54 Squadron
"Boldness Endures Everything"



54 Squadron - A Brief History:    Back to Top

The Squadron was formed on 15th May 1916 at Castle Bromwich by redesignating an element of 5 Reserve Squadron, and became 54 Squadron from 1st April 1918. The Squadron moved to France as a fighter squadron in December with Sopwith 'Pups'. A year later, these were replaced by 'Camels' which, in addition to normal fighter and escort missions were engaged on low-level attacks on troops and transport behind the enemy lines until the end of the war. In January 1919, the squadron handed over its aircraft to No 151 Squadron and returned to the UK in February, where it remained a cadre unit until disbanded on 25th October 1919.

On 15th January 1930, No 54 was reformed at Hornchurch as a fighter squadron, flying Siskin two-seaters until the arrival of its Bulldogs between April and October. In September 1936, Gauntlets were received and in May 1937, Gladiators. Spitfires began to arrive in March 1939 and on the outbreak of World War Two were flown on defensive duties from Hornchurch. During the evacuation from Dunkirk in May 1940, the squadron flew patrols over the Belgian coast to intercept German raids on the port and beaches. After being heavily engaged in the first half of the Battle of Britain, No 54 was moved to Yorkshire early in September.

When the Second World War began, the squadron, as a unit of 11 Group, maintained air cover over convoys in the Thames Estuary, and claimed its first victory over the Luftwaffe on 13th February 1940. At the time of Dunkirk, 54 Squadron helped to cover the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force.

The squadron was disbanded on 31st October 1945 at Melbourne, Australia, and reformed on 15th November at Chilbolton by renumbering 183 Squadron, with Tempest, Meteor, Vampire and Phantom aircraft. The squadron was disbanded on 22nd April 1974 at Coningsby, and reformed at Lossiemouth having commenced training from 28th March 1974 as 54 Squadron (designate), flying the Jaguar aircraft.

On 11th March 2005, a parade of some 550 personnel, the largest to be held at a single station for many years, marked the disbandment of two of Coltishall's four front-line units, numbers 16 (Reserve) and 54 Squadrons, both having long, distinguished histories, but sadly unlikely to be seen again.


54 Squadron Codes:       Back to Top

 DL (April 1939 - September 1939)
KL (September 1939 - June 1942)

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

54 Squadron Stations:      Back to Top

Base County Arrived Comments
Hornchurch Essex 03/09/1939 Spitfire Mk I
Rochford Essex 28/10/1939  
Hornchurch Essex 03/11/1939  
Rochford Essex 17/11/1939  
Hornchurch Essex 02/12/1939  
Rochford Essex 16/01/1940  
Hornchurch Essex 14/02/1940  
Rochford Essex 23/03/1040  
Hornchurch Essex 20/04/1940  
Catterick Yorkshire 28/05/1940  
Hornchurch Essex 04/06/1940  
Rochford Essex 25/06/1940  
Hornchurch Essex 24/07/1940  
Catterick Yorkshire 28/07/1940  
Hornchurch Essex 08/08/1940  
Catterick Yorkshire 03/09/1940 Spitfire Mk IIa, 02/41
Hornchurch Essex 23/02/1941  
Rochford Essex 31/03/1941  
Hornchurch Essex 20/05/1941 Spitfire Va, 05/41
Debden Essex 11/06/1941  
Hornchurch Essex 13/06/1941 Spitfire Vb, 07/41
Martlesham Heath Suffolk 04/08/1941  
Hornchurch Essex 25/08/1941  
Castletown Caithness 17/11/1941 Spitfire IIb, 11/41
Wellingore Lincolnshire 02/06/1942 To Australia 19/06/1942
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Pilots (1939-1945)

A   
Aitken, H.A.
Allen, J.L.
Armstrong, W.
Ashurst
 
B   
Bailey, H.N.D.
Baker, S.
Batchelor, G.H.
Bayne, A.W.A.
Bax
Beresford
Birch
Black, A.
Blake, R.
Boston, G.
Boyd
Broadhurst, H.
Buckland
Bucknole, J.S.
Burnham
Burtenshaw, A.A
 
C   
Calderhead, G.D.
Campbell, A.R.M.
Charles, E.F.J.
Colebrook, C.
Coleman, E.J.
Cookson
Cooper, J.F.
Collett, G.R.
Cordell, H.A.
Couzens, G.W.
Crisp
 
D   
Davis, J.
Deere, A.C.
Dexter P.G.
Dodd, W.G.
Draper, J.D.
   
