264 Squadron
"We Defy "



Brief History:      Back to Top

The Squadron was formed in August 1918, from the seaplane station at Suda Bay, Crete. No 439 Flight at Suda Bay and No 440 Flight at Syra ( Siros), 150 miles further north, flew anti-submarine patrols over the shipping routes to Salonika and Aegean Islands until the end of the war.
The squadron disbanded on 1 March 1919.

On 30 October 1939, No 264 reformed at Sutton Bridge as a fighter squadron and received its first Defiant two-seater fighters in December. These it took into action for the first time during the German invasion of the Low Countries in May 1940. The new turret fighters had some initial success but lacked forward-firing armament and manoeuvrability. Losses were heavy in daylight operations and the squadron was switched to night fighting at the end of August where its flexible armament was of more use.


264 Squadron Codes:      Back to Top
WA (For the period April to September 1939)
KV (Allocated but no evidence of use)
Nil (October 1939 to March 1940)
PS (March 1940 to August 1945)

Note: Aircraft recognition codes were changed from 3rd September 1939 as a measure against German intelligence.

264 Squadron Stations:      Back to Top

Base County Arrived Comments
Sutton Bridge Lincolnshire 30/10/1939 Formed
Martlesham Heath Suffolk 07/12/1939 Defiant I, 12/39
Duxford Cambridgeshire 10/05/1940  
Fowlmere Cambridgeshire 03/07/1940  
Kirton-in-Lindsey Lincolnshire 23/07/1940  
Hornchurch Essex 22/08/1940  
Kirton-in-Lindsey Lincolnshire 29/08/1940  
Rochford Essex 29/10/1940  
Debden Essex 27/11/1940  
Gravesend Kent 31/12/1940  
Biggin Hill Kent 11/01/1941  
West Malling Kent 14/04/1941 Defiant II, 01/42
Colerne Wiltshire 01/05/1942 Mosquito II, 05/42
Predannack Cornwall 30/04/1943
Fairwood Common Glamorganshire 07/08/1943
Predannack Cornwall 12/08/1943 Mosquito VI, 08/43
Coleby Grange Lincolnshire 07/11/1943
Church Fenton Yorkshire 18/12/1943 Mosquito XIII, 12/43
Hartfordbridge Flats Hampshire 07/05/1944
Hunsdon Hertfordshire 26/07/1944
To A8, France France 11/08/1944
Predannack Cornwall 25/09/1944
Colerne Wiltshire 30/11/1944
Odiham Hampshire 01/12/1944
To B51, Lille, France France 09/01/1945

Back to Top
264 Squadron Pilots (1939-1945)

A   
Adams, D.
Adams, R.T.
Alington, W.J.
Andrews, M.R.
Ash R.C.V.
B   
Bailey, J.R.A.
Baker, B.
Banham, A.J.
Barker, F.J.
Barwell, E.G.
Berry, A.
Bowen, P.D.
Brett, H.
Burdekin, A.G.    
C   
Campbell, A.
Campbell-Colquhoun
Carnaby, W.F.
Chandler, G.E.
Cooke
Corner, M.C.
Cox, W.E.
Crook, V.W.    
D   
Daisley, L.C.W.
Debree    
E   
Ellery, C.C.
Emeny, C.
   
F   
Fuller, S.B.
 
   
G   
Garvin, G.D.
Gash, F.
Gaskell, R.F.
Gibb, W.
Goodall, H.I.
H   
Hackwood,G.H.
Hardy, S.
Hayden, L.H.
Hickman, G.L.
Hughes, F.D.
   
Hunter, P.A.
 
 
J Johnson, C.E.
Jones, E.J.
Jones, J.T.    
K   
Kenner, P.L.
Kerr, H.
King, F.H.
Knocker, W.R.A.    
L   
Lauder, A.J.
Lille
Lusty, K.    
M   
Machin, W.H.
MacLeod, A.
Maggs, M.H.
Martin
Maxwell, W.
McGlashan, K.B.
Melville, J.C.
Montagu-Smith, A.
Murland, W.J.    
O   
O'Malley, D.K.C.    
P
Ponting, W.A.
Pryor, C.A.    
R   
Rasmussen, L.A.W.
Robinson, G.
Russell, L.P.    
S   
Sanders, A.T.D.
Sanders, P.J.
Shaw, I.G.
Shepherd, F.W.
Simpson, L.W.
Smith, E.S.
Smythe, D.M.A.
Stephenson, I.R.
Stokes, R.W.
Storrie, A.J.
Sutton, F.C.
 
