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No. 150 Squadron Royal Air Force
No. 150 Squadron was fisrt formed at Salonika, Macedonia, on 1st April 1918 as a fighter squadron and saw action operated both in Macedonia and Turkey. 150 Squadron disbanded in 1919.
150 Squadron re-formed at Boscombe Down on 8 August 1938 as a bomber squadron in 1938 flying Fairey Battles. It relocated to RAF Benson but at the outbreak of the Second World War, No. 150 served with the Advanced Air Striking Force in France. In May 1940 the Squadron attacked the Meuse bridges in an attempt to halt the German advance. In June 1940, the squadron withdrew to England where it converted to Wellingtons to join the night-bombing offensive.
In December 1942 150 Squadron was posted to North Africa and took part in the Tunisian, Sicilian and Italian campaigns. The Squadron was disbanded in early October 1944 in Italy but was re-formed in England in November as a Lancaster squadron. It went on to fly 827 operational sorties dropping more than 3,827 tons of bombs on enemy targets. At the end of hostilities 150 was employed in dropping food supplies to the starving Dutch people and transporting ex-P0W's from Belgium and to England as well as ferrying personnel home from Italy.
Airfields 150 Squadron flew from:
- Challerange, France. 3rd Sep to 11th Sep 1939
- Ecury-sur-Coole, France. 11th Sep 1939 to 15th May 1940
- Pouan, France. 15th May to 6th Jun 1940
- Houssay, France. 6th to 15th Jun 1940
- Abingdon. 15th Jun to 19th Jun 1940
- Stradishall. 19th Jun to 3rd Jul 1940
- Newton. 3rd Jul 1940 to 10th Jul 1941
- Snaith. 10th Jul 1941 to 15th Oct 1942
- Kirmington. 15th Oct 1942
- Blida (Algeria). 19 December 1942-17 May 1943
- Fontaine Chaude. 17-26 May 1943
- Kairouan West (Tunisia). 26 May-14 November 1943
- Oudna No.1 14 November-21 December 1943
- Cerignola No.3 (Italy) 21 December 1943-14 February 1944
- Amendola 14 February-3 July 1944
- Regina 3 July-5 October 1944 (disbanded)
- Fiskerton. Reformed 1st-22nd Nov 1944
- Hemswell. 22nd Nov 1944 onwards.
3rd September 1939 Deployed to France
19th September 1939 Crash during exercise
30th Sep 1939 150 Squadron Battles lost
31st March 1940 Lost on exercise
10th May 1940 150 Squadron Battles lost
12th May 1940 150 Squadron Battle lost
14th May 1940 Overwhelming losses
14th May 1940 Four Battles of 150 Squadron lost
15th May 1940 Moved back
19th May 1940 Two 150 Squadron Aircraft Lost
26th May 1940 Lufwaffe HQ bombed
3rd June 1940 Moved back
7th Jun 1940 Aircraft Lost
8th June 1940 Aircraft Lost
13th Jun 1940 Aircraft Lost
13th Jun 1940 Aircraft Lost
13th June 1940 Aircraft Lost
15th June 1940 Airman escapes from hospital
19th June 1940 New base
3rd July 1940 Re-equipped
21st March 1941 Crashed in Wales
8th May 1941 Aircraft Lost
10th May 1941 Aircraft Lost
27th May 1941 Aircraft Lost
26th June 1941 Aircraft Lost
10th July 1941 New base
16th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost
30th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost
6th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost
14th Aug 1941 150 Squadron Wellington lost
14th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost
22nd Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost
27th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost
2nd Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost
20th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost
22nd Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost
24th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost
7th November 1941 Aircraft Lost
15th Nov 1941 Aircraft Lost
14th Dec 1941 Aircraft Lost
27th Decenber 1941 Belly landing
15th Jan 1942 Aircraft Lost
22nd February 1942 Two Wellingtons lost
9th March 1942 Shot down
2nd Apr 1942 Aircraft Lost
15th April 1942 Wellington shot down
24th April 1942 Killed in crash
28th April 1942 Two Wellingtons lost
6th May 1942 George Medal Awarded
31st May 1942 Crash
7th June 1942 Aircraft Exploded
8th June 1942 Shot down by night fighter
