616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron
"No Rose Without A Thorn"

616 Squadron - A Brief History:    Back to Top

The Squadron was as an offshoot of 609 Squadron and was the last auxiliary squadron to be formed. It started life on 1st November 1938 at Doncaster airport, and began flight training on 5th December. They flew Gloucester Gauntlets until Spitfires became available.
They later operated from Leconfield Satellite Station, moving to Kenley on 20th August 1940. On 3rd September, the squadron moved to Coltishall, to Kirton-in-Lindsey.

Spitfire Mk 1a's of 616 Squadron
616 Squadron was stationed at Rochford from 27th May 1940 until 6th June 1940. The identification codes for the squadron were: QJ (April 1939 - July 1941) and YQ (July 1941 - August 1945)
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Pilots (1939-1945)

NAME
RANK
NUMBER
STATUS
DATE
DETAIL
Flying Officer
41146
-
-
-
Bell, John S.
Flying Officer
90051
Killed
30th August 1940
Spitfire X4248
Pilot Officer
90995
Killed
6th April 1941
unknown
Brown, Cyril B.
Sergeant
109525
Passed away
1st November 2003
N/A
Flight Sergeant
45461
-
-
-
Burton, E. H.
Pilot Officer
-
Killed
23rd September 1941
Spitfire W3433
Burton, Howard F.
Flight Lieutenant
33227
Missing
3rd June 1943
Hudson
Cardell, Philip M.
Pilot Officer
80818
Killed
27th September 1940
Spitfire N3244
Pilot Officer
91000
Passed away
8th October 2003
N/A
Chew, Clifford A.
Sergeant
116439
Killed
24th March 1945
unknown
Flight Lieutenant
-
Passed away
February 1970
N/A
Copeland, Percy
Sergeant
108956
Missing
26th June 1942
Kittyhawk
Cordell, Horace A. Sergeant 100598 - - -
Crabtree, Douglas B.
Sergeant
125730
Killed
24th June 1950
unknown
Sergeant
65979
Killed
9th May 1942
Spitfire AR389
Down, John K. Sergeant 133043 - - -
Flying Officer 91001 Passed away 10th July 1995 N/A
Finley, Hartland R.
-
-
-
-
-
Gaze, Frederick A. O. Flight Lieutenant 60096 - - -
Sergeant
741587
Killed
21st February 1941
Spitfire P7816
Gillam, Denys E.
Flight Lieutenant
37167
-
-
-
Gosling, Reginald C.
Pilot Officer
85245
-
-
-
Flying Officer 41844 Died 1st August 1995 N/A
Hellyer, Richard O.
Flight Lieutenant
90054
-
-
-
Hepple
-
-
-
-
-
Hewson, John M.
Flight Lieutenant
39083
-
-
-
Sergeant
754794
Missing
12th December 1940
Spitfire P7326
Flying Officer
90705
-
-
-
Hopewell, James
Sergeant
516702
Killed
21st January 1942
unknown
Hopton, Bernard W.
Sergeant
745034
Killed
6th August 1941
unknown
Sergeant
128539
-
-
-
Ivey, Reginald
Sergeant
122762
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
83267
Passed away
30th January 2001
N/A
Pilot Officer
43693
-
-
-
Kellett, Ronald G.
Squadron Leader
90082
-
-
-
Laycock, Herbert K.
Flying Officer
40925
Killed
26th August 1943
unknown
Le Chemnant, Jerrold
Sergeant
126148
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
84655
Killed
5th January 1941
unknown
Lefevre, Peter W.
Flying Officer
40719
Missing
6th February 1944
Typhoon
Pilot Officer
41303
-
-
-
Lucas, L.
-
-
-
-
-
Flying Officer
90657
Passed away
1982
N/A
Marples, Roy
Flying Officer
70868
Killed
26th April 1944
unknown
Sergeant
-
-
-
-
McDevette
Sergeant
-
Killed
24th April 1941
Spitfire P7736
McDowall, Andrew
Sergeant
89299
Passed away
1981
N/A
Miller, Robert
Flight Lieutenant
36143
Killed
24th April 1942
Spitfire BL813
Moberley, George E.
Flying Officer
90332
Killed
26th August 1940
Spitfire N3275
Moore, Peter J.
Sergeant
112401
Killed
3rd June 1942
Spitfire BR191
Murray, Thomas B.
Pilot Officer
90991
Passed away
1984
N/A
Oxspring, Robert W.
Flying Officer
40743
-
-
-
Parker, Denis K.
Sergeant
128987
-
-
-
Poulton, Harry R. G. Pilot Officer 84925 - - -
Ridley, Marmaduke
Sergeant
565201
Killed
26th August 1940
Spitfire R6758?
Roberts, Ralph Flying Officer 90897 - - -
Robinson, Marcus
Squadron Leader
90161
-
-
-
Rowden, John H.
Pilot Officer
83249
Killed
9th April 1941
Spitfire P7784
Squadron Leader
90246
Killed
8th November 1941
Spitfire P8701
Slack, J. B.
Sergeant
-
Killed
22nd September 1941
Spitfire W3517
Pilot Officer
40859
Died
28th September 1940
Spitfire X4328
Smith, R. A. D.
Pilot Officer
-
Killed
7th August 1940
unknown
St. Aubyn, Edward F.
Flight Lieutenant
90055
Killed
27th May 1943
Mustang
Tandy, Fred
-
-
-
-
-
Flight Lieutenant
-
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
82662
-
-
-
Walsh, J. P.
Sergeant
-
Killed
4th August 1940
Spitfire N3271
Ward, Rufus A.
Sergeant
740193
Killed
8th October 1940
Spitfire N3043
Sergeant
155258
Passed away
May 1987
N/A
Squadron Leader
-
Passed away
4th April 1988
N/A
Westmoreland, T. E.
Sergeant
741143
FTR
25th August 1940
Spitfire R6966
Sergeant
172142
-
-
-
Wilson, A. W.
Flight Lieutenant
-
Killed
21st February 1940
Spitfire K9810
Wright, B.
Sergeant
-
-
-
-
Aircraft      Back to Top
 
