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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.274 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.274 Sqn
Country : UK
Founded : April 1918
Disbanded 7th September 1945
Codes : , JJ,
Supero - I oversome
274 squadron was formed as a heavy bomber squadron at Bircham Newton in April 1918, and disbanded shortly after the Armistice. On 19th August 1940 it was reformed as a fighter squadron at Amriya with ten pilots from No.80 squadron and initially equipped with Hurricanes and Gladiators. The squadron was soon to become the first in the western desert to be fully equipped with Hurricanes. They became operational in September, destroying their first enemy aircraft (two SM79s) over Maaten Bagush on 10th September. Between December and February 1941, the squadron was employed on various duties including patrols, strafing Italian troops/transport and escort work. During February it was rested and some of its pilots ferried aircraft to Greece. In April they encountered German aircraft and were involved in the intense fighting over Tobruk. These operations continued until May, when they began strafing targets in Crete and providing cover for naval ships. Until March 1942 the squadron was involved in ground attack, protective patrols and bomber escorts. In May they began to receive the first Hurri-bombers, using them for the first time against enemy transport on 8th June 1942. There now began a period of intense activity including the battle of Alamein and more shipping patrols. This continued until the Autumn when the squadron was employed on coastal defence for the rest of 1942 and the majority of 1943. January 1944 saw a move to Italy and the beginning of a period of offensive sorties against enemy roads which continued until April. The squadron was then transferred to the UK and re-equipped with Mk IX Spitfires commencing fighter sweeps and bomber escorts until June, when it was transferred to anti V-1 patrols. In August, No.274 was re-equipped with the Hawker Tempest and commenced attacks against airfields on the continent, moving to Belgium in September. Throughout the winter it was involved on mainly armed reconnaissance patrols and had several combats with Me262 jet fighters - destroying one on the 11th February 1945. The squadron maintained its program of patrols and attacks against enemy airfields with great success, its last being on 4th May. Following VE Day (8th May 1945) No.274 Squadron moved into the Occupied Zone until September 1945 when they effectively disbanded by re-numbering as No.174 Squadron.
| No.274 Sqn Aviation Art Prints, Paintings and Drawings Aviation Art |
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| Text for the above items : |
Tribute to Sqn Ldr David Fairbanks by Ivan Berryman. Whilst flying with other Hawker Tempests of 274 Sqn on 11th February 1945, Sqn Ldr David Fairbanks spotted a lone Arado Ar234 of the Kommando Sperling 1 (F) / 123 flown by Hauptmann Hans Felde returning to its base at Rheine. A desperate chase commenced through the cloudbase until the German jet prepared to land, whereupon Fairbanks sent 4U+DH down in flames after a single short burst of his four 20mm cannon. |
Hawker Hurricane Mk I P2544 YK (T) by M A Kinnear. Aircraft History: P2544 was one of 729 Mk I Hawker Hurricanes built by Glosters at Hucclecote and delivered to the RAF between November 1939 and July 1940. One of the first delivered to No.274 in North Africa, Autumn 1940, P2544 served with the squadron until Spring 1941 when it was sent to No.71 OTU. Severely damaged on 6th June 1941 after a forced landing at Ismailia, the aircraft was used as an instructional airframe, until struck off charge. Flight Lieutenant Arthur Adrian Percy Weller, DFC: Born 21st December 1917 in Watford Hertfordshire, Sam Weller was posted to No.80 Squadron at Amriya near Alexandria in September 1939. His fellow officers included the legendary Pat Pattle and Imshi Mason. Soon after the outbreak of war with Italy, Weller achieved his first success witha shared probable, shooting down an Italian SM79 with Flying Officer G F Graham. In August 1940 Weller transferred with No.80 Squadrons Hurricane flight to form the nucleus of the newly reformed No.274 Squadron under the command of Squadron Leader P H Dunn. During the months which followed, the Squadron operated from various locations in the Western Desert, which were often little more than landing grounds and sand and scrub. Weller flew P2544 on several offensive patrols in the Bardia area in November and December 1940. Whilst flying Hurricane V7300 on 14th December 1940, he shot down an SM79 aircraft with a second one unconfirmed. Five days later he fired at seven SM79 aircraft setting one on fire. His own aircraft was riddled with bullets, but he landed safely. On 27th April 1941, he undertook a lone attack on enemy aircraft at Benina near Benghazi, a mission which required him to fly 880 miles. Pressing home his attack with great skill he destroyed seven Ju52s causing heavy casualties to the troops on board them. For this action he was awarded an immediate DFC. The following month Weller took part in the defence of Crete and on 27th May damaged his Hurricane at Heraklion. Unable to get away from the island, he was eventually evacuated and returned to Egypt, finally being posted to No.71 OTU as an instructor. On 13th December 1941, when the unit was stationed at Gordons Tree near Khartoum, he was tragically killed in a flying accident. |
| Aces for : No.274 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 |
| Pierre H Closterman | 26.00 | The signature of Pierre H Closterman features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
| James Francis Edwards | 16.50 | The signature of James Francis Edwards features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
| David C Fairbanks | 12.50 | |
| Owen Vincent Tracey | 6.00 | |
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