239 SQUADRON
239 Fighter Reconnaissance Squadron
The picture above shows 239 squadron, which from the ORB source, was almost certainly taken at Stoney Cross on 15 February 1943. F/O Len Bennett is 6th from the left on the 2nd row
Front : R. Bassett, G.Green*, DLloyd, H. Aitchison*, S/L McClean, W/C Legge*, P Phillamore, K Barnes, W.Bennetts, Glyn Clements A.D.O, Doc. Mennell
2nd Row T Holmes*, C. Martin, J,Vaughan*, R. Goodwin, G. Roke, L. Bennett*, P.Price*, G. Knight, D. de Kretser*, T. Damsell,* G. Collis*
Further information about pilots marked with * can be found here
239 Squadron Operations
Details of missions were recorded in the ORBs, or Operation Record Books. Len Bennett joined 239 squadron from 171 and was mentioned in a number of sorties which you can view by clicking the Learn More button below
Squadron History
No.239 Squadron served as an army co-operation squadron and a tactical reconnaissance and ground attack squadron, before ending the war as a night intruder squadron supporting Bomber Command.
The squadron was reformed on 18 September 1940 as a army co-operation squadron by merging two flights, one from No.16 Squadron and one from No.225 Squadron. The squadron was equipped with Lysanders, and was mainly used for training exercises. This began to change in June 1941 when a number of Tomahawks arrived for tactical reconnaissance missions. In January 1942 the squadron was fully equipped with a mix of Hurricanes and Tomahawks, and was to serve as a fighter/ reconnaissance squadron.
These aircraft were replaced with Mustangs in May 1942, and in the following month ground attack and tactical reconnaissance missions over France began. The squadron joined 2nd Tactical Air Force when it was formed in 1943, but in September 1943 gave up its Mustangs and moved to Scotland for night fighter training.
In December 1943 the squadron converted to the Mosquito, and moved to East Anglia to join No.100 Group. The squadron spent the rest of the war flying night intruder missions in support of Bomber Command, intercepting German night fighters. The squadron was disbanded on 1 July 1945.
Aircraft
September 1940-January 1942: Westland Lysander II and IIIA
June 1941-May 1942: Curtiss Tomahawk I and IIA
January-May 1942: Hawker Hurricane I
January-May 1942: Hawker Hurricane IIC
May 1942-September 1943: North American Mustang I
December 1943-January 1945: de Havilland Mosquito II
September 1944-January 1945: de Havilland Mosquito VI
January-July 1945: de Havilland Mosquito 30
Location
September 1940-January 1941: Hatfield
January 1941-May 1942: Gatwick
May 1942: Abbotsinch
May 1942: Gatwick
May 1942: Detling
May-August 1942: Gatwick
August-October 1942: Twinwood Farm
October-November 1942: Cranfield
November-December 1942: Odiham
December 1942-January 1943: Hurn
January-April 1943: Stoney Cross
April-June 1943: Gatwick
June 1943: Fairlop
June-July 1943: Martlesham Heath
July-August 1943: Fairlop
August-September 1943: Hornchurch
September-December 1943: Ayr
December 1943-July 1945: West Raynham
- Edit
Squadron Codes: HB
Duty
1940-1941: Army co-operation
1941-1943: Ground attack/ tactical reconnaissance
1944-1945: Night intruder missions supporting Bomber Command
