RAF-Lincolnshire.info - the home of Royal Air Force and airfield history in Lincolnshire, including allied and other air services.

Royal Canadian Air Force roundel

421 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force


Home
RAF Stations & Bases
Aircraft types
Forum and Bulletin Boards
Search site
Links
Books
Abbreviations
People Finder
About

Contact us

> Units and Formations

Flying Squadrons
5 Sqn
6 Sqn
8 Sqn
9 Sqn
10 Sqn
11 Sqn
12 Sqn
15 Sqn
18 Sqn
21 Sqn
22 Sqn
23 Sqn
25 Sqn
27 Sqn
29 Sqn
33 Sqn
35 Sqn
39 Sqn
41 Sqn
43 Sqn
44 Sqn
46 Sqn
49 Sqn
50 Sqn
51 Sqn
54 Sqn
56 Sqn
57 Sqn
61 Sqn
64 Sqn
65 Sqn
68 Sqn
69 Sqn
70 Sqn
71 Sqn
73 Sqn
75 Sqn
81 Sqn
83 Sqn
85 Sqn
88 Sqn
90 Sqn
92 Sqn
97 Sqn
100 Sqn
101 Sqn
103 Sqn
104 Sqn
106 Sqn
109 Sqn
110 Sqn
111 Sqn
112 Sqn
113 Sqn
116 Sqn
121 Sqn
133 Sqn
136 Sqn
139 Sqn
141 Sqn
142 Sqn
143 Sqn
144 Sqn
148 Sqn
149 Sqn
150 Sqn
151 Sqn
153 Sqn
154 Sqn
166 Sqn
170 Sqn
189 Sqn
198 Sqn
199 Sqn
203 Sqn
206 Sqn
207 Sqn
209 Sqn
210 Sqn
211 Sqn
214 Sqn
222 Sqn
227 Sqn
228 Sqn
229 Sqn
235 Sqn
236 Sqn
248 Sqn
249 Sqn
251 Sqn
253 Sqn
254 Sqn
255 Sqn
256 Sqn
264 Sqn
266 Sqn
280 Sqn
288 Sqn
300 Sqn
301 Sqn
302 Sqn
303 Sqn
305 Sqn
307 Sqn
309 Sqn
310 Sqn
349 Sqn
350 Sqn
401 Sqn
402 Sqn
404 Sqn
407 Sqn
409 Sqn
410 Sqn
411 Sqn
412 Sqn
415 Sqn
416 Sqn
420 Sqn
421 Sqn
430 Sqn
438 Sqn
439 Sqn
441 Sqn
442 Sqn
443 Sqn
452 Sqn
455 Sqn
460 Sqn
463 Sqn
467 Sqn
486 Sqn
503 Sqn
504 Sqn
527 Sqn
528 Sqn
532 Sqn
538 Sqn
542 Sqn
550 Sqn
576 Sqn
601 Sqn
609 Sqn
613 Sqn
616 Sqn
617 Sqn
619 Sqn
625 Sqn
626 Sqn
627 Sqn
630 Sqn

Heavy Conversion Units
1654 HCU
1656 HCU
1660 HCU
1661 HCU
1662 HCU
1665 HCU
1667 HCU
1668 HCU
21 HGCU

Advanced Flying Schools
201 AFS

Advanced Flying Units
12 AFU
15 AFU

Flying Training Schools
1 FTS
2 FTS
3 FTS
6 FTS
7 FTS
12 FTS
1 Lancaster Finishing School
Central Flying School

Operational Training/
Conversion Units
(Fighter)
6 OTU
53 OTU

56 OTU

(Bomber)
228 OCU
230 OCU

Air Armament Schools
1 AAS
2 AAS
Empire Central AS

Other schools
1 Gp Aircrew School
1 Ground Defence School
1 Air Observers School
Central Gunnery School
5 Gp Anti Air School

Other units
Bomber Command
Coastal Command
Fighter Command
HQ No 5 Group
HQ No 23 Group
1485 Gunnery Flight
2782 Defence Sqn
178 Support Unit
399 Signals Unit
Nationality based Sqns

Updated: 28 Oct 08

Formed: 9 Apr 1942, RAF Digby

Disbanded: ??

Squadron was based at:

RAF Digby :: 9 Apr 1942 - 3 May 1942

RAF Fairwood Common :: 3 May 1942 -

Squadron code: AU

Aircraft operated:

Spitfire MkVa :: Apr 1942 - May 1942

Spitfire MkVb :: May 1942 - May 1943

Spitfire MkIXb :: May 1943 -

421 Squadron RCAF was formed at RAF Digby on 9 Apr 1942 under the command of Sqn Ldr FW Kelly, with an initial complement of 11 pilots and 108 ground crew. On formation there were 17 MK VA Spitfires on charge. Although no exact record of these planes has been found these are most certainly the Spitfires left behind by the departing 601 Squadron which embarked to Malta. Two days later, Sqn Ldr Kelly tried to acquire the service of the ex-601 Sqn personnel who were on the strength of SHQ RAF Digby to service his newly-acquired aircraft. By 18 Apr he had also managed to secure 2 ex-601 Sqn pilots, Plt Off J H Murray and Sgt A R McDonald, for 421 Sqn.

After the initial period of rapid organization flying began on 23 April 1942, with sector reconnaissance, local flying, areo engine tests and formation flying. During April aircrew with no or limited operational experience, such as Flt Lt Hill, the second flight commander, were sent to fly with 411 Squadron on Circus operations over Dunkirk. By the end of the month the squadron had flown 230 hrs 40 mins. The squadron total strength was now 135 including 11 RCAF and 1 RAF officers, 15 RCAF and 1 USAF airmen.

The Sqn began to move to RAF Fairwood Common with its advance party setting off on 1 May 1942 and the balance of the ground crew on 3 May, along with 16 of the aircraft at 1100 hrs. However by 10 May it had taken over 19 MK VB cannon Spitfires on strength. The MK V planes had been used for initial training exercises during April and early May before being dispatched to other squadrons.

421 Squadron became officially operational on 13 May 1942, taking over the operational commitments of 402 Squadron and running its first operational convoy patrols on 16 May. 421 Sqn spent most of the remainder of the war based in Glamorganshire and Surrey/Kent.

421 Squadron Pilots at RAF Digby and later RAF Fairwood Common.

S. Ldr F.W. KELLY
Flt/ Lt J.H. LONG no 1 Flight Commander
Flt/Lt G.V. HILL no 2 Flight Commander
P/O J.H. MURRAY ( ex 601)
Sgt A.R. McDONALD (ex 601) May 8th posted to 301 Squadron.
Sgt B. STRACHAN May 8th posted to 301 Squadron.
Sgt W.H. FELL
Sgt C. G. HUTCHINGS
Sgt L.N. LARDEN
P/O A.H. SAGER
Sgt W.E. COOK
Sgt R. H. LOYNS
Sgt A.V. KELMAN
Sgt J.A. OMAND
Sgt R. CLASPER
P/O F. WIHAK
P/O J. OWEN
P/O D.M. IVERACH
Sgt L.H. MELDEAU
Sgt D.M. GOODWIN

Ops records from May 13th records the following additional names -
Sgt CARMODY
Sgt TODD
Sgt ROBINSON

Ops records from May 26th records the following additional names -
Sgt WENDT
P/O WESTHAVER

Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire
(Tourism)

Follow RAF Lincolnshire:
Visit RAF-Lincolnshire.info's facebook page. Like our page and stay up to date with our posts on facebook! Follow us on twitter and stay up to date with our frequent news items

Amazon.co.uk & Amazon.com

Google+

powered by blueconsultancy