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 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, 54 Squadron 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, 54 Squadron 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. It was one of the most experienced squadrons to have been released by Churchill at a time when there was great need in Europe and Middle East for such units.
The squadron reformed on 15th November 1945 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.
54 Squadron was reformed as 54 (Reserve) Squadron in August 2005 and is based at RAF Waddington,  taking on duties of an OCU the for the Astor wing which includes the Nimrod, Sentry and Sentinel aircraft of the Surveillance Wing of the RAF.
54 Squadron was stationed at Rochford from:
Arrived
Departed
28th October 1939
3rd November 1939
17th November 1939
2nd December 1939
16th December 1939
29th December 1939
16th January 1940
14th February 1940
23rd March 1940
20th April 1940
25th June 1940
24th July 1940
31st March 1941
20th May 1941
The identification codes for the squadron were: DL (April 1939 - September 1939) and KL (September 1939 - June 1942)
With thanks to Dan Timney for additional information
54 Squadron Pilots
54 Squadron Pilots Post-Dunkirk
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Pilots (1939-1945)

NAME
RANK
NUMBER
STATUS
DATE
DETAIL
Sergeant
129498
-
-
-
Flying Officer
70008
Killed
24th July 1940
Spitfire R6812
Pilot Officer
41812
Killed
17th June 1941
unknown
Pilot Officer
-
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
84947
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
80811
Missing
11th February 1941
Spitfire P7568
Flying Officer
86343
Died
15th April 1942
PoW
Flight Lieutenant
39014
Passed away
28th May 1963
N/A
Sergeant
107746
Killed
1st February 1944
unknown
Pilot Officer
-
-
-
-
Flight Lieutenant
90165
Passed away
April 1975
N/A
Wing Commander
24035
-
-
-
Sergeant
120926
Died
18th April 1944
Spitfire JF846
Buckland
-
-
-
-
-
Sergeant
745402
Missing
24th July 1941
Wellington
Sergeant
745616
Killed
12th March 1941
unknown
Pilot Officer
86333
Killed
12th January 1942
unknown
Pilot Officer
42393
Passed away
September 1974
N/A
Flying Officer
36198
-
-
-
Cobb, Peter
Warrant Officer
1676246
Killed
26th November 1945
unknown
Colebrook, C.
Pilot Officer
86344
Killed
20th April 1941
Spitfire P7833
Pilot Officer
42800
Killed
17th February 1941
unknown
Sergeant
754500
Killed
22nd August 1940
Spitfire R6708
Cooper, J.F.
-
-
-
-
-
Cordell, Horace Arthur
Sergeant
100598
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
44823
Passed away
June 1978
N/A
Sergeant
50555
-
-
-
Flying Officer
40370
Passed away
20th September 1995
N/A
Flying Officer
41680
Killed
14th July 1941
Spitfire P8581
Squadron Leader
-
-
-
-
Draper, J.D.
Sergeant
-
Killed
17th September 1941
Spitfire AB813
Flight Lieutenant
28185
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
81368
Killed
12th April 1942
unknown
Pilot Officer
63830
Killed
4th September 1941
Spitfire W3620
Evershed A.
Pilot Officer
-
Missing
9th July 1940
Spitfire N3183*
Farquhar, Andrew D.
Wing Commander
90158
Passed away
1960s
N/A
Pilot Officer
401378
Killed
10th March 1942
-
Squadron Leader
36031
Passed away
19th April 1970
N/A
Pilot Officer
79158
Killed
25th July 1940
Spitfire R6816
Pilot Officer
80815
-
-
-
Flying Officer
40527
Passed away
23rd May 1984
N/A
Garton J. W.
Pilot Officer
-
Killed
9th July 1940
Spitfire R6705
Sergeant
115126
Killed
22nd June 1967
unknown
Sergeant
119136
-
-
-
Sergeant
740032
Killed
12th March 1941
Spitfire P7506
Flying Officer
72152
Died
28th October 1940
Spitfire P7439
Flight Lieutenant
90279
Missing
28th September 1940
Hurricane P3108
Flying Officer
41844
Died
1st August 1995
N/A
Flying Officer
40695
Killed
4th June 1941
unknown
Harris, J.S.
Pilot Officer
-
Killed
4th September 1941
Spitfire AB808
Flying Officer
41696
-
-
-
Harvey, Leslie Walter
Sergeant
176381
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
42606
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
86628
Killed
6th May 1941
Spitfire P7928
Pilot Officer
74332
Killed
18th September 1940
Spitfire X4323
Flight Lieutenant
-
Killed
19th November 1944
unknown
Kean, Erl Joseph
Sergeant
NZ401390
Killed
17th May 1941
Spitfire P7833
Flying Officer
70862
-
-
-
Sergeant
742859
Killed
3rd February 1941
unknown
Sergeant
780465
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
76755
Killed
7th September 1940
Spitfire R6901
Laing, F.M.
