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Aircraft Index |
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Anson
Manufacturer : Avro
he Avro Anson originated from the Avro 652 commercial aircraft which first flew on 7th January 1935. It was a twin-engine British-built multi-role aircraft which saw distinctive service with both the Royal Air Force and The Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm as well as The Royal Canadian Air Force during and after the Second World War. The prototype 652A first flew at Woodford on 7th January 1935 and was developed from an initial airliner design and named after Admiral George Anson. The adaptation for a coastal reconnaissance role resulted in the production variant, the Avro 652a, which flew at Woodford on New Years Eve 1935 with the type entering service in March 1936 as the Anson Mk1. Initially it was flown with a 3-man crew but later developments in its reconnaissance role required a 4th crew member. The Anson entered service on 6 March 1936 with 48 Squadron equipped with the Anson. At the start of the Second World War, the RAF had received 824 Ansons and there were 26 RAF squadrons operating the Anson I: 10 with Coastal Command and 16 with Bomber Command. All of the squadrons in Bomber Command in 1939 with Anson Is were operational training squadrons that prepared crews for frontline service. 12 of the squadrons were in No. 6 (Operational Training) Group. Newly formed crews having completed individual flying and technical training were first trained as bomber crews in Ansons and then advanced to the various frontline aircraft types, which were also in the same squadrons with the Ansons. After training in the frontline aircraft type, crews would advance to the frontline bomber squadrons with those aircraft types (Fairey Battle, Bristol Blenheim, Vickers Wellington, Armstrong Whitworth Whitley, and Handley-Page Hampden). At the start of the war, the Lockheed Hudson was beginning to replace the Ansons in Coastal Command with one squadron of Hudsons and one with both Ansons and Hudsons. Limited numbers of Ansons continued to serve in operational roles such as coastal patrols and air/sea rescue. Early in the war, an Anson scored a probable hit on a German U-boat. In June 1940, a flight of three Ansons was attacked by nine Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109s. Remarkably, before the dogfight ended, without losing any of their own, one of the Ansons destroyed two German aircraft and damaged a third. The aircraft's true role, however, was to train pilots for flying multi-engined bombers such as the Avro Lancaster. The Anson was also used to train the other members of a bomber's aircrew, such as navigators, wireless operators, bomb aimers and air gunners. Postwar, the Anson continued in the training and light transport roles. The last Ansons were withdrawn from RAF service with communications units on 28 June 1968. The Royal Australian Air Force operated 1,028 Ansons, mainly Mk Is, until 1955 |
Anson
Anson Artwork Collection |
  Avro Anson by Ivan Berryman. |   Coastal Command - Avro Anson Mk.I by Ivan Berryman. |   Clipped Signature - Bertie Boulter. |
  Clipped Signature - Sir Denis Spotswood. |   Improbable Victory by Tim Fisher. |
| Top Aces for : Anson | ||
| A list of all Aces from our database who are known to have flown this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking the pilots name. | ||
| Name | Victories | Info |
| James Douglas Lindsay | 7.00 | The signature of James Douglas Lindsay features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
| Squadrons for : Anson | ||
| A list of all squadrons from known to have used this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name. | ||
| Squadron | Info | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st September 1917 Fate : Disbanded 24th May 1963 Strike hard | No.104 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 30th September 1917 Fate : Disbanded 24th May 1963 Pro libertate - For freedom | No.106 Sqn RAF 106 Squadron was formed 30th September 1917 at Andover, and served in Ireland on Army co-operation duties from May 1918 until disbandment in 1919. Re-formed in June 1938, the squadron was equipped with Hawker Hinds, and later Fairey Battles and from May 1939 until March 1942 was equipped with the Handley Page Hampden. The first operational WWII sortie, on the night of 9/10th September 1940 was mine laying in the Bordeaux area and the first bombing sortie was on the night of 1st/2nd March 1941 against Cologne. From February 1942 until June the same year 106 was equipped with the Avro Manchester. Following this short spell, the squadron was re-equipped with the Avro Lancaster. Although they used both Lancasters and Manchesters on all three 1,000 bomber raids (Cologne 30th/31st May 1942, Essen 1st/2nd June 1942, and Bremen 25/26th June 1942) - the third one against Bremen was the last one when the Manchesters were used. In October 1942, 106 contributed 10 Lancasters to 5 Group's epic low level daylight raid against the Schneider Works at Le Creusot, and 2 Lancasters (one of which was piloted by Wing Commander Guy Gibson CO of 106) to the subsidiary raid on the transformer and switching station at Montchanin. In 1943, they took part in the first shuttle-bombing raids (target Friedrichshafen), and the famous Peenemunde raid. During what was to become known as the Battle of Berlin (November 1943- March 1944) 106 dispatched 281 Lancasters on 20 raids, with the loss of eight aircraft. In 1944, 106 helped prepare the way for the invasion of Europe by hitting targets such as a Coastal Gun Battery at St Pierre du Mont and V-1 storage sites. In December 1944, 106 made a round trip of over 1,900 miles to attack the German Baltic Fleet at Gdynia. In March 1945, the squadron provided air support (against the defences of Wesel) for Commandos crossing the Rhine. Their last bombing sortie was on 25/26th April 1945 against the oil refinery at Vallo, Norway and 106 Squadron finally disbanded February 1946. | |
Country : UK Founded : 11th November 1917 Fate : Disbanded 28th March 1945 Viribus contractis - With gathering strength | No.108 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st November 1917 Fate : Disbanded 1st February 1957 Primi hastati - The first of the legion | No.109 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st December 1917 Fate : Disbanded 21st August 1958 Precision in defence | No.116 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st May 1918 Fate : Disbanded 15th September 1958 Assidue portamus - We carry with regularity | No.147 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 10th February 1918 Fate : Disbanded 1st May 1965 Trusty | No.148 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st March 1915 Aim sure | No.15 Sqn RAF On 1st March 1915, the officers and men who made up No.1 Reserve Squadron and the Recruits Depot, all of whom were based at South Farnborough, Hampshire, were brought together to form No.15 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Initially, the new squadron was equipped with a diverse range of flying machines, including Henri and Maurice Farmans, Avros, Bleriots, Moranes and BE2c aircraft. Having relocated to an airfield at Hounslow, west of London, where the squadron was allowed time to work up to operational status, it was, on 11th May, relocated to another airfield at Swingate Down, to the east of Dover, on the Kent coast. On 23rd December 1915, No.15 Squadron, RFC, deployed to France for operational duties. Throughout its time on the Western Front, during the First World War, the squadron was engaged in observation and reconnaissance duties, initially using BE2c aircraft but later, during June 1916, upgrading to R.E.8s. The work undertaken by the squadron, in its reconnaissance role, was recognised by higher authority, on a number of occasions, in the form of telegrams or communiqués. On 1st April 1918, No.15 Squadron became part of the newly formed Royal Air Force, which came into being with the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service. With the end of hostilities in November 1918, came a reduction in the fighting strength of the RAF and, although not disbanded as a number of squadrons were, No.15 was reduced to a cadre. The axe finally fell on the final day of December 1919, when No.15 Squadron was disbanded. It was to be approximately five years before No.15s number plate was to be resurrected when, on 20th March 1924, No.15 Squadron was reformed as part of the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE), at Martlesham Heath, Suffolk. Over a period of ten years, No.15 Squadron completed 12,100 flying hours on over seventy-five different types of airframe. Over that same period, it also saw five changes of commanding officer. On 1st June 1934, No.15 was re-designated as a new unit, equipped with Hawker Hart Mk.I aircraft, undertaking daylight operations flying as part of Bomber Command. The new C.O. was Squadron Leader Thomas Elmhirst, who secured permission for his squadron to change the number plate to Roman numerals and have the XV applied to the fuselage on all the squadrons aircraft. This decision was to have a lasting effect and was only interrupted by the Second World War. Thomas Elmhirst also gave thought to the fact the squadron should have its own badge and motto, both of which were approved, during 1935. In early 1936, the squadron re-equipped with Hawker Hind bomber aircraft. These machines remained in service with No.XV until 13th July 1938, when the unit converted to