55 Squadron Photos

Lt William Bishop Pilot 55 Squadron RFC.   Shot down over Belgium 2.Oct 1917 during 3rd Ypres offensive.
Lt William Bishop Pilot 55 Squadron RFC. Shot down over Belgium 2.Oct 1917 during 3rd Ypres offensive.
Lt Douglas Mackintosh (served as Mathew).  Observer / Gunner with Bishop above and shot down Oct.2.1917 Belgium
Lt Douglas Mackintosh (served as Mathew). Observer / Gunner with Bishop above and shot down Oct.2.1917 Belgium
RFC Wings belonging to Bishop and returned from Belgium
RFC Wings belonging to Bishop and returned from Belgium
Medals awarded to Lt Douglas Mathews (Mackintosh).
Medals awarded to Lt Douglas Mathews (Mackintosh).
Commemoration Scroll Lt George Mathews (Mackintosh)
Commemoration Scroll Lt George Mathews (Mackintosh)
William E Johns, flew on 55 Squadron DH-4s with the Independent Force in France and wrote of his experiences.                                                                                     Later, as "Capt W.E.Johns", he wrote  the Biggles stories
William E Johns, flew on 55 Squadron DH-4s with the Independent Force in France and wrote of his experiences. Later, as "Capt W.E.Johns", he wrote the Biggles stories

55 Squadron was arguably the first bomber squadron to operate regularly far into Germany.  With the Independent Force, they pioneered formation flying (in vic) in order to concentrate their fire power.  Nevertheless they suffered great casualties.   One of the significant  airfields from which they flew at this time - Azelot - south of Nancy is still in existence as a light flying field.

Stuttgart raid on 15.09.1918. Target was the Daimler works. Civilian casualties were caused here.
Stuttgart raid on 15.09.1918. Target was the Daimler works. Civilian casualties were caused here.
DH-4   D8396   of 55 Squadron flown by  2nd Lt Robert I.A.Hickes+  and Thomas A Jones+  and shot down by Johannes Voigt-Christiansen (in helmet) on 30th August 1918 in front of the church in Latour En Wouvre.  The two 55 Squadron officers are buried here.
DH-4 D8396 of 55 Squadron flown by 2nd Lt Robert I.A.Hickes+ and Thomas A Jones+ and shot down by Johannes Voigt-Christiansen (in helmet) on 30th August 1918 in front of the church in Latour En Wouvre. The two 55 Squadron officers are buried here.
PFM Fellowes RN.  who became Gp Capt RAF and in 1920 as a Wg Cdr took 55 Sqn to Turkey with his 'Q' force - as the "Point of the Spear". This gave rise to the Squadron Emblem some years later.
PFM Fellowes RN. who became Gp Capt RAF and in 1920 as a Wg Cdr took 55 Sqn to Turkey with his 'Q' force - as the "Point of the Spear". This gave rise to the Squadron Emblem some years later.
C Flight 55 Squadon - Iraq, with Wapiti in 1937
C Flight 55 Squadon - Iraq, with Wapiti in 1937
55 Squadron members with Boston
55 Squadron members with Boston
Sgt. E Payton (2. from L) and crew with 55 Sqn Boston in Greece
Sgt. E Payton (2. from L) and crew with 55 Sqn Boston in Greece
Pil Off  RDM Evers
Pil Off RDM Evers
Sgt Sammy Hall
Sgt Sammy Hall
Original Crew of Pil Off Evers: WO Griffiths, PO Evers, Sgt Hall,Sgt Wilson
Original Crew of Pil Off Evers: WO Griffiths, PO Evers, Sgt Hall,Sgt Wilson
           55 Sqn Officers 17.July 1943 - probably at Reyville Tunisia - preceding the Sicily Invasion -                                     (courtesy J Stanley)
55 Sqn Officers 17.July 1943 - probably at Reyville Tunisia - preceding the Sicily Invasion - (courtesy J Stanley)

Our Aircraft over the Years

During World War 1

Royal Aircraft Factory B2E flown at Castle Bromwich
Royal Aircraft Factory B2E flown at Castle Bromwich
Arnstrong Whitworth FK-8 Castle Bromwich
Arnstrong Whitworth FK-8 Castle Bromwich
Armstrong Whitworth FK-8 Castle Bromwich
Armstrong Whitworth FK-8 Castle Bromwich
Avro 504  (over 10,000 built...)
Avro 504 (over 10,000 built...)
DH-4 over france 1918
DH-4 over france 1918
DH-4 painting - in action
DH-4 painting - in action

