115 Squadron

[QuePee]

My father was with 115 Squadron during the period 1953 to 1956 when they were based at RAF Marham flying Canberra's. I know that he flew on several of the detachments during that period, one in particular I know was RAF Geilenkirchen, Germany. A photo in my possession shows him on another detachment in much hotter and sandier climes and I believe that it was RAF Idris. I have searched the web and failed to find any info and I was wondering if any of the readers here would be able to provide any clues as to locations for any of the detachments. I realise that Kew would be the obvious and best source of info but that's a little difficult now that I am living across the pond.

I attach a photo of one the Marham aircraft (not sure if its 115Sqn though) in the winter of 1956 in lieu of payment.....

http://i41.tinypic.com/egy70h.jpg

and a couple actually on the detachment that I am interested in.
http://i42.tinypic.com/2ymy79d.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/116i1om.jpg

Here's hoping someone can help.

Thanks

QuePee

[Tim McLelland]

Not my kind of area I'm afraid but thanks for posting the photos - great stuff! The first photo appears to have been taken at Binbrook actually.

[T-21]

Flying suits were a silver-grey sheen finish,with black flying boots and white Cape leather flying gloves. Note the aircrew knife in the right leg holder. It was for cutting the straps and survival purposes in a crash landing. Bonedome was silver with black visor. Many aircrew put paintings or transfers on them. One of the crew is beltless in the photograph. I would worry about the belt snagging on equipment protrusions in the cockpit if you had to abandon in an emergency .

What was your father's name and rank ?

[virgo]

At the risk of being very boring.............The knife was actually to puncture the SS1 liferaft, which you sat on, if it inflated while in flight - that's why the knife was mounted up-side-down, so it could be pulled out of its sheath forwards while the wearer was seated.

[lauriebe]

Is that a lightning flash painted on the nose of the Canberra in the first photo? That would make it a 617 Sqn aircraft would it not?

[Kieron Kirk]

lauribe,
I think the lightning flash is a 9 Squadron marking.
Just having lunch, so will confirm later if no one else does.
From a sunny but cold Chessington.

Ciarain.

[QuePee]

Going back to a earlier post, I have found some evidence from my fathers records that the Canberra taxying in the snow was actaully taken at RAF Binbrook and may not have been a Marham aircraft after all. Does this fit in with the 9 or 617 Sqn scenario.

QP

[lauriebe]

QP, both 9 & 617 were at Binbrook with Canberras during the early/mid 50s so it would fit.

The lightning flash which I think is on the front of the aircraft in the first photo is similar to the one in the diagram halfway down the page on this link:

Sqn Markings 617_P (http://www.rafweb.org/SqnMark617.htm)

In a similar diagram on the 9 Sqn page on that site, one of their Canberras is also shown with the flash, but in blue, not red. See here:

Sqn Markings_9 (http://www.rafweb.org/SqnMark009A.htm)

Prior to seeing that, I had always believed it was a 617 marking only.

[Kieron Kirk]

lauriebe,

I am far too young to remember 9/617 Squadron's Canberras at Binbrook!

Photos in several books (all b/w) captioned as 9 Squadron with the lightning flash are correct because of the "bat" motif and the "roman" 9 on the fin.

The serial number helps, as few a/c served with both 9 and 617 Squadrons.

The photo at the top of this thread, b/w of course and no clear view of fin or serial number.

Ciarain.