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Aviation Art Prints  Countries UK Squadron Index More Squadrons Squadrons 22 to 60  No.23 Sqn |
[UP] - No.22 Sqn - No.23 Sqn - No.25 Sqn - No.28 Sqn - No.29 Sqn - No.30 Sqn - No.32 Sqn - No.35 Sqn - No.37 Sqn - No.43 Sqn - No.44 Sqn - No.45 Sqn - No.46 Sqn - No.49 Sqn - No.50 Sqn - No.54 Sqn - No.55 Sqn - No.56 Sqn - No.57 Sqn - No.58 Sqn - No.59 Sqn - No.60 Sqn |
No.23 Sqn
Country : UK
Founded : 1st September 1915
The squadron disbanded on 2 October 2009, when it amalgamated with No 8 Squadron.
Codes : , YP, MS,
Semper aggessus - Always having attacked
o. 23 Squadron formed at Fort Grange, Gosport on 1 Sep 1915 under the command of one of the RAF's most experienced operational pilots - Captain Louis Strange. After a brief period attempting to counter German airship flights over London, the Squadron moved to France with its FE2Bs initially employed on escort duties. By early 1917, Spad single-seaters had arrived, and were being used on offensive patrols over the front and low-level strafing attacks against German troops By the end of the War, the Squadron had converted to Dolphins, and flew these until disbanded at the end of 1919.
On 1 July 1925, No. 23 Squadron reformed at Henlow with Snipes, but these were replaced shortly after with Gloster Gamecocks. In 1931, the Squadron was tasked with carrying out trials on the new Hawker Hart two-seaters, taking the production version, known as Demons, on strength in 1933
n 1938 it became a night-fighter squadron using the Bristol Blenheim. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, these were replaced by the Douglas Havoc and later the de Havilland Mosquito. Between 1942 and 1944 the squadron was based on Malta. It then returned to England and served as an intruder squadron, targeting German night fighters, over western Europe. 23 Sqn was disbanded, following the war's end, in September 1945
The squadron was reformed on 1 September 1946 as a night fighter squadron operating the de Havilland Mosquito.[8] It received jet aircraft in the form of de Havilland Vampire NF.10s in 1953, replacing them with de Havilland Venom NF.2s in June 1954. The squadron acquired Venom NF.3 in 1957.but was soon replaced with Gloster Javelin all-weather fighter, beginning a long period operating in the air defence role. The squadron has a strong heritage in the air defence role, operating Gloster Javelins, Lightnings, Phantoms and Tornado F3s. The squadron first acquired Phantoms on 1 November 1975 at RAF Coningsby before moving to RAF Wattisham for just under 10 years. Then in October 1983 the squadron deployed to Stanley airfield, Falkland Islands after their recapture from Argentina, arriving there on 1 November. They remained here until 31 October 1988 when its duty was assumed by 1435 Flight. The squadron then reformed on 1 November 1988 at RAF Leeming with the Panavia Tornado which it operated until 26 February 1994, when the unit was disbanded.
The squadron assumed the Airborne Early Warning role upon reformation in April 1996, sharing the RAF's Sentry AEW1 fleet with No. 8 Squadron. The squadron disbanded on 2 October 2009, when it amalgamated with No 8 Squadron.
| No.23 Sqn Aviation Art Prints, Paintings and Drawings Aviation Art |
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| Text for the above items : |
Never Say Die by Ivan Berryman. (PC) What must surely be one of WWII's most extraordinary acts of bravery occurred on the night of 16th/17th January 1945 when F/L T A Smith and F/O A C Cockayne were on an ASH patrol over Stendal. Flying Mosquito FB.VI RS507 (YP-C) of No.23 Sqn, they inadvertently stumbled upon the German airfield of Fassberg on their return trip, fully lit up with aircraft taxiing. Taking full advantage of this situation, F/L Smith went straight in to attack, destroying one Bf.109 on the taxiway and another two as they attempted to take off. RS507 received ground fire hits to its starboard engine during the chase down the runway, Smith feathering the prop, but continuing to press home his attack. Knowing that there was no way of saving their aircraft, Cockayne was ordered to bale out, but sadly lost his life in the attempt. F/L Smith fought gallantly to bring his Mosquito down into snow with minimum damage, but the aircraft hit trees before striking the frozen ground and a furious fire broke out, Smith trapped in the wreckage. Against all the odds, he survived the crash, albeit with terrible burns, and saw out the war as a prisoner of the Germans. |
Night Raiders by Ivan Berryman. A pair of de Havilland Mosquito NF. MkII night fighters of 23 Squadron, based at Bradwell Bay, Essex in 1942. |
Day Ranger to Grove by Ivan Berryman. (PC) On 26th September 1944, F/O George Stewart, and his navigator F/O Paul Beaudet flew a Day Ranger with fellow 23 Squadron Pilot F/O D.L,'Bud' Badley, and his navigator Sgt A A Wilson, to Grove Aerodrome in Denmark, in their FB.VI Mosquito fighter bombers. Arriving abruptly over their target, George spotted a Ju.88 sitting by the perimeter track and at once strafed with his four 20mm cannons. He is flying YP-T (HR 201), and Bud, YP-Z (HR 216), seen in the background. Their sudden appearance and departure drew no return fire and, as they raced back to the coast, George couldn't resist a departing shot at a Freya Radar tower, but got hit by a .303 round in his instrument panel as he flew overhead. Bud, however, received numerous hits on his pass, losing one engine, plus rudder, elevator control and R/T. In a superb display of airmanship, at zero feet, Bud regained control and flew back home to land safely at the emergency airstrip at Woodbridge. George, having plunged into low cloud and therefore lost sight of Bud, was unable to raise him on the R/T and flew on to Little Snoring. George and Paul were awarded DFCs, following their extended operational tour, and Bud an 'Immediate' DFC, by W/C 'Sticky' Murphy DSO and Bar, DFC and Bar, Croixe de Guerre and Palm, Commanding Officer of 23 Squadron, RAF. |
Aces All - Tribute to the Pilots and Crews of 23 Sqn, Malta, 1943 by Ivan Berryman. Arriving on the island of Malta in the final days of 1942, the De Havilland Mosquitoes of 23 Sqn were soon in action defending the skies around this strategically crucial island and carrying out intruder missions against ground targets as far away as southern Italy. Three of 23 Sqn's FB.VIs are depicted here: HJ675 (V), piloted by Fl Lt P W Rabone (9 victories), DD687 (E), flown by Sqn Ldr N J 'Jackie' Starr (5 victories) and DZ230 (A), the aircraft of Wing Commander Peter Wykeham-Barnes (14 + 3 shared). |
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