No. 36 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 36 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps
(later as Royal Air Force
) was formed at Cramlington
on February 1, 1916 and was disbanded for the last time in 1975.
was first formed on 18 March 1916 at Cramlington
, Northumberland
as a Home Defence squadron, defending the coastline between Newcastle upon Tyne
and Whitby
against German Zeppelin
attacks. On 17 November 1916, Second Lieutenant
I.V. Pyott, flying a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c destroyed Zeppelin L.34 over Hartlepool, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
. Once Zeppelin attacks on the North of England stopped, the Squadron switched to training duties, becoming part of the Royal Air Force
on 1 April 1918, disbanding on 13 June 1919.
in Scotland and flying Hawker Horsley
s. It was sent to Singapore
to strengthen its defences against naval attack, with its aircraft reaching its destination on 17 December 1930. As well as practicing torpedo attacks and working with the Royal Navy
, 36 Squadron was deployed to Rangoon in response to a rebellion in Burma, carrying out bombing raids against the insurgents. The squadron was re-equipped with Vickers Vildebeest
s in July 1935, continuing as a torpedo bomber squadron operating from Singapore.
retained the obsolete biplane
when Japan invaded Malaya
, and flew an unsuccessful attack against the Japanese cruiser Sendai
during the Battle of Kota Bharu
on 8 December 1941. It continued operating against the Japanese, its Vildebeests being supplemented by five ex-Fleet Air Arm
Fairey Albacore
s. Where possible it operated by night, bombing Japanese-held airfields and troops.
On 26 January 1942, Japanese forces landed at Endau
, on the east coast of Malaya, 150 miles from Singapore. To oppose this landing, nine Vildebeests of No. 100 Squadron and three of 36 Squadron, together with nine Australian Lockheed Hudson
s, set off at 1:00 pm (having flown against land targets the night before), and despite a fighter escort five Vildebeests were shot down. 36 and 100 Squadrons repeated the attack two hours later with nine Vildebeests (with two from 100 Squadron) and three Albacores. This time the fighter escort was late, only finding the bomber force once it had been engaged by Japanese Nakajima Ki-27
fighters, with a further five Vildebeests and two Albacores shot down, and a further two more damaged so badly that they were written off. These losses, which included the commanding officers of both Squadrons could not be sustained, and the remnants of the two squadrons were evacuated to Java
on 31 January, being merged into a single unit. On 28 February, nine Videbeests attacked a Japanese convoy off Rembang
in Northern Java, claiming eight ships sunk but losing another commanding officer. It ceased to exist on 7 March 1942 after its last two Vildebeests ditched off Sumatra
while attempting to evacuate to Ceylon.
36 Squadron reformed at Thanjavur in India
on 22 October 1942, although it did not receive any aircraft until December that year when it was equipped with Vickers Wellington
bombers for anti-submarine patrols off Madras. It flew its first convoy escort mission on 13 January 1943.
It moved to Algeria
in June 1943. One tactic used against German U-boats in the Mediterranean was known as "Swamp", the area around a sighting would be saturated with aircraft, keeping the submarine submerged and stopping it from charging its batteries. An example of this took place on 14–17 May 1944, when Leigh Light
equipped Wellingtons of 36 Squadron made several attacks on U-616, which culminated in it being sunk by US Navy destroyers, while on 18 May a Wellington of No 36 Squadron sighted and attacked U-960 before directing the destroyers USS Ludlow
and Niblack
, which sank the U-boat. It returned to RAF Chivenor in September 1944, continuing in the anti-submarine role. It disbanded at RAF Benbecula
on 4 June 1945.
by renumbering No. 248 Squadron, flying De Havilland Mosquito
s, being disbanded again on 15 October 1947. The squadron was again reformed on 1 July 1953 as a maritime reconnaissance unit at RAF Topcliffe
, flying Lockheed Neptunes until 28 February 1957. The following year, on 1 September, the squadron re-emerged at RAF Colerne
as a transport squadron, flying the Handley Page Hastings
previously operated by No. 511 Squadron RAF
, and concentrating on tactical transport operations. In August 1967 the squadron relocated to RAF Lyneham
, replacing the Hastings were replaced by Lockheed Hercules. It was disbanded again on 3 November 1975.
