74 (Tiger) Squadron
"I Fear No Man"

74 Squadron - A Brief History:    Back to Top

The Squadron was formed at Northolt on 1st July 1917, the squadron saw action in France the following year with SE5as. One of the first flight commanders was Captain Mick Mannock, by then already a legendary fighter ace. Disbandment followed in July 1919, and it was to be sixteen years before the unit would re-form, the expansion period of the middle thirties requiring many squadrons to re-appear. It was an unusual place to do it, being the transport ship 'Neuralia' which was en route to Malta in response to the crisis in Abyssinia. Initially known as 'Demon Flight', the squadron of Hawker Demons was officially christened 74 Squadron on 14th November 1935. A return to the UK the following year brought a change of mount to Gauntlets in 1937, based at Hornchurch in Essex, where they later converted to Spitfires just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.

Later in the Battle of Britain, the squadron was withdrawn temporarily to regroup, returning in the latter stages with a move to Coltishall in September. This meant participation in Douglas Bader's 'Big Wing', the unit claiming six enemy aircraft downed on the 11th. 1941 would see action staged from Acklington, Llanbedr & Long Kesh, flying defensive patrols. Much of the squadron's life has been based overseas and this trend was continued with deployment to the Middle East in 1942, operating from Egypt with Hurricanes. Conversion back to Spitfires happened in September 1943 while in Cyprus and the squadron remained in theatre until April 1944 when it returned to North Weald to prepare for Operation Overlord. Fighter sweeps followed the D-Day landings, supporting the Army as it swept across France towards Berlin, finally ending with the push through Germany in April 1945.
74 Squadron was stationed at Rochford from:
Arrived
Departed
22nd October 1939
29th October 1939
3rd November 1939
14th November 1939
1st December 1939
16th December 1939
29th December 1939
16th January 1940
14th February 1940
23rd March 1940
20th April 1940
27th May 1940
6th June 1940
26th June 1940
24th July 1944 8th August 1944
The identification codes for the squadron were: JH (February 1939 - September 1939); ZP (September 1939 - April 1942); 4D (April 1944 - April 1951) and TA-TZ (Carried on Hawks)
Back to Top
Pilots (1939-1945)

