Blenheims coded YH in Greece 1941

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo all,

Can anyone please tell me how Blenheims with the code YH were operating in the Balkans, c.March-May 1941. YH was normally used by 21 Squadron, but this unit was stationed in Britain until December 1941. 11 Squadron seen to have operated some of them.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Ex Shack]

Hi Martin
If you look on http://www.rafweb.org/Menu.htm#Squadrons and look up both 11 Sqn and 21 Sqn it says that both Sqns were allocated the code YH- from Sept 1939. For 11 Sqn it lasted until 1943 and for 21 Sqn until 1947. The site is usually very reliable but I agree that the double use is not the norm. It may be significant that Sept 1943 was the date when 11 Sqn converted to Hurricanes and went East to serve in the Indian Sub-Continent and Burma having been there from the start of the war and moved into the Desert/Greek theatre after May '40
Regards
Dick

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo Dick,

Thank you very much for sorting that out. I found no reference to 11 Squadron RAF using YH in THE SQUADRONS OF THE RAF & COMMONWEALTH 1918-1988 by James J. Halley. So your response caught me by surprise but it makes perfect sense.

Many thanks again. Regards.

Martin Gleeson.

[Graham Boak]

The best reference for RAF squadron codes is COMBAT CODES by Thomas and Flintham, which has just been re-issued. This confirms the use of YH by 11 Squadron.

The use of the same code in different theatres of operation is not unique. AF was used by 607 Sq: on its posting to the Far East the code was also adopted by the Air Fighting Development Unit. US Spitfire units in Operation Torch carried the codes of units staying in the UK - the continued carriage of these codes into the Italian campaign has lead to several erroneoud photo captions.

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo Graham,

Yes, I think I will finally have to purchase COMBAT CODES. It seems I need it more than ever.

Regards,

Martin.