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
(later as Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
) was formed at Cramlington
Cramlington
Cramlington is a town and civil parish in the county of Northumberland, North East England, situated north of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. The town's name suggests a probable founding by the Danes or an Anglo-Saxon origin, the word "ton" meaning town. The population was estimated as 39,000 in...
on February 1, 1916 and was disbanded for the last time in 1975.
First World War
No. 36 Squadron Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
was first formed on 18 March 1916 at Cramlington
Cramlington
Cramlington is a town and civil parish in the county of Northumberland, North East England, situated north of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. The town's name suggests a probable founding by the Danes or an Anglo-Saxon origin, the word "ton" meaning town. The population was estimated as 39,000 in...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
as a Home Defence squadron, defending the coastline between Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
and Whitby
Whitby
Whitby is a seaside town, port and civil parish in the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire, England. Situated on the east coast of Yorkshire at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby has a combined maritime, mineral and tourist heritage, and is home to the ruins of Whitby Abbey where Caedmon, the...
against German Zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
attacks. On 17 November 1916, Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
I.V. Pyott, flying a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c destroyed Zeppelin L.34 over Hartlepool, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
. Once Zeppelin attacks on the North of England stopped, the Squadron switched to training duties, becoming part of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
on 1 April 1918, disbanding on 13 June 1919.
Torpedo bombers
On 1 October 1928, No. 36 Squadron was reformed by redesignating the Coast Defence Torpedo Flight, based at DonibristleDonibristle
Donibristle was a house and estate in Fife, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth. Only the wings of the house remain, within the modern settlement of Dalgety Bay: they are now protected as a category A listed building...
in Scotland and flying Hawker Horsley
Hawker Horsley
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Jarrett, Philip. "By Day and By Night: Hawker Horsley part 1". Aeroplane Monthly, Volume 21 No 10, Issue 246, October 1993. pp. 32–40....
s. It was sent to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
to strengthen its defences against naval attack, with its aircraft reaching its destination on 17 December 1930. As well as practicing torpedo attacks and working with the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, 36 Squadron was deployed to Rangoon in response to a rebellion in Burma, carrying out bombing raids against the insurgents. The squadron was re-equipped with Vickers Vildebeest
Vickers Vildebeest
The Vickers Vildebeest and the similar Vickers Vincent were two very large two- to three-seat single-engined British biplanes designed and built by Vickers and used as a light bomber, torpedo bomber and in the army cooperation roles...
s in July 1935, continuing as a torpedo bomber squadron operating from Singapore.
Second World War
36 Squadron, along with No. 100 Squadron RAFNo. 100 Squadron RAF
No. 100 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is based at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire, UK, and operates the Hawker-Siddeley Hawk.-World War I:No. 100 was established on 23 February 1917 at Hingham in Norfolk as the Royal Flying Corps' first squadron formed specifically as a night bombing unit and...
retained the obsolete biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
when Japan invaded Malaya
Japanese Invasion of Malaya
The Japanese Invasion of Malaya, or Battle of Kota Bharu, began just after midnight on 8 December 1941 before the attack on Pearl Harbor...
, and flew an unsuccessful attack against the Japanese cruiser Sendai
Japanese cruiser Sendai
was a Sendai-class light cruiser in the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was named after the Sendai River in southern Kyūshū.-Background:Sendai was the lead ship of the three vessels completed in her class of light cruisers, and like other vessels of her class, she was intended for use as the flagship...
during the Battle of Kota Bharu
Japanese Invasion of Malaya
The Japanese Invasion of Malaya, or Battle of Kota Bharu, began just after midnight on 8 December 1941 before the attack on Pearl Harbor...
on 8 December 1941. It continued operating against the Japanese, its Vildebeests being supplemented by five ex-Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
Fairey Albacore
Fairey Albacore
The Fairey Albacore was a British single-engine carrier-borne biplane torpedo bomber built by Fairey Aviation between 1939 and 1943 for the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and used during the Second World War. It had a three-man crew and was designed for spotting and reconnaissance as well as delivering...
s. Where possible it operated by night, bombing Japanese-held airfields and troops.