Gauntlet II
The prototype aircraft entered RAF evaluation in February 1933. It had a maximum speed of 163 mph at sea level, rising to 210 mph at 14,000 and a climb rate of 2000 feet per minute. A series of changes were made before production began on the Mk I. The engine was changed to the slightly superior Bristol Mercury VIS2, capable of producing 570 HP. The aircraft was armed with two .303 calibre Vickers Mk V machine guns, with 600 rounds per gun. A series of minor modifications led to the Mk II Gauntlet, the most common service version, with very similar performance. 228 Gauntlets entered RAF service (24 Mk Is and 204 Mk IIs).

Fairey Battle
This aircraft was designed in response to Air Ministry specifications published in 1933, and were to replace the out-moded Hawker Hart biplane (light) bombers that were in service during the early 1930s, but the Fairey Battle was already obsolete by the time the Second World War began. Nevertheless, it was used extensively during the first months of the war, and took part in the Battle of France and suffered heavy losses. A total of 2,185 were built, but production was suspended in September 1940. About that time, the surviving Battles were withdrawn from front-line duty and re-assigned to training and target-tug roles.
The Battle had a bomb capacity of 990 lbs (450kg), a range of 1,000 miles (1,610km), and a speed of 200 mph (322kph). It had a wingspan of 54ft (16.46m), was 52ft 1in (15.87m) long and 15ft 6in (4.72m) high. It weighed in at 10,792lb (4,895kg) (loaded) and a ceiling of 23,500ft (7,160m). It was armed with 2 machine guns and carried a crew of 3. The Battle was powered by a single Rolls-Royce Merlin Mk I, 12-cylinder V, liquid-cooled 1,030 hp engine.

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 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 351 - "Spitfire" Mark VII
This Mark introduced the 60 series Merlin engines, with 2-speed, 2-stage superchargers. The aircraft consequently had the symmetrical large radiators under each wing, rather than the asymmetric radiator/oil cooler combinations of earlier Marks, and a larger rudder.

Gloster Meteor Mk I/III
This was the first jet fighter built in Britain and the only Allied jet aeroplane to enter service before the end of the war. Although it never saw combat against the German Messerschmitt 262, it marked the beginning of a new era for the RAF. Eight prototypes were built for the purposes of testing various engines. The successful turbojet , derived from a Whittle W.I was developed and built by Rolls Royce, and given the name of Welland. The first twenty meteors ordered by the RAF were delivered in June 1944, with 616 Squadron being the first squadron to be equipped with them.

The Meteor Mk III was developed in 1945, and were fitted with different engines; a pair of Rolls-Royce Derwent engines that produced some 2,000 lb (907kg) of thrust.

Crew: 1
Wingspan: 43ft (13.11m)
Length: 41ft 3in (12.58m)
Height: 13ft (3.96m)
Maximum speed: 415mph (667kph)
Ceiling: 40,000 ft (12,190m)
Range: 1,340 miles (2.156km)
Armament: 4 20mm Cannons

Spitfires of 616 Squadron (until the end of the War)

