|
|
|
|
|
 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
| Click Here For Full Artist Print Indexes | Aviation History Archive |
|
Aviation Art Prints  Countries UK Squadron Index More Squadrons Squadrons 1 to 21  No.7 Sqn |
[UP] - No.1 Sqn - No.2 Sqn - No.3 Sqn - No.3 Sqn RAAF - No.4 Sqn AFC - No.5 Sqn - No.6 Sqn - No.7 Sqn - No.8 Sqn - No.9 Sqn - No.10 Naval Sqn - No.10 Sqn - No.11 Sqn - No.12 Sqn - No.14 Sqn - No.15 Sqn - No.16 Sqn - No.16 Sqn RNZAF - No.17 Sqn - No.19 Sqn - No.20 Sqn - No.21 Sqn |
No.7 Sqn
Country : UK
Founded : 1st May 1914
Codes : , MG, LT, XU,
Per diem per noctem - By day and by night
No.7 Squadron was formed 1st May 1914 at Farnborough as a Scout squadron, and went to France April 1915, equipped with the Vickers Gunbus. No.7 squadron saw service through the war with BE2c, RE5 and RE8 aircraft. The squadron pioneered the use of R/T (instead of normal W/T), using it operationally for the first time in October 1918. Disbanded at Farnborough on 31st December 1919 it reformed at Bircham Newton on 1st June 1923 equipped with Vickers Vimy bombers. These were replaced by the Vickers Virginia after moving to Worthy Down in April 1927. Between the wars No.7 squadron was equipped with various aircraft including the Handley Page Heyfords, Vickers Wellesleys and Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys and became the leading bomber squadron, winning the Laurence Minot Memorial Bombing Trophy more than any other squadron. At the outbreak of World War II, the squadron was equipped with Handley Page Hampdens, until August 1940, when it equipped with the RAF's first four engined bomber, the Short Stirling Mk I - becoming the first RAF squadron to be equipped with four engined bombers. The first raid by No.7 was 10th February 1941 on Rotterdam. The squadron settled down to a night bombing role, adding mine laying to its duties in 1942. Later with four other squadrons, it formed the nucleus of the new Pathfinder Force, its task to find and accurately mark targets with flares. In May 1943, the Stirling (which was handicapped by a low operational ceiling - it had to fly through flak rather than over it) was gradually replaced by the Avro Lancaster, which No.7 used in Peenemunde in August. From June1944 and until the end of the war, the squadron also undertook a daylight operational role in support of land forces in France and the low countries, and against V-1 and V-2 sites. No.7 squadron flew to Singapore in January 1947, and converted to Avro Lincolns, seeing action against Communist terrorists in Malay, during 'Operation Firedog'. Returning to UK, having won the Laurence Minot Memorial Bombing Trophy outright for the eighth time it was disbanded 1st January 1956. Reforming in November of the same year with the Vickers Valiant 'V' bomber. Disbanded on 30th September 1962, it was reformed in May 1970 at RAF St. Mawgan on target provision duties. Equipped with the English Electric Canberra, the squadron provided targets for the Army and Navy anti aircraft guns. They also provided silent targets for radar station practice. On 12th December 1981 the squadron was again disbanded, reforming soon after as the second operational Boeing Vertol Chinook helicopter Squadron on 2nd September 1982.
| No.7 Sqn Aviation Art Prints, Paintings and Drawings Aviation Art |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Text for the above items : |
Avro Lancaster Mk III ND845 MG-C. by M A Kinnear. Aircraft History: ND845 was one of 600 Mk III Lancasters delivered to the RAF from December 1943 to May 1944 by A V Roe (Chadderton) Delivered to No.7 Squadron, it was lost on the night of 19th/20th May 1944, whilst acting as Master Bomber on a raid against the railway marshalling yards at Le Mans. It is believed it was in collision with another No.7 Squadron Lancaster JB653 (MG - R) piloted by Squadron Leader J M Dennis - the Deputy Master Bomber. There were no survivors from either crew. Wing Commander James Fraser Barron, DSO, DFC, DFM: Born on 9th January 1921 in Dunedin, New Zealand, James Fraser Barron commenced training in the RNZAF on 2nd July 1940. Following his qualification as a Sergeant pilot, he arrived in the UK and was selected for bomber training and after leaving No.20 Operational Training Unit at RAF Lossiemouth - where Barron and his crew survived a ditching in a Wellington- they were posted to Short Stirling equipped No.15 Squadron at RAF Wyton, completing his first tour. Posted to No.1651 Conversion Unit, Waterbeach as an instructor he was commissioned as Pilot Officer in March 1942 and in May 1942 was awarded the DFM for his service with No.15 squadron. During this period he managed to take part in further sorties including the One Thousand Bomber Raids against Cologne, Essen and Bremen. In September 1942, Barron joined No.7 squadron, flying 16 sorties on this tour - during which he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant, followed in December 1942 by the award of his Path Finder Force badge. At the end of his tour in February 1943, he was awarded the DFC and a fortnight later his first DSO. He was then posted to No.11 OTU, Wescott. Tiring of the training environment, Fraser Barron eventually persuaded Hamish Mahaddie (at one time his flight commander) to approve his return to operations - an approval regretted by Hamish. Fraser rejoined the now Lancaster equipped No.7 Squadron in December 1943, which was for Bomber Command a period of heavy losses. Fraser took part in several sorties including on the night of 19th/20th February 1944, the Leipzig raid - during which the RAF lost 78 bombers. He was promoted to Wing Commander in February 1944 and on 28th April was appointed C.O. of No.7 Squadron. Fraser and his crew were now often used as Master Bomber to control bomber attacks and for one such attack on Nantes on 7th May 1944 he was awarded the bar to his DSO. On the night of 19th/20th May 1944, whilst on his third tour - his 79th sortie in all, Fraser Barron and his crew were lost during a raid against the railway marshalling yards at Le Mans. He was twenty three years old. |
