Its with great sadness that we have lost the last remaining member of 184 Squadron,F/O S Russell-Smith (Junior) past away peacefully a day before his 98th Birthday he will be sadly missed by us all.
Just finished the new O.R.B's page at last!! sorry for the delay but hopefully it will be reliable for you all.
Just been informed of the passing F/Lt Marc Le Delle, He gained pilot wings at RAF College Cranwell 1942, served with 245, 184 and 164 Hurricane squadrons from 42-44, He was then posted to flight training at SFTS and GTS. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.
Flt/Lt Bill Pavitt passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday 4th January 2016 at Ayr Hospital after sipping a whisky. He flew with 184 from Volkel, Netherlands to the end of the war to Germany. Our condolances to Bill's Family and friends.
Received a message last week from the Dean family of the passing of Thomas H. Dean (RAF/ 184 squadron),who joined 184 squadron in the early formation of the squadron and was the only American to have served with 184. So keen to fly he joined the RCAF and was then commissoned and flew with 184 until his time had expired he then moved back to the USA. Our thoughts are with the family.
Just had an email last week of the passing of Flt/Lt Anthony Charles William Fairhead D.F.C. BVSc MRCV.His daughter also wrote the following in memory:- He joined the RAF in 1941 and trained at Corpus Christi College Cambridge, then Monkton in Canada and finally Texas where he qualified as a pilot. He was awarded his wings and commissioned into the RAFVR in September 1942. He joined the 184 Squadron and was involved in various offensive operations, he was awarded the D.F.C. for exceptional courage
I am his daughter and thought you maybe interested as there are a few good men left. He went to the RAF club a few years ago with Archie Lamb, who was his best man at his wedding, they went because they found out their squadron emblem was not on the gallery wall and the RAF club honoured this for the Squadron.
New photos supplied by Tyler Gibson grandson of Thomas Gibson known as "Hoot" on the squadron, nicknamed because of an American Cowboy at the time called Hoot Gibson
Today I have recieved an email informing us of the passing of Lt Athol Fisher, SAAF former pilot. Our condolances go out to his family and friends. Another hero gone but will never be forgotten
I have just been informed this evening of the passing of W/O Norman Rodney Goldsbrough aged 91 in Australia our thoughts go out to his family and friends
I have been informed today 12/5/2011 of the sad passing of F/O Ralph Downing, former pilot with 184 Squadron. Born in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Our thoughts and prays go out to his family and friends.
New Photos added from Christine Austin(nee Polley) of her father LAC Leonard Polley and Donald Macdonald sent in pictures of his father LAC Donald Macdonald both served with the Groundcrew
Pilot Logbooks updated, new entry from Fiona Robbie from her father's logbook Warrant Officer William Green
New Squadron photo's supplied by Typhoon and Tempest author and expert Chris Thomas
New photo's added thanks to Marc La Delle
33 new photos added thanks to Darren & Daniela Deighton
The full set of O.R.Bs are now available. Some connections will take a little time to load the files, 400+ as its in Flash format
W/O C.G Polkey logbook entries are available thanks to Chris Goossens
F/Sgt Baetz Photo added thanks to Sue Clarke
Squadron Personnel Photo's updated thanks to Len Thorpe
Overview
This site hopefully gives a little insight into 184 Squadron with whom my Father flew with towards the end of the war. With the help of friends and families we can give a little insight in to the every day lives of these men, who fought this war and who we owe a great debt too.
Brief History
Assigned 30/12/1942
Eye Lash
Assigned on the 01/01/1943
"Newsboy"
Assigned on the 23/01/1943
Squadron C/O's
Formed at Colerne on the of 1st December 1942,to be a fighter bomber squadron . In May 1943 they were equipped with Hurricanes capable of carrying bombs and rockets. The squadron became part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force when it was formed in June 1943.
In October 1943, four Spitfires were received for conversion training but on December 24th it was the Typhoons that replaced the Hurricanes.The Squadrons First Operation June 17th 1943.
"The C.O. F/Lt Kilpatrick, F/Lt Ruffhead and F/O Gross, made a dawn attack on shipping off Flushing. 609 escorted, and all returned safely. Results are difficult to assess, but three ships of between 500 and 800 tons were attacked with 60Ibs leads, and it is believed that all three were hit. Escorting Squadron say they saw a very bright flash and red glow in the target area and considered we are justified in claiming a cat.II. The C.O was seen to hit his target by F/lt Kilpatrick hit his. No one saw the result of either F/O Gross's or F/lt Ruffhead's attack."
Claim 1 500-600 ton Cat II
Claim 1 500-600 ton Cat III
Claim 1 500-600 ton Cat IV
First Operational sortie in the Typhoons April 28th 1944. A little cloud over the area. After the briefing eight aircraft took off to bomb a railway bridge over a canal near St. Jones on the Cherbourg peninsular. There was some cloud and the aircraft dived through the cloud to make an attack. Bombs were seen to land on the railway and near the bridge but there were no direct hits seen. A lot of light flak was bursting at the height the bombs were released, but no one was hit. after crossing the French coast F/S Vince No 2 to the C. O. informed him that he had one bomb which had hung up. Despite all the C.O's attempts to rid himself of such a dangerous cargo, the bomb refused to leave the aircraft. The C.O. landed last and just after touching down the bomb dropped off and bounced down the runway, bringing the hearts of all spectators into their mouths. The bomb did not explode so we still have our C.O. Early in the afternoon eight aircraft took off to bomb another bridge to the south of the morning's target. The target was obscured by 10/10 cloud so the aircraft led by the C.O. returned, jettisoning their bombs in the sea. F/O Jones had a hang up but after flying around for half a hour after the others had landed he managed to get rid of it. The Squadron retired for the evening thinking deeply on hang ups
It was soon after this that they converted to using 60lb rockets. And so this was the beginning of the use of Typhoons in the run up to the Normandy invasion and beyond.
