No. 190 Squadron RAF

No. 190 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron with a relatively short existence, but a very broad career. It served as a trainer squadron during the first World War and as convoy escort, airborne support and transport squadron during World War II.

No. 190 Squadron RAF
Official squadron badge
Active24 Oct 1917 – Apr 1919
1 Mar 1943 – 31 Dec 1943
5 Jan 1944 – 21 Jan 1946
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
RoleConvoy escort
Airborne forces
Transport
Part ofNo. 38 Group RAF
Motto(s)Latin: Ex Tenebris
(Translation: "Through darkness")[1][2]
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Geoffrey Harry "Buster" Briggs
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryA cloak charged with a double-headed eagle displayed[1][2]
Squadron CodesG5 (Jan 1944 – Dec 1945)[3][4]
L9 (Jan 1944 – Dec 1945)[5][6]

History

Formation in World War I

No 190 Squadron was formed at Rochford, England on 24 October 1917 as a night training squadron[7] operating amongst others the Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2e and the Airco DH.6. The squadron moved to RAF Newmarket, Suffolk on 14 March 1918 and was disbanded a year later at RAF Upwood in April 1919.[1][2]

Reformation with Coastal Command

The squadron was re-formed on 1 March 1943 at Sullom Voe, Scotland. The squadron operated the Consolidated Catalina to patrol the North Atlantic. The first U-boat was sunk in the first month of operations. The main role of the squadron was protecting the convoys to and from Russia ("Operation Locomotive"). The squadron disbanded on 31 December 1943, when it was re-numbered to 210 Squadron.[1][2][8]

Airborne Forces squadron

The squadron was re-formed again five days later, on 5 January 1944 at RAF Leicester East as an airborne support unit flying the Short Stirling. It became part of 38 Group on 6 November 1943. On 6 June 1944 the squadron first carried 426 paratroopers to Caen, France.[1] The squadron then returned and the next night towed 18 Airspeed Horsa gliders into France.[1] It moved to RAF Fairford and carried out supply-dropping missions to the advancing troops and SOE operatives. The squadron involvement in supply drops at Battle of Arnhem caused 11 aircraft losses in 3 days.[2] The next move was to RAF Great Dunmow where it towed gliders for the Rhine crossing and paratroopers into the Netherlands to disrupt the German retreat.

On Halifaxes as Transport Squadron

As the war ended the squadron re-equipped with the Handley Page Halifax which it used as a freighter for Transport Command until the end of 1945. It was disbanded at Great Dunmow on 21 January 1946 by being renumbered to 295 Squadron.[2][8][9][10]

Aircraft operated
Aircraft operated by No 190 Squadron RAF, data from[2][8][11]
FromToAircraftVariant
October 1917January 1919Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c
October 1917January 1919Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2e
October 1917January 1919Airco DH.6
October 1917January 1919AVRO 504K
February 1943December 1943Consolidated CatalinaMk.Ib
October 1943December 1943Consolidated CatalinaMk.IV
January 1944June 1945Short StirlingMk.IV
May 1945January 1946Handley Page HalifaxMks.III and VII

Squadron stations
Stations and airfields used by No 190 Squadron RAF, data from[1][2][8]
FromToBase
2 October 191714 March 1918RFC Rochford, Essex
14 March 19185 October 1918RAF Newmarket, Suffolk
5 October 1918April 1919RAF Upwood, Cambridgeshire
1 March 194331 December 1943RAF Sullom Voe, Shetland Islands, Scotland
5 January 194425 March 1944RAF Leicester East, Leicestershire
25 March 194414 October 1944RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire
14 October 194421 January 1946RAF Great Dunmow, Essex

Commanding officers
Officers commanding No 190 Squadron, data from[11][12]
FromToName
1 March 194331 December 1943W/Cdr. P.H. Alington, DFC
5 January 194421 September 1944W/Cdr. G.E. Harrison, DFC, SS(US)
2 October 194420 April 1945W/Cdr. R.H. Bunker, DSO, DFC & Bar
24 April 19451 July 1945W/Cdr. G.H. Briggs, DFC
1 July 194521 January 1946W/Cdr. L.C. Bartram

See also

References

Notes
  1. Rawlings 1982, pp. 124.
  2. Halley 1988, p. 250.
  3. Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, pp. 47–48.
  4. Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 73.
  5. Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, pp. 70–71.
  6. Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 87.
  7. Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, pp. 6–7.
  8. Jefford 2001, p. 69.
  9. Halley 1988, p. 352.
  10. Wynn 1996, p. Appendix A.
  11. Rawlings 1982, p. 125.
  12. Page for No 190 Squadron on No 38 Group website

Bibliography
  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
  • Sturtivant, Ray, ISO; Hamlin, John (2007). RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Wynn, Humphrey (1996). Forged in War: A History of Royal Air Force Transport Command, 1943–1967. London: The Stationery Office. ISBN 0-11-772756-3.
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