No. 695 Squadron RAF was an anti-aircraft co-operation squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1949.
| No. 695 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1 Dec 1943 – 11 Feb 1949 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Role | Anti-aircraft co-operation |
| Part of | No. 70 Group RAF, Air Defense of Great Britain (1943–1944)[1] No. 70 Group RAF, Fighter Command (1944–1949)[2] |
| Motto(s) | We Exercise Their Arms |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | In front of a maunch, three arms in armour conjoined[3] |
| Squadron Codes | 4M (Dec 1943 – Feb 1949)[4][5] 8Q (Mar 1945 – Feb 1949)[6] |
History
editThe squadron was formed at RAF Bircham Newton, Norfolk, on 1 December 1943,[3][7] from 1611, 1612 and 1626 (Anti-aircraft co-operation) Flights[8][9] for anti-aircraft co-operation duties, and operated a variety of aircraft in this role. On 11 August 1945 the squadron moved to RAF Horsham St. Faith, while a detachment served from 27 July 1946 at first from RAF Boxted in Essex and later, between November 1946 and April 1947, from RAF North Weald. The squadron was disbanded on 11 February 1949, when it was renumbered to No. 34 Squadron RAF.[3][7] That unit took over the aircraft, as well as the squadron codes, 4M and 8Q.[10][11]
Aircraft operated
edit
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 1943 | January 1944 | Westland Lysander | Mks.I, III |
| December 1943 | June 1944 | Hawker Henley | Mk.III |
| December 1943 | May 1945 | Miles Martinet | Mk.I |
| December 1943 | September 1945 | Hawker Hurricane | Mk.IIc |
| July 1944 | August 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.Vb |
| Jan 1945 | May 1947 | Vultee Vengeance | Mk.IV |
| July 1945 | February 1949 | Supermarine Spitfire | F.16 |
| June 1946 | February 1949 | Airspeed Oxford | T.1, T.2 |
| December 1946 | February 1949 | Miles Martinet | Mk.I |
| December 1946 | February 1949 | North American Harvard | T.2b |
| December 1948 | February 1949 | Bristol Beaufighter | TT.10 |
Squadron bases
edit| From | To | Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 December 1943 | 11 August 1945 | RAF Bircham Newton, Norfolk | Formed here |
| 27 July 1946 | 1 November 1946 | RAF Boxted, Essex | Detachment[3] |
| 1 November 1946 | April 1947 | RAF North Weald, Essex | Detachment[3] |
| 11 August 1945 | 11 February 1949 | RAF Horsham St Faith, Norfolk | Disbanded here |
See also
editReferences
editNotes
edit- ^ Delve 1994, p. 72.
- ^ Delve 1994, p. 79.
- ^ a b c d e f Halley 1988, p. 458.
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 75.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, pp. 57, 146 and 233.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, pp. 147 and 233.
- ^ a b c d Jefford 2001, p. 106.
- ^ Delve 1994, p. 159.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, pp. 128–129.
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, pp. 88–89.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, pp. 146–147.
- ^ a b Rawlings 1982, p. 259.
Bibliography
edit- Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
- Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
- Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
- Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Rawlings, John D.R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
- Sturtivant, Ray, ISO; Hamlin, John (2007). RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.
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