Dunworth, T.P.R.
 
 
E   
Edsall, E.F.
Evershed
Evans, M.M.
 
F   
Farquhar, A.D.
Faulkner
Fenton
Finlay, D.O.
Finnie, A.
  
Foster, R.W.
 
 
G   
Gardiner, P.M.
Garton
Gaunce
Gavan, A.
Gibbins, D.G.
Gilmore
Glendenning, J.N.
Goldsmith, C.W.
Gore, W.E.
Grant-Govern
Gray, C.F.
Gribble, D.G.
Guthrie
 
 
H   
Hall, H.K.
Hall, R.M.D.
Harris, J.S.
Harrison
Hart, J.S.
Harvey, L.W.
Hopkin, W.P.
Hordern, B.
Howard, J.
Howes, P.
I   
Ibbotson
 
 
 
 
J   
Jones
 
 
K   
Karasek
Kayll, J.
Kean, E.J.
Kemp, J.L.
Keynes, J.D.
  
Klozinski, W.
Knight, H.
Knox, K.E.
Konvalina, B.
Krepski, W.
L   
Laing, F.M.
Lawrence, N.A.
Leathart, J.A.
Linley, T.N.
Lockwood, L.C.
M   
Martel, L.
Mason
Matthews, H.K.F.
McCambell, A.R.
McElroy, J.F.
McMullen, D.A.P.
Meares, S.T.
Mildren, P.R.
Morrison, N.
Mottram, R.
N   
Neil, J.W.
Noble, W.J.
Norwell, J.K.
 
 
O 
Orton, N.
Overson, R.A.
 
 
 
P 
Pace, T.G.
Page, V.D.
Panter, J.W.
Pavlu
Pearson, M.
 
Phillips, J.W.B.
Plasil
Pook
Pont
Powling
 
Preece
Preece
 
 
R   
Raises
Richards
Robbins, R.H.
Robertson, B.L.
Rose, S.N.
S
Saunders, D.
Scott-Malden, F.D.
Schade
Secreten, D.
Sewell, H.S.
   
Shand, M.M.
Shuckburgh, N.E.
Smith, D.K.
Squire, H.
Stapleton, F.S.
Stewart, C.
Stokoe, J.
Stratton
Swanwick, G.W.
Switon, L.
T   
Tew, P.H.
Thompson
Tuckson, J.A.
Tullit, F.E.
Turley-George,D.R.
U   
Urie, J.D.
 
 
 
 
W   
Ward, J.C.
Waite
Way, B.H.
Wilcock, C.P.
Winskill, A.L.
  
Worrall
Woodhouse
 
 
 


Aircraft      Back to Top
 
Type 300 - "Spitfire" Mark I
This was basically the same airframe as the prototype allowing for changes to facilitate a production line. The all up weight was increased to 5,720 lb, and a 998 HP Merlin II (later 953 HP Merlin 3) fitted. The airscrew was initially 2-blade fixed pitch, but was soon changed to a 2-pitch 3-blade design from either De Havilland or Rotol. Armament was eight 0.303 Browning machine guns. Terminology will change frequently through these descriptions, as it did originally, and one of these changes involved the Mk 1b Spitfire. The (b) suffix usually denotes a particular wing variant, but since there was only one wing type in this Mark, it refers to a limited number of airframes armed with 20 mm cannon.
These had a tendency to jam and were not popular with aircrews. On 3rd September 1939, 306 Spitfires had been delivered to the RAF. Altogether 1,569 Mk I Spitfires were produced. The first production Mk Is reached 19 Squadron RAF at Duxford in August 1938.

