RAF Squadrons |
| This is a list of RAF squadrons known about to-date, with outline histories. |
See also the detailed account of 177 Squadron, an extract from Silently into the Midst of Things, by Atholl Sutherland Brown, from which this entry was derived.
177 Squadron, whose motto was 'Silently into the Midst of Things', was formed in India early in 1943 and was disbanded in the Arakan in May 1945.
The squadron was formed at Amarda Road, Orissa, India, in January 1943 and in April 1943 they moved to Phaphamau, Allahabad, to commence training. In June 1943 G/C P.H. Baldwin became the squadron's first commanding officer.
In August 1943, 177 Squadron moved to Feni, north of Chittagong. The Squadron started operations in September flying Beaufighter Mk VIs. Later they has TFXs and Mk XIs. From Feni they ranged all over Burma and northern Siam at low level, singly or in pairs, on sorties that lasted up to seven hours. The aircraft also carried Fairchild F24 nose cameras that recorded actual day time attacks as well as being used for intelligence. As the Beaufighter attacks started to bite the Japanese were forced to transport men, equipment and supplies mainly at night so the Beaufighter squadrons started intense ground attacks during the two weeks bracketing the full moon.
The Squadron, together with 27 Squadron and later 211 Squadron, started by successfully destroying the large rivercraft which were the main initial means of enemy supply. They then turned to airfield attacks to drive the Japanese out of their forward and central airstrips at the same time starting intense attacks of railways in central Burma. As the enemy built up their reserves for two offensives to claim India, attention was focused on the few jungle roads supplying the Arakan.
In January 1944 the squadron was taken over by G/C J.E.S. Hallas-Hill, DSO. In early 1944 the Squadron turned to long range targets such as the new Bangkok railway built by enslaved PoWs, the airfields and roads of northern Siam and shipping of all sorts in the Gulf of Martaban south of Moulmein.
In June 1944, 177 Squadron moved to Ranchi, Bihar and withdrew from the line for two months to rearm and train with rocket-firing Beaufighter TFXs. However half of the Squadron was sent at the beginning of August to reinforce the airborne fire-power in the besieged enclave of Imphal in the northern Chin Hills. There they flew in appalling weather night and day to attack trains and motor transport between the Chindwin and Irrawaddy Rivers. Meanwhile the rest of the Squadron returned to the front to be based at Chiringa, a new forward airstrip which they shared with 27 Squadron, and where they were eventually joined by 211 Squadron. At the end of August the Squadron was reunited and started a regimen of intensive attacks in southern Burma and Siam. About the same time many of the surviving aircrew were tour expired and were replaced by new aircrew who quickly became adept at operations if they survived.
In October 1944, after G/C Hallas-Hill was captured and taken prisoner, S/L H.B. Hunt, DSO and Bar, DFC became acting commanding officer. This lasted until November 1944 when the squadron was taken over by G/C G.R. Nottage, DSO, AFC.
Early in 1945 the 14th Army broke out onto the plains of Burma and after major battles at Meiktila advanced toward Rangoon. Targets for the Beaufighter crews became restricted to the Irrawaddy delta, the Gulf of Martaban and Siam.
During April and May 1945, after G/C Nottage went missing in action, S/L R. H. Wood, DFC became acting commanding officer.
In June 1945 G/C G.R. Nottage DSO, AFC returned as commanding officer after evasion of the enemy. The squadron was disbanded in July 1945 at Hathazari, Bengal.