Sergeant
-
Killed
27th July 1941
Spitfire W3216
Sergeant
88855
Passed away
22nd August 1958
N/A
Flight Lieutenant
39625
-
-
-
Linley, T.N.
Flying Officer
-
Killed
24th May 1940
Spitfire P9455
Sergeant
754820
Killed
3rd March 1941
Spitfire P7300
Pilot Officer
76812
-
-
-
Flying Officer
40551
Killed
7th October 1940
Spitfire N3109
Squadron Leader
-
-
-
-
Squadron Leader
40002
Passed away
1st July 1985
N/A
Meakin, F.
Flight Lieutenant
-
Killed
28th July 1944
Spitfire JG465
Flight Lieutenant
37683
Killed
15th November 1941
unknown
Sergeant
740636
Killed
24th February 1941
unknown
Pilot Officer
42870
Killed
31st August 1941
unknown
Flight Lieutenant
-
-
-
-
Noble, William John
Sergeant
112500
Passed away
1979
N/A
Sergeant
129717
-
-
-
Squadron Leader
-
Killed
17th September 1941
Spitfire W3772
Squadron Leader
-
-
-
-
Squadron Leader
37021
-
-
-
Sergeant
161726
-
-
-
Sergeant
748333
Killed
12th February 1942
Whirlwind
Pilot Officer
81920
-
-
-
Flying Officer
41619
Killed
7th September 1940
Spitfire P9560
Flying Officer
74690
Passed away
-
-
Flying Officer
41746
-
-
-
Sewell, H.S.
-
-
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
391368
Passed away
22nd December 2007
N/A
-
906793
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
44231
Killed
15th March 1941
Spitfire P7773
Sergeant
60512
-
-
-
Sergeant
118533
-
-
-
Sergeant
780519
-
-
-
Flight Sergeant
49065
Passed away
1984
N/A
Thomas, Frederick F.
Flight Lieutenant
37133
Killed
17th June 1945
Spitfire MT543
Flying Officer
41336
-
-
-
Ward, J.C.
Sergeant
-
Killed
3rd October 1941
Spitfire P7846
Flying Officer
33402
Killed
25th July 1940
Spitfire R6707
Pilot Officer
84702
Passed away
9th August 2005
N/A
*P/O A Evershed may have been in Spitfire L1093
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
Again basically the same airframe as the prototype, and allowing for changes to facilitate a production line. However, 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.
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.
6478 of the MkV were produced.

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.

Spitfires of 54 Squadron:
Note: In brackets are the dates upon which the aircraft arrived, and, where known,the pilot's name.

Spitfire Mk Ia:
K9843 'DL-N' K9877 (01/03/39); K9880 (02/03/39); K9881 (02/03/39); K9882 (17/03/39); K9883 'DL-T' (24/04/39); K9884 (10/03/39);
K9885 (13/03/39); K9886 (08/03/39); K9887 (10/03/39); K9892 (13/03/39); K9893 (13/03/39); K9894 (13/03/39);
K9896 'DL-K' (15/03/39); K9897 (15/03/39); K9898 (17/03/39); K9899 (17/03/39); K9900 (21/03/39); K9901 'DL-D' (20/03/39);
K9902 (22/03/39); K9930 (15/04/39); K9944 (08/06/40); K9954 (05/05/39); K9955 (05/05/39).
L1041 (29/05/40); L1042 (29/05/40 & 26/07/40); L1072 (14/08/39); L1083 (08/06/40); L1093 (29/05/40).
N3030 (10/01/40); N3070 (18/11/39); N3072 (18/11/39); N3096 (01/03/40); N3097 (17/12/39 & 19/06/40); N3103 (10/12/39);
N3104 (10/12/39); N3110 (14/12/39 & 20/08/40); N3111 (13/12/39); N3122 (17/12/39); N3124 (21/12/39); N3130 (10/12/39);
N3160 (10/12/39); N3172 (12/12/39); N3173 (09/03/40); N3174 (12/12/39); N3176 (12/12/39); N3180; N3183 (10/12/39);
N3184 (22/01/40); N3185 (10/12/39); N3187 (16/12/39); N3188 (21/12/39); N3192; N3292 (01/11/40).
