Rsrchng 30 Sqdn, 273 Sqdn movements 1940 -42

[Paterbrat]

Trying to get an idea of where best to begin looking into the movements of various RAF squadrons during the period 1940 30 Sqdn between 1940 when equipped with Blenheims and 41 after it had been reformed with Hurricanes in Egypt during June which I think came after the retreat from Meleme Crete. The squadron I believe then flew off the aircraft carrier Indominitable possibly during redeployment to Ceylon around march 42. From that point looking for details of 273 Squadron Columbo again equipped with Hurricanes.
From July 43 now looking into 67 Squadron Hurricanes where?

Was hoping someone might be able to point me in the direction of a good starting point to begin a little research into more details than the very limited one line entries from a recently found wartime logbook. Have looked at RAF Historical Squadron section and gleaned some info from that, however was interested to see they did not include 30 Squadron in there at all. Any advice gratefully recieved. Thanks.

[teeteringhead]

Some basic info from "The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force" by James J Halley (ISBN 0 85130 083 9 but may be out of print).

30 Sqn

"When Italy entered the war in June 1940, the Blenheims were fitted with gun-trays and flew escort missions over the Western Desert and provided air defence for Alexandria. After the Italian invasion of Greece, No 30 moved there and attacked enemy bases in Albania, being officially designated a fighter squadron in March 1941. After a short period in Crete in April, the squadron was forced to retire to Egypt where it re-equipped with Hurricanes. These were used for night air defence of Alexandria when operations in the Western Desert began.

The squadron was embarked on the carrier Indomitable and flown off to reinforce Ceylon early in March 1942 in time to counter Japanese carrier-borne air attacks on Colombo and Trincomalee, but no further raids took place and No 30 remained on air defence duties until February 1944."

Bases:

Ikingi Maryut 8 Jul 40
Eleusis 3 Nov 40
Maleme 17 Apr 41
Amriya 16 May 41
Idku 14 Jun 41
LG 102 25 Oct 41
LG 05 16 Nov 41
LG 121 23 Jan 42
Embarked 25 Feb 42
Ratmalana 6 Mar 42

273 Sqn

"In March 1942 the squadron began to re-equip with Fulmars (about half the personnel being naval) and sixteen were on strength when a Japenese carrier attacked Ceylon on 9 April 1942, one being lost in defence of the airfield. For the next few days the Fulmars flew recce sorties looking for enemy ships and then settled back to defensive duties. In August 1942 Hurricanes began to replace the Fulmars and in March 1944 conversion to Spitfires took place."

Bases:

China Bay 1 Aug 39
Katukurunda 18 Jun 42
Ratmalana 1 Aug 43

67 Sqn

"In June 1943 detachments began flying over Burma to escort Dakotas and provide fighter defence. In November it returned to the defence of Calcutta and converted to Spitfires in February 1944."

Bases:

Alipore ? May 42
Chittagong 24 Aug 43
Alipore 30 Nov 43
Amarda Road 7 Mar 44


There is some more stuff in the book if you want anything specific (eg exact types/marks and representative serials), but for exact details your best bet is the RAF's Air Historical Branch which retains all the official records and is quite friendly!

They are at:

Air Historical Branch(RAF)
Building 266
RAF Bentley Priory
Stanmore
Middlesex
HA7 3HH

Hope all this helps. As you appear to be out of the country I'll try and dig out an email address for you.

[sycamore]

Try `google for`raf squadron associations for others; try `lyneham.raf.mod.uk/30sqn/index` as more direct for`flat out at nowt`:ok:

[Paterbrat]

Scholars and gents it seems abound. My very kind thanks to all of you and teeteringhead for the trouble to put all that down as an instant fix. Regretfully, though understandably my father never really talked much about the war, and was sadly killed before I got into aviation myself and a far more meaningful dialogue between us possible. Having recently found some of his things including the logbook I am now deeply interested in delving into it in greater detail, triggered also not unnaturally by some of the more recent programs of children and grandchildren being able to re-create in part something of those flying experiences. Thanks again, the search is on.

[Hen Ddraig]

30 Sqd to Ismailia 25 Aug 39 (Blenheim I)
detatachment at El Daba
Blenheim IF in June 1940
Detatchments at
Amiriya, Helwan, Maaten Bagush, Qasaba, Gerawala

Squadron moved to Ikingi 9 July 1940
Detatchments at
Amiriya,Helwan,Maaten Bagush,Fuka,Haifa

Squadron moved to Elevsis 3 Nov 1940
Detatchments at Paramythia,Heraklion,Maleme

Squadron moved to Maleme 18 April 1941
Squadron moved to Amiriya 28 May 1941

reequiped with Hurricane I. June 1941

Squadron moved to Idku 22 June 1941
Detachment at Ikingi

Squadron moved to LG 102 22 Oct 1941
to LG 05 18 Nov 1941, to LG 121 24 Jan 1942
and to Heliopolis 19 Feb 1942

25 Feb 1942 en route Ceylon on HMS Indomitable
To Ratmalana 8 March 1942 until 31 Aug 1942 when moved to Dambulla


273 sqd Arrived Ratmalana 1 Sept 1942 with Hurricane I ( until Nov 1942) and Hurricane IIB
Moved to China Bay 15 Feb 1943
Moved to Ratmalana 1 Aug 1943
Received Hurricane IIc Dec 1943

67 sqd Re-establised Alipore June 1942 with Hurricane IIC
Moved to Chittagong 1 April 1943
Detatchment at Ramu
Moved to Alipore 30 Nov 1943

Re Equiped with Spitfire VIII Feb 1944
To Armada Road 7 march 1944
To Alipore 28 March 1944
To Baigachi 12 april 1944
To Comilla 8 July 1944
Detatchments at Chittagong and Cox's Bazaar
To Double Moorings 30 Nov 1944
To Maunghnama 1 Jan 1945
To Akyab Main 8 Jan 1945
To Dabaing 4 6 Feb 1945
To Akyab Main 14 May 1945
Disbanded 31 July 1945


Hen Ddraig
Time to spare, go by air

[Paterbrat]

Many thanks indeed for that Hen, picture building up well.

Many thanks for that Hen, picture building up now.