10th June 1942 Missing over the North Sea
18th June 1942 Crash landing in the waterworks
29th June 1942 Three Wellingtons lost
15th July 1942 Crash due to ice
19th July 1942 Shot down in the North Sea
22nd July 1942 Crashed over Noord-Holland
26th July 1942 Ditched off Dutch Coast
30th July 1942 Shot down in the Channel
7th August 1942 Crashed on take off
10th August 1942 Two Wellingtons shot down
25th August 1942 Bombers shot down
28th August 1942 Aircraft shot down
9th September 1942 Three 150 Squadron Wellington lost
17th September 1942 Evaded capture in Belgium
10th October 1942 Wellington crashed on training flight
15th October 1942 Shot down on the Dutch Coast
23rd October1942 Move to new base
31st October 1942 Two Wellingtons lost
9th November 1942 Wellington shot down on riad to Hamburg
19th December 1942 Wellington bomber squadrons relocated
14th January 1943 Storm
27th January 1943 Test flight
27th January 1943 New Squadron formed
27th February 1943 Aircraft Crash
12th April 1943 Crew Bale out
30th April 1943 Crash Landing
9th May 1943 Failed to Return
15th May 1943 Two Aircraft lost
17th May 1943 Move
21st May 1943 Aircraft Lost
26th May 1943 Operational reorganisation
5th August 1943 Lost on raid on Sicily
7th August 1943 Bombers lost over Sicily
26th August 1943 Ditched
31st August 1943 Aircrew missing
14th November 1943 Relocated
29th November 1943 Crashed at Ciampino
16th December 1943 Bombers move into Italy
23rd January 1944 Lost over Yugoslavia
8th Feb 1944 Bomb Explodes
14th February 1944 On the move
30th June 1944 Shot down over Austria
3rd July 1944 On the move
17th July 1944 Bomber missing on raid on oil refinery in Yugoslavia
22nd July 1944 Shot down
18th August 1944 Aircraft Lost
20th August 1944 Crashed in Austria
5th October 1944 Wellington Squadrons disbanded in Italy
15th Oct 1944 Reorganisation
1st November 1944 Bomber Squadron reformed
22nd November 1944 Change of airbase
12th December 1944 Shot down over Essen
1st January 1945 Lancaster lost
2nd January 1945 Mid-air collision
21st February 1945 Aircraft Shot down
23rd February 1945 Devastating bombing raid
13th March 1945 Crash
22nd March 1945 Lancaster shot down
24th March 1945 Aircrew murdered
1st May 1945 Relief missions
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Logbooks
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Those known to have served with No. 150 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Barclay George Stanley. Sgt.
- Bowen Donald Joseph. Sgt. (d.14th May 1940)
- Boxwell DFC. William Desmond. Sqdn. Ldr.
- Bramley Ronald Arthur. Sgt. (d.8th Nov 1941)
- Braybrook Stanley George. Flt.Lt
- Brown . Sgt.
- Chandler Robert. P/O
- Clayton Alan Harvey. Sgt. (d.15th November 1942)
- Cranz William August. F/O. (d.28th October 1942)
- Daniels Norman. AC2 (d.21st June 1943)
- Dick Robert Ballantyne. Flt.Sgt. (d.11th Feb 1942)
- Duncan John George. Sgt. (d.15th November 1942)
- Edmunds DFM. Lewis. Flt.Sgt. (d.31st July 1943)
- Edwards William Stanley. (d.21st Sep 1944)
- Evans Thomas George. Sgt. (d.21st February 1942)
- Ferguson Francis. Sgt. (d.15th November 1942)
- Fish Frederick Stephen. Sgt. (d.3rd Sept 1942)
- Gainsford DSO DFC AFC. Arthur Percy. Sqn.Ldr.
- Gillard MID Oswald John. A/Sgt.
- Grant Leonard Olgevy. LAC. (d.8th June 1940)
- Hayes Maurice. Sgt.
- Husson William Franklin. F/Lt.
- Hutchinson . S
- Jones Ronald F.. Sgt.
- Kay . Sgt.
- Lancaster DFC. Arthur Frederick. F/O.
- Lewis Montague. Sgt. (d.14th Dec 1941)
- Mackender Hugh Laurence John. Flt.Sgt. (d.15th November 1942)
- Magness. K.. Sgt (d.28th Nov 1942 )
- Malcolm Robert M.. F/Lt.
- Marshall Francis Eric. Flt.Sgt
- Martin Sydney. AC1 (d.14th May 1940)
- McTeer Anthony Patrick. Sgt.
- McTeer Anthony. Sgt.
- Neale Alan.
- Nolan William Joseph. AC1. (d.14th May 1940)
- Oney Dennis George. Sgt. (d.8th July 1943)
- Ovens John Roberts. Sgt. (d.28th October 1942)
- Parker Eric. F/Lt. (d.10th May 1940)
- Pearson Charles Weldon. F/O.
- Perry Colin Gordon. Sgt.
