Paying homage to a pilot and a squadron he flew with in North Africa
History of 238 Squadron:
No 238 Squadron was formed in August 1918 from Nos 347, 348 and 349 Flights at the seaplane station at Cattewater, Plymouth, and flew anti-submarine patrols until the end of the war, being reduced to a cadre on 15 May 1919. It remained as a storage unit until disbanded on 20 March 1922.
On 16 May 1940, No 238 reformed at Tangmere as a fighter squadron with Spitfires but in June these were replaced by Hurricanes. It became operational on 2 July and spent the period of the Battle of Britain in the Middle Wallop sector, apart from four weeks in Cornwall.
In May 1940, No.238 reformed at Tangmere as a fighter squadron with Spitfires but in June these were replaced with Hurricanes. It became operational on 2 July and spent the period of the Battle of Britain in the Middle Wallop sector, apart from four weeks in Cornwall. In May 1941 the squadron left for the Middle East its aircraft being flown off HMS ‘Victorious’ to Malta while the ground echelon sailed round the Cape of Good Hope. After refuelling in Malta the Hurricanes flew on to the Western Desert where they were attached to No.274 Squadron, pending the arrival of the squadron’s own ground crews. By the end of July, No. 238 was again operating as a complete unit, flying escort missions and fighter patrols throughout the campaign in the desert until after the battle of El Alamein.
It was then withdrawn to Egypt for air defence duties and converted to Spitfires in September 1943. In March 1944, the squadron moved to Corsica for sweeps over northern Italy and in August convered the Allied landings in southern France. After moving there for two months, it was withdrawn to Naples and disbanded on 31 October 1944.
On 1 December 1944, No.238 reformed at Merryfield as a transport squadron and was originally intended to fly Albemarles.
In January 1945 it received Dakotas and on 14 February its first wave of ten aircraft left for India where they began supply-dropping and casualty evacuation missions over Burma. In June the squadron moved to Australia to provide transport support for the British Pacific Fleet, officially disbanding there on 27 December 1945.
Its remaining aircraft left for Singapore on 9 February 1946, others having been flown back to the UK during January.
On 1 December 1946, No.525 Squadron at Abingdon was renumbered 238 Squadron and flew Dakotas until renumbered 10 Squadron on 4 October 1948, during the Berlin airlift.
Motto:
Ad finem – ‘To the end’
Badge:
A three headed hydra. Hydras, in Greek mythology, were most difficult creatures to destroy.
Source RAF Website
Keep up the good work. You and I like preserving history.
LikeLike
This is only the start… Better than watching reality shows …. This is real history in the making Alesia.
LikeLike
Pingback: How Gil Gillis met the Russians… | RCAF No. 403 Squadron
Hello Pierre
I think the man holding the camera under the pith hat is Squadron Leader H A ‘Jimmy’ Fenton latter Air Commodore H A Fenton CBE DSO DFC
Regards
Jon
LikeLike
Thanks for contributing. How come you know this?
LikeLike
The man is Bill Snider.
LikeLike
I have a family copy of the same photo 🙂
LikeLike
This is most precious. You could contribute first with this.
LikeLike
Hi Pierre,
You may like to know ‘Frank’ de Beauchamp Collenette was a Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps, who passed out as an Observer on 13.7.1917 at No. 1 School of Aeronautics, in Reading.
LikeLike
To Whom It May Concern
My name is Mike O’Donoghue. I’m an independent film maker from Los Angeles, CA. I’m currently developing a film project about the Battle of Britain based on Randall Thompson’s musical piece Alleluia. This film would run between 5-6 minutes, depending on the arrangement selected for the music. I’m interested in using a photo of Jack Nichols as a LRAF pilot that you published in a recent blog post with the following URL:
I’m not sure if Mr. Nichols flew in that battle, he has a very good face, especially his miles. The film would be for educational, non-profit, and for cultural uses only. I’d like to have your permission to use this picture for my film. I would also give your group above the line credit as well.
Thanks for your help on this.
Mike O’Donoghue
LikeLike
This is not Jack Nichols but Frederick Burdette Gillis in his Spitfire. He was with RCAF 403 Squadron after being with RAF 238 Squadron.
Jack Nichols’ picture is somewhere else. I will right you a personal email.
Pierre
LikeLike
This is Jack.
https://raf238squadron.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/wpid-attachment-5.jpeg?w=957&h=716
LikeLike
https://raf238squadron.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/wpid-attachment-5.jpeg?w=957&h=716
LikeLike
238 Squadron, were they ever equipped with Lancasters one of my friends was a WOP, after 1945 and we want to find background info for a 90th birthday party.
Regards
Bill
LikeLike
My dad George Henry Richardson was Pilot 2 in Dakotas in 1947 . Anyone remember ?
