226 SQUADRON HELP

[malcolmjameswilson]

226 Squadron served in France with the Advanced Air Striking (AASF) during 1939-40. It returned to England on 16 June 1940 and was sent to Sydenham near Belfast to fly regular dawn and dusk patrols along the entire coast of Northern Ireland.

The squadron returned to England in May 1941 and joined 2 Group Bomber Command.

Can any Forum member confirm that 226 Squadron operated as a Coastal Command Squadron under control of 61 Group during its time in Ireland?

If so, were Coastal Command units flying along the Northern Ireland coastline (probably the Irish Sea) entitled to either the Atlantic Star or a bar to the Air Crew Europe if already held?

I appreciate any help that can be given regarding this matter.

Kind regards, Malcolm.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Malcolm

As far as I can see 226Sq never belonged to Costal Command from its rebirth in March 1937 until it disbanded in September 1945

Cheers
Stig

[Peter Clare]

The Coastal Command 'Order of Battle' for WW2 does not list 226 Squadron as operating with the Command.

Regards
Peter.

[malcolmjameswilson]

Hello Stig & Peter,

Thank you for the interesting replies.

I believe 226 returned from France and was posted to Northern Ireland as part of No 61 Group. This was renamed RAF in Northern Ireland on 1 Aug 1940.

Can anyone expand on this for me?

Regarding my original Coastal Command comment. I found an entry for 226 listed on 'RAF Commands 1939 – 45' website as having joined Coastal Command on 16/06.40?

Was 61 Group part of Coastal Command?

Any help will be much appreciated.

Kind regards, Malcolm.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Malcolm

I have appx over 1000 books about British Aviation. Many of them are about units. Strangely enough basically none of these books specifically state which Command these units belonged to.

I started with a book written by Martin Middlebrook named Bomber Command War Diaries which specifically list all Bomber Command Squadrons and Groups that has belonged to this structure.

Posted to No 2 Group in May 1941 after flying Battles in France and in Northern Ireland with Coastal Command. Servedin 2 Group until the Group left Bomber Command in May 1943.
That gives us the dates when the unit was with Bomber Command. However I believe Middlebrook is mistaken that 226Sq belonged to Coastal Command.
In June 1943 No 2 Group was incorporated into 2 TAF which technically belonged to Fighter Command!

But what about earlier? Checking the book Coastal Command 1936-1969 by Chris Ashworth there is no mentioning of either 226 Sq or 61 Group.

226 Sq MUST have belonged to Bomber Command from its conception on March 15th, 1937. Just before the outbreak of war it belonged to No 1 Group and when war broke out we find the unit with No 76 Wing in the Advanced Air Striking Force ready to move to France. It did not depart from France until June 1940, all this time part of AASF. The unit re-assembled in Northern Ireland (I have two bases Thirsk and Sydenham) that month but does not get any new equipment until February 1941. In May 1941 it left Northern Ireland and moved to Wattisham and got incorporated in No 2 Group Bomber Command, as said above.

I am right now unable to find out exactly to what organization 226 Sq belonged to between June 1940 until May 1941. My books does not say which units belonged to No 61 Group or what organization that Group belonged to, but I am certain it was not Fighter Command, Bomber Command or Coastal Command. I can't exactly visualise the Squadron as going to Trainer Command. Did there exists something like "Army co-operation Command" in WW 2? I have never heard about it, but that means on the other hand very little....

Cheers
Stig

PS: 61 Group became Headquarter RAF Northern Ireland on Aug 1st 1940.

[malcolmjameswilson]

Hello Stig,

Thank you again for the interesting reply.

It seems that we are both stuck as regards to exactly what formation 226 Squadron was part of. It was certainly undertaking operational flying along the coastline of Northern Ireland – so I doubt it constituted part of a training Group.

Anyone else able to help with this or offer advice on further sources of information?

Kind regards, Malcolm.

[paulmcmillan]

Does any of the following books have any info ? I can't get access to mine at thye moment!


Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft

Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd

[malcolmjameswilson]

Hello Paul,

I have the Moyes volume which does not seem to offer any further information.
I do not have the other unfortunately.

Kind regards, Malcolm.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Guys

I have both. 226 Sq is listed only in the Bomber book and not at all in the Coastal, Support and Special Unit book

The problem with Moyes is that he does not list when the Bomber Units actually were in Bomber Command and when not. All we get is that it was a Bomber Unit which we already know...

Of course most Bomber Units WERE in Bomber Command in WW 2 but we do have the case with 226 Sq which is awkward during the period June 1940 to May 1941.

Was Northern Ireland totally outside all these Command structures??
Cheers
Stig

[paulmcmillan]

Does the Air Britain Sqns Book have any info?? or Jefford ???