P9326 (01/09/40); P9367 (12/06/40); P9369 (17/04/40); P9379 (11/05/40); P9387 (25/04/40); P9388 (19/04/40); P9389 (19/04/40);
P9390 (25/04/40); P9398; P9446 (01/06/40); P9455 (19/04/40); P9506 (01/09/40); P9547 (04/06/40); P9549 (04/06/40);
P9558 (01/09/40); P9559 (01/09/40); P9560 (01/09/40).
R6699 (26/01/41); R6705 (10/06/40); R6707 (12/06/40); R6708 'KL-S' (12/06/40); R6709 'KL-T' (12/06/40); R6710 (12/06/40);
R6711 (12/06/40); R6775 (07/02/41); R6812 (12/07/40 & 12/07/40); R6815 (12/07/40); R6816 (12/07/40); R6832 (19/08/40);
R6834 (19/02/41); R6892 (25/07/40?); R6893 (09/07/40); R6895 (09/07/40); R6898 (13/07/40); R6899 (13/07/40); R6901 (13/07/40);
R6913 (23/07/40); R6914 (25/07/40); R6962 (28/07/40); R6969 (17/08/40); R6973 (17/08/40); R6974 (17/08/40); R6981 (09/08/40);
R6982 (25/07/40?); R6984 (02/08/40); R7015 (04/08/40); R7017 (28/07/40); R7019 (28/07/40); R7021 (28/07/40); R7127 (18/09/41).
X4019 (01/08/40); X4021 (01/08/40); X4022 (01/08/40); X4028 (18/09/41); X4031 (13/11/40); X4053 (23/08/40); X4054 (23/08/40);
X4108 (16/08/40); X4163 (13/08/40); X4177 (26/01/41); X4235 (25/08/40); X4236 (25/08/40); X4238 (25/08/40); X4242 (03/09/40);
X4276 (29/08/40); X4317 (03/09/40); X4318 (02/09/40); X4319 (04/09/40); X4423 (19/09/40); X4624 (01/11/40); X4650 (14/11/40);
X4652 (04/02/41?); X4683 (28/11/40); X4711 (19/11/40); X4718 (26/01/41); X4774 (26/01/41); X4915 (22/02/41).
Spitfire Mk IIa/b:
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); 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); P7508 (22/02/41-Sgt. Aitkin);
P7557 (03/04/41-Sgt. Kean); P7610 (22/02/41-Sgt. Thompson); P7612 (22/02/41-F/Lt. Gribble); P7618 (22/04/41);
P7666 'Royal Observer Corps' (22/02/41-F/O Stokoe); P7689 (22/02/41-Sgt. Burtenshaw);
P7738 'City of Nottingham' (22/02/41-F/O Stokoe); P7739 (25/02/41); 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);
P7818 (25/02/41-P/O Powling); P7823 (F/O Grant-Govern); P7833 'Portadown' (05/04/41-Sgt. Kean);
P7846 'Newfoundland III' (18/09/41-Sgt. Ward); 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); 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); P8268 (26/04/41); P8316 (17/02/42); P8333 (18/11/41); P8340 (18/11/41);
P8344 (05/12/41); P8365 (08/05/41); P8373 (04/08/41); P8377 (04/08/41); P8380 'Black Velvet' (04/08/41); P8373 (04/08/41-F/Sgt. Pavlu);
P8382 (08/12/41); P8425 (04/08/41); P8426 (08/05/41); P8464 (18/11/41); P8503 (18/11/41); P8505 (09/12/41); P8521 (02/12/41);
P8527 (18/11/41); P8530 (18/11/41); P8535 (18/11/41); P8546 (04/08/41); P8565 (18/11/41); P8569 (18/11/41); P8584 (18/11/41);
P8593 (13/02/42); P8644 (18/10/41); P8648 (18/11/41); P8653 (16/02/42); P8655 (18/11/41); P8660 (18/11/41); P8677 (18/11/41);
P8697 (18/11/41); P8705 (18/11/41); P8726 (25/08/41).
Spitfire Mk Va/b/c, VcT:
P8700 (10/07/41-Sgt. Worrell); P8740 (07/07/41); P8744 'Wonkers' (07/07/41-F/O Wilcocks).
P8754 (07/07/41-F/Lt Gardiner); P8792 (27/07/41-F/Sgt. Crisp); P8797 (22/08/41); P6722 (10/05/41-F/Lt R. Mottram).
