Original W.W.II. Photograph of RAF 144 Squadron. c.1940 (Chris Balm Early Aviation & Motoring Items)

Original W.W.II. Photograph Of RAF 144 Squadron. c.1940

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Original W.W.II. Photograph of RAF 144 Squadron. c.1940

Original early W.W.II. photograph of the aircrew of Royal Air Force 144 Squadron. This photograph was taken in September 1940.

This photograph shows the pilots and aircrew of 144 Squadron standing in front of a Handley Page Hampden Mk.I. Bomber. Still attached to it's original cream coloured mount with the caption "144 Squadron, Hemswell" written below by hand in black ink. Four of the men in the photograph are : (front row, 3rd from right) S/Ldr Rawlins, prisoner of war from May 1941, (middle row, far right) Sgt. De Courcy, killed in action June 1941, (middle row, 7th from right) Sgt J.F. Shutt, killed in action March 1941 and (front row, 2nd from left) P/O. D Skinner. Overall dimensions (including mount) : 358mm x 180mm, image dimensions : 294mm x 118mm. Photograph in nice condition, some soiling and pin holes to mount.

RAF 144 Squadron was formed at Bicester on 11 January 1937. It was created using personnel from 101 Sqaudron and began with 4 Boulton Paul Overstrand bombers . The squadron moved to Hemswell, Lincolnshire on 9th February 1937 and in December of the same year were re-equipped with Bristol Blenheim Mk.I. bombers. By march 1939 they were changed again to Handley Page Hampden Mk.I. bombers. They were part of 5 Group, Bomber Command, which at this time was lead by none other than Sir Arthur "Bomber" Harris. At the very beginning of W.W.II., 144 carried out reconnaissance missions, but on 29th September 1939 it and 61 Squadron (also flying Hampdens from Hemswell) carried out one of the very first offensive raids of the war. This was a daylight mission against German warships and resulted in the loss of 5 out of the 11 aircraft that took part. After this event, the bombers operated under the cover of darkness. On the night of the 20th July 15 Hampdens from 144 & 61 Squadrons mounted an unsuccessful attack on the German battleships Admiral Scheer and Tirpitz at Wilhelmshaven. In July 1941, 144 Squadron moved to North Luffenham and in 1942 was transferred from Bomber Command to Coastal Command.

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