Miscellany

Last updated: 08 December 2017, 13:51

WWII Phonetic Alphabet

The phonetic alphabet as used by both British and American forces at the time of WWII was:

ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG, EASY, FOX, GEORGE, HOW, ITEM, JIG, KING, LOVE, MIKE, NAN, OBOE, PETER, QUEEN, ROGER, SUGAR, TARE, UNCLE, VICTOR, WILLIAM, X-RAY, YOKE, ZEBRA.

Acronyms, Abbreviations and Slang

Readers consulting this website or the original documentation used to compile it will encounter numerous instances of possibly unfamiliar terminology. The following may help with interpretation:

Expression	Meaning
A	Time zone A, same as GMT+1 / UTC+1 / BST.
AC1, AC2	Aircraftman first/second class. See also "Erk".
Ack-Ack	WWII term for anti-aircraft artillery, in modern parlance "Triple A". See also "Flak", below.
AHB	Air Historical Branch, the RAF’s own archive. Not the same thing as the RAF Museum Library.
AI	Literally either "Airborne Interception" or "Air Intercept", but the true meaning was aircraft-mounted Radar.
A.L.63	The original British Military Louse Powder. See: H.J.Craufurd-Benson & J.MacLeod, The Journal of Hygiene, Vol.44 No.4 (Jan.1946), pp.294–306.
AMES	Air Ministry Experimental Station – a deliberately obscure term meaning a site equipped with Radar.
AOC	Air Officer Commanding.
AP	Air Publication (number....).
ASR	Air Sea Rescue.
AWOL	Absent Without Leave.
BHP	Brake Horsepower.
BMA	British Military Authority - in the context of issue of banknotes.
Bogey	A radar detection not yet labelled as either friendly or hostile.
Bumpf	Paperwork considered to be of low importance.
Calibration	See "Radar Calibration" below.
CAT	Damage Category. See detail below.
CHL	Chain Home Low. Ground-based radar in the UK, able to detect low-flying aircraft.
CMF	Central Mediterranean Force.
C/N	Construction number. Like a Manufacturer's Serial Number, but within a single aircraft type.
C/O or CO	Commanding Officer.
Code	See "Squadron Code".
COL	Chain Overseas Low. As CHL, but located overseas and nominally comprising "portable" equipment.
CRO	Civilian Repair Organisation.
CRT	Cathode Ray Tube, used as a visual display of radar echoes.
DA	(In the context "Group 43 DA" on a Form 78): "Deposit Account", a list of aircraft awaiting or undergoing repair or modification. No.43 Group was part of the RAF’s in-house maintenance and repair system.
DAK	The German term for Rommel’s forces in North Africa. Acronym expands as Deutsches Afrikakorps, properly written in the German language as two words rather than three.
DAO	Director of Air Organisation.
DED	Directorate of Engine Development, a poorly documented division of the Ministry of Aircraft Production.
De Wilde	Strictly, incendiary machine gun ammunition containing the self-igniting material White Phosphorus. A greatly improved version of the pre-WWII Belgian original was developed by the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, using nitrocellulose as the incendiary material. This was also known as "de Wilde" ammunition, as a cover story intended to conceal the improvement.
DI’s	Daily Inspections (of aircraft, especially).
EA or E/A	Enemy Aircraft.
EAC	Eastern Air Command. This refers to command of the Eastern portion of the area invaded during Operation Torch and the subsequent move eastwards into Tunisia, not to the whole of the Middle East or even the whole of North Africa. It’s counterpart, Western Air Command, covered the area taken by (predominantly) US troops, stretching roughly speaking from Oran to Casablanca.
E/F	Engine failure.
Erk	A somewhat derogatory term for a person in the junior ranks in the RAF. Very few records survive in the public domain regarding WWII “Erks”, hence the regrettable lack of detail here regarding the huge contribution such personnel made to the overall functioning of the Squadron.
FA	Flying Accident. Loss or damage not attributable to enemy action.
FB	Flying Battle. Loss or damage attributable to enemy action.
FIS	Fighter Instructors School.
Flak	Another expression for anti-aircraft gunfire, the German abbreviation for Flugzeugabwehrkanone, meaning "aircraft defense cannon". 'Flak' was rapidly adopted by the Allies for reasons of brevity.
Flap	Two meanings... EITHER a component of an aircraft’s wing that shortens take-off and landing distances by lowering the stall speed and increasing the drag, OR slang for a panic.
FME	Field Maintenance Equipment.
Form 78	Administrative record showing which Squadron, Flight or Maintenance Unit had 'charge' of a particular aircraft at any given date. Original card index arranged by Aircraft Type and then in Serial order. Data is somewhat incomplete/unreliable in respect of 255 Squadron in the Mediterranean theatre of operations.
Form 441A	Standard report of a sortie, even if uneventful. For an example of an unspectacular but rare surviving Form 441A relating to No.255 Squadron, see TNA : AIR50/98/14.
Form 449	Monthly return of Officers and Airman Pilots – in effect, a roll call of officers and aircrew. Few of these survive for No.255 Squadron, but a similar list (usually minus Identity Disc numbers) often appears as the last entry in the month’s Form 540.
Form 540	The standard printed form used to compile the Operations Record Book.
Form 541	Appendix to Form 540, detailing Active Service sorties but not (usually) training or engineering test flights – unless something went wrong.
Form 765C	Report of an incident involving equipment failure but no casualties or damage.
Form 1180	Card index system abbreviating accident reports, to aid analysis of causes.
Form F	Aircrew report of combat.
f.p.	Flare Path.
Freelancing	A fighter aircraft operating without the benefit of guidance from a GCI Station.
FS	Fast Speed (a gear setting on the Merlin XX engine’s supercharger).
GCI	Ground-controlled interception.
GRO	General Register Office.
Gubbins	One of several slang names for radar equipment.
Housewife	A small roll-up sewing and darning kit.
H/T	Horse Transport.
Huff-Duff	A corruption of “HF/DF”, meaning High Frequency Direction Finding. In Squadron terms this was typically but not exclusively associated with the Pip-Squeak fighter tracking system fitted to the Boulton Paul Defiant I aircraft. (Do not confuse with Sir Hugh Pughe Lloyd’s nickname Huff-Puff.)
Hun	Derogatory reference to a German person or a German aircraft.
IAS	Indicated Air Speed.
IFF	Identification Friend or Foe. A radar-based system that caused the 'blip' on a radar screen to differ as between an aircraft transmitting an IFF signal (assumed friendly) and one that was not (assumed suspect or hostile). Technically, a forerunner of modern Transponder systems.