- Perry John James. Flt.Sgt. (d.15th November 1942)
- Perry John James. Sgt. (d.15th November 1942)
- Phillips MM Donald Leslie. SAC
- Pollitt Harry. Sgt. (d.28th October 1942)
- Posselt Arthur Francis. P/O. (d.14th May 1940)
- Preston Kenneth Stoddart. Sgt. (d.5th June 1942)
- Procter Robert Dudley. Sgt. (d.9th June 1942)
- Quinn . Sgt.
- Riley. D. R.. Sgt (d.28th Nov 1942 )
- Roy . F/Lt.
- Rudd Arthur Reginald. Sgt. (d.28th October 1942)
- Smith. D. G.. Sgt (d.28th Nov 1942 )
- Taylor Jack Hugh. Flt.Sgt. (d.13th March 1945)
- Taylor James Arthur. Sgt. (d.28th October 1942)
- Taylor Maurice.
- Thomas DSO, DFM, MID. Dilwyn Henry. Sqd.Ldr.
- Vano Norman Victor . (d.14th May 1940)
- Venables William Horace. Flt.Sgt.
- Vernon DFC. James Edward. P/O (d.7th Jun 1940)
- Whittaker Joseph Frank. Sgt. (d.30th Jul 1944)
- Williams Frederick. (d.5th August 1943)
- Wilson John George. F/Lt.
- Wood. J.. Sgt (d.28th Nov 1942 )
- Woodlock Thomas David. Flt.Sgt.
- Wotton Vivien James. P/O. (d.15th November 1942)
- Young . Sgt.
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of No. 150 Squadron Royal Air Force from other sources.
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Want to know more about No. 150 Squadron Royal Air Force? There are:2113 items tagged No. 150 Squadron Royal Air Force available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Maurice "Mo" Taylor rear gunner 458 Sqd. Mr Taylor is a very long standing family friend, he is now 86 yrs. old, over the years he has told me many things about his wartime years.
He joined the RAF in 1938 and served with various units - 458, 460, 150 and possibly others. Holme on Spalding Moor, Molesworth, Binbrook are bases he remembers in the early part, flying in Wellingtons as a rear gunner. At this point in time he was shot down to which even today he finds hard to come to terms with and at the same time I would not press him to talk about. Beyond this point he served in Ceylon on various sqd's until 1946. I would love to find out more as the tales he tells me never cease to amaze me
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F/O. Arthur Frederick Lancaster DFC. Wireless operator Air Gunner 150 Squadron Arthur Lancaster was a Metropolitan Policeman who enlisted in 1940.
His pre war nickname, thanks to his moustache, was Wimpy, resembling J Wellington Wimpy, the friend of Popeye.
Whilst serving with 150 Squadron he was awarded the DFC in 1943.
The citation stated: This officer has taken part in a large number of operational sorties. He has invariably shown exceptional coolness ans efficiency in the face of the enemy and his excellent directions have enabled his captain to take evasive action when engaged by the enemy defences.
After the war he returned to the Met.
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Sqn.Ldr. Arthur Percy "Perc" Gainsford DSO DFC AFC. 150 Squadron  On arrival in the UK Percy Gainsford trained with 27 OTU at RAF Lichfield (Fradley) and on 28th of August 1941 completed his first raid dropping two 250lb bombs on Evreux in France. Percy joined 150 Squadron at RAF Snaith as a Sgt Pilot on 8th of September 1941 and completed his first tour in Aug 1942 after completing 34 operations over enemy territory. During his time at Snaith he was promoted to Flt Sgt and then to WO.
Not long after leaving Snaith, he was commissioned and awarded the DFC.
The picture of his crew is the one photograph I have of his WW2 service. Unfortunately within a couple of months of Percy moving from Snaith all the other crew members were dead.
Between Aug 1942 and July 1944 he served as an instructor at 25 OTU, 30 OTU, 82 OTU and 86 OTU during which time he flew another enemy raid.
In July 1944 he returned to front line duties flying the Lancaster as part of 166 Squadron RAF Kirmington. His crew included F/O F G Kitson (RAF) Flt Eng, Flt.Sgt. J H F Rowe (RAF) A/Bomber, Sgt W R Williams (RAAF) Nav, WO. F E Barrett (RAF) W/Op, F/O. H G Cook (RCAF) Mid Gunner and Sgt G H Davidson (RCAF) Rear Gunner. This crew stayed together and moved on to 550 Sqn at North Killingholme in Sep 1944.
By this time Percy had been promoted to Sqn Ldr and became Flight Commander of C Flight 550 Squadron. At this point he had completed a further 20 Ops on the Lancaster.
