No. 142 Squadron

Motto: "Determination."
Badge: A winged sphinx. The badge commemorates the squadron's association with Egypt.
Authority: King George VI, June 1937.

No. 142 Squadron, RFC, was formed at Ismailia, Egypt, on 2nd February 1918, as an army co-operation squadron. It moved to Palestine soon afterwards and took an active part in operations in that theatre until the end of the campaign. Re-numbered 55 (whilst still in Egypt) in 1920, No. 142 Squadron was re-formed in England as a bomber unit in 1934 and during 1935/36 again served in the Middle East. In the early months of the Second World War it served with the Advanced Air Striking Force in France and on 10th May 1940, the day the Germans invaded the Low Countries, it gained the distinction of being the first AASF unit to bomb the advancing enemy. Later that month No. 142 was one of the Fairey Battle squadrons which attacked the Meuse bridges in a further attempt to stem the German advance. The squadron was withdrawn to England in June 1940, and by the end of the year was converting to Wellingtons prior to engaging in the strategic night-bombing offensive.

In December 1942, No. 142 Squadron moved to North Africa and subsequently took part in the Tunisian, Sicilian and Italian campaigns. It is recorded that on the night of 17/18th May 1943, Major-General James H 'Jimmy' Doolittle, USAAF, C-in-C North-West African Strategic Air Force (in which No. 142 served), flew with the squadron to observe the results of a raid against Alghero, Sardinia.¹

The squadron was disbanded (in Italy) early in October 1944, but re-formed in England later that month and for the rest of the European war served as a Mosquito light-bomber unit of No. 8 (PFF) Group's Light Night Striking Force. During its service with No. 8 Group, the squadron flew 1,095 operational sorties (all but 23 of which were considered successful) gaining 64 DFC's and 52 DFM's among it's awards.

1. "Jimmy" Doolittle, it will be remembered, gained fame in April 1942, when he led the formation of 16 North American B-25's which flew from the carrier Hornet to make a daring low-level bombing attack on Tokyo.

Bomber Command WWII Bases:

• Bicester : May 1939-Sep 1939
• Berry-au-Bac, France : Sep 1939
• Plivot, France Sep : 1939
• Berry-au-Bac, France : Sep 1939-May 1940
  • Detachment &, later, whole sqdn at Perpignan/La Salanque during Feb/Mar 1940.
• Faux-Villecerf, France : May 1940-Jun 1940
• Villiers-Faux, France : Jun 1940
• Waddington : Jun 1940-Jul 1940
• Binbrook : Jul 1940-Aug 1940
• Eastchurch : Aug 1940-Sep 1940
• Binbrook : Sep 1940-Nov 1941
• Waltham (Grimsby) : Nov 1941-Dec 1942

• Gransden Lodge : Oct 1944 onwards

Bomber Command WWII Aircraft:

• Fairey Battle : Mar 1938-Nov 1940
• Vickers Wellington II, III, IV and X : Nov 1940-Oct 1944
• de Havilland Mosquito B.XXV : Oct 1944 onwards

Code Letters:

• During the 1938 Munich crisis No. 142 was allotted the code letters "KB". In WW2 its Battles and Wellingtons were coded "QT" and its Mosquitos "4H".

First Operational Mission in WWII:

• 19th September : 3 Battles set out towards Franco-German frontier on a reconnaissance but returned early due to low cloud on hills E. of Verdun.

First Bombing Mission in WWII:

• 10th May 1940 : 8 Battles despatched to bomb German troops advancing along Luxembourg-Dippach road. 4 bombed target, I aborted & other 3 FTR. 1 of latter forced-landed at Colney, north of Verdun & crew re-joined sqdn next day.

Last Operational Mission in WWII:

• 2nd/3rd May 1945 : 16 Mosquitos bombed Kiel.

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