No. 247 (General Reconnaissance) Group RAF | |
---|---|
Active | 1 October 1943 – 1 March 1946 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Type | Royal Air Force group |
Role | Maritime Reconnaissance (1943–1946) |
Part of | RAF Coastal Command |
Motto(s) | Portuguese: Valor Lealdade E Merito ("Value Loyalty and Merit") |
Royal Air Force Ensign | |
Engagements | World War II |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Air Vice-Marshal Sir Geoffrey Rhodes Bromet KBE, CB, DSO, DL |
No. 247 Group (247 Gp) was formed in October 1943 within RAF Coastal Command to control units operating from the Azores. It disbanded in March 1946.
On 1 October 1943, in Liverpool, No. 247 (General Reconnaissance) Group was formed within RAF Coastal Command. [1] It was tasked with the responsibility for the control of units operating out of the Azores. On 8 October the group arrived into Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira Island, within the Azores, having travelled on the HMT Franconia, which was an ocean liner that had been requisitioned as a troopship. [2]
Air Vice-Marshal Geoffrey Rhodes Bromet KBE, CB, DSO, DL was appointed AOC on the 18 September 1943 – The group initially controlled three units: [2] detachments from both Nos. 172 and 179 Squadrons, both units equipped with Vickers Wellington XIV, [3] a twin-engined, long-range medium bomber and this variant had ASV Mark III radar and rocket rails under the wings, and No. 220 Squadron, which operated Boeing Fortress II, [4] an American four-engined heavy bomber. Later during October 1943 saw the arrival of No. 206 Squadron, which also operated with Boeing Fortress II. [5] Maritime patrols started on 20 October 1943 and by the end of the month the initial squadrons were joined by a detachment of nine Lockheed Hudson, an American light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft, from No. 233 Squadron which was based at Gibraltar. [6] The groups initial targets were Kriegsmarine resupply U-boats or 'milch cow' and by the end of November it was understood that the German admiral Karl Dönitz was putting together a large ' wolfpack' with an assumed target of convoys headed for Gibraltar. The U-boats were unable to get into a position to attack the convoys due to the amount of anti-submarine warfare aircraft the group had to hand. [7] The group relocated its headquarters to RAF Lagens on 4 December 1943, [2] remaining there for just over two years until it disbanded into HQ RAF Azores on 1 March 1946. [8] [2]
On 8 March 1944 No. No. 269 Squadron arrived at RAF Lagens with Lockheed Hudson IIIA, Miles Martinet, a target tug aircraft, Supermarine Walrus, an amphibious biplane and Supermarine Spitfire VB, a single-seat fighter aircraft. [9] No. 206 Squadrons stay was relatively short and the squadron left for RAF Davidstow Moor, in Cornwall, England, on 18 March 1944, [5] and the No. 233 Squadron detachment had left for RAF Blakehill Farm, in Wiltshire, England, two weeks earlier. [10] The No. 179 Squadron Vickers Wellington detachment left for RAF Predannack, in Cornwall, England, the following month, on 28 April 1944. [11] By July 1944 the group consisted three units: No. 172 Squadron (det) with Vickers Wellington, No. 220 Squadron, which was replacing its Boeing Fortress II with the Boeing Fortress III variant and No. 269 Squadron, equipped with various aircraft. [12]
On 1 September 1944 the Vickers Wellington detachment from No. 172 Squadron left the Azores for Northern Ireland, moving to RAF Limavady. [13] During the same month No. 269 Squadron started to add Vickers Warwick to its inventory, a British multi-purpose twin-engined aircraft, capable of Maritime reconnaissance, air-sea rescue and transport. [9] December 1944 saw No. 220 Squadron start to receive and convert to Consolidated Liberator VI, an American heavy bomber used as a long-range general reconnaissance anti-submarine patrol aircraft by Coastal Command. The squadron remained at RAF Lagens for a further six months, leaving not long after VE Day for RAF St Davids in Wales, on 1 June 1945. [4] By July 1945, No 247 Group controlled one unit with No. 269 Squadron undertaking maritime patrol and air-sea rescue duties. [14] During November 1945 No. 280 Squadron provided a short lived detachment of Vickers Warwick I. [15]
No. 247 Group disbanded, on 1 March 1946, into HQ RAF Azores. [2] On the 10 March 1946 No. 269 Squadron disbanded at RAF Lagens. [9]
July 1944 – HQ Azores [12]
July 1945 – HQ Azores [14]
No. 247 (General Reconnaissance) Group RAF | |
---|---|
Active | 1 October 1943 – 1 March 1946 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Type | Royal Air Force group |
Role | Maritime Reconnaissance (1943–1946) |
Part of | RAF Coastal Command |
Motto(s) | Portuguese: Valor Lealdade E Merito ("Value Loyalty and Merit") |
Royal Air Force Ensign | |
Engagements | World War II |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Air Vice-Marshal Sir Geoffrey Rhodes Bromet KBE, CB, DSO, DL |
No. 247 Group (247 Gp) was formed in October 1943 within RAF Coastal Command to control units operating from the Azores. It disbanded in March 1946.