The Winged Dagger by Simon Smith. 22 SAS Squadron in the Gulf, having been dropped by Chinook of the 7th Squadron RAF |
Teamwork by Stuart Brown. Aircraft of the UKs Special Forces flight perform an ALARP exercise on an MoD range at Pendine Sands, Wales. The Air Land Refuel Points (ALARP) can be located on improvised airfields or beaches and normally operate at night with the aid of Night Vision Goggles. The aircraft portrayed are a 47 Sqn Hercules refuelling a 7 Sqn Chinook and a 657 Sqn AAC Lynx. Special Forces personnel provide armed cover. |
Operation Barras, 10th September 2000 by David Rowlands. Special Forces Lynx 657 Squadron Army Air Corps and Chinooks from 7 Squadron Royal Air Force in direct fire support to the United Kingdom Special Forces hostage rescue mission in Sierra Leone |
Stirlings Ready by Keith Woodcock. Stirling bombers of 7th Squadron Bomber Command of the Royal Air Force made ready for their next mission by the squadron's ground crew. A fitting tribute to all the ground crews of Bomber Command. |
Mobility Troop Re-Supply by Stuart Brown. A heavily armed SAS fighting column is re-supplied by a Royal Air Force Chinook of 7 Sqn. Re-supplies such as these, often performed under the cover of darkness, allow Special Forces to operate deep behind enemy lines for months at a time where necessary. |
Short Stirling MkI R9257 MG - C. by M A Kinnear. Aircraft History: R9257 was one of a batch of 150 Mk I Stirlings delivered to the RAF by Short Brothers between January 1942 and January 1943. Initially with Telecommunications Flying Unit, R9257 went to No.7 Squadron, where it eventually became the personal aircraft of Hamish Mahaddie and his crew from 8th February 1943 until he completed his operational tour with the PFF (Path Finder Force) at the end of March 1943. The aircraft then went on to No.1657 Heavy Conversion Unit at Stradishall, before being sent to No.214 Squadron. On 12th August 1943, whilst leaving RAF Chedburgh for a raid against Turin, R9257 swung on take off and the undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft was categorised as damaged beyond repair (DBR). R9257 replaced Hamish and his crews earlier Stirling MK I, R9273 also MG- C which had been attacked six days earlier by a Ju88 nightfighter. After evading the attack, they managed to bring the aircraft home. Next morning, Hamish counted 174 cannon shell holes in the aircraft - which he named C for Colander. Group Captain Thomas G Hamish Mahaddie DSO, DFC, AFC, CzMC: Born in Keith, Edinburgh on 19th March 1911, he joined the RAF as part of the 17th Entry at Halton in January 1928 and trained as a metal rigger, after which he was posted to Cranwell on ground servicing duties. In 1933 he boarded a troopship bound for the Middle East where he joined No.4 FTS at Abu Suier for pilot training. Gaining his wings in 1935, his first air crew posting was to No.55 Squadron at Hinaidi flying Westland Wapitis and on his return to England in 1937, he joined No.77 Squadron flying Whitleys from Driffield. During World War II he completed a tour of operations with No.77 Squadron before moving to Kinloss to instruct with No.14 OTU. On completing another tour, this time with No.7 Squadron (which he joined on 2nd August 1942) at Oakington on Stirlings, he joined HQ Staff of No.8 (Pathfinder) Group and Group Captain Mahaddie finished the war as Station Commander at RAF Warboys, home of PFF Navigation Training Unit. In June 1945 he was appointed to command No.111 Wing in Germany followed by a spell at the Staff College, Haifa in 1947. His postwar duties also included two tours of duty at the Air Ministry, as OC Flying Wing at Binbrook, and also as Station Commander at Sylt and Butzweilerhof in Germany. He finally retired from the RAF in March 1958 and became involved with the film industry as an aviation consultant working on many films including the Battle of Britain - for which he amassed an incredible number of Spitfires, Hurricanes, Messerschmitts and Heinkels. Thomas Hamish Mahaddie passed away on 16th January 1997. |
By Day, By Night by Michael Rondot. A famous WWII pathfinder unit, No.7 Squadron flew Stirling bombers before converting to Lancasters to spearhead the RAF Bomber Command night offensive in 1942. Post-war, the squadron flew Lincolns, Valiants and Canberras before receiving Chinook helicopters in 1982. Since then it has been constantly at the forefront of support operations in the Falklands, Northern Ireland, Beirut, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Sierra Leone, and was deeply involved in the 1991 Gulf War, proudly continuing its pathfinder origins. This beautiful and powerful portrayal of No.7 Squadrons heavily armed and highly modified Chinooks in action provides a rare glimpse into the dark world of Special Forces helicopter operations. By Day, By Night portrays a pair of Chinooks taking off in typical desert conditions faced by the squadrons crews during recent Special Forces operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Flying often at night, far behind enemy lines and in extreme weather conditions, No.7 Squadrons crews are frequently called upon to test the limits of their aircrafts performance envelope. Little is known about these operations and much of their flying is shrouded in the secrecy surrounding Special Forces, but the numerous honours and awards for gallantry which are quietly gazetted from time to time give some clues about the dangerous nature of No.7 Squadron duties. |
Chinook over the Sperrins by David Pentland. Boeing Chinook of No.7 Squadron (detachment) from RAF Aldergrove, flying on supply duty in the west of the province. |
| Aces for : No.7 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 |
| F W Higginson | 15.00 | The signature of F W Higginson features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
|
Contact Details |
|
Sign Up To Our Newsletter!
This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts. Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269. Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com
|
|
|