NAME
RANK
NUMBER
STATUS
DATE
DETAIL
Pilot Officer
41812
Killed
17th June 1941
unknown
Pilot Officer
-
Missing
24th May 1940
Spitfire N3243
Sergeant
740696
Killed
23rd September 1940
Spitfire P7362
Flying Officer
41146
-
-
-
Barnes, L.
Flying Officer
-
Killed
19th April 1945
Spitfire TB739
Pilot Officer
41816
Passed away
2001
N/A
Flying Officer
41249
-
-
-
Flight Lieutenant
76782
Killed
13th February 1946
unknown
Pilot Officer
-
Killed
8th October 1940
unknown
Burgon, W. K.
Pilot Officer
-
Killed
9th June 1941
Spitfire W3186
Flight Sergeant
45461
-
-
-
Caldwell, K. L.
-
-
-
-
-
Squadron Leader
-
-
-
-
Sergeant
754236
Killed
6th July 1941
Spitfire W3176
Pilot Officer
84960
Killed
10th April 1941
Spitfire P7854
Pilot Officer
39900
Killed
19th April 1941
Spitfire P7381
Pilot Officer
41552
Killed
11th August 1940
Spitfire R6757
Cochrane
Sergeant
-
Missing
3rd July 1941
Spitfire W3232
Considine, Brian B.
Pilot Officer
79728
-
-
-
Cooper-Slipper, T. P. M.
Flying Officer
41555
-
-
-
Flying Officer 40370 Passed away 20th September 1995 N/A
Flying Officer
33422
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
76309
Killed
28th February 1945
unknown
Pilot Officer
43368
-
-
-
Sergeant
745667
Killed
31st July 1940
Spitfire P9398
Evans, Walter R.
Sergeant
67607
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
81333
Passed away
1998
N/A
Sergeant
115712
-
-
-
Flying Officer
40217
-
-
-
Flying Officer
70854
-
-
-
Freese, Laurence E.
Sergeant
742586
Killed
10th January 1941
unknown
Sergeant 740032 Killed 12th March 1941 Spitfire P7506
Godlewski, J. M.
Flying Officer
-
Killed
20th July 1940
Spitfire W3411
Pilot Officer
43067
Killed
31st July 1940
Spitfire P7379
Pilot Officer
42406
Killed
9th October 1940
unknown
Flying Officer
36207
Passed away
3rd October 2006
N/A
Henderson, W. G.
Sergeant
-
Killed
4th July 1941
Spitfire W3258
Flight Sergeant
Passed away
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Hopkinson, A. V.
-
-
-
-
-
Pilot Officer 86628 Killed 6th May 1941 Spitfire P7928
Hutchison, David A.
Sub-Lieutenant
-
Killed
15th November 1942
HMS Avenger
Flight Sergeant
566369
-
-
-
Jones, I.
-
-
-
-
-
Squadron Leader
33168
Passed away
11th February 1987
N/A
Flying Officer
40396
Passed away
1995
N/A
Sergeant
808416
Died
22nd July 1941
Spitfire P7370
Lane, B.
-
-
-
-
-
Llewellyn, Reginald T.
Sergeant
565271
-
-
-
Lockhart W. G.
Sergeant
-
Missing
7th July 1941
Spitfire W3317
Mackay, H.
-
-
-
-
-
Flight Lieutenant
37604
Passed away
17th September 1963
N/A
Wing Commander
46329
Passed away
24th March 1978
N/A
Flight Lieutenant 37683 Killed 15th November 1941 unknown
Flight Lieutenant
33198
-
-
-
Sergeant 740636 Killed 24th February 1941 unknown
Sergeant
67599
Killed
20th January 1943
unknown
Flying Officer
40008
Killed
27th June 1941
Spitfire X4668
Murray, James
Sergeant
519400
Killed
3rd April 1943
unknown
Flying Officer
39675
Killed
1st November 1940
Spitfire P7312
Parkes, William B.
Sergeant
143727
-
-
-
Payne, Alec D.
Flight Sergeant
745798
-
-
-
Pease, Arthur P.
Flying Officer
72447
Killed
15th September 1940
Spitfire X4324
Poulton, Harry R. G. Pilot Officer 84925 - - -
Reeves, A. J.
-
-
-
-
-
Flying Officer
70872
Killed
17th October 1940
Spitfire P7360
Sergeant
P781018
Killed
28th May 1943
Spitfire BR624
Saunders, Cecil H.
Pilot Officer
42893
-
-
-
Sergeant
745385
Killed
27th October 1940
Spitfire P7526
Sergeant
68722
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
42657
Killed
27th March 1941
Spitfire P7328
Pilot Officer
79524
Killed
11th August 1940
Spitfire R6962
Sergeant
134228
Passed away
1975
N/A
Sones, Lawrence C.
Sergeant
127803
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
44230
-
-
-
Flying Officer
40320
Killed
22nd October 1940
Spitfire P7431
Pilot Officer
78851
Passed away
20th August 2001
N/A
Stevenson, Peter C. F. Pilot Officer 33521 Killed 13th February 1943 Spitfire BR142
Sergeant 60512 - - -
Stuart, C.
-
-
-
-
-
Pilot Officer
76781
-
-
-
Temple-Harris
-
-
-
-
-
Flight Lieutenant
37617
Killed
20th April 1941
Hurricane Z2887
Turner, L.
-
-
-
-
-
Twitchett, Francis J.
Sergeant
115346
-
-
-
Squadron Leader
-
Killed
14th February 1945
Tempest
Squadron Leader
05192
Killed
8th July 1940
Spitfire K9928
Williams, A.
Pilot Officer
-
Killed
26th November 1941
Spitfire P7551
Wood, P.
Squadron Leader
-
-
-
-
York, Ronald L.
Sergeant
758009
Killed
28th March 1942
unknown
Pilot Officer
42670
Killed
28th July 1940
Spitfire P9547
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.
Spitfires of 74 Squadron:

