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39 Sqn Royal Air Force1918 to 2010
Shortly after the Squadron was transferred to Singapore. Returning to India in April 1940, it was intended that the squadron should go on to the Middle East but was diverted to Aden instead. From here it operated against Italian targets in East Africa until November 1940 when they moved to Egypt. where in January 1941 they were re-equiped with Marylands which were used for strategic reconnaissance duties until Janurary 1942,( they were also operating Beauforts in the anti-shipping roll from August
PLEASE NOTE ALL THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN RESEARCH ON VARIOUS INTERNET WEB PAGES AND IS READLY AVAILABLE TO ANYBODY
2008 was the 90th Anniversary of the ROYAL AIR FORCE I have tried to show the differant types of aircraft that have been used by 39 Sqn over the years since the Royal Air Force was born (& before), Not as famous as some of the Fighter & Bomber Sqn's, of WW11 but made they a name for themselves in the Near East and still going strong
The first a BE2 1916
Canberra 1958
Beaufighter 1943
Blenheim 1939
Bristol F2B 1917
Meteor 1953
Hawker Hart 1931
Wapitis 1929
Beaufort1941
Marauders1944
Tempest 1948
Maryland 1941
39 Sqn Royal Flying Corps was formed in 1916 at Hounslow for the defence of London against the German Zepplin Air Ships and later Gotha bombers, the squadron operated from Northolt (which had become operational in 1915), with detachments at Hainauts Farm and Suttons Farm, and finally North Weald. Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Arthur Harris served with the sqn in 1916 as did its first VC, Lt W Leefe Robinson who shot down the 1st Zepplin over London on the 2nd of September 1916.
On the 1st Apri 1918 the ROYAL AIR FORCE was formed
In November 1918 the squadron was sent to France, but five days later Armistice was declade and the Squadron was disbanded on 16th November 1918.
In November 1918 the squadron was sent to France, but five days later Armistice was declade and the Squadron was disbanded on 16th November 1918.
On July the 1st 1919 at Biggin Hill 39 Sqn was back when 37 Sqn was renumbered, but remained a cadre (no aircraft) until February 1923 when they were equiped with DH9As at Spitalgate near Grantham. The Squadron were transferred to India in December 1928 and were re-equiped with Wapitis in February 1929 which were used for patrolling the North West Frontier which changed to Harts in November 1931 and again to Bristol Blenheims in August 1939.
1941, this became the main roll following the withdrawal of the Marylands in January 1942 continuing in the Torpedo bomber role in its Beauforts until they were replaced with Beaufighters in June 1943.
DH9A 1923
With the Beaufighters it added night intruder sorties to its list of roles, poerating all around the Central Mediterranean area. A move to Italy in July 1944 allowed it to operate over the Balkans well as the coasts of Italy and French coasts. Marauders began to arrive in December 1944 and resumed operations in February 1945, but in October it was transferred to the Sudan and re-equipped with
Mosquitos, where it disbanded on the 8th September 1946.
Reformed at RAF Eastleigh Kenya on 1st of April the sqn flew Tempests in the area until again disbanded on the 28th february 1949. the following day it was reformed at Fayid in the Canal Zone as a Mosquito night fighter sqn tasked with the defence of the Suez Canal.It re-equiped with Meteors in March 1953, moving to Malta in Janurary 1955 disbanding again at Luqa on the 30th of June 1958. Another 39 sqn appeared the next day when 69 Sqn at Luqa was re-numbered. It
operated Canberra PR Mk 3s in the photo-reconnaissance role from Malta, upgrading to PR mk 9s in October 1962. In September 1970 it returned to RAF Wyton were it continued to operate in the same role until disbanding on 1st of June 1992 when no1 PRU also at RAF Wyton ,and equipped with Canberra Mk 9s was renumbered 39 Sqn, moving to RAF Marham in December 1993. With detatchments to Iraq in 1993. Finally on 28th July 2006 the sqn was disbanded
No 39 Sqn was reformed on 1 Jan 07, at Creech AFB, to operate Predator MQ-9 known as REAPER. Additionally, the Sqn provides administrative support to UK personnel operating Predator MQ-1, under the auspices of the Combined Joint Predator Task Force, also from Creech AFB. A new Squadron Standard was presented on 23 January 2008.
Contiued on next page
Mosquitos, where it disbanded on the 8th September 1946.
Reformed at RAF Eastleigh Kenya on 1st of April the sqn flew Tempests in the area until again disbanded on the 28th february 1949. the following day it was reformed at Fayid in the Canal Zone as a Mosquito night fighter sqn tasked with the defence of the Suez Canal.It re-equiped with Meteors in March 1953, moving to Malta in Janurary 1955 disbanding again at Luqa on the 30th of June 1958. Another 39 sqn appeared the next day when 69 Sqn at Luqa was re-numbered. It
operated Canberra PR Mk 3s in the photo-reconnaissance role from Malta, upgrading to PR mk 9s in October 1962. In September 1970 it returned to RAF Wyton were it continued to operate in the same role until disbanding on 1st of June 1992 when no1 PRU also at RAF Wyton ,and equipped with Canberra Mk 9s was renumbered 39 Sqn, moving to RAF Marham in December 1993. With detatchments to Iraq in 1993. Finally on 28th July 2006 the sqn was disbanded
No 39 Sqn was reformed on 1 Jan 07, at Creech AFB, to operate Predator MQ-9 known as REAPER. Additionally, the Sqn provides administrative support to UK personnel operating Predator MQ-1, under the auspices of the Combined Joint Predator Task Force, also from Creech AFB. A new Squadron Standard was presented on 23 January 2008.
Contiued on next page
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Where the New Era begins
