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249 (Gold Coast) Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force...
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No. 249 Squadron gained its first place of honour through the names of many famous and lesser known fighter pilots
during World War II. In answer to a question in the House of Commons (24 March 53), 249 was quoted as being one of
the top scoring squadrons (in numbers of enemy aircraft destroyed) during the second world war (no official records
were prepared as to THE top scoring fighter squadron but it is generally held No.249 did gain this distinction) -
244 'destroyed' - 79 'probables' - 145 'damaged'. To this outstanding record 249's pilots added further claims of
109 locomotives 'destroyed'; 66 'damaged' - 93 railway wagons 'destroyed'; 165 'damaged' - 472 MT vehicles 'destroyed';
818 'damaged'. It was this overall wartime achievement that gained the following decorations for gallantry during
service with the Squadron – the only Victoria Cross awarded to Fighter Command in World War II - three D.S.0.s - 37
D.F.C.s plus 6 bars 7 D.F.M.s plus 2 Bars.
The Squadron was formed in August 1918 from an amalgamation of Nos. 400 and 450 Flights, flying Short 184 seaplanes and
with access to Felixstowe F2As and Curtiss H12s and 16 flying boats at Killingholme. It was disbanded on 8th October
1919. Under Squadron Leader John Grandy it was reformed on 16th May 1940 at Church Fenton and fought with signal
distinction through the Battle of Britain in Hurricanes and Spitfires. Many names emerged with honour from the air
battles and will live on - Barton, Barclay, Davies, Neil, Thompson, Beazeley, Wells, Nicholson, Kellet, to identify but
a few of the 'few'. James Nicholson’s Victoria Cross is displayed in the Battle of Britain Museum at the Royal Air Force
Museum, Hendon. Hit by three cannon shells from an Me 110, severely wounded and with his Hurricane cockpit in flames, he
was about to bale out when he saw the 110 had overshot him. He delayed abandoning the crippled Hurricane and though in
extreme pain, shot the 110 down before baling out. His was an act of supreme bravery outstanding even among so many
examples of great courage shown by 249 pilots.
The Squadron was adopted by the people of the Gold Coast (Ghana) in November, 1940 (together with No. 218 (Gold Coast)
(Bomber) Squadron which also gained an award of the Victoria Cross to Flight Sergeant (Pilot) A.L. Aaron VC, DFM, the
first Air Training Corps member to earn this highest award for valour, in November 1943).
In Malta from May 1941, under the command of 'Butch' Barton, the Squadron added fresh lustre to its name in the air
defence of the Island, first with Hurricanes then with Spitfires. Fighting against enemy aircraft odds of sometimes
between 10 and 20 to 1 and facing fatigue, poor rations and with inadequate equipment, 249 triumphed through 841 tons
of bombs that pounded their main airfield at Ta Kali.
More famous names emerged from this stage of the conflict - Turner, Grant, 'Laddie' Lucas, McNair, ‘Screwball’ Buerling,
Hesslyn, Daddo - Langlois, Palliser, Plagis, te Kloot, Woods, Brennan Nash, MacQueen, Mitchell, Rae, Lee, Jones, Seed,
Kennedy.
Under Squadron Leader Lynch the Squadron destroyed the 1000th enemy aircraft claimed by the Malta defences. These names
were some of the heroic pilots who came from all over the Commonwealth. Nor can the devoted tenacity of the ground crews
at this harassing time, ever be forgotten. They made the air victories possible.
In Italy from 1943 to the end of World War II, 249 operated across the Adriatic as a part of the Balkan Air Force.
First under Colvin, then te Kloot and finally Edmondson. The Squadron played a in harassing the Germans with relentless
dive bombing and strafing missions. During this period its pilots added to the Squadron's notable score of successes,
destroying aircraft whenever they could be found and taking a heavy toll of locomotives, railway rolling stock and motor
transport. When the Spitfire Vc’s were replaced with Mustang Ills (P51s) 249 ranged deep into Northern Greece, Yugoslavia
and Austria. For a time a flight of 249 aircraft was based on a grass strip north of Trikkala (Greece). From there it
attacked as far afield as Bulgaria, thus giving rise to the claim of being the only R.A.F. fighter squadron in World War
II to operate behind enemy lines in Europe.
The Squadron moved to Prkos in Yugoslavia in April 1945 flying Spitfire IXs until it was re-equipped with new Mustang IVs
in Brindisi. It was disbanded on 16th August under the command of Ashworth.
During the final stages of the World War II conflict the courage and morale of 249's pilots, backed by the magnificent
ground support, sustained the Squadron through heavy losses from accurate German flak, adding to the Unit's outstanding
record. Colvin, te Kloot, Edmondson, Finlay, Beatson, McBain, Sinclar, Whittingham, Simmons, Davison, Manning, Ashworth,
Younie, Muir, Briggs, Nichols and Monkman increased the Squadron's final tally of wartime decorations.
No. 249 Squadron was reformed in October 1945 at Eastleigh, Nairobi, Kenya when No. 500 (Country of Kent) was renumbered
249. There followed a sequence of moves and numerous changes of aircraft types. From Baltimore Vs to Mosquito FB26s in
Nairobi in 45/46; Tempest F6s in Habbaniya as part of the Middle East Fighter Force; Palestine in 48; the Canal Zone;
Vampire FB Vs in 50; Shaibah in 51; Vampire FB 9s in Nairobi; Amman in 54; Venom FB 1s; Venom FB IVs in 55 ; Cyprus in 56
and Canal Zone operations; Sultanate of Muscat and Oman 57 and Canberras at Akrotiri, Cyprus in 57.
The Squadron was presented with its standard on 7th October 1966 by Air Chief Marshall Sir John Grandy.
No. 249 (Gold Coast) Squadron was disbanded at Akrotiri, Cyprus on 24th February 1969
Pugnis et Calcibus – with ‘Fists and Heels’ indeed!
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