LikeLike
Was it only after the war?
LikeLike
Hi,
Having stumbled upon this blog by accident by looking at my Father’s logbook and trying to find out more about 238 squadron, since I sadly cannot ask him.
Not sure though of any interest, but in his log book he has a copy of the same photograph and names the pilots around the Hurricane.
He has recorded them from top to bottom as:
Punk, Kenya…..Self( Michael Gibson)
Robbie, Freddie, Jack, Chuck
C.O, Curly, Taffy, Eddie, Freddie, Ted, Percy, Bill, Gill, George, B-J
Ted, Nick, Bill, Chris
Any further information from anybody would be most welcome.
Thanks,
Mark Gibson
LikeLike
I wrote you a personal message.
LikeLike
The father of my wife was in 238 squadron, Brian Nordon. I have many photos he took if you are interested. I’ve just this evening been looking through his numerous maps, this is what brought me here
LikeLike
I just wrote you a personal message Nick.
LikeLike
I have an item which I believe was a gift of some sort from Emrys ‘Taffy’ Jones to my late father, who served with him through WWII. Are there any contact details i.e. from family that can be privately provided?
Thanks
Chris
LikeLike
I will write you Chris.
LikeLike
Hi there Chris. My name is Aled Rhys-Jones youngest son of R. Emrys Jones. My nephew Lloyd alerted me to your posts on this site. My father died 11 years ago this week on 9th December 2008, he spoke rarely of his wartime experiences. The article he posted of his time with 238 Squadron fills in some blanks for us. Do you have any other information or material? Thanks
LikeLike
I will put you in contact with Chris.
LikeLike
Message sent!
LikeLike
Believe my father knew your Dad, have pictures that may be of interest. Contact me on mikefin111@hotmail.co.uk
LikeLike
I will contact him.
LikeLike
My name is Glyn Jones. My father was Emrys Jones. I know he flew with 238 squadron, as a navigator, flying Dakotas out from England to India, & later to Adelaide, Australia. I think I recall him saying his pilot was F/O Speedy (Speedie?), which amused me as a lad. My mother was a Kiwi & they settled in Auckland, New Zealand.
Glyn
LikeLike
As I said earlier, stay in touch when you find the log book or whatever you have something to contribute..
LikeLike
Hi there Glyn. My father was also R. Emrys Jones who was a Nursing Officer with 238 Squadron in the Middle East. The above mentioned Emrys (Taffy) Jones refers to my dad and a photo album he created from his own photos for Hugh, the father of Chris Furse who was a pal of his. Thanks – Aled Rhys-Jones
LikeLike
Mark Gibson, could you please contact me at john.engelsted(at)gmail.com (replace at with @)?
LikeLike
I have just started sifting through some documents collected by Eleanor Lockyer (recently deceased) for Chilbolton Airfield. Among these records are the Operational Records for 238 Squadron around the later part of WW2. I’m not sure how useful these are and whether there would be any interest in them.
LikeLike
I will contact you soon.
LikeLike
Hi John
I would be very interested in anything you have when 238 were at Chilbolton
Cheers
Jon
LikeLike
I wrote John last night. I am waiting for his reply.
LikeLike
Hi Pierre
Eleanor Lockyer wrote at least two books about Chilbolton air field during WW2. The first one, 1940-41 deals mainly with 238 Sqn
It would will be very interesting to see what John has, some of the photos in her book I have not seen anywhere else
Cheers
Jon
LikeLike
I will follow up on this Jon.
LikeLike
The records I have are mostly copies of the Operation activities – I guess that Eleanor must have chosen some of the detail for her books. As you can image there is a huge amount of paper to go through and I intend to catalogue this and will get back to you with more info when I can.
Is Jon Fenton a relative of Squadron Leader Fenton who was the CO of 238?
LikeLike
I have some 238 orbs. I will check what I have.
LikeLike
No idea about Jon. I will ask him.
LikeLike
Hi John
Yes I am related to H A ‘Jimmy’ Fenton
Might there be any photos? Eleanor used a photo of ‘Fenton’s Folly’, as the officers mess was known in her book which I would love a copy of
Kind regards
Jon
LikeLike
@ Jon Fenton: could you contact me on john.engelsted at gmail.com? I’m very interested in Jimmy Fenton’s flying career.