On 1 October 1943, in Liverpool, No. 247 (General Reconnaissance) Group was formed within RAF Coastal Command. [1] It was tasked with the responsibility for the control of units operating out of the Azores. On 8 October the group arrived into Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira Island, within the Azores, having travelled on the HMT Franconia, which was an ocean liner that had been requisitioned as a troopship. [2]
Air Vice-Marshal Geoffrey Rhodes Bromet KBE, CB, DSO, DL was appointed AOC on the 18 September 1943 – The group initially controlled three units: [2] detachments from both Nos. 172 and 179 Squadrons, both units equipped with Vickers Wellington XIV, [3] a twin-engined, long-range medium bomber and this variant had ASV Mark III radar and rocket rails under the wings, and No. 220 Squadron, which operated Boeing Fortress II, [4] an American four-engined heavy bomber. Later during October 1943 saw the arrival of No. 206 Squadron, which also operated with Boeing Fortress II. [5] Maritime patrols started on 20 October 1943 and by the end of the month the initial squadrons were joined by a detachment of nine Lockheed Hudson, an American light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft, from No. 233 Squadron which was based at Gibraltar. [6] The groups initial targets were Kriegsmarine resupply U-boats or 'milch cow' and by the end of November it was understood that the German admiral Karl Dönitz was putting together a large ' wolfpack' with an assumed target of convoys headed for Gibraltar. The U-boats were unable to get into a position to attack the convoys due to the amount of anti-submarine warfare aircraft the group had to hand. [7] The group relocated its headquarters to RAF Lagens on 4 December 1943, [2] remaining there for just over two years until it disbanded into HQ RAF Azores on 1 March 1946. [8] [2]
On 8 March 1944 No. No. 269 Squadron arrived at RAF Lagens with Lockheed Hudson IIIA, Miles Martinet, a target tug aircraft, Supermarine Walrus, an amphibious biplane and Supermarine Spitfire VB, a single-seat fighter aircraft. [9] No. 206 Squadrons stay was relatively short and the squadron left for RAF Davidstow Moor, in Cornwall, England, on 18 March 1944, [5] and the No. 233 Squadron detachment had left for RAF Blakehill Farm, in Wiltshire, England, two weeks earlier. [10] The No. 179 Squadron Vickers Wellington detachment left for RAF Predannack, in Cornwall, England, the following month, on 28 April 1944. [11] By July 1944 the group consisted three units: No. 172 Squadron (det) with Vickers Wellington, No. 220 Squadron, which was replacing its Boeing Fortress II with the Boeing Fortress III variant and No. 269 Squadron, equipped with various aircraft. [12]
On 1 September 1944 the Vickers Wellington detachment from No. 172 Squadron left the Azores for Northern Ireland, moving to RAF Limavady. [13] During the same month No. 269 Squadron started to add Vickers Warwick to its inventory, a British multi-purpose twin-engined aircraft, capable of Maritime reconnaissance, air-sea rescue and transport. [9] December 1944 saw No. 220 Squadron start to receive and convert to Consolidated Liberator VI, an American heavy bomber used as a long-range general reconnaissance anti-submarine patrol aircraft by Coastal Command. The squadron remained at RAF Lagens for a further six months, leaving not long after VE Day for RAF St Davids in Wales, on 1 June 1945. [4] By July 1945, No 247 Group controlled one unit with No. 269 Squadron undertaking maritime patrol and air-sea rescue duties. [14] During November 1945 No. 280 Squadron provided a short lived detachment of Vickers Warwick I. [15]
No. 247 Group disbanded, on 1 March 1946, into HQ RAF Azores. [2] On the 10 March 1946 No. 269 Squadron disbanded at RAF Lagens. [9]
July 1944 – HQ Azores [12]
July 1945 – HQ Azores [14]