Fairey Battle bomber aircraft. It was with the latter aircraft that the squadron prepared for war when, on 27th August 1939, a state of emergency was declared. History repeated itself when the Squadron returned to France on a war footing, but it was forced to return to England in order to re-equip with the Bristol Blenheim bomber. The new aircraft was initially seen as a wonder aircraft, but No.XV Squadron was virtually decimated in strength following the German invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940. With the Blenheim being designated unsuitable for the task, the squadron began converting to the Vickers Wellington bomber, designed by Barnes Wallace, on 7th November 1940. This was really a stop-gap measure as on 30th April 1941 No.XV began converting to the Short Stirling, four-engine, heavy bomber. During the next couple of years, night after night, the squadron carried the fight back to the enemy, enduring many losses and exploits of valour in the process. It participated in all the 1,000 bomber raids against Germany. As 1943 drew to a close, No.XV prepared to continue the fight with new equipment. Having converted to the Avro Lancaster bomber in late December 1943, the squadron went operational in mid-January 1944 with its new aircraft. By the time the war came to an end, No.XV was flying Lancaster B.1 Specials, which were specially adapted to carry 22,000lb Grand Slam bombs. February 1947 saw another change of equipment when the squadron converted to the Avro Lincoln bomber, whilst based at RAF Wyton in Huntingdonshire. However, by the end of that same year, No.XV found itself deploying aircraft to Shallufa, Egypt, as part of Operation Sunrise. Another change of occurred at the end of November 1950, when No.XV Squadron was disbanded but immediately reformed with Boeing B29 Washington bomber aircraft. It was during the Washington period, in March 1951, that the squadrons code letters ‘LS’, which it had been adopted during late 1939, were removed from the aircraft fuselages. The new scheme called for a natural metal finish, adorned with only the RAF roundel, fin flash and aircraft serial. With technology advancing all the time, No.XV entered a new phase in its history in June 1953, when it was declared fully operational flying English Electric Canberra bombers. During the next couple of years, the squadron continued to train and undertook many navigational and bombing exercises, which proved fruitful in 1956 when the Suez crises erupted. No.XV was deployed to Nicosia, as part of Operation Accumulate, on 23rd October. During the short period of fighting that followed, No.XV dropped a higher concentration of bombs than any other squadron. Following a cease-fire, the squadron returned to England where, on 15th April 1957, it was disbanded. The 1st of September 1958 saw the re-formation of No.XV as a V-Bomber squadron, equipped with Handley Page Victor B.I bombers. These aircraft were not only adorned with the official RAF insignia described above, but were also permitted to carry the squadron badge, together with the Roman XV numerals. The squadron retained these aircraft until 1964 when it was again disbanded. For a period of five years No.XV Squadron ceased to exist. However, this changed on 1st October 1970, when the squadron number plate and badge were resurrected and No.XV was reformed at RAF Honnington, in Suffolk. Equipped with Blackburn S.2B Buccaneer aircraft, the squadron departed for RAF Laarbruch, where, during January 1971, it officially became part of Royal Air Force Germany. After thirteen years service with the squadron, the Buccaneers were replaced with Panavia Tornado, swing-wing, bombers. On 1st September 1983, No.XV became the first RAF Squadron in Germany to be equipped with this type of aircraft. During the latter quarter of 1990, No.XV had deployed two flights, totalling twelve crews, to Muharraq Air Base, on Bahrain Island, in readiness for operations against the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. During the following conflict, two aircraft crewed by XV Squadron personnel were shot down, resulting in the loss of Flt Lt Stephen Hicks and the capture of Flt Lts John Peters, John Nichol and Rupert Clark. The squadron returned to RAF Laarbruch at the end of March 1991, where a number of awards, for service in the Gulf War were announced. Wing Commander John Broardbent was awarded a Distinguished Service Order, whilst Sqn Ldr Gordon Buckley and Sqn Ldr Nigel Risdale were both awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses. Senior Engineering Officer S/L Rob Torrence was awarded the Member of the British Empire. Following disbandment in January 1992, No.XV was reformed a few months later on 1st April, at RAF Honnington, where it took on the role of the Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit. It was also granted the status of a Reserve Squadron. No.XV (R) Squadron remained at Honnington until 1st November 1993, when it re-located to RAF Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland. During January 1998, it was re-designated as the Tornado GR1 Operational Conversion Unit and equipped with the up-graded Tornado GR4 variant. In 2011, just four years away from its 100th anniversary, No.XV (R) Squadron still operates from RAF Lossiemouth, providing refresher crews and new crews to the front line squadrons. Text by kind permission of Martyn Ford Jones | |