 
 
 
T   
Thomas, S.R.
Thorn, E.R.
Toombs, F.A.
Trumble, A.J.
Turner, R.C.
W   
Wake
Whitehouse, E.H.
Whitley, D.
Willmott, A.C.    
Y
Young, J.R.C.

Aircraft      Back to Top
 
Boulton Paul Defiant Mk I
This aircraft was developed in line with a radically new tactical concept. All the armament of this two-seat fighter was concentrated in a single turret, and there were four hand-operated guns instead of forward fixed machine guns. The aeroplane joined Fighter Command in May 1940 and had some success against enemy bombers. However, it proved to be outmatched by the more powerful and manoeuvrable German fighters.
One of the biggest handicaps was that the gunner could not 'feel' or anticipate the aircraft's manoeuvres in synchronisation with the pilot, although there were exceptions when some two-men crews made better 'connections' with one another than others.
After heavy losses, the aeroplane was re-assigned to the night-fighter role and later to target-towing. A total of 1,064 aircraft were built.

Specifications
Engine:
 Rolls-Royce Merlin III, 12-cylinder V, liquid-cooled, 1,030 hp
Wingspan: 39 ft 4 in. (11.99 m)
Length: 35 ft 4 in. (10.77 m)
Height: 12 ft 2 in. (3.70 m)
Weight: 8,350 lb (3,785 kg) (Loaded)
Max Speed: 303 mph (487 km/h) at 16,500 ft (5,000 m)
Ceiling: 30,350 ft (9,250 m)
Range: 465 miles (748 km)
Armament: 4 machine guns
Crew: 2

deHavilland Mosquito Mk II
This was the fastest and probably most versatile combat aircraft built in the Second World War, with many variants including reconnaissance, fighter and day and night light bomber. They were a match for German night-fighters as well as the flying bombs. There were about 466 Mk IIs built and in total 6,439 Mosquitoes were built between 1941 and 1950. The Mark II night-fighter's success was due to the design of the smallest fuselage compatible with the two Merlin engines, the careful study of aerodynamic lines, and the high power-weight ratio. It went into service in May 1942, around the same time as the Mark IV bomber version.

Specifications
Engine:
 Two Rolls-Royce Merlin XXI, 12-cylinder V, liquid-cooled, 460 hp each
Wingspan: 54 ft 2 in. (16.51 m)
Length: 40 ft 6 in. (12.34 m)
Height: 12 ft 6 in. (3.81 m)
Weight: 19,670 lb (8,900 kg) (loaded)
Max Speed: 380 mph (611 km/h) at 17,000 ft (5,200 m)
Ceiling: 35,000 ft (10,600 m)
Range: 2,180 miles (3,500 km)
Armament: -
Crew: 2

deHavilland Mosquito Mk VI
This was the fighter-bomber version of the Mark II and the largest production series of all, with some 2,500 aircraft being built. The modifications included two 250 pound (113 kg) bombs inside the fuselage and two under the wings, as well as its fighter armanent. After the first 300 were produced in 1943, the bomb-load was doubled. It was used in Fighter Command and in Coastal Command as well, where it replaced the Bristol Beaufighter in anti-shipping warfare. The Coastal Command Mosquitoes usually carried eight rockets under the wings.
The Mark VI became world-famous in the last year of the war, because of its bold, low-level raids into the heart of enemy territory. One of the most spectacular operations took place on 18 February, 1944, when Mk VIs attacked a prison at Amiens to assist and cover the escape of French partisans. On 11 April, they attacked Gestapo headquarters at The Hague, and on 2 March, 1945, they raided Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen.

Specifications
Engine:
 Two Rolls-Royce Merlin XXI, 12-cylinder V, liquid-cooled, 460 hp each
Wingspan: 54 ft 2 in. (16.51 m)
Length: 40 ft 6 in. (12.34 m)
Height: 12 ft 6 in. (3.81 m)
Weight: 22,250 lb (10.092 kg) (loaded)
Max Speed: 380 mph (611 km/h) at 17,000 ft (5,200 m)
Ceiling: 33,000 ft (10,050 m)
Range: 1,850 miles (2,970 km)
Armament: 4 20mm cannons; 4 machine guns; 2000 lb (907 kg) of bombs
Crew: 2

deHavilland Mosquito Mk VIII
This version was a direct upgrade of the Mark VI and carried a 57mm cannon in the fuselage for anti-submarine attack. There were only 27 of this mark built.


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