Spotlight on Odd Bods Aircraft and Squadrons
Part 2
In conjunction with the 100 year anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the Friends of the Odd Bods Association would like to take a look back at where our fore-fathers served in World War II and why it is so important to ensure that this information is not lost, but preserved and recognised by the coming generations. The Friends of the Odd Bods Association hope you enjoy this series dedicated to these men as we “Press On Remembering”.
Part 2 – The Supermarine Spitfire and RAF Squadrons 234 and 145 where our Odd Bods served. The aircraft also served with the Number 1 Wing RAAF and the following RAAF Squadrons 79, 85, 451, 452, 453 and 457.
One of the Temora Aviation Museum’s Spitfires
What was a Supermarine Spitfire? – It is a British single seat, single engine aircraft designed just before the start of WW II and it’s first flight was in March 1935. It was introduced on the 4th of August 1938 and 20,351 aircraft were built until 1948. It is fast, sleek and very agile aircraft and well known for winning victory laurels in the Battle of Britain (1940 – 1941). It was designed by Reginald Mitchell of Supermarine Limited in response to a 1934 Air Ministry specification calling for a high-performance fighter with an armament of eight wing mounted 0.303 machine guns. There were 24 versions of the Spitfire made with the 6,487 Mark V’s built with 32 countries (including Australia) as military operators.
What was the aircraft powered by (later models)? – Rolls Royce Merlin 70 1710 horsepower (1276.66KW), 27 litre liquid cooled V-12 piston engine, equipped with a two speed, two-stage supercharger. The Rolls Royce Griffon was also fitted to later Spitfires.
Maximum Take-Off Weight – 5,935 to 9,900 pounds
Maximum Speed – 361 knots (669 km/h)
Maximum Altitude – 34,000 feet (early models) to 43,000 feet (later models)
Armaments included Browning Machine Guns, Hispano Cannons and 500 pound bombs
How many crew were on the Spitfire - Pilot only however there was a two-seat trainer version designed with only one of this configuration built by Supermarine.
What was special about the Spitfire design? – The original designer (Reginald Mitchell) gave the Spitfire something that still makes the aircraft graceful today. His radical design saw the aircraft have an elliptical wing with a thin airfoil that in combination with the Merlin’s efficient supercharger, gave it exceptional performance at high altitudes. This was a stroke of genius. (Footnote – A supercharger can be thought of either as artificially increasing the density of the air by compressing it or as forcing more air than normal into the engine’s cylinder every time the piston moves down).
There are approximately 70 Spitfires still in airworthy condition worldwide, four of which are here in Australia. Two of these aircraft are owned by the Temora Aviation Museum (aviationmuseum.com.au), the first being a Mk VIII (the last Spitfire delivered to the RAAF - A58-758) and a Mk XVI version which saw action in 1945. This particular aircraft has a unique history as it suffered a take-off mishap in 1951 and was essentially scrapped. The movie company, Metro Goldwyn-Mayer bought the aircraft for the 1955 movie, ‘Reach for the Sky’ based on Douglas Bader. It found it’s way to Temora in 2006 and forms part of the Air Force Heritage Collection after being generously donated by the Temora Aviation Museum in 2019.
(Information Source – Wikipedia and Temora Aviation Museum April 18 2021)
RAF Squadron 234 – Motto is “Ignem mortemque despuimus – We spit fire and death”
Did our Odd Bods serve in this Squadron – Yes;
When was the Squadron formed originally? – August 1918 and disbanded 15th May 1919;
When was the Squadron reformed?; - (1st Time) - 30th October 1939 and renumbered 266 Squadron on the 1st September 1946. (2nd Time) – 1st August 1952 again as 234 Squadron till 15th July 1957; (3rd Time) – 22nd October 1958 till 31st August 1992, (4th Time) – 1st September 1992 till disbanded.
Is the Squadron still active? – No, disbanded 1st April 1994;
What type of aircraft did the Squadron fly in WWII? – Magisters, Battle, Gauntlets, Bleinheims Mk. Ifs, Spitfires and Mustangs.
What was unique about the Squadron? – No 234 Squadron as you can see above was formed and disbanded multiple times. When it was reformed in 1939, it was intended for shipping protection duties with a mixture of different aircraft. It was after it received their Spitfires in March 1940, the squadron flew throughout the Battle of Britain and was based in Southern England where in April 1941, it began sweeps over northern France. These operations continued between defensive patrols until January 1943 when it moved to the Orkney Islands, returning south in June.
After covering the invasion beaches in Normandy, No 234 converted to Mustangs and began long range escort missions from East Anglia. A few days before the end of the war, the squadron moved to northern Scotland to escort strike Wings operating along the Norwegian coast, but returned to East Anglia in July to convert to Spitfires. These were flown until replaced by Meteors in February 1946, but on the 1st of September 1946 the squadron was renumbered 266 Squadron.
(Information Source – Spitfire Association, Wikipedia and Various Sources April 18 2021)
RAF Squadron 145 – Motto is “ – Diu noctuque pugnamus – We fight by day and night”
Did our Odd Bods serve in this Squadron – Yes;
When was the Squadron formed originally? – 15th May 1918 and disbanded 2nd September 1919;
When was the Squadron reformed?; - (1st Time) – 10th October 1939 till 19th August 1945. (2nd Time) – 1st March 1952.
Is the Squadron still active? – No, disbanded 15th October 1957;
What type of aircraft did the Squadron fly in WWII? – Hawker Hurricanes and Spitfires.
What was unique about the Squadron – No 145 Squadron was a fighter unit that fought in the Battle of Britain and the cross-channel sweeps of 1941 before moving to the Mediterranean where it took part in the campaigns in North Africa, Sicily and Italy ending the war as a fighter-bomber squadron (If you get the chance to have a close look at the Odd Bods banner, you will see it lists the Mediterranean on the upper left side);
(Information Source – Wikipedia and Various Sources Apr 18 2021)
Spitfire and Hurricane in flight.
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