF North Weald, Essex

Commanding officers of RAF No. 60 Squadron

From	To	Name
March 1930	March 1935	W/Cdr. A.S.W. Dore, DSO, TD
March 1935	January 1939	S/Ldr. C.P. Gabriel
January 1939	March 1940	S/Ldr. R.A. Budd
March 1940	August 1941	S/Ldr. M.F. Anderson
August 1941	August 1941	W/Cdr. Charles Henry Appleton (1906–1944)
August 1941	July 1942	W/Cdr. J. Cunningham, DSO & Bar, DFC
July 1942	April 1943	W/Cdr. Wood, AFC
April 1943	July 1944	W/Cdr. M.H. Constable-Maxwell, DFC
July 1944	18 April 1945	W/Cdr. F.D. Hughes, DFC & 2 Bars
June 1946	January 1948	W/Cdr. J. Cunningham, DSO & 2 Bars, DFC & Bar
January 1948	May 1951	S/Ldr. K.T. Lofts, DFC & Bar
May 1951	September 1953	S/Ldr. A. Deytrikh
September 1953	March 1957	S/Ldr. T.P. Turnbull, DFC