IMI	A question mark in Morse Code. Dit-Dit-Dah-Dah-Dit-Dit. Like the individual Morse Code letters IMI, but run together.
Iti	(Pronounced "Eye-tie"). A derogatory reference to an Italian person or an Italian aircraft.
Jerry	One of several slang names for a German aircraft or a member of its crew. Basis of the pun behind the "Chain of Jerries" that was at one time the squadron’s trophy.
Jinkbox	One of several slang names for AI radar equipment.
KR&ACI	King’s Regulations and Air Council Instructions – the Air Force "law", Code of Conduct and procedural Rule Book.
MAC	Mediterranean Air Command.
MACAF	Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Forces.
MAFOG	Mediterranean Area Fighter Operations Grid. Introduced at 00:01z, 20 May 1943, this was a coded grid reference system common to all Allied air forces in the region, simplifying and expediting exchange of Latitude/Longitude positions. The smallest division printed on charts identified an area ten minutes of latitude by ten minutes of longitude; finer resolution was estimated by eye.^[1]
MAP	Ministry (or Minister) of Aircraft Production.
M/Cs	Megacycles per second. Same meaning as MHz (Megahertz) in modern terminology.
MiD	Mentioned in Despatches. A "Mention" rates as the most minor form of recognition of exemplary service. At the time of 255’s existence, no medal or clasp accompanied a Mention. Notes of MiDs existing occur in the ORB, but the citations giving rise to the Mentions appear not to have survived.
Monica	Active tail warning radar, alerting aircrew to possible imminent attack from behind.^[2]
Mother	A Homing Beacon that showed as a distinctly different blip on (especially) a Mk.IV AI set, identifying the airfield’s position.
MS	Medium Speed (a gear setting on the Merlin XX engine’s supercharger).
MSU	Main Storage Unit.
M/T	Motor Transport.
MU	Maintenance Unit.
NACAF	Northwest African Coastal Air Force.
NATAF	Northwest African Tactical Air Force.
NFT	Night Flying Test.
OADU	Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit.
Octane	A measure of the energy content of petrol (US English – "Gas" or "Gasoline").
ORB	Operations Record Book. The master pages of the unit’s record-keeping (be the "unit" a squadron, an airfield, a radar station or whatever). Usually compiled on a Form 540, but sometimes supplies of these ran out – forcing units to improvise.
OTU	Operational Training Unit. An individual’s final training location before being posted to a squadron. At the end of a tour of duty, aircrew sometimes transferred to OTUs as Instructors.
PE	Permanent echo; a 'blip' on the radar screen that’s always there, caused by reflection of the radar transmission from a fixed natural or man-made object.
PPI	Plan position indicator. The modern form of radar display, where the observer’s position is in the middle of the screen and targets appear as slow-to-fade blips. Increasing distance from the centre equates to increasing range. Before the development of PPI, the trace on the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) was a horizontal line, with targets appearing as spikes on it, range represented by distance (usually left-to-right) on the display.
PRO	The Public Record Office, former custodians of the squadron’s historical records and forerunner of The National Archives.
RAAF	Either Royal Australian Air Force or Royal Auxilliary Air Force (sometimes RAuxAF).
RADAR	Radio Aid to Direction And Ranging.
Radar Calibration	Testing of the coverage of a radar system, especially to identify any gaps that the enemy could exploit.
RAE	The Royal Aircraft Establishment. At the time of WWII, the RAE had only one site, at Farnborough.
RAFVR	Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Railings	Deliberate interference ("jamming") of a radio or radar signal, generally by means of an amplitude modulated transmission on the same frequency. In the case of radar of WWII era, it appeared on the GCI Controller’s screen as a series of very sharp spikes.^[3]
RBL	Royal British Legion.
RDF	Literally, Radio Direction Finding, but the expression was used as a cover name for Radar.
Resin Lights	Optical substitute for radar-based IFF; air-to-air signalling lights that shone through tinted plastic ("resin") lenses giving a colour-coded signal that identified the aircraft as friendly. The code typically changed daily.
ROC	Royal Observer Corps.
R/T	Radio Telephone.
RSU	Recovery Storage Unit.
RX	Radar or Radio Receiver.
SAS	(In context such as "Reid & Sigrist SAS" on a Form 78): Servicing Aircraft Section.
Serial	A unique alphanumeric identifier allocated to every aircraft in service with the RAF. (Examples: N3378, MM901) Do not confuse with Squadron Code or Manufacturer’s serial number. Beware of possible confusion between RAF Serials commencing "N" and United States civil aircraft registrations in identical format.
S/N	Serial number (meaning Manufacturer’s serial number). Do not confuse with Serial (see above).
SNAFU	Situation Normal, All F....d Up (insert your own choice of expletive beginning with the letter F).
SOC	Struck Off Charge - normally to be interpreted as "scrapped" or "lost" but can also imply "cannibalised for parts" or "sold".
Sommerfeld	Sommerfeld Tracking, a metallic mesh laid as a temporary runway surface. Often mis-spelled 'Summerfield' or 'Sommerfield'.
SP	Sergeant pilot.
Squadron Code	The large identification letters appearing either side of the Roundel on RAF aircraft. (Example: YD-G) Unlike some squadrons, 255 retained the same code throughout WWII, that being YD. As aircraft allocated to the squadron changed, these codes were re-issued. Do not confuse with "Serial".
Squitters	Diahorrea.
SSZ	Sea Scout Zero – a class of non-rigid airship used for maritime patrols in WWI.
TNA	The National Archives (successor to the Public Record Office).
Trade	Something for a fighter patrol to investigate at the behest of the GCI Controller. Could be a 'Bogey', or a known hostile aircraft, or a 'Friendly' in need of escort.
TX	Radar or Radio Transmitter.
U/C	Undercarriage.
under [Codename]	Identifies by Callsign which GCI/AMES station was acting as an aircraft’s Ground Controller.
u/s	Unserviceable.
Weapon bent	Code for defective radar equipment.
Wop	[1] Officially: Wireless Operator. [2] In contemporary USAAF slang: A derogatory term for an Italian or other foreigner of olive complexion. Derives from the Neapolitan dialect guappo meaning thug, bully or braggart.
WSE	Whilst so employed (usually found in the context of a temporary promotion).
Z	Time zone Z, same as GMT / UTC.