Spitfire Mark Ia:
K9804 (20/10/39); K9807 (07/08/40); K9810 (15/11/39); K9817 (17/11/39); K9818 (30/10/39); K9819 (08/11/39); K9826 (1939);
K9827 (17/11/39); K9828 (19/11/39); K9829 (15/11/39); K9945 (15/11/39); K9946 (17/11/39); K9947 (14/11/39); K9948 (11/11/39);
K9949 (08/11/39); K9983 (09/02/40); K9984 (09/02/40); K9988 (14/11/39); K9996 (07/09/40).
L1001 (28/09/40); L1012 (07/11/39); L1028 (11/11/39); L1034 (19/02/40); L1036 (09/02/40); L1055 (15/11/39).
N3066 (29/08/40 & 26/02/41); N3070 (27/08/40); N3093 (08/01/40); N3112; N3124; N3130 (31/05/40); N3269 (09/04/40);
N3270 (10/04/40); N3271; N3275 (25/05/40).
P9368 (26/08/40); P9383 (06/06/40).
R6611 (01/01/41); R6632 (31/05/40); R6633 (01/06/40); R6691 (10/11/40); R6696; R6698 (09/06/40); R6701 (09/06/40);
R6702 (09/06/40); R6704 (09/06/40); R6758 (18/08/40); R6777 (20/08/40); R6778 (04/08/40); R6890 (22/07/41); R6926 (11/08/40);
R6963 (13/08/40); R6966 (13/08/40); R6984 (28/09/40).
X4026 (01/01/41); X4030 (01/01/41); X4033 (07/09/40); X4055 (30/08/40); X4056 (30/08/40); X4172 (07/09/40); X4174 (07/09/40);
X4175 (07/09/40); X4180 (26/08/40); X4181 (26/08/40); X4184 (26/08/40); X4186 (26/08/40); X4248 (28/08/40); X4279 (23/07/41);
X4328 (07/09/40); X4329 (07/09/40); X4330; X4388 (13/09/40); X4477 (26/09/40); X4615 (26/10/40); X4617 (26/10/40).
Spitfire Mark IIa/b:
 P7281 (10/07/41); P7293 (26/02/41); P7327 (19/05/41); P7350 (10/04/41); P7435 (20/02/41); P7443 (12/10/40); P7447 (25/06/41);
P7542 (21/06/41); P7622 (21/01/41); P7662 (26/02/41); P7694 (26/02/41); P7730 (26/02/41); P7732 (26/02/41); P7736 (26/02/41);
P7753 (26/02/41); P7754 (26/02/41); P7759 (26/02/41); P7771 (18/03/41); P7812 (26/02/41); P7814 (26/02/41); P7815 (24/06/41);
P7827 (26/02/41 & 28/06/41); P7828 (26/02/41); P7829 (26/02/41); P7837 (10/03/41); P7841 (26/02/41); P7846 (08/03/41);
P7881 (21/06/41); P7907 (23/06/41); P7966 (23/03/41); P7980 (24/06/41); P7984 (23/06/41); P8070 (18/06/41); P8145 (10/07/41);
P8189 (06/10/41); P8202 (28/10/41); P8232 (06/10/41); P8266 (20/06/41); P8271 (22/06/41); P8272 (26/04/41); P8276 (03/07/41);
P8344 (06/10/41); P8347 (06/10/41); P8367 (01/05/41); P8369 (21/06/41); P8386 (11/05/41); P8389 (19/07/41); P8392 (09/05/41);
P8397 (06/07/41); P8399 (24/05/41); P8430 (02/06/41?); P8434 (28/06/41); P8438 (28/06/41); P8447 (06/10/41); P8500 (04/07/41);
P8501 (11/10/41); P8505 (06/10/41); P8506 (19/07/41); P8522 (06/10/41); P8527 (19/07/41); P8534 (03/11/41); P8545 (19/07/41);
P8567 (06/10/41); P8570 (06/10/41); P8576 (06/10/41); P8582 (19/07/41); P8586 (16/07/41); P8588 (19/07/41); P8589 (06/10/41);
P8646 (08/05/41); P8647 (06/10/41); P8649 (06/10/41); P8650 (24/05/41); P8651 (28/05/41); P8658 (25/05/41); P8663 (28/06/41);
P8665 (19/07/41 & 06/10/41); P8666 (19/07/41 & 06/10/41); P8670 (19/07/41); P8690 (19/07/41); P8694 (06/10/41); P8696 (19/07/41);
P8701 (06/10/41).
Spitfire Mark Va/b/c:
P8707 (07/07/41); P8710 (07/07/41); P8755 (25/07/41); P8781 (07/07/41).
W3185 'D-B' (28/07/41); W3334 (22/07/41); W3370 (28/01/42); W3424 (22/07/41); W3428 (22/07/41); W3432 (22/07/41);
W3433 (22/07/41); W3435 (09/07/41); W3456 (22/07/41); W3457 (23/07/41); W3458 (23/07/41); W3460 (24/07/41); W3501 (19/07/41);