R6722 (01/06/41); R7220 26-5-41 R7222 (25/05/41-Sgt. Knox); R7225 (25/05/41-Sgt. Tullitt); R7256 (25/05/41-Sgt. Schade);
R7258 (25/05/41); R7259 (25/05/41-S/Ldr Kayll); R7260 'Bristol Air Raid Warden' (19/06/41-S/Ldr Gaunce); R7264 (25/05/41-Sgt. Panter); R7266 (26/05/41-Sgt. Ashurst); R7267 'Bromley & District' (26/05/41-F/O Charles); R7268 (25/05/41-F/O Cookson);
R7269 (25/05/41-P/O Batchelor); R7273 (19/06/41); R7275 (25/05/41); R7279 'King's Messenger' (25/05/41-F/O Charles);
R7295 'The Pastures' (26/05/41-P/O Grant-Govern); R7297 (26/05/41); R7301 (25/05/41); R7302 (26/05/41); R7303 (23/04/41-P/O Jones);
R7308 (18/06/41); R7343 (29/06/41).
W3109 (08/06/41-Sgt. Overson); W3114 (29/06/41); W3136 (10/10/41); W3169 'Pensa Cola' (07/06/41-P/O Baxter);
W3323 'The New Forest' (23/06/41-Sgt. Beresford); W3216 'Maidenhead' (26/06/41-Sgt. Laing);
W3332 'Hendon Griffon' (24/07/41-P/O Keynes); W3216 (26/06/41); W3320 (01/03/42); W3323 (23/06/41); W3332 (24/07/41);
W3404 (17/03/42); W3436 (11/07/41); W3437 'Kaapstad II' (11/07/41-P/O Page); W3438 (11/07/41); W3446 (20/07/41);
W3453 (22/07/41& 02/09/41); W3513 (10/10/41-P/O Shuckburgh); W3573 (24/07/41-F/Lt. Rose); W3620 (22/08/41-P/O Evans);
W3630 'Kuwait' (27/07/41-F/Lt. Page); W3632 (20/09/41); W3653 'E A Doncaster' (25/07/41-Sgt. Preece); W3712 (25/08/41-F/Lt. Mottram); W3758 (22/08/41); W3772 'Moray' (07/08/41-S/Ldr Orton); W3799 (07/09/41).
AA849 (30/10/41); AA969 (02/04/42).
AB808 (29/08/41-P/O Harris); AB813 (25/08/41-Sgt. Draper); AB814 (25/08/41); AB819 (29/08/41-P/O Tuckson); AB845 (25/08/41);
AB860 (08/04/42).
AD238 (21/04/42); AD453 (01/03/42).
AR619; AR620.
BL378 (16/03/42); BL415 (07/03/42); BL440 (13/03/42); BL485 (01/03/42); BL714 (16/03/42); BL720 (15/03/42); BL730 (13/03/42);
BL732 (16/03/42); BL760 (13/03/42); BL767 (16/03/42); BL771 (17/03/42); BL785 (01/03/42); BL848 (01/03/42); BL863 (15/03/42);
BL888 (17/03/42).
BM242 (08/06/42); BM427 (07/05/42).
JG731.
Spitfire Mk LFVIII:
JF621 (06/04/44); JF820 (07/05/44); JF822 'DL-A' (30/03/44); JF824 (15/07/45); JF846 (11/03/44); JF847 (09/03/44);
JF869 (09/03/44); JF870 (09/04/44); JF872 (04/05/45); JF877 (09/03/44); JF884 (21/05/44); JF885 (14/04/45); JF935 (14/07/45);
JF936 'DL-Y' (02/06/44); JF937 (09/03/44); JF938 (05/04/44); JF939 (05/04/44); JF940 (18/03/44); JF945 (11/03/44).
JG176 (04/05/44); JG189 (15/07/45); JG265 (06/04/44); JG275 (06/06/44); JG332 (11/03/44); JG347 (26/03/45);
JG353 'DL-M' (06/06/44); JG356 (29/06/45); JG372 (27/05/44); JG376 'DL-R' (08/04/45); JG414 'DL-O' (07/06/44); JG419 (06/06/44);
JG421 'DL-N' (06/06/44); JG423 (15/07/45); JG465 'DL-M' (23/05/44); JG467 (15/07/45); JG471 'DL-Z' (23/05/44);
JG474 'DL'F' (10/06/45); JG484 'DL-T' (06/06/44); JG558 (02/07/45); JG603 'DL-W' (03/04/45); JG652 'DL-Y' (09/08/44).
MD221 (27/07/45); MD231 (15/07/45); MD355 'DL-J' (06/08/44); MD376 (04/08/45); MD381 (10/04/45).
MT539 'DL-W' (09/08/44); MT543 'DL-H' (13/08/44).


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