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| Click Here For Full Artist Print Indexes | Aviation History Archive |
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Aviation Art Prints  Countries UK Squadron Index More Squadrons Squadrons 243 to 350  No.253 Sqn |
[UP] - No.243 Sqn - No.244 Sqn - No.245 Sqn - No.247 Sqn - No.248 Sqn - No.249 Sqn - No.253 Sqn - No.254 Sqn - No.257 Sqn - No.262 Sqn - No.263 Sqn - No.264 Sqn - No.266 Sqn - No.269 Sqn - No.270 Sqn - No.272 Sqn - No.274 Sqn - No.303 Sqn - No.305 Sqn - No.308 Sqn - No.315 Sqn - No.331 Sqn - No.332 Sqn - No.350 Sqn |
No.253 Sqn
Country : UK
Founded : 7th June 1918
Disbanded 1st September 1957
Codes : , SW,
Come one, come all
253 Squadron was formed at Bembridge, on the Isle of Wight, on 7 June 1918,
During the squadrons stay at Bembridge it parented No. 412 (Seaplane) Flight RAF and No. 413 (Seaplane) Flight RAF, as well as No. 511 (Special Duty) Flight RAF, No. 512 (Special Duty) Flight RAF and No. 513 (Special Duty) Flight RAF for coastal reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols, flying Short Type 184 and Airco DH.6 aircraft. DH.6s of 511 and 512 Flights flew their aircraft from the aerodrome at Foreland 253 sqd was disbanded on 31 May 1919.
On 30 October 1939, No 253 Squadron reformed at Manston and was originally intended as a shipping protection unit with Blenheims. None were delivered, however, and the squadron began to receive Hurricanes in February 1940, becoming operational on 3 April. In May 1940 one flight was sent to France to reinforce the hard-pressed Hurricane squadrons while the second flight flew daily to French airfields from 17 to 23 May. After re-equipping in Lincolnshire, No 253 took part in the Battle of Britain from the end of August and remained in southern England until January 1941. In February the squadron moved to the Orkneys for air defence duties, returning to England in September for convoy patrols off the East Coast. After taking part in the Dieppe raid, No.253 became non-operational in preparation for the invasion of North Africa and arrived in Algeria a few days after the landings. It provided air cover for the Army and its supply lines during the Tunisian campaign and its aftermath, moving to Italy in October 1943. In February 1944, the squadron arrived in Corsica to undertake escort and anti-shipping missions, returning to Italy in April for similar duties over Yugoslvia.
In April 1945 the squadron actually moved to a base at Zadar that had been captured by the Yugoslav partisans during the German retreat from the country. After the end of the war the squadron quickly returned to Italy, spending the next year at Treviso. the squadron acquired a flight of Spitfire XIs from No.225 Squadron and disbanded on 16 May 1947. It moved to Austria during the winter of 1946-47 before returning to Treviso, where it was disbanded on 16 May 1947.
On 18 April 1955, No 253 reformed at Waterbeach as a night fighter squadron with Venoms which it flew until disbanded on 1 September 1957.
The Squadron operated the following aircraft December 1939-May 1940: Fairey Battle I
February 1940-August 1941: Hawker Hurricane I, July 1941-September 1942: Hawker Hurricane IIA and IIB ' January 1942-September 1943: Hawker Hurricane IIC, March 1943: Supermarine Spitfire VC , August 1943-November 1944: Supermarine Spitfire VC , September 1943-June 1944: Supermarine Spitfire IX , November 1944-May 1947: Supermarine Spitfire VIII and IX
March-May 1947: Supermarine Spitfire XI April 1955 Venom Jet Fighters
| No.253 Sqn Aviation Art Prints, Paintings and Drawings Aviation Art |
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| Text for the above items : |
Hurricane Mk.IIC by Ivan Berryman. Hurricane Mk.IIC Z3971 of 253 Sqn, closing on a Heinkel 111. |
We All Stand Together by Robert Taylor. Spitfires of 616 Squadron scramble from RAF Kenley during the heavy fighting of the Battle of Britain, late August 1940. Below them a Hurricane of 253 Squadron, sharing the same base, is being prepared for its next vital mission at a distant dispersal. All through the long summer of 1940, as Britain stood alone, a small band of fighter pilots took part in the greatest aerial battle in history. Day after day the men of Fighter Command valiantly took to the air to defend their country from the Luftwaffe and the threat of German invasion and Nazi tyranny. Outnumbered, but never out-fought, they fought to the point of exhaustion and, in doing so, paid a heavy price. But they won. |
Hurricanes from Kenley by Michael Turner A flight of 253 Squadron Hurricanes taking off from Kenley in August 1940, led by Sqn.Ldr. Tom Gleave. |
| Aces for : No.253 Sqn RAF | ||
| A list of all Aces from our database who are known to have flown with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking the pilots name. | ||
| Name | Victories | Info |
| Joseph Risso | 11.00 | The signature of Joseph Risso features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
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