Spitfire Mk I/a:
K9860 (14/02/39); K9861 (13/02/39); K9862 (13/02/39); K9863 (13/02/39); K9864 (15/02/39); K9865 (16/02/39); K9866 (14/02/39);
K9867 (18/02/39); K9868 (15/02/39); K9869 (17/02/39); K9871 'JH-O' later 'ZP-O' (21/02/39); K9872 (23/02/39); K9873 (23/02/39);
K9874 (27/02/39); K9875 (27/02/39); K9876(01/03/39); K9878(01/03/39); K9879(04/03/39); K9927(14/04/39); K9928 'ZP-W' (10/05/40); K9931 (18/04/39); K9932 (19/04/39); K9948 'JH-H' (02/05/39); K9951 (02/05/39); K9952 (02/05/39); K9953 (02/05/39);
K9957 (06/12/39); K9992 (28/09/39); K9994 (28/09/39).
L1001 (28/05/40); L1084 (09/05/40); L1089 (12/12/39).
N3091 (1940); N3180 (16/01/40); N3243 (10/05/40).
P9306 (06/07/40); P9321 (11/05/40); P9336 (11/07/40); P9379 (26/05/40); P9380 (12/07/40); P9393 (03/06/40); P9398 (26/05/40);
P9399 (26/05/40); P9427 (21/08/40); P9441 (12/05/40); P9465 (03/06/40); P9492 (03/06/40); P9547 (04/06/40).
R6603 (10/08/40); R6606 (01/09/40); R6716 (10/08/40); R6757 (29/07/40); R6759 (30/07/40); R6770 (05/12/41); R6771 (13/07/40);
R6772 (13/07/40); R6773 (13/07/40); R6779 (12/07/40); R6780 (12/07/40); R6839 (29/07/40); R6917 (16/05/41); R6962 (02/08/40);
R6982 (02/08/40); R6983 (27/07/40).
X4022 (02/08/40); X4024 (14/08/40); X4027 (14/08/40); X4061 (09/08/40); X4068 (12/08/40); X4069 (14/08/40); X4101 (14/08/40);
X4167 (16/09/40).
Spitfire Mk II/a/b:
P7292 (11/10/40); P7306 (10/09/40); P7308 (10/09/40); P7310 (10/09/40); P7312 (12/09/40); P7316 (15/09/40); P7328 (11/03/41);
P7329 (13/09/40); P7352 (13/09/40); P7353 (21/10/40); P7355 (13/09/40); P7356 (14/09/40); P7360 (10/09/40); P7361 (10/09/40);
P7362 (10/09/40); P7363 (10/09/40); P7364 (13/09/40); P7366 (10/09/40); P7367 (12/09/40); P7370 (10/09/40); P7373 (13/09/40);
P7376 (09/07/41); P7381 (13/04/41); P7385 (24/10/40); P7386 (24/10/40); P7426 (24/09/40); P7428 (23/03/41); P7431 (11/10/40);
P7494 (23/10/40); P7501 (29/10/40); P7502 (29/10/40); P7504 (09/07/41); P7506 (24/10/40); P7523 (29/10/40); P7526 (24/10/40);
P7527 (24/10/40); P7536 (04/11/40); P7537 (04/11/40); P7542 (28/10/40); P7551 (09/07/41); P7553 (09/08/41); P7557 (08/11/40);
P7558 (07/11/41); P7559 (08/11/40); P7561 (04/11/40); P7566 (17/11/40); P7614 (01/12/40); P7623 (11/12/40); P7667 (05/12/40);
P7692 (01/02/41); P7740 (28/12/40); P7741 (28/12/40); P7744 (22/11/41); P7827 (04/10/41); P7832 (09/07/41); P7839 (05/03/41);
P7851 (12/10/41); P7854 (01/03/41); P7895 (09/07/41); P7928 (28/02/41& 30/04/41); P7965 (09/07/41); P7968 (09/07/41);
P7976 (02/11/41); P8016 (20/02/41); P8018 (26/02/41); P8030 (09/07/41); P8033 (16/09/41); P8042 (09/07/41); P8046 (11/03/41);
P8047 (11/03/41); P8091 (09/07/41); P8140 (03/04/41); P8146 (09/07/41); P8149 (09/07/41); P8174 (04/10/41); P8183 (12/04/41);
P8184 (20/09/41); P8197 (04/10/41); P8199 (03/04/41); P8200 (09/07/41); P8207 (09/07/41); P8238 (09/07/41); P8252 (23/07/41);
P8257 (09/07/41); P8259 (12/05/41); P8261 (12/05/41); P8274 (02/05/41); P8275 (23/04/41); P8276 (22/04/41); P8322 (09/07/41);
P8363 (02/05/41); P8364 (02/05/41); P8373 (08/05/41); P8377 (04/12/41); P8380 (09/05/41); P8388 (08/05/41); P8394 (09/05/41);
P8396 (09/05/41); P8421 (24/04/41); P8423 (02/05/41); P8460 (11/09/41); P8479 (10/08/41); P8544 (05/07/41); P8601 (26/07/41);
P8702 (20/10/41).
Spitfire Mk Va/b/VcT:
P8578 (03/07/41); P8585 (22/06/41); P8600 (05/07/41); P8604 (05/07/41); P8609 (05/07/41); P8741 (05/07/41).
R7219 (05/07/41); R7220 (08/01/42); R7228 (16/05/41); R7278 (16/05/41).