239 Squadron Roll Call
F/O L.W. Bennett
Joined 239 squadron 21 November 1942. Crash landed Mustang on reconnaissance sortie 23 July 1943. Captured and a POW in Stalag Luft III
F/O G.F.Collis
Shot down on reconnaisance sortie (“Popular”) into North Sea, 23 July 1943. Captured and a POW in Stalag Luft III
F/O J.M. Vaughan
Killed in action 23 July 1943. Paired on Sortie (AM239) with Len Bennett but shot down over the North Sea. F/O J.M. Vaughan, 117395, RAFVR, Runnymede Memorial
F/O W.A. Damsell
Killed in action 23 July 1943. Paired on sortie (AP181) with Gerald Collis but shot down over the North Sea. F/O W.A Damsell, 133356, RAFVR , Runnymede Memorial
F/Lt W G Bennetts
F/Lt William “Benny” Bennetts joined the squadron in Oct 1940 having trained as one of the very few army pilots in 1939. You can read more about his story here
F/O P.C.Price
Killed in a training flight mid-air collision over Guildford, 17th April 1943
F/O D. de Kretser
Killed in a mid air collision during a training flight over Guildford, 17th April 1943
F/Lt H L J Aitchison
Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) 45327, 239 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 12th July 1943. Aged 25. Buried in ABBEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France. Plot 6. Row C. Grave 5
S/L McClean
S/Ldr Harry McClean was commissioned on 29 May 1934, age 24. He was a pilot on the Dieppe Raid (Operation “Jubilee”)
W/C Legge
W/Cdr. Peter Legge was born on 28 January 1910.1 He died in March 2000 at age 90 . He was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire, England. He was the commanding officer for 239 squadron and was mentioned in despatches twice, and was wounded. He gained the rank of Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force. He gained the rank of Major in the Royal Artillery. Source: ThePeerage.com
Dr J Mennell
Squadron Medical Office. Wrote to Len Bennett whilst he was a POW in 1944
239 - Pilots
A recently discovered photo showing just the pilots of 239 squadron, clearly taken on the same day as that above.
Front : T.Holmes, , G.Green, D. Lloyd, H. Aitchison, S/L McClean, W/C P.Legge (CO), P Phillamore, K Barnes, W.Bennetts, G.Clements, Doc. Mennell
2nd Row R .Bassett, C. Martin, J,Vaughan, R. Goodwin, A. Roke, L. Bennett, P.Price, A. Knight, D. de Kretser, T. Damsell, G. Collis
239 - Nicknames
Another print of the same Stoney Cross photo kindly provided by the son of William Bennetts (front row, 3rd from the right) also gives some of the nicknames given to the pilots, as well as the names of their dogs!
Front : Tray “Scruffy” Holmes, , Gerry Green, & Dunlop, David Lloyd & Herman, Hank Aitchison, S/L H.P McClean, W/C Peter Legge (CO), John Phillamore & Ginger, Ken Barnes, William “Benny” Bennetts & Jane, Glynn Clements, Doc. Mennell
2nd Row R upert Bassett, Charles Martin, Jimmy Vaughan, Ronny Goodwin, George Roke, Len “Joe” Bennett, Phillip Price, A. Knight, Dirk de Kretser, Tony Damsell, Jerry Collis
239 - Between sorties
In the times between sorties life could be described as fairly humdrum and these pictures (attributed to Stan Parsons) portray members of the squadron in their quieter moments.
