No. 225 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 225 Squadron RAF was formed on 1 April 1918 at Alimini, Italy
from part of No. 6 Wing RNAS
, and was equipped with Sopwith Camel
s. The squadron disbanded on 18 December 1918.
On 11 October 1939 the squadron was reformed at Odiham
from 'B' flight of No. 614 Squadron
, equipped with Westland Lysander
s. In 1942 the squadron re-equipped with Hawker Hurricane
s and North American Mustang
s. After participating in the allied invasion of Tunisia "Operation Torch
", the squadron began converting to Supermarine Spitfires in January 1943.
In September 1944 the squadron returned to Italy
after the invasion of Southern France, where it remained until disbanding on 7 January 1947.
It was reformed on 1 January 1960, from the Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit, equipped with Bristol Sycamore
s and Westland Whirlwinds. The squadron was based at Andover
until moving to Odiham in May 1960, and then Malaysia in November 1963. The squadron disbanded on 1 November 1965.
Code LX was allocated in April 1939 and worn until April 1942.
Code WU was used from April - July 1942, then February 1943 - January 1947.
link:
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/collections/aircraft/westland-lysander-iii.cfm
This aircraft was used by the Squadron for reconnaissance patrols along the south coast of England between September 1940 and April 1941.
Link: http://www.maltaviationmuseum.com/spitfire.asp
This Spitfire was photographed at Florence, Italy wearing the code WU-S.
http://www.spitfirepv270.co.nz/
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
from part of No. 6 Wing RNAS
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
, and was equipped with Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
s. The squadron disbanded on 18 December 1918.
On 11 October 1939 the squadron was reformed at Odiham
RAF Odiham
RAF Odiham is a Royal Air Force station situated a little to the south of the historic small village of Odiham in Hampshire, England. It is the home of the Royal Air Force's heavy lift helicopter, the Chinook HC2, HC2A and HC3...
from 'B' flight of No. 614 Squadron
No. 614 Squadron RAF
614 Squadron was originally formed on 1 June 1937 as an army co-opeation squadron unit of the Auxiliary Air Force. It served during the Second World War first in this role and later as a bomber squadron...
, equipped with Westland Lysander
Westland Lysander
The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
s. In 1942 the squadron re-equipped with Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
s and North American Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
s. After participating in the allied invasion of Tunisia "Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
", the squadron began converting to Supermarine Spitfires in January 1943.
In September 1944 the squadron returned to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
after the invasion of Southern France, where it remained until disbanding on 7 January 1947.
It was reformed on 1 January 1960, from the Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit, equipped with Bristol Sycamore
Bristol Sycamore
-See also:-External links:* on the Bristol Sycamore* on the Bristol Sycamore*...
s and Westland Whirlwinds. The squadron was based at Andover
RAF Andover
Andover Airfield is a former Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force station. The ICAO code for the airfield is EGWA and the IATA code is ADV...
until moving to Odiham in May 1960, and then Malaysia in November 1963. The squadron disbanded on 1 November 1965.
Aircraft operated
- 1918 Sopwith 1½ StrutterSopwith 1½ StrutterThe Sopwith 1½ Strutter was a British one or two-seat biplane multi-role aircraft of the First World War. It is significant as the first British-designed two seater tractor fighter, and the first British aircraft to enter service with a synchronised machine gun...
- 1918 Hamble Baby Convert
- 1918 Sopwith CamelSopwith CamelThe Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
- 1939-1940 Westland Lysander IIWestland LysanderThe Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
- 1940-1942 Westland Lysander III
- 1942 Hawker Hurricane II & IICHawker HurricaneThe Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
- 1942 North American Mustang IP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
- 1942-1943 Hawker Hurricane IIB
- 1943 Supermarine Spitfire VBSupermarine SpitfireThe Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
- 1943 North American Mustang II
- 1943-1945 Supermarine Spitfire VC
- 1944-1946 Supermarine Spitfire IX
- 1960-1962 Bristol Sycamore HC14Bristol Sycamore-See also:-External links:* on the Bristol Sycamore* on the Bristol Sycamore*...
- 1960-1962 Westland Whirlwind HC2
- 1961-1965 Westland Whirlwind HC10
Squadron Codes
225 Squadron aircraft wore two different squadron codes during the period 1939-1947.Code LX was allocated in April 1939 and worn until April 1942.
Code WU was used from April - July 1942, then February 1943 - January 1947.
Notable members
- Leonard E.H. WilliamsLeonard E. H. Williams (Nationwide)Leonard Edmund Henry Williams, CBE, DFC, was the former chief of the Nationwide building society, also known for his career as a Spitfire pilot in the RAF.- Early life and RAF career:...
, CBE, DFCDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, (1919–2007). - Stanley Waldman
- Air Commodore Geoffrey Millington, Commanding Officer, 225 Squadron and author of `The Unseen Eye'.
Surviving aircraft
Three aircraft that were operated by 225 Squadron during WW2 are known to survive. They are:- Westland Lysander III R9125 coded LX-L, RAF Museum, Hendon, London
link:
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/collections/aircraft/westland-lysander-iii.cfm
This aircraft was used by the Squadron for reconnaissance patrols along the south coast of England between September 1940 and April 1941.
- Supermarine SpitfireSupermarine SpitfireThe Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
Mk.IX EN 199, operated by 225 Squadron in ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, was restored in the 1990s1990sFile:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
and is now on static display at the Malta Aviation Museum.
Link: http://www.maltaviationmuseum.com/spitfire.asp
This Spitfire was photographed at Florence, Italy wearing the code WU-S.
- Supermarine Spitfire IXc PV270 was flown on Army Co-operation missions by 225 Squadron during March–April 1945. It was restored to flying condition over 8 years by a team led by Brendon Deere in New Zealand. The first post-restoration flight was on 18 March 2009. This aircraft currently resides at RNZAF Ohakea airbase and may be seen flying at displays in New Zealand. [link:
http://www.spitfirepv270.co.nz/