W3120 (29/04/41); W3127 (16/05/41); W3168 (18/05/41); W3170 (16/05/41); W3172 (16/05/41); W3174 (16/05/41); W3176 (18/05/41);
W3177 (23/05/41); W3178 (23/05/41); W3186(23/05/41); W3208 (18/05/41); W3210 (18/05/41); W3212 (18/05/41); W3250(28/11/41); W3251 (12/06/41); W3252 (1941); W3258 (30/06/41); W3259 (30/06/41); W3263 (22/06/41); W3305 (30/11/41); W3306 (19/06/41);
W3317 (29/06/41); W3321 (05/07/41); W3367 (12/06/41); W3380 (06/07/41); W3409 (30/06/41); W3411 (06/07/41);
W3412 (22/06/41); W3707 (23/11/41); X4668 (18/05/41); X4670 (16/05/41).
AA906 (25/11/41); AA939 (25/11/41); AA974 (25/11/41).
AB134 (25/11/41).
AD327 (23/11/41); AD473 (28/11/41); AD508 (24/11/41); AD535 (31/12/41); AD552 (28/11/41); AD565 (24/12/41); AD568 (24/12/41);
AD569 (21/12/41).
BL243 (26/01/42); BL290 (05/12/41); BL325 (23/11/41); BL339 (23/11/41); BL369 (28/11/41); BL383 (28/11/41); BL444 (26/01/42);
BL492 (02/01/42); BL494 (14/02/42); BL499 (15/12/41); BL522 (14/02/42); BL713 (15/02/42).
EP691 (1942);
JG948 (1942); JK308 (1943); JL365 (1943).
Spitfire Mk LFIX/HFIX:
MH956; MJ530 (17/05/45).
MK266 (08/02/45); MK288 (01/03/45); MK363 (14/05/45); MK672 (16/05/44); MK674 (1944); MK681 (16/05/44); MK682 (16/05/44);
MK691 (09/04/44); MK694 (16/05/44).
ML148 (10/06/44); ML154 (25/05/44); ML171 (16/05/44); ML179 (1944); ML195 (19/05/44); ML200 (04/05/44); ML207 (04/05/44);
ML212 (04/05/44); ML230 (04/05/44); ML232 (26/05/44); ML233 (20/05/44); ML236 (1944); ML240 (20/05/44); ML241 (04/05/44);
ML245 (04/05/44); ML259 (20/05/44); ML261 (04/05/44); ML296 (04/05/44); ML319 (17/05/45); ML364 (04/05/44); ML380 (13/12/44).
NH181 (28/05/44); NH261 (01/03/45); NH358 (1944); NH367 '4D-Z' (1944); NH374 '4D-R' (1944); NH427 (15/02/45); NH461 '4D-E' (1944); NH468 (1944); NH469 (13/12/44); NH477 (1944); NH481 (13/12/44); NH515 (1944); NH527 (14/09/44; & 16/02/45); NH531 (13/12/44);
NH535 (05/08/44); NH538 (1944); NH550 (1944); NH553 '4D-B' (06/07/44); NH576 (26/08/44?); NH579 (1944); NH584 (16/11/44);
NH609 '4D-W' (1944);
PL123 (13/12/44); PL124 (16/11/44); PL138 (01/03/45); PL152 (08/03/45); PL164 (15/08/44); PL185 (17/05/45); PL196 (25/01/45);
PL349 (07/09/44); PL454 '4D-V' (04/01/045); PL497 (17/08/44).
PT399 '4D-Z' (21/12/44); PT548 (07/09/44); PT609 (1944); PT620 (1944); PT727 (31/08/44); PT735 (21/12/44); PT752 (1944);
PT770 (31/08/44); PT775 (31/08/44); PT823 (17/05/45); PT840 (14/09/44); PT858 '4D-P' (07/09/44); PT889 (14/09/44); PT908 (21/12/44);
PT912 (21/12/44); PT937 (13/12/44); PT948 (1944); PT991 (19/10/44); PT993 (17/05/45); PT995 (17/05/45); PT999 '4D-T' (19/10/44).
PV121 (17/08/44); PV138 (07/09/44); PV144 (19/10/44); PV147 (01/03/45); PV187 (14/12/44); PV291 (19/10/44); PV292 (19/10/44);
PV293 (13/12/44); PV294 (13/12/44); PV311 (09/11/44).
RK835 (1944); RK906 (13/12/44, 24/02/45 & 17/05/45).
RR187 '4D-G' (01/03/45); RR200 (04/01/45).
Spitfire Mk LFXVI/e:
TB279 (1945); TB348 (15/03/45); TB353 (1945); TB355 (1945); TB495 (15/03/45); TB549 (15/03/45); TB574 (10/05/45);
TB590 (10/05/45); TB593 (15/03/45); TB598 (1945); TB622 (16/03/45); TB625 (15/03/45); TB631 (15/03/45); TB639 (15/03/45);
TB675 '4D-V' (03/05/45); TB709 (29/03/45); TB716 (04/04/45); TB738(15/03/45); TB739 (15/03/45); TB741 (15/03/45); TB747(29/03/45); TB859 (15/03/45); TB865 (1945); TB889 (19/04/45); TB903 (17/05/45).
TD136 (19/04/45); TD143 (05/04/45); TD150 (12/04/45); TD254 (1945); TD258 (12/04/45); TD262 (05/04/45); TD324 (26/04/45).
TE116 (21/04/45).

Click here for further information at the 74 Squadron Association

About Us | Contact Us | Links | Credits