Acknowledgements: S Bennetts
239 - A Mobile Squadron
239 squadron was very much a mobile squadron and could be moved lock, stock and barrel in a very short time, aircraft in half an hour and support staff and vehicles in half a day. Between May 1942 and July 1944, for instance, the squadron moved airfield 12 times. A typical move occurred on the 20th June 1943 from Gatwick to Fairlop and this was documented in “239 Squadron Operational Order No. 4/43” described below. It shows the squadron split into advance, main and rear parties along with inventory lists and methods of transfer – air, road and rail. Copy of Operation Order by kind permission of David Martin (FairlopPlainTimes)
The mobilisation orders were signed off by F/Lt William Bennetts and you can read more about him here
Operational Order No. 4/43
Appendix 1
Intention of mobilisation
Operational Order No. 4/43
Appendix 2
Advance Party
Personnel and vehicles
Operational Order No. 4/43
Appendix 3
Details of Road, Air and Rail Party
Operational Order No. 4/43
Appendix 4
Vehicle deployment details
Operational Order No. 4/43
Appendix 5
Summary of mobilisation
This move to Fairlop is described at FairlopPlainTimes a website dedicated to the history of Fairlop Airfield compiled by David Martin. Interestingly the website lists F/O Collis and F/O Bennett missing, presumed killed on 22 July 1943 however both were captured and spent the rest of the war as POWs in Stalag Luft 3
Keeping in touch
Pilots were posted to different squadrons, often at a moments notice, and dependent on their experience with different aircraft. F/O J.O.S Hardy was posted from 171 squadron to 241 squadron, which was now in North Africa, equipped with Hurricanes which were flown on ground attack and tactical reconnaissance missions. The squadron converted to Spitfires in December 1943 after which the unit moved to Italy and continued its previous duties until the end of the war, disbanding in August 1945. F/O Hardy wrote to Len Bennett in April 1943 , both having served in 171 squadron. Hardy addresses Len as “Joe”, presumably Len’s nickname. which might stem from his relationship to Joe Hulme, Arsenal and England winger, who was Len’s uncle. J.O.S. Hardy joined 171 squadron on its formation on 15th June 1942, four months before Len Bennett was posted there from 41 O.T.U
My Dear Joe
I hope this letter is going to be legible – I’m writing it lying full length on a pile of sand, with the pitiless African sun beating down on my naked back, and a simply imperial hangover. Last night was a pretty good night in our marquee mess – we had a chicken-and-roast-potato dinner and unlimited booze, but this morning seems a trifle hazy, through my eyes anyway
I wrote to you at some length from Gib, but have reason to believe that I omitted my address so there might possibly be an excuse for your not replying. Any way in case you didn’t receive it at all, here are a few of the headlines. (This of course, is just an easy way of filling up this letter)
The last time I saw Hugh Drummond in England was in town the night I was posted up north prior to coming out here. The next time was a bit of a shock in an aircrew bar on an airfield out here; we celebrated the occasion by getting horribly stinko. Although he is not actually in this unit, he is pretty close and I see him quite a lot. He is flying a type which he has never flown before he left England. You’ve probably heard a lot about this squadron’s work on the radio only you probably didn’t realise it was us; that is, of course, if you know the aircraft we’ve got – anyway you can make a pretty good guess.
Hugh Davis, who was in 171,- I think he left just before you came – is here, and enquiring about Alec Brees and David Bell. Get them to write – his address is the same as mine, , but anyway, give me the gen about them all when you write; Les, Tres & Gis etc. Tell them MacMurray is also in this outfit,
Been round to the Robert’s lately? Don’t drink all his whiskey – Hugh and I want a little on our return, although I don’t think Hugh will have the nerve to put his nose inside Bonwick’s front door again, having led ma Roberts not thinking that he and Clarice would make a good partnership, and then finally marrying an old flame at 24 hours notice. If you should come across Jean, you might shoot her the odd line on my behalf about how sorry I am that I have simply not been able to write, but you know how hard-pressed us types are out here, what!? Also if you do see her, tell her Pat O’Brien send his fondest love, repeat fondest love.
Well laddie, I perceive a ceratin nervous activity amongst my co-pilots sitting over there in the shade of sweet F.A., which probably means there’s a target for us, so cheerio, all the best, write soon and at length, yours etc. JOS
Footnotes to letter
P/O Alec Brees, P/O Hugh Davies and P/O David Bell joined 171 squadron on 17th June 1942 when the squadron was stationed at Odiham.
P/O Hugh Davis was posted to 175 squadron on 1st September 1942,
P/O Alec Brees was later promoted to Squadron Leader and was awarded the DFC and BAR (106178). He was the Officer Commanding No.245 Sqdn RAFVR on 23 August 1945. S/Ldr Brees was flying Meteor F.3 EE280 when involved in a mid-air collision with Meteor F.3 EE283 and crashed 3 miles W of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.
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