RAF units disbanding in Europe before the end of the war

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello,

I remember reading that starting from fall 1944 British Army had serious manpower problems due to the length of war and was obliged to disband several divisions (I checked today and found only two: the 59th Infantry Division at the end of summer 1944 after the Normandy battle and the 1st Armoured Division in Italy in January 1945).

But I just discovered today that RAF started to disband squadrons before Germant's surrender. For example, 168 Sqn (a Mustang unit) on 28 February 1945, 257 Sqn (a Typhoon one) on 8 March, 174 Sqn (Typhoon) on 8 April.

I am wondering if it was just the anticipated start of the post-war downsizing of RAF, or if manpower shortages (or another shortage) explained that. I will be interesed to know if someone has something on these disbanding in wartime documents or published books. Thanks in advance

There was also a wave of disbandement of RAF fighter squadron in Italy in fall 1944 but this is probably linked to Luftwaffe fighters leaving this theater, and AFAIK the RAF squadrons were recreated (I mean the numbers were reused) in the next days or weeks as transport squadrons (RAF building a huge transport capacity for the end of war and months just after it). Still the new squadrons with the same number were created far from Italy, so I guess the pilots and ground crews of the disbanded units in Italy were probably distributed to other units in their area for the main part.

[SteveB]

Laurent

Perhaps it was something to do with the Typhoon? Yes 168 Sqn flew Mustangs for a long time but they had converted to Typhoons in September 1944.

[Col Ford]

Laurent,

Another factor was the repatriation of tour expired Commonwealth aircrew from Australia, New Zealand and Canada to their home countries. There was a significant number of aircrew, particularly those with fighter units from those countries being repatriated home. Some of these aircrew had served one full operational tour, whilst others had served two. In the case of Australia and NZ it was bringing aircrew back home to provide experienced aircrew to take on roles at home eg in training units, or to bolster front line units if the war in the CBI and Pacific had continued into late 1945 and 1946 - in the absence or failure of the A-Bomb and an invasion of Japan had been required. Most of those aircrew being repatriated home had been in the ETO for some time (some had been away from their home countries since since late 1940 and 1941), so for many of them a return home was welcome. A number in their memoirs noted they didn't like leaving the ETO whilst there was still "unfinished business" but on arriving home they realised that there was further work to be done against the Japanese closer to home.

There was repeated strong pressure from the British Army to the RAF to release suitable personnel for service with the Army as the War and casualties climbed. There was a political layer to this in terms of the size of the British/Commonwealth military contribution in the field vs that of the USA. If you look at "The RAF Regiment at War 1942-1946" by Kingsley Oliver, it does go into the pressures being put on the release of RAF Regiment personnel for service with the Army in late 1944 into early 1945, as well as use of RAF Regiment units to bolster and relieve Army units in certain circumstances.

That in turn put pressures back onto ground crew personnel for some RAF units on the Continent for airfield security in areas more removed from the immediate frontline ALGs and why you also end up with local elements of resistance forces or similar providing airfield perimeter security in some instances eg Belgian 'White Army' at Antwerp/Deurne.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks for the replies. Steve, I actually missed the Typhoon switch for 168 Sqn and it is interesting that all units known to be disbanded so far are Typhoon ones. Colin, thanks for extensive reply that gives me some ideas to search. Best regards

[BruceMk11]

66 Sqn disbanded 30/4/45...a Spitfire squadron.

[Stephen M. Fochuk]

It has been a while since I looked at the correspondence related to this topic, and if memory serves me right, there was a "pilot" shortage for the Typhoons and consequently the RAF asked the RCAF to roll-up No.143 Wing RCAF, or something to that effect. The request was not well received and obviously did not happen. The reasons for the other squadrons being disbanded escapes me now, I think it had something to do with getting ready for Japan, i.e. long range escort duties etc.

Stephen

[Adriano Baumgartner]

If memory does not fail me, "Tempest Pilot" by C J Sheddan, DFC do mention the disbandment of his unit as well, before the cessation of hostilities.

Have some of you found any "Official" (RAF) document ordering or informing WHY those units were disbanded before 7th May 1945?

There may have something on the High Echelons of the Royal Air Force and possibly the motivation for that.

We are digging on the bottom (Squadron level) and maybe the answer is a bitter higher up the chain of command....(I personally believe that an Official document supported by a technical opinion must exist somewhere at Kew).

A.

[BruceMk11]

Adriano,

I believe you are mistaken re the disbandment of 486 Sqn before VE Day. The unit was part of the Wing sent to Denmark soon thereafter.

Bruce