No. 247 Group RAF
No. 247 (General Reconnaissance) Group RAF | |
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Active | 1 October 1943 – 1 March 1946 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
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 |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Royal_Air_Force_Coastal_Command-_No._247_Group_Operations_in_the_Azores%2C_1943-1945._CA24.jpg/220px-Royal_Air_Force_Coastal_Command-_No._247_Group_Operations_in_the_Azores%2C_1943-1945._CA24.jpg)
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.
History
[edit]Second World War
[edit]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]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Royal_Air_Force_Coastal_Command-_No._247_Group_Operations_in_the_Azores%2C_1943-1945._CA109.jpg/220px-Royal_Air_Force_Coastal_Command-_No._247_Group_Operations_in_the_Azores%2C_1943-1945._CA109.jpg)
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]
Order of Battle
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Vickers_Wellington_at_Lajes_-_Royal_Air_Force_Coastal_Command_-_No._247_Group_Operations_in_the_Azores%2C_1943-1945_CA143.jpg/220px-Vickers_Wellington_at_Lajes_-_Royal_Air_Force_Coastal_Command_-_No._247_Group_Operations_in_the_Azores%2C_1943-1945_CA143.jpg)
July 1944 – HQ Azores[12]
- Azores
- No. 172 Squadron RAF (det) with Vickers Wellington
- RAF Lagens
- No. 220 Squadron RAF with Boeing Fortress four-engined heavy bomber
- No. 269 Squadron RAF with Supermarine Spitfire, Lockheed Hudson and Miles Martinet
July 1945 – HQ Azores[14]
- Azores
- No. 269 Squadron RAF with Supermarine Spitfire, Vickers Warwick and Miles Martinet
Air Officer Commanding
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Royal_Air_Force_Coastal_Command-_No._247_Group_Operations_in_the_Azores%2C_1943-1945._CA78.jpg/220px-Royal_Air_Force_Coastal_Command-_No._247_Group_Operations_in_the_Azores%2C_1943-1945._CA78.jpg)
- Note: The ranks shown are the ranks held at the time of holding the appointment of Air Officer Commanding, No. 247 Group Royal Air Force.[2]
- 18 September 1943 – Air Vice-Marshal Sir Geoffrey Rhodes Bromet KBE, CB, DSO, DL
- 4 June 1945 – Air Commodore Harold Southey
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 154.
- ^ Jefford 2001, p. 67&68.
- ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 75.
- ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 71.
- ^ Ashworth 1992, p. 106.
- ^ Ashworth 1992, p. 107.
- ^ Delve 1994, p. 74.
- ^ a b c Jefford 2001, p. 84.
- ^ Jefford 2001, p. 77.
- ^ Jefford 2001, p. 68.
- ^ a b Delve 1994, p. 73.
- ^ Jefford 2001, p. 67.
- ^ a b Delve 1994, p. 80.
- ^ Jefford 2001, p. 85.
Bibliography
[edit]- Ashworth, Chris (1992). RAF Coastal Command: 1936–1969. Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-85260-345-3.
- Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
- Jefford, C G (2001). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 - 2nd Edition. Shrewsbury UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
- Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.