Type 329 - "Spitfire" Mark II
The major change from the Mark I was the use of the 1,050 HP Merlin XII with higher supercharger gearing and a Coffman cartridge starter, enabling a level airspeed of 354 mph (570 kph) to be achieved. Fitted with a Rotol contant-speed 3-blade propeller. 921 were produced. The first Mark IIs were delivered to 611 Squadron in August 1940.

Type 349 - "Spitfire" Mark Vb
With the arrival of the Me (Bf)109F an interim aircraft was produced by adding the latest Merlin to a strengthened airframe. They were powered by a 1,230 HP Merlin 45 or 46, with a maximum all-up weight of 6,170 lb. 3 patterns of wing were introduced:
  • A - eight 0.303 Browning machine guns
  • B - two 20mm cannon, and four Browning machine guns
  • C - either four cannon or either of the other combinations.
6,478 of the MkV were produced. In a number the wings were adapted for high altitude (extended, pointed tips) or low altitude (clipped wingtips, for faster roll rate), and the supercharger settings adapted for the selected altitude. Those airframes intended for desert conditions acquired a deep "chin" in the form of an air filter to keep out the desert sand.

Type 360 - "Spitfire" Mk VIII
This was essentially a low altitude, unpressurized MkVII, with a 1,565 HP Merlin 61 or a 1,710 HP Merlin 63 driving a 4-bladed airscrew. Changes to the carburetor allowed negative "G" manoeuvering. Although the MkVIII was intended as the major developmental line for the Spitfire, the MkIX was hurried into service, and only 1,652 were eventually produced, many modified for tropical climates. A single airframe was converted into the first official 2-seat Spitfire -the Tr8- but no great interest was shown and it was not followed up.

Aircraft of 54 Squadron from 1941:
Note: In brackets are the dates upon which the aircraft arrived, and the pilot's name.
Spitfire Mk II:
P7281 (22/02/41); P7283 (12/02/41-Sgt. Thompson); P7284 (22/02/41-P/O Wells); P7299 (22/02/41-P/O Lawrence); P7300 (22/02/41-F/Lt. Lovell); P7302 (20/02/41); P7308 (22/05/41); P7310 (18/06/41) (From 41 Squadron); P7352 (04/08/41-P/O Tuckson); P7354 (22/02/41-Sgt. Cordell); P7370 (22/02/41); P7371 (22/02/41-Sgt. Cooper); P7383 (17/03/41-Sgt. Cordell); P7384 (22/02/41-P/O Colebrook); P7443 (22/02/41-Sgt. Squire) (Failed to return on 26/02/41); P7508 (22/02/41-Sgt. Aitkin) (From 41 Squadron); P7557 (03/04/41-Sgt. Kean); P7610 (22/02/41-Sgt. Thompson) (From Hornchurch. Crashed into hangar on 03/04/41); P7612 (22/02/41-F/Lt. Gribble) (From Hornchurch); P7618 (22/04/41); P7666 'Royal Observer Corps' (22/02/41-F/O Stokoe) (From Hornchurch. Shot down on 20/04/41. F/O Stokoe safe); P7689 (22/02/41-Sgt. Burtenshaw) (Shot down on 20/04/41. Sgt. Burtenshaw killed); P7738 'City of Nottingham' (22/02/41-F/O Stokoe) (From 41 Squadron. Damaged by AA Fire on 17/04/41); P7739 (25/02/41) (From 41 squadron); P7743 'Brentwood' (04/08/41-Sgt. Plasil); P7744 'Bow Street Home Guard' (04/08/41); P7746 'City of Bradford' (04/08/41); P7756 'Pampero IV' (13/04/41-F/O E.J.Charles); P7816 (Sgt. J. S. Gilders) (Declared Missing 21/02/41); P7818 (25/02/41-P/O Powling); P7823 (F/O Grant-Govern); P7833 'Portadown' (05/04/41-Sgt. Kean) (Shot down on 07/05/41. Sgt. Kean killed); P7846 'Newfoundland III' (18/09/41-Sgt. Ward) (Shot down on 03/10/41. Sgt. Ward killed); P7911 'City of Birmingham' (04/08/41-Sgt. Fenton); P7916 (04/08/41-Sgt. Beresford); P7918 'Northampton' (24/02/41-P/O Stokoe); P7920 'The Red Rose' (24/02/41-Sgt. Black) (Forced landed at Grays on 11/03/41); P7963 (28/02/41-W/Cdr Farquhar); P7976 (26/02/41-P/O Pont); P7979 (06/03/41-Sgt. Beresford); P7980 (06/03/41); P8198 (28/03/41-P/O Batchelor); P8233 (04/08/41-Sgt. Faulkner); P8267 (26/04/41); P8380 'Black Velvet' (04/08/41); P8373 (04/08/41-F/Sgt. Pavlu); P8426 (08/05/41); P8700 (10/07/41-Sgt. Worrell); P8744 'Wonkers' (07/07/41-F/O Wilcocks)

