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Old 5th Jun 2018, 18:38
  #12087 (permalink)  
roving
 
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Originally Posted by rcsa
Would anyone happen to know which Squadron Group Captain Hemmingway DFC served with in France in May 1940? My Grandfather was with 3 Sqn based at Merville.
Here you go ...

In January 1939, John began training in Yorkshire, and after a period in a flight training school, Pilot Officer Hemingway was posted to No 85 Squadron in Debden, flying Hurricanes.

When the war broke out, John’s squadron was sent to Rouen in northern France and would form part of No 60 Fighter Wing of the Advanced Air Striking Force, providing air support to the British Expeditionary Force. On May 11th, 1940, during the Battle of France, John claimed his first kill, a German Dornier Do 77 light bomber which he helped to shoot down. Later that same day, John was himself brought down by enemy anti-aircraft fire and had to make a forced landing in a field. He was one of the first RAF pilots to shoot down an enemy aircraft over Europe, and was also one of the first to be shot down.
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/a...ilot-1.2482499

No. 85 Squadron was formed from A Flight of No. 87 Squadron on 1 June 1938 as a fighter squadron. For the first four months of its existence the squadron was equipped with the Glostor Gladiator, before receiving the Hawker Hurricane in September 1938.

In September 1939 the squadron moved to France with the Air Component of the BEF. The squadron suffered heavily during the Battle of France, losing all but four of its aircraft in the twelve days between the start of the German offensive and its return to Britain.
No. 85 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War

This link is useful for 3 Sqn in France,

http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/3_squadron.html#1805

Last edited by roving; 5th Jun 2018 at 19:03. Reason: add link
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