Disbanded squadrons

[cspellman]

Its been years since I spent much time here so this may have been covered and I believe I heard something about this before somewhere. Any information on disbanded RFC/RAF squadrons, perhaps amalgamated into others on account of heavy losses?

[Simba]

Methinks you'll gain a lot of information by reading 'RAF Squadrons' by Wing Commander C.G. Jefford MBE RAF. Subtitled 'A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912', it's always my first reference whenever I'm researching squadron histories.

My copy's a first edition, ISBN 1 85310 053 6, published in the UK by Airlife Publishing Ltd in 1988. I believe there's now a second, revised edition.

One thing for sure - No.6 Squadron RFC formed on 31 January 1914 and has never been disbanded or amalgamated with another squadron, which makes it the oldest continuously-serving military flying unit in the world.

Here's to 'Shiny Six'!

[cspellman]

Thanks for the book tip. I know I had read about at least one squadron in 1917 that suffered such extreme attrition it was removed from service. I've been out of the loop for quite some time. Fortunately I found two recent books that might shed light on this.

Cheers.

[MilesC]

Some squadrons were disbanded and then reformed, for a variety of reasons. However, Jefford does not really go into this. For example:

41 Squadron:
Britain RFC 41 Gosport 15 4 1916 Formed
Britain RFC 41 Gosport 22 5 1916 Disbanded
Britain RFC 41 Gosport 14 7 1916 Reformed
Britain RFC 41 St-Omer 15 10 1916 Sent to France

There is no indication why they were disbanded only to be reformed 7 weeks later.

And there are the few squadrons that were disbanded from RFC to become the nucleus of the Australian Flying Corps:

Britain RFC 68 19 1 1918 Disbanded - renumbered 2 Sqn, AFC
Britain RFC 71 19 1 1918 Disbanded - renumbered 4 Sqn, AFC

Then there are the numerous joinings, breakups and rejoinings of the RNAS, but I'm not going there.

[Simba]

Interesting to see the repeated formation and disbanding of 41 Squadron at Gosport.

RFC - later, RAF - Grange, Gosport was the birthplace of many RFC squadrons. Some formed from scratch, some from existing cadres (usually of single flight strength), and nearly all were intended for service on the Western Front after 'training up' together. An officer, usually of Captain or Major rank but sometimes a mere Lieutenant, would be posted to the airfield with orders to form a squadron. Ground crew would be appointed, either posted in or 'borrowed' from an already-existing unit, and the pilots would drift in over a period that might last weeks or even months.

Unfortunately, all too often the squadron would be broken up just as it reached a degree of expertise sufficient to enable it to depart for the Front, in order to replace losses piecemeal; it might also be dispatched Flight by Flight to different airfields in France as demand dictated, the Flights often never reforming as a single squadron. Ironically, it was often the best squadrons-in-training that were treated in this way, because operational squadrons in France only wanted to 'poach' the best men available. Result - chaos and waste.

One of the great benefits derived from Smith-Barry's 'School of Special Flying' at Gosport was that training was seen to be best accomplished by dedicated training establishments and not by over-worked officers 'on rest' like Lanoe Hawker. Squadron formation became formalised, as did the training, and the older practise similar to the time-hallowed 'recruitment of Yeomanry by a Charismatic Commander' faded away.

Methinks this was the reason for 41 Squadron's 'false starts' - and many squadrons like it.

[Mark66]

I haven't read of any front line RFC/RAF squadrons that had to be broken up or merged with another unit due to attrition. There was a partial merge in 1916 when 11 squadron's Nieuports were all moved to 60 squadron, leaving 11 as a dedicated FE unit, while 60 used the new scouts to replace its Morane Ns, which had been knocked about by the new enemy biplanes. But neither of the squadrons was disbanded, just re-jigged. The poor devils who had to fly BE 12s (19 and 21 squadrons) got pulled out of the front lines and re-equipped, but the squadrons weren't disbanded or merged.

Naval 6, however, was broken up and the squadron disbanded during August 1917. It reformed as a bomber unit a few months later. I don't know what the reason was. Don't think it was attrition. Seems like it was just an administrative decision, something to do with reorganisation of the RNAS squadron arrangemernts. Rick?

The three Australian squadrons weren't disbanded, just renamed - 2,3 and 4 squadrons of the AFC already existed prior to their arrival in England, but apparently the RFC's administration couldn't bear the numerical duplication with RFC squadrons so they were given three RFC squadron numbers, 68, 69 and 71, during 1917. The squadrons reverted to their original Australian designations in January 1918.

Mark66

[MikeW]

Naval 6, however, was broken up and the squadron disbanded during August 1917. It reformed as a bomber unit a few months later. I don't know what the reason was. Don't think it was attrition. Seems like it was just an administrative decision, something to do with reorganisation of the RNAS squadron arrangemernts. Rick?

I'm sorry, just can't resist

http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschi...sbn=076432425x

Full details inside and No - it wasn't an administrative decision.

Mike

[Mark66]

Oops - a teensy oversight on my part. The book looks great - love to own it and dozens more, but my WWI book budget is very skimpy.

Feel like revealing the secret within - why was 6 reformed?

mark66

[Gregvan]

Dear Mark66 and Everybody Else,

Mike Westrop's brand new book on No 6 Squadron RNAS is a stunner, and an absolutely superbly researched book as well. Loads of photos I had never seen anywhere else, incredible color profiles by Mark Miller, and terrific information on the personalities and day-to-day operations of this unique unit. I found out some new (to me, anyway) and surprising facts about the "Mad Major", Christopher Draper, and many others as well. I highly recommend it, and it's worth every penny for anyone interested in the RNAS or British aerial ops in general.

Incidentally, you should get his amazing book on No 10 Sqn RNAS as well.

Greg VanWyngarden

[MikeW]

Well thanks Greg - where do I send the money?


Would you believe I have still not seen a copy?


Mark 66


In a nutshell, the RNAS could not keep Naval 1, Naval 8, Naval 9 and Naval 10 up to strength - these were the squadrons on secondment to the RFC at the time and the RNAS was committed to a minimum strength.

Naval 6 and Naval 11 (which had never really got going) were chosen for the chop. Both reappeared as day bombing squadrons in 1918.



Mike