Did the few RAF Sqns that operated in Norway 1940 have any crewcrew support

[Larry]

It seems that when the RAF operated from Norway in 1940, it appears that they had no support, and relied on the Norwegians for refuelling and rearming.

Has anyone links to photos as there seem to be none, other than abandoned aircraft wrecks.

Edit for 'Crewcrew' read GROUNDCREW!

[James A Pratt III]

Yes the RAF squadrons in Norway had some ground crew support. The first Squadron in didn't have much. See the book "The Fledgling Eagles" for more info. I will have more info hopefully tomorrow.

[Chris Goss]

Very few photos and ground crew survived if they were on the Glorious. RAF groundcrew were also there for 802 and 823 Sqns

[James A Pratt III]

Also see "Narvik" by Donald Macintyre lets just say 263 Sqn flying Gladiators first deployment to Norway was to put it mildly was a disaster from start to finish. Things went better during its second deployment with 46 Sqn. I would say there may be other photos out there some where since most of the ground crews were taken out by transports.

[Bruce Lander]

Hi, check this site for information no 263 sqdn https://263squadron.weebly.com/appendices.html
Bruce Lander

[Orwell1984]

Harstad Cemetery, Norway has the graves of two RAF ground crew

LAC Squire HURLEY - 522985

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/fi...squire-hurley/

LAC Rhys P. JONES - 545400

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/fi...s-penry-jones/

Killed 27/05/1940 in an air raid on Bardufoss. Both listed as coming from 263 Squadron.

[James A Pratt III]

Form the book "Narvik" 263 ground crew to Norway pages 142-3

"The first item in the task given to the cruisers, of reinforcing Sickleforce, was the transport of the ground staff, stores and equipment for this squadron. It was entrusted to the Arethusa, which embarked the RAF personnel at Rosyth on April 20th. With them came fifty tons of aviation petrol in boxed two-gallon cans many of which were leaky and some forty so bad that they were rejected. This load of inflammable material piled high on her quarterdeck was viewed with undisguised disgust by the crew of the Arethusa particularly when from ships returning from the Norweian coast came ribald comments as to the joy of which the Luftwaffe would greet such a succulent target. However, the passage was in fact made in safety, the petrol being thankfully discharged at Aandalsnes on the night of the 22nd, together with a large quantity of store for Sickleforce."

[James A Pratt III]

The book "The War in the Air The Royal Air Force in World War II" edited by Gavin Lyall has a chapter on 263 Sqn in Norway "Back Every Friday"

Back to "Narvik"
Page 143 "9 tons of stores for 263 Sqn arrived to late and were loaded on the cruiser Arethusa who sailed a day later with the cruisers Sheffield and Glasgow who were transport part of the 15th Brigade sailed on 22 April and during the night of the 23rd discharged their loads at Aandalsnes and Molde. The lubricating oil for the Gladiators failed to arrive in time so a few gallons from the Sheffield and Glasgow which carried some for their own aircraft were unloaded.

"...the ground crews many of them strangers to the unit and unfamiliar with their aircraft were demoralised. Taking shelter among the trees on the shores of the lake they remained there while the officers and sergeants were left to the work of refueling, rearming and starting up the aircraft. On the other hand the naval crews of the two Oerlikon guns supplied for anti-aircraft defense and the Royal Marine platoon for guarding the petrol supply, with Lewis guns, stuck valiantly to their posts and gave a warm reception to any bomber which ventured low to machine-gun the airfield."

FE pages 286-7 on 26 April 40:
He-111 Stab/LG 1 hit by AA fire
He-111s of 7/LG 1 and 6/KG 54 damaged by AA and fighters

[James A Pratt III]

There is a book "HMS Sheffield the life and times of Old Shiny" Ronald Basset

[Leendert]

Just FYI an excerpt from the Admiralty War Diaries: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7771...ct-thumb--1124

Leendert