W3502 (10/07/41); W3503 (10/07/41); W3504 (10/07/41); W3514 (24/07/41); W3517 (22/07/41); W3519 (22/07/41); W3521 (22/07/41);
W3525 (23/07/41); W3560 (06/10/41); W3624 (03/10/44); W3629 (22/07/41); W3633 (22/07/41); W3654 (16/08/41); W3655 (16/08/41).
AA719 (26/04/42); AA734 (25/09/41); AA879 (08/11/41); AA923 (08/11/41); AA932 (07/11/41); AA936 (09/11/41); AA965 (09/11/41);
AA966 (15/11/41).
AB190 (14/02/42); AB212 (16/03/45); AB246 (08/02/42); AB266 (15/12/41); AB795 (18/08/41); AB821 (31/08/41); AB867 (12/08/41);
AB961 (28/03/42); AB973 (31/01/42).
AD184 (11/03/42); AD248 (25/03/42); AD267 (24/09/41); AD268 (24/09/41); AD456 (08/11/41); AD459 (23/11/41); AD499 (08/11/41);
AD543 (09/11/41); AD546 (08/11/41); AD559 (08/11/41); AD575 (09/11/41); AD576 (08/11/41); AD578 (08/11/41).
BL253 (08/11/41); BL256 (08/11/41); BL258 (11/11/41); BL331 (08/01/42); BL345 (08/01/42); BL367 (01/05/43); BL473 (01/05/43);
BL481 (28/03/42); BL546 (07/02/42); BL639 (12/02/42); BL680 (18/02/42); BL716 (13/05/43); BL754 (28/03/42); BL978 (15/03/42);
BL985 (06/04/42).
BM121 (11/04/42); BM314 (18/04/42); BM359 (14/04/42); BM509 (03/10/44).
Spitfire Mark VI:
AB176; AB211 (04/03/43); AB503 (01/08/42); AB506 (05/09/43); AB516 (18/08/43); AB523 (17/05/42); AB529 (29/07/42);
AB534 (28/05/42);
BR159 (16/06/42); BR162 (26/05/42 & 15/09/43); BR164 (24/05/42); BR167 (19/06/42); BR171 (01/09/42); BR172 (16/05/42);
BR174 (22/04/42); BR178 (02/04/42 & 31/08/43); BR181 (09/05/42); BR186 'YQ-A' (04/05/42); BR189 (16/05/42); BR191 (16/05/42);
BR193 (16/05/42 & 31/08/43); BR197 (16/05/42); BR200 (04/03/43); BR243 (09/05/42); BR247 (01/08/42); BR250 (08/05/42);
BR252 (29/05/42); BR255 (06/05/42); BR286 (06/05/42); BR302 (08/06/42); BR307 (16/09/42); BR310 (08/06/42); BR314 (25/01/43);
BR318 (08/10/42); BR319 'YQ-C' (18/05/43); BR326 (31/03/43); BR329 'YQ-E' (05/07/43); BR330 (20/08/42); BR563 (06/08/42);
BR578 (12/04/43); BR585 (25/01/43); BR588 (26/06/43); BR590 (25/01/43); BR595 (09/03/43); BR597 (21/07/42); BR598 (22/08/42);
BR599 (06/08/42); BR979 (15/05/43); BR983 (01/08/42); BR984 (25/01/43); BR987 (27/03/43).
BS108 (22/07/42); BS111 'YQ-P' (01/08/42); BS114 'YQ-A' (01/08/42); BS115 'YQ-V' (20/08/42); BS117 'YQ-T' (23/08/42);
BS245 'YQ-C' (31/03/43); BS253 (11/04/43); BS448 (13/01/43); BS453 (06/11/42); BS460 (10/11/42); BS465 (13/01/43).
EN189 (31/03/43).
Spitfire Mark VII:
EN477 (09/11/43); EN494 (26/06/43).
MB762 (28/09/43); MB764 (14/10/43); MB767 'YQ-F' (01/09/43); MB768 'YQ-X' (14/09/43); MB769 'YQ-T' (28/09/43); MB824;
MB885 (15/05/44); MB914 (30/10/43); MB915 (07/11/43); MB929 'YQ-J' (21/10/43); MB930 (21/10/43); MB934 (09/07/44).
MD100 (25/11/43); MD101 'YQ-C' (25/11/43); MD102 (26/11/43); MD104 (14/12/43); MD105 (02/12/43); MD106 (24/12/43);
MD107 (23/12/43); MD108 'YQ-E' (25/12/43); MD116 (31/01/44); MD121 (31/01/44); MD133 (22/05/44); MD137 (22/06/44);
MD140 (12/06/44); MD159; MD174 (22/05/44); MD177 (22/04/44); MD178 'YQ-W' (22/04/44); MD181 (14/06/44); MD182 (25/05/44);
MD189 (22/06/44).
Spitfire Mark XIV:
RB140 (01/02/44); RB142 (01/01/44).


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