No. 141 Squadron RAF

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No. 141 Squadron RAF
Active1 January 1918 - 1 February 1920
4 October 1939 - 7 September 1945
17 June 1946 - 1 February 1958
1 April 1959 - 31 March 1964.
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
BranchEnsign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
Motto(s)Latin: Caedimus Noctu
("We slay by night")[1]
Insignia
Squadron codesUD Allocated Apr - Sep 1939
TW Apr 1940 - Sep 1945, Jun 1946 - Apr 1951
Post-1950 squadron roundelRAF 141 Sqn.svg

No. 141 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed on 1 January 1918 at Rochford, for home defence in the London Area. The Squadron moved to RAF Biggin Hill in February and giving up its mixed collection of types in favour of Bristol F.2 Fighters during March. In March 1919, it moved to Tallaght Aerodrome[2] Ireland, and was disbanded the following year, on 1 February 1920.

141 Sqn was reformed on 4 October 1939 at RAF Turnhouse and was first equipped with Gloster Gladiators then Bristol Blenheims. These were replaced with the Boulton Paul Defiants in April 1940. The first operational patrol was flown on 29 June.

The squadron moved to RAF West Malling, Kent in July. Following an unsuccessful encounter with the enemy a few days later, the squadron was re-designated a night fighter unit, a role more suited to the Defiant. The Squadron motto derives from this period.

Later, 141 Squadron converted to Bristol Beaufighters.

From 1943, it changed roles again to long range intruder operations with Beaufighters over occupied Europe, using the Serrate radar detector, while based at RAF West Raynham in Norfolk.

Venom NF Mk 3s arrived in June 1955 but these were replaced by Gloster Javelins in February 1957 (rafweb.org).

On 16 January 1958, No. 141 Squadron, based at RAF Coltishall, near Norwich in Norfolk, dropped the '1' at the beginning of its number and was thus reborn as 41 Squadron. In doing so, the reborn 41 Squadron automatically absorbed 141's all-weather Gloster Javelin FAW.4 fighters and personnel.[3]

Its final incarnation was as a Bloodhound surface to air missile unit at RAF Dunholme Lodge from 1 April 1959 until 31 March 1964.

Stations[]

  • RAF Turnhouse
  • RAF West Malling
  • RAF Prestwick
  • RAF Dyce
  • RAF Montrose
  • RAF Biggin Hill
  • RAF Gatwick
  • RAF Drem
  • RAF West Raynham
  • RAF Coltishall - 141 Night Fighter Squadron RAF Commanded by Sqn Ldr J O Dalley DFM RAF[4]

(Source: MoD Records.[5])

See also[]

  • List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons

References[]

  1. ^ Pine, L G (1983). A dictionary of mottoes. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. p. 28. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. ^ Dimmock, Capt Norman Herford (1919). "RAF personnel based at Tallaght Aerodrome in uniform fly fishing". source.southdublinlibraries.ie. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  3. ^ Parsons, Gary. "41 Squadron: Seek and Destroy". Air-Scene UK. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  4. ^ CO's Flying Log Book
  5. ^ Battle of Britain Archived 14 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine MoD Records Retrieved 14 July 2007

External links[]

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