On 26 January 1942, Japanese forces landed at Endau
Endau
Endau is a small town in Malaysia. It lies on the northern tip of east Johor and the southern tip of Pahang. It is famous as one of the largest fishing ports on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.Located north of Mersing...
, on the east coast of Malaya, 150 miles from Singapore. To oppose this landing, nine Vildebeests of No. 100 Squadron and three of 36 Squadron, together with nine Australian Lockheed Hudson
Lockheed Hudson
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
s, set off at 1:00 pm (having flown against land targets the night before), and despite a fighter escort five Vildebeests were shot down. 36 and 100 Squadrons repeated the attack two hours later with nine Vildebeests (with two from 100 Squadron) and three Albacores. This time the fighter escort was late, only finding the bomber force once it had been engaged by Japanese Nakajima Ki-27
Nakajima Ki-27
The was the main fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force up until 1940. Its Allied nickname was "Nate", although it was called "Abdul" in the "China Burma India" theater by many post war sources; Allied Intelligence had reserved that name for the nonexistent Mitsubishi Navy...
fighters, with a further five Vildebeests and two Albacores shot down, and a further two more damaged so badly that they were written off. These losses, which included the commanding officers of both Squadrons could not be sustained, and the remnants of the two squadrons were evacuated to Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
on 31 January, being merged into a single unit. On 28 February, nine Videbeests attacked a Japanese convoy off Rembang
Rembang Regency
Rembang is a regency in the northeastern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Its capital is Rembang.Rembang Regency is situated on the northeast coast of Central Java Province. The Regency is crossed by the North Coast inter-province main road...
in Northern Java, claiming eight ships sunk but losing another commanding officer. It ceased to exist on 7 March 1942 after its last two Vildebeests ditched off Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
while attempting to evacuate to Ceylon.
36 Squadron reformed at Thanjavur in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
on 22 October 1942, although it did not receive any aircraft until December that year when it was equipped with Vickers Wellington
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
bombers for anti-submarine patrols off Madras. It flew its first convoy escort mission on 13 January 1943.
It moved to Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
in June 1943. One tactic used against German U-boats in the Mediterranean was known as "Swamp", the area around a sighting would be saturated with aircraft, keeping the submarine submerged and stopping it from charging its batteries. An example of this took place on 14–17 May 1944, when Leigh Light
Leigh light
The Leigh Light was a British World War II era anti-submarine device used in the Second Battle of the Atlantic.It was a powerful carbon arc searchlight of 24 inches diameter fitted to a number of the British Royal Air Force's Coastal Command patrol bombers to help them spot surfaced...
equipped Wellingtons of 36 Squadron made several attacks on U-616, which culminated in it being sunk by US Navy destroyers, while on 18 May a Wellington of No 36 Squadron sighted and attacked U-960 before directing the destroyers USS Ludlow
USS Ludlow (DD-438)
USS Ludlow , a Gleaves-class destroyer, was the 3rd ship of the United States Navy to bear the name. The second and third Ludlow ships were named for Lieutenant Augustus C. Ludlow, second in command of the USS Chesapeake...
and Niblack
USS Niblack (DD-424)
USS Niblack , a Gleaves-class destroyer, is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Albert Parker Niblack. Niblack became the Director of Naval Intelligence 1 March 1919, and Naval Attache in London 6 August 1920. As Vice Admiral, he commanded U.S...
, which sank the U-boat. It returned to RAF Chivenor in September 1944, continuing in the anti-submarine role. It disbanded at RAF Benbecula
RRH Benbecula
RRH Benbecula is a Remote Radar Head operated by the Royal Air Force in the Western Isles of Scotland.- Overview :RRH Benbecula operates a Type 92 long range surveillance radar, at Cleitreabhal a'Deas on North Uist. The radar, designed and built by Lockheed Martin is almost identical to the...
on 4 June 1945.
Post-war operations
On 1 October 1946, the squadron was reformed at Thorney IslandThorney Island
There are two Thorney Islands known to Wikipedia, both in England:*Thorney Island *Thorney Island...
by renumbering No. 248 Squadron, flying De Havilland Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
s, being disbanded again on 15 October 1947. The squadron was again reformed on 1 July 1953 as a maritime reconnaissance unit at RAF Topcliffe
RAF Topcliffe
RAF Topcliffe is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire. It is a satellite station of RAF Linton-on-Ouse.Topcliffe opened in September 1940 as a bomber station in RAF Bomber Command and was home to 77 and 102 Squadrons flying the Whitley heavy bomber. There was a decoy site at Raskelf...