Between the Wars

DH-9 - Puma Engine
DH-9 - Puma Engine
DH-9 at Duxford Museum
DH-9 at Duxford Museum
DH-9a - Liberty Engine
DH-9a - Liberty Engine
Vickers Vincent Iraq
Vickers Vincent Iraq
Westland Wapiti Iraq Period
Westland Wapiti Iraq Period

During World War 2

Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
Martin Baltimore with 55 Sqn 1942/3 North Africa
Martin Baltimore with 55 Sqn 1942/3 North Africa
Bostons Hasani Greece
Bostons Hasani Greece
DH Mosquito Greece period
DH Mosquito Greece period
DH Mosquito Formation Painting
DH Mosquito Formation Painting

After Reforming during the Cold War

                                                                   Handley Page Victor B1 in anti-flash white - RAF Honington
Handley Page Victor B1 in anti-flash white - RAF Honington
Artists impressions - the Victor as a bomber
Artists impressions - the Victor as a bomber
The "Great White Wale" - all other aircraft at Marham were camauflaged
XH-930 B1 (the white whale) with Tanker Training Flight (TTF - Victor Conversion Unit) RAF Marham. Tanker crews were first trained on this version at TTF.
XH648 Victor K1: 2 Point Tanker at Waddington. This Aircraft is now being renovated at Duxford
XH648 Victor K1: 2 Point Tanker at Waddington. This Aircraft is now being renovated at Duxford
XH590 Victor K1A: 3 Point Tanker28.07.1972 Gütersloh
XH590 Victor K1A: 3 Point Tanker28.07.1972 Gütersloh
                           Nav Radar's Periscope view of VictorK1A refuelling - note the proximity...
Nav Radar's Periscope view of VictorK1A refuelling - note the proximity...
... and what the receiver sees - that tail bumper is almost over your head when the fuel flows...
... and what the receiver sees - that tail bumper is almost over your head when the fuel flows...
Victor K2 operational taxy out in Germany
Victor K2 operational taxy out in Germany
Victor K2 from below
Victor K2 from below
The Victor simulator.  No motion and no visuals but we sweated just the same...
The Victor simulator. No motion and no visuals but we sweated just the same...
54, 55, 56, 57 Squadrons - over RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus
54, 55, 56, 57 Squadrons - over RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus
On 24. October 1970 this MOD Photograph appeared in the National press. The Tanker (which was supposed to keep discretely out of the action, got a bit close to the Russian Bear on this occasion... The Sqn Cdr subsequently admitted to a similar "crime"...
On 24. October 1970 this MOD Photograph appeared in the National press. The Tanker (which was supposed to keep discretely out of the action, got a bit close to the Russian Bear on this occasion... The Sqn Cdr subsequently admitted to a similar "crime"...
     Black Buck 1 -the operation to bomb Port Stanley Airfield during the Falklands war - painting by Keith Woodcock in the RAF Club London
Black Buck 1 -the operation to bomb Port Stanley Airfield during the Falklands war - painting by Keith Woodcock in the RAF Club London
Flypast at Disbandment Ceremony Parade of 55 Squadron RAF Marham
Flypast at Disbandment Ceremony Parade of 55 Squadron RAF Marham

55(R) Sqn - OCU Brize Norton

Lockheed Tristar as used by 55 Sqn OCU
Lockheed Tristar as used by 55 Sqn OCU
Vickers VC-10 as used by 55 Sqn OCU
Vickers VC-10 as used by 55 Sqn OCU
55 OCU Tristar and VC-10 - Just to prove they could still fly in formation... and thanks to Peter Foster for this fine shot
55 OCU Tristar and VC-10 - Just to prove they could still fly in formation... and thanks to Peter Foster for this fine shot

55(R) Squadron -  Systems Operator training Cranwell

Hawker Siddley 125  Dominie 55(R) Squadron plaque
Hawker Siddley 125 Dominie 55(R) Squadron plaque
Dominie 55(R) Sqn, on visit to Germany
Dominie 55(R) Sqn, on visit to Germany