Spitfire Mk V:
P8754 (07/07/41-F/Lt Gardiner) (Shot down on 11/07/41. F/Lt Gardiner PoW); P8792 (27/07/41-F/Sgt. Crisp); P6722 (10/05/41-F/Lt R. Mottram) (Damaged by ME109s on 25/06/41); R7222 (25/05/41-Sgt. Knox) (Shot down on 05/05/41. Sgt. Knox killed); R7225 (25/05/41-Sgt. Tullitt); R7256 (25/05/41-Sgt. Schade); R7259 (25/05/41-S/Ldr Kayll) (Shot down on 25/06/41. S/Ldr Kayll PoW); R7260 'Bristol Air Raid Warden' (19/06/41-S/Ldr Gaunce); R7264 (25/05/41-Sgt. Panter) (Shot down on 14/07/41. Sgt. Panter PoW); R7266 (26/05/41-Sgt. Ashurst); R7267 'Bromley & District' (26/05/41-F/O Charles) (Damaged on ops on 18/06/41); R7268 (25/05/41-F/O Cookson) (Shot down on 23/07/41. F/O Cookson killed); R7269 (25/05/41-P/O Batchelor) (Shot down on 09/07/41. P/O Batchelor killed); R7279 'King's Messenger' (25/05/41-F/O Charles); R7295 'The Pastures' (26/05/41-P/O Grant-Govern) (Ditched in sea on 16/06/41. P/O Grant-Govern safe); R7303 (23/04/41-P/O Jones) (Shot down on 22/07/41. P/O Jones PoW); W3109 (08/06/41-Sgt. Overson) (Shot down on 17/09/41. Sgt. Overson killed); W3169 'Pensa Cola' (07/06/41-P/O Baxter) (Shot down on 09/07/41. P/O Baxter killed); W3323 'The New Forest' (23/06/41-Sgt. Beresford) (Shot down on 25/06/41. Sgt. Beresford PoW); W3216 'Maidenhead' (26/06/41-Sgt. Laing) (Shot down on 17/07/41. Sgt. Laing killed); W3332 'Hendon Griffon' (24/07/41-P/O Keynes); W3437 'Kaapstad II' (11/07/41-P/O Page) (P/O Page wounded); W3513 (10/10/41-P/O Shuckburgh); W3573 (24/07/41-F/Lt. Rose); W3620 (22/08/41-P/O Evans) (Shot down on 04/09/41. P/O Evans killed); W3630 'Kuwait' (27/07/41-F/Lt. Page); W3653 'E A Doncaster' (25/07/41-Sgt. Preece) (Shot down on 17/09/41); W3712 (25/08/41-F/Lt. Mottram) (Shot down on 31/08/41. F/Lt. Mottram killed); W3372 'Moray' (07/08/41-S/Ldr Orton) (S/Ldr Orton killed); AB808 (29/08/41-P/O Harris) (Shot down on 04/09/41. P/O Harris killed); AB813 (25/08/41-Sgt. Draper) (Shot down on 17/09/41. Sgt. Draper killed); AB814 (25/08/41); AB819 (29/08/41-P/O Tuckson); AB845 (25/08/41).

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