Blood, Sweat and Valour

41 Squadron RAF, August 1942-May 1945; A Biographical History

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1. Operation Jubilee, 1-22 August 1942

Daily summaries of the Squadron’s activity throughout this period, including the unit’s move to Llanbedr, Wales, for rest, their recall to the front for Operation Jubilee, the first ever detailed account of the unit’s role in this significant battle over Dieppe, uncovering details of the loss of the Commanding Officer for the first time; in-depth analysis of the Squadron’s role in Jubilee, including casualties and victories.

Daily summaries of the Squadron’s activity throughout this period, including a new Commanding Officer, patrols and flying training, exercises and air-sea searches, scrambles, encounters with the Luftwaffe, the loss of several pilots in tragic flying accidents, the internment of one pilot in neutral Eire under dubious circumstances and his subsequent fate at the hands of a Luftwaffe internee, morale issues, a great turnover of pilots, pilots detached to other units for operational training, and a nominal roll.

Daily summaries of the Squadron’s activity throughout this period, including being removed from operations and re-equipped with the Spitfire XII as the first of only two RAF units ever to be issued the type, the loss of a pilot attached to another Squadron for operational training, a return to operational status and the front line, first victories and losses with the new aircraft, and a nominal roll of ground crew.

Daily summaries of the Squadron’s activity throughout this period, including formation of the Spitfire XII Wing, Ramrod bomber escorts to France, Belgium and the Netherlands, engagements with the Luftwaffe, victories and casualties, evaders and Prisoners of War, flying accidents, the Wing’s dogs do not see eye-to-eye, nominal rolls, new Commanding Officers, attacks on V1, V2 and V3 sites, Operation Starkey, potential re-equipping with the Mustang III, the Squadron attends an air-firing course, the break-up of the Spitfire XII Wing, and an analysis of the Wing’s targets during this period.

Daily summaries of the Squadron’s activity throughout this period, including Ramrod bomber escorts winding down, the Squadron mascot is decorated, flying accidents and casualties, nominal rolls, an air-firing course, ground attack and anti-shipping operations in preparation for D-Day, convoy patrols, the removal of the Commanding Officer for political reasons almost resulting in mutiny, a new Commanding Officer, D-Day operations and support of the Allied advance, casualties in action, an influx of new pilots, and the Squadron’s abrupt removal from offensive operations.

Daily summaries of the Squadron’s activity throughout this period, including the unit’s abrupt change of deployment from offensive to defensive operations against the V1 menace, pilots attempts to bring them down and their achievement of over 50 victories against them, accidents and casualties, fatalities, a reduction in V1 patrols and a return at last to offensive operations over France, and a new Commanding Officer.

Daily summaries of the Squadron’s activity throughout this period, including attacks on V2 Rocket and V3 long range gun sites, the pilots dramatically shoot down two of Germany’s highest-scoring Aces but lose one of their own, the Squadron joins 2 TAF and re-equips with the Spitfire XIV, provision of air support for the Allied Oil Campaign and the Squadron’s first operations over Germany, air support for Operation Market Garden and Walcheren, and bomber escorts to German industrial and tactical targets.

Daily summaries of the Squadron’s activity throughout this period, including the unit’s move to the Continent and joining 125 Wing, first encounters with German jet aircraft, advances into Belgium and the Netherlands, nominal rolls, Operation Bodenplatte, attacks on German air and ground targets, victories and casualties in action, battling the winter weather, a move to 122 Wing, composition of 83 Group, a pilot is awarded the DSO, the Squadron shoots down its first jet, and the unit loses its last man killed in action.

Daily summaries of the Squadron’s activity throughout this period, including a dive bombing course back in the United Kingdom, a return to 125 Wing, the composition of 124, 125 and 143 Wings and 83 Group, the Squadron re-equips with new series Spitfire XIVs with teardrop hoods, casualties and victories, nominal rolls, the Battle of the Rhine, crossing the Rhine and advance to the Elbe, a cancelled advance into Germany for the Wing and a move instead to Twente, in the Netherlands, and a new Commanding Officer.

Daily summaries of the Squadron’s activity throughout this period, the Wing flies into Germany to establish 41 Squadron’s first base in the country, flying accidents, the composition of 125 Wing and 83 Group, Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, new pilots join and old pilots return from captivity, more jets brought down, an intensive final full month of War with significant numbers of air and ground victories, meeting the Soviet Air Force in the air over Berlin, 125 Wing’s 200th victory, the last days and final victories of the War, Germany surrenders, VE Day, analyses of victories and losses, a nominal roll, a move to Copenhagen, Denmark, closing statistics, and pilots’ reminiscences.

Biographies of every one of 41 Squadron’s pilots that served with the unit between 1 August 1942 and 31 May 1945, including names, dates and places of birth, places of education and employment, dates of joining the Air Force, locations and dates of flying training, postings to active units, promotions and commissionings, victories and casualties, retirements, post-War occupations and deaths.

A chronological list of 41 Squadron’s Officers Commanding between 1 August 1942 and 31 May 1945, with their dates of service.

A chronological list of all of 41 Squadron’s Flight Commanders between 1 August 1942 and 31 May 1945, with their dates of service.

Biographies of 41 Squadron’s key Ground Staff between 1 August 1942 and 31 May 1945, including the Intelligence Officer, Engineering Officers, Medical Officers, and Adjutants.

A comprehensive chronological list of approximately 530 casualties, accidents and incidents involving 41 Squadron’s personnel and aircraft between 1 August 1942 and 31 May 1945, including names, dates, aircraft marks and serials, pilot fates, circumstances and locations.

An alphabetical list of the 23 men who died whilst serving with 41 Squadron between 1 August 1942 and 31 May 1945, with names, ranks, ages at death, date of death, and brief details of the cause.

An alphabetical list of the 11 men who became Prisoners of War whilst serving with 41 Squadron between 1 August 1942 and 8 May 1945, with names, dates of capture, places of capture and POW camps.

A chronological list of the aircraft victories claimed by 41 Squadron’s pilots between 1 August 1942 and 8 May 1945, with names, dates, aircraft claimed, locations and Combat Report numbers and locations.

A chronological list of ground victories (road, sea, rail & infrastructure) claimed by 41 Squadron’s pilots between 1 August 1942 and 8 May 1945, with dates, objects claimed, and locations.

A list of decorations awarded to 41 Squadron’s pilots for service with the unit between 1 August 1942 and 30 September 1945, with decoration, decoration description, names of recipients, and dates awarded.

A chronological list of the aircraft types flown by 41 Squadron between 1 August 1942 and 31 May 1945, plus all known ‘hacks’.

A chronological list of all of 41 Squadron’s bases between 1 August 1942 and 31 May 1945, including base names, county or country, dates of arrival and Groups.

A chronological list of surviving original cine-gun camera films made by 41 Squadron pilots between 1 August 1942 and 8 May 1945, which are held by the Imperial War Museum, including dates, names, times (if available), objects attacked, film formats, catalogue numbers and film numbers.

A full index to well over 600 Combat Reports submitted by 41 Squadron’s pilots between 3 September 1939 and 31 May 1945, which are held by the National Archives in London, including folio numbers, names of claimants, dates, claims and locations. No index currently exists.

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© Steve Brew, 2012-2014