John Engelsted
Denmark
LikeLike
Hi John
Will do
Regards
Jon
LikeLike
What with the lockdown in the UK due to Covid -19 it is time to catchup on a few of my family related history projects, one of which is to record the history of 238 (Transport) Sqn, that flew Douglas Dakotas in India, Burma and later Australia. my Dad Frank Hayward was an engine fitter and often flew with Fl Lt Speed. Pierre has already added a photo of the Sqn’s Dakotas (above) seen at Parafield Airfield, in Adelaide on arrival in spring on 1945. The airfield is still in use as a flying club. I’m happy to supply what I know of 238’s movements and ops in the last year of the war. Any further info or requests to Chiltern Aviation Society via cas.clubsecretary@outlook.com. Kind Regards Larry Hayward
LikeLike
Hi Larry, My name is Glyn Jones. My father was Emrys Jones & flew with 238 Squadron to India & Australia. I have just relied to an earlier e mail from Chris Furse. I’m sure I recall my father flew with F/O Speed. Somewhere I have his log book. Following the earthquakes here in Christchurch, New Zealand, our possessions were put into storage while our house was rebuilt & so far I haven’t found the log again, which is really annoying me. I’ll keep searching though! Glyn Jones
LikeLike
The log book is so precious and full of information. Stay in touch.
LikeLike
Greetings, working on photo tributes to Australian men who are thought to be RATs of Tobruk and came across Sgt Robert Knappett, kia 26 Nov 1941 in Tobruk area. We have located a good picture of him but in researching discovered serious error in Wikipedia definition for 238 which states Bob crash-landed and returned to the Squadron. His body was never recovered on that fateful day and his commemorated at the Alamein War Memorial Panel 246. Keep up the good work
LikeLike
Thank you for commenting and adding this information.
LikeLike
If my located information is correct during this encounter 26 Nov 4 aircraft were shot down. Sergeant R A Knappett (RAAF): missing believed killed; shot down, aerial combat near Tobruk, Libya, Hurricane Z2355, 238 Squadron, 26 November 1941; Pilot Officer H G Currie: missing now safe; shot down, aerial combat near Tobruk, Libya, Hurricane Z5225, 238 Squadron, 26 November 1941; Sergeant J Kay: missing now safe; shot down, aerial combat near Tobruk, Libya, Hurricane BV170, 238 Squadron, 26 November 1941.
LikeLike
Hi Folks,
I am chasing any details of Dakota aircraft that served in Australia. In particular one with the nose art « City of Hereford ». Yes, a long-shot ! The aircraft was with 238 or 243 SQN
LikeLiked by 1 person
Quite a long shot. Give me more details.
LikeLike
Hi Pierre — I now own the forward section of a Dakota that I understand is this aircraft, but no other info — manufacture,etc.The RAF had about 150 Dakota aircraft serve in the Australia/Pacific region from 1944. Some aircraft had similar nose art, « City of York », City of Cardiff ». From my research of unit histories I have not been able to locate any reference to the « City of Hereford ». There were several crashed in the region, but not details of the name were given !!
LikeLike
I will write you a personal email tomorrow so you can share photos of what you have. I could use it as a follow-up article on my blog.
LikeLike
That would be great 🙂
LikeLike
Every little part of history is important to preserve.
LikeLike
Email sent
LikeLike
My neighbour dies house clearances. He has come across a Type A flying helmet, that I believe was only issued in Malta. It has the name LG Batt written inside with W/O. I’m guessing this belonged to Leslie Gordon Batt who was a 238 Squadron pilot during The Battle of Britain. It would appear he refuelled in Malta in May 1941 en route to the Western Dessert. I’m guessing that’s where he picked up the helmet. Would anyone have any other info/images?
LikeLike
I will feature this on my blog later. People don’t often read comments.
LikeLike
LikeLike
Thanks. Could you change dies to does whilst you are at it? I really should proof read more often!
LikeLike
I wanted you to react. Will do.
LikeLike
I posted your request on my main blog also…
LikeLike
Fascinating blog. I am currently researching operation Chocolate the combined op of 213 & 238 from LG125 13-16th November 1942. Trying to put together squadron letters and serial numbers for 238. As you seem to know more than most I would be grateful for any help you could give me.
LikeLike
Everything I know is on the blog.
LikeLike
Dear friends, my name is Eva, I am from Slovakia and I am doing school project about Czechoslovak fighter pilots members of 238. squadron RAF. I am looking for logbooks entries of 238 Squadron pilots during The Battle of Britain. Please let me know if you have some. My email: eva.anatol2001@gmail.com
I thank you all for your help.
LikeLike
I don’t have that information.
LikeLike
Hello Eva
I have sent you an email
Best regards
Jon
LikeLike
Thanks Jon.
LikeLike
I have a picture of my Great Grandfather in a Curtiss H16 or Felixstowe-F2A. These were American planes modified by the British the planes belonging to number 238 squadron.
LikeLike
Can you scan it? I could post it on the blog.
LikeLike
I could try, how do I send it to you?
LikeLike
My email address is…
pierre1948@hotmail.com
LikeLike