Country : UK Founded : 18th November 1918 Fate : Disbanded 15th September 1958 Gold Coast Ubique sine mora - Everywhere without delay | No.167 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 21st October 1918 Fate : Disbanded 1st May 1943 Ara fejn hu - Look where it is | No.185 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 5th September 1917 Fate : Disbanded 21st August 1958 Dare to discover | No.192 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st April 1918 Nihil nos effugit - Naught escapes us | No.206 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st April 1918 Fate : Disbanded 30th June 1984 Semper paratus - Always prepared | No.207 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st April 1918 Fate : Disbanded 31st December 1968 Surgeti nox adest - Arise, night is at hand | No.215 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st April 1918 Fate : Disbanded 13th November 1959 Woe to the unwary | No.217 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st April 1918 Fate : Disbanded 10th July 1963 We observe unseen | No.220 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st April 1918 Fate : Disbanded 31st October 1966 Fedele all amico - Faithful to a freind | No.224 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 31st August 1918 Fate : Disbanded 31st January 1964 Fortis et fidelis - Strong and faithful | No.233 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st September 1915 Commonwealth In omnia parati - Ready in all things | No.24 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : May 1918 Fate : Disbanded 30th September 1946 However wind blows | No.251 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 27th September 1918 Fate : Disbanded 30th June 1970 Sine mora - Without delay | No.267 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 6th October 1918 Fate : Disbanded 24th May 1963 Omnia videmus - We see all things | No.269 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 15th October 1941 Fate : Disbanded 1st September 1959 Non interibunt - They shall not perish | No.275 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 21st October 1941 Fate : Disbanded 14th September 1945 Retrieve | No.276 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st October 1941 Fate : Disbanded 14th October 1945 Ex mare ad referiendum - From out of the sea to strike again | No.278 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 10th December 1941 Fate : Disbanded 21st June 1946 We shall be there | No.280 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 29th March 1942 Fate : Disbanded 24th October 1945 Volamus servaturi - We fly to serve | No.281 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st January 1943 Fate : Disbanded 19th July 1945 Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.282 Sqn RAF | No.282 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st December 1941 Fate : Disbanded 26th June 1945 Respice finem - Consider the end | No.285 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 11th October 1915 In caelum indicum primus - First into Indian skies | No.31 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st June 1940 Fate : Disbanded 2nd August 1945 Dutch Animo libere dirigimur - We are guided by the mind of liberty | No.320 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st February 1916 Fate : Disbanded 28th February 1982 Madras Presidency Uno animo agimus - We act with one accord | No.35 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : Canada Founded : 1st September 1944 Fate : Disbanded 16th June 1946 Omnia passim - Anything anywhere | No.437 Sqn RCAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 15th April 1916 Fate : Disbanded 21st December 1982 Rhodesia Fulmina regis justa - The Kings thunderbolts are righteous | No.44 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 15th April 1916 Fate : Disbanded 7th January 1976 Forte et fidele | No.48 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 16th March 1931 Fate : Disbanded 10th March 1957 County of Kent (Auxiliary) Qua fata vocent - Whither the fates may call | No.500 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 15th