, flying Lockheed Neptunes until 28 February 1957. The following year, on 1 September, the squadron re-emerged at RAF Colerne
RAF Colerne
RAF Colerne now known as Colerne Airfield or AEF Colerne is a former World War II RAF Fighter Command and Bomber Command airfield located on the outskirts of the village of Colerne, Wiltshire...
as a transport squadron, flying the Handley Page Hastings
Handley Page Hastings
The Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings was a British troop-carrier and freight transport aircraft designed and built by Handley Page Aircraft Company for the Royal Air Force...
previously operated by No. 511 Squadron RAF
No. 511 Squadron RAF
No. 511 Squadron was a Royal Air Force transport squadron, active during World War II, the Berlin Airlift and during the sixties and early seventies. It operated, during its three periods of existence, aircraft such as the Douglas Dakota, the Avro York, the Handley Page Hastings and the Bristol...
, and concentrating on tactical transport operations. In August 1967 the squadron relocated to RAF Lyneham
RAF Lyneham
RAF Lyneham is a Royal Air Force station in Wiltshire, England. It was the home of all the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft of the Royal Air Force before they were relocated to RAF Brize Norton.The station was also home to No...
, replacing the Hastings were replaced by Lockheed Hercules. It was disbanded again on 3 November 1975.
Aircraft Operated
Source - The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force unless stated- Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2
- Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12|-See also:-External links:*...
- Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2The Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 was a two-seat pusher biplane that was operated as a day and night bomber and as a fighter aircraft by the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War...
b - Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 was a British two-seat general-purpose biplane built by Armstrong Whitworth during the First World War. The type served alongside the better known R.E.8 until the end of the war, at which point 694 F.K.8s remained on RAF charge....
- Bristol ScoutBristol ScoutThe Bristol Scout was a simple, single seat, rotary-engined biplane originally intended as a civilian racing aircraft. Like other similar fast, light aircraft of the period - it was acquired by the RNAS and the RFC as a "scout", or fast reconnaissance type...
- Avro 504Avro 504The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during...
K - Sopwith PupSopwith PupThe Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...
- Bristol FighterBristol F.2 FighterThe Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft...
- Hawker Horsley IHawker Horsley|-See also:-Bibliography:* Jarrett, Philip. "By Day and By Night: Hawker Horsley part 1". Aeroplane Monthly, Volume 21 No 10, Issue 246, October 1993. pp. 32–40....
: 1928–1930 - Hawker Horsley III: 1930–1935
- Vickers Vildebeest IIIVickers VildebeestThe Vickers Vildebeest and the similar Vickers Vincent were two very large two- to three-seat single-engined British biplanes designed and built by Vickers and used as a light bomber, torpedo bomber and in the army cooperation roles...
: 1935–1942 - Fairey AlbacoreFairey AlbacoreThe Fairey Albacore was a British single-engine carrier-borne biplane torpedo bomber built by Fairey Aviation between 1939 and 1943 for the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and used during the Second World War. It had a three-man crew and was designed for spotting and reconnaissance as well as delivering...
: 1941–1942 - Vickers Wellington IcVickers WellingtonThe Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
: 1942–1943 - Vickers Wellington VIII: 1943
- Vickers Wellington X: 1943
- Vickers Wellington XI: 1943
- Vickers Wellington XII: 1943
- Vickers Wellington XIII: 1943
- Vickers Wellington XIV: 1943–1945
- de Havilland Mosquito F.B.6De Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
: 1946–1947 - Lockheed Neptune: 1953–1957
- Handley Page HastingsHandley Page HastingsThe Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings was a British troop-carrier and freight transport aircraft designed and built by Handley Page Aircraft Company for the Royal Air Force...
: 1958–1967 - Lockheed Hercules: 1967–1975
External links
- No 36 - 40 Squadron Histories. Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation.
- Royal Air Force 36 Squadron Association