The squadron moved to Europe on 27 June 1944 airfield B10 France. They continued to support the army throughout the push to Holland and finally Germany where the squadron arrived on 21 March 1945, becoming the first RAF squadron based on German soil.
ORB's entry by Sqn/Ldr Smith.Ground support was continued right up until the end of the war until 184 was disbanded on 10th September 1945.
"All up before 7 this morning getting things packed into the trucks. The warmest day we have had this year. F/Lt Hornell said cheerio to VOLKEL by a trip round in a Tempest. In the afternoon we left for our new strip B,100 South of GOCH. We had the honour to be the first R.A.F. Squadron to land on German soil. In the evening we all set coarse for EINDHOVEN for our party given by the Ground Crews."
Final entry in the operations book.
"Everyone rose early today and the Echelon moved off at 07.30 hours after a few parting words from the C.O. The air lift with the kit and the Adjutant left at 09.15 and after a little delay due to bad vis ability, the Squadron left their last German base at 11.00 hours, all being safely back together again in England for Tea."
RAF Bases
- Colerne, Wiltshire 01/12/1942 Squadron Formed
- Chilbolton, Hampshire 01/03/1943
- Eastchurch, Kent 12/03/1943
- Merston, Sussex 31/05/1943
- Manston, Kent 12/06/1943
- Kingsnorth, Kent 18/08/1943
- Newchurch, Kent 18/08/1943
- Snailwell, Suffolk 15/09/1943
- Newchurch, Kent 17/09/1943
- Detling, Kent 12/10/1943
- Odiham, Hampshire 06/03/1944
- Eastchurch, Kent 11/03/1944
- Odiham, Hampshire 03/04/1944
- Westhampnett, Sussex 20/05/1944
- Holmsley South, Hampshire 17/06/1944
- B.10, Plumetot, France 27/06/1944
- B.5, Le Fresne Camilly, France 14/06/1944
- B.24, St- Andre de L'Eure, France 28/08/1944
- B.42, Beauvais Tille, France 02/08/1944
- B.50, Vitry-en-Artois, France 04/09/1944
- B.70, Antwerp Deurne Belgium 17/ 09/1944
- B.80, Volkel, Holland 30/09/1944
- Warmwell, Dorset 04/12/1944 RPC
- B.100 Goch, Germany 21/03/1945 ( First German Airfield for a British Squadron )
- B.110 Achmer, Germany11/04/1945
- B.150, Hustedt, Germany 19/04/1945
- Warmwell, Dorset 07/05/1945 RPC
- B.164 Schleswig, Germany 28/05/1945
- B.160 Kastrup, Denmark 02/08/1945
- B.166 Flensberg, Germany 05/09/1945
- Dunsfold, England 10/09/1945 Disbanded
The Hawker Hurricane Mk IID
Armed with two 40 mm AT cannons in a pod under each wing and a single Browning machine gun in each wing loaded with tracers for aiming purposes.The first aircraft flew on 18 September 1941 and deliveries started in 1942. Serial built aircraft had additional armour for the pilot, radiator and engine, and were armed with a Rolls-Royce gun with 12 rounds, later changed to the 40 mm Vickers S gun with 15 rounds.
The outer wing attachments were strengthened so that 4G could be pulled at a weight of 8,540 lb
The Hawker Hurricane Mk IV
The Hawker Typhoon 1B
Engine: One 2,180 - 2,260-h.p. Napier Sabre IIA or IIC twenty four cylinder II-type horizontally opposed liquid cooled piston engine, driving a three or four bladed constant-speed propeller. Fuel tanks in wings, with provision for under wing drop tanks.
Performance: Maximum speed 405 mph (652 km/h) at 18,000 ft (5 485 m) ; long-range cruising speed 254 mph (409 km/h) ; service ceiling 34,000 ft (10 365 m)
Dimensions: Wing span 41'7" (12.67m). Length 31'11" (9.74m).Height 15'4" 4.67m)
Operational armament: four 20mm cannons in wings, eight 601b (27-kg) high explosive rockets or two 5001b or 1,000lb (454-kg} bombs on under wing racks.
Weights: empty 8,8001b (3992kg); maximum take off weight 11,4001b (5171 kg)
Surviving Members
Squadron finallly disbanded October 2022
No surving members left as far as our records show
184 Squadron Camera Gun Footage
Very brief filmed records of aerial combat and air-to-ground attacks by 184 Squadron pilots. Captions identify pilot name, squadron, date and time of attack, aircraft type, and target. Read More Here
The Recovery of W/O J Marshalls Aircraft
Here are some photos of the recovery of the remains of Typhoon IB MN924, flown on February 15, 1945 by W/O J Marshall, and abandoned over a field near the village of Kortrijk-Dutsel due to closing-in fog over airfield B-80 Volkel.Read more here