May 1925 Fate : Disbanded 10th March 1957 Ulster (Auxiliary) Nihil timeo - I fear nothing | No.502 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 18th June 1943 Fate : Disbanded 14th March 1946 Pegasus militans - Pegasus at war | No.512 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 6th July 1943 Fate : Disbanded 1st October 1946 Thaan iuchair againn-ne - We hold the key | No.518 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 15th May 1916 Fate : Disbanded 31st December 1969 Sudore quam sanguine - Through sweat other than through blood | No.52 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st February 1944 Fate : Disbanded 15th August 1946 The air is our path | No.575 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st December 1943 Fate : Disbanded 15th June 1946 Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.577 Sqn RAF | No.577 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 8th June 1916 Fate : Disbanded 4th June 1976 Alis nocturnis - On the wings of the night | No.58 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 21st January 1914 Oculi exercitus - The eyes of the army | No.6 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 17th March 1930 Fate : Disbanded 10th March 1957 North Riding (Auxiliary) Omnibus ungulis - With all talons | No.608 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st June 1937 Fate : Disbanded 10th March 1957 County of Aberdeen Vigilando custodimus - We stand guard by vigilance | No.612 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st May 1914 Per diem per noctem - By day and by night | No.7 Sqn RAF No.7 Squadron was formed 1st May 1914 at Farnborough as a Scout squadron, and went to France April 1915, equipped with the Vickers Gunbus. No.7 squadron saw service through the war with BE2c, RE5 and RE8 aircraft. The squadron pioneered the use of R/T (instead of normal W/T), using it operationally for the first time in October 1918. Disbanded at Farnborough on 31st December 1919 it reformed at Bircham Newton on 1st June 1923 equipped with Vickers Vimy bombers. These were replaced by the Vickers Virginia after moving to Worthy Down in April 1927. Between the wars No.7 squadron was equipped with various aircraft including the Handley Page Heyfords, Vickers Wellesleys and Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys and became the leading bomber squadron, winning the Laurence Minot Memorial Bombing Trophy more than any other squadron. At the outbreak of World War II, the squadron was equipped with Handley Page Hampdens, until August 1940, when it equipped with the RAF's first four engined bomber, the Short Stirling Mk I - becoming the first RAF squadron to be equipped with four engined bombers. The first raid by No.7 was 10th February 1941 on Rotterdam. The squadron settled down to a night bombing role, adding mine laying to its duties in 1942. Later with four other squadrons, it formed the nucleus of the new Pathfinder Force, its task to find and accurately mark targets with flares. In May 1943, the Stirling (which was handicapped by a low operational ceiling - it had to fly through flak rather than over it) was gradually replaced by the Avro Lancaster, which No.7 used in Peenemunde in August. From June1944 and until the end of the war, the squadron also undertook a daylight operational role in support of land forces in France and the low countries, and against V-1 and V-2 sites. No.7 squadron flew to Singapore in January 1947, and converted to Avro Lincolns, seeing action against Communist terrorists in Malay, during 'Operation Firedog'. Returning to UK, having won the Laurence Minot Memorial Bombing Trophy outright for the eighth time it was disbanded 1st January 1956. Reforming in November of the same year with the Vickers Valiant 'V' bomber. Disbanded on 30th September 1962, it was reformed in May 1970 at RAF St. Mawgan on target provision duties. Equipped with the English Electric Canberra, the squadron provided targets for the Army and Navy anti aircraft guns. They also provided silent targets for radar station practice. On 12th December 1981 the squadron was again disbanded, reforming soon after as the second operational Boeing Vertol Chinook helicopter Squadron on 2nd September 1982. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st October 1916 Fate : Disbanded 15th October 1945 New Zealand Ake ake kia kaha - For ever and ever be strong | No.75 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 15th September 1916 Fate : Disbanded 31st December 1960 Resolute | No.76 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st December 1917 Fate : Disbanded 2nd January 1967 Straits Settlement Achieve your aim | No.97 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
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