At this stage he could have withdrawn from flying as it constituted 2 complete tours.
However, he decided to stay with the crew a little longer as his good friend and Flt Eng F G Kitson was close to finishing his tour as well.
The story goes that no NZ pilot had survived a tour on 550 Squadron so C Flight 550 Squadron was moved to Fiskerton to re-form 150 Squadron and Percy was appointed A Flight Commander.
The Squadron subsequently moved to RAF Hemswell and Percy completed his second tour and a total of 62 operations.
Percy was repatriated to New Zealand in early 1945 and had a long career with the RNZAF.
He retired from duty as an Air Commodore in 1967.
Unfortunately he passed away 1973 aged 60.
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F/Lt. John George "Tug" Wilson 150 Squadron John Wilson was a Rear gunner with 150 Squadron Commander Boxwell's crew.
The Crew brought up submarine in Mediterranean. The DFC was awarded to the pilot.
They also took part in the Monte Casino raids based at Kairoan.
John trained as a pilot but stayed as rear gunner when he moved to 150 Squadron. He was a part of two lost previous crews, and was then chosen as part of Squadron Leader Boxwell's crew to go to North Africa.
Known as Boxwell's Bouncing Boys because of pilots' bouncing take off method.
Best man crew mate 'Red' Turnbull's paperwork was delayed on posting to Kairoan. He took a spare place on a Berlin night raid, was killed, and is buried in Berlin.
John was based in England, North and South Africa, and the Mediterranean.
and was a trainer in South Africa.
John was an ex miner who left his job and worked as barman for a week so when he enlisted he was not designated as an essential worker.
He joined the RAF and persevered until he was accepted as active air crew.
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AC1. William Joseph Nolan No. 150 Squadron (d.14th May 1940) William Nolan served with No. 150 Squadron
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P/O. Arthur Francis Posselt No. 150 Squadron (d.14th May 1940) Arthur Posselt served with No. 150 Squadron
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Norman Victor Vano No. 150 Squadron (d.14th May 1940) Norman Vano served with No. 150 Squadron
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Sgt. Donald Joseph Bowen No. 150 Squadron (d.14th May 1940)    My uncle, Donald Bowen (born in 1918), was an observer in Fairey Battle K9483 which was shot down on 14th of May 1940 just south of Bulson in France. They took off from Ecury-sur-Coole at 15:18 on a mission to destroy bridges in Sedan on the river Meuse but were met by a Bf109, piloted by Willi Ghesla. All three crew were lost. The youngest at 18 years old was Norman V. Vano RAF 630788 the gunner, and Pilot Arthur F. Posselt RAF 41319 aged 21.
The other Fairey Battle that took off at the same time on the mission was L4946, and on board was a William J. Nolan RAF 613363 from Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, so I have no doubt that Donald and William knew each other. But telephone books do not exist anymore so I can not call every Nolan in that area to make enquiries. Perhaps there is a photo of the group somewhere?
My research has brought me to the death of Donald, but now I am looking to go back in his life and find any information I can. My dad, his brother, died when I was three years old, so missing in action was all we knew then.
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Flt.Sgt. Robert Ballantyne Dick 150 Squadron (d.11th Feb 1942) Robert Ballantyne Dick was the son of Charles & Annie Dick of Monifieth. He was named after Charles' brother Robert Ballantyne Dick who died in the Battle of the Somme.
Robert was lost without trace while flying a mission from RAF Snaith
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Sgt. Thomas George Evans 150 Squadron (d.21st February 1942) Thomas Evans was shot down over the North Sea during an intruder mission. His other 5 crew were also killed. No known grave, he was aged 20.
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Recomended Reading.Available at discounted prices.
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Lie in the Dark and ListenKen Rees & Karen Arrandale
Life is pretty dull for Ken Rees these days. At seventeen he carved danger and excitement; fast planes and cars; rugby, speed and women. Then war came and by the age of twenty-one he had already trained to be a pilot officer; flown fifty-six hair-raising bomber missions by night over Germany; taken part in the siege of Malta; got married; been shot down into a remote Norwegian lake; been captured, questioned by the Gestapo, then sent to Stalag Luft III, where he participated in and survived the Great Escape and terrible forced march to Bremen. Now he lives relatively peacefully in Anglesey and in finding time to research and write his memoirs with Karen Arrandale, has vividly recreated what it was like to be in charge of an air crew at such a tender age with responsibility for a large and expensive aircraft going 300 miles behind enemy lines, at the same time avoiding flak and enemy fighters and witnessing other comrades being shot down out of the sky. Moreover, he writes movingly abou
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