Aircraft operated by No.255 Squadron RAF, with details of usage, fitting of Pip-Squeak, Airborne Interception Radar and IFF:

From	To	Aircraft	Variant	Role	Pip-squeak	AI Radar	IFF
May 1918	Jul 1918	Sopwith Camel	F1	Transport	None	None	None
Jul 1918	Jan 1919	Airco DH6	-	Patrol	None	None	None
Nov 1940	Sep 1941	Boulton Paul Defiant	Mk.I	Combat	Transitional	No	Transitional
Mar 1941	Aug 1941	Hawker Hurricane	Mk.I	Combat	No	No	Yes
Jun 1941	Oct 1942	Bristol Blenheim	Mk.I	Training	?	No	?
Jul 1941	May 1942	Bristol Beaufighter	Mk.II F	Combat	No	Mk.IV	Yes
Jan 1941	Nov 1942	Miles Magister / Miles Hawk	Mk.I	Transport	No	No	No
Mar 1942	Aug 1943	Bristol Beaufighter	Mk.VI F	Combat	No	Mk.IV	Yes
Apr 1942	Nov 1942	Miles Master	Mk.III	Transport	No	No	?
Jul 1942	Nov 1942	Fairey Battle	Mk.I	Unknown	No	No	?
Aug 1942	≤ Nov 1942	Bristol Beaufighter	Mk.I F	Unknown	No	Mk.IV	Yes
Feb 1943	≤ Jul 1943	Bristol Beaufighter	Mk.VI F	Combat	No	Mk.VII	Yes
Jul 1943	Feb 1945	Bristol Beaufighter	Mk.VI F	Combat	No	Mk.VIII	Mk.III G
1944	?	Spitfire	Mk.Vc	Transport	No	No	Yes
Sep 1944	?	Bücker Bü-181	‡	Fun	No	No	No
Circa...	Jan 1945	Hawker Hurricane	Mk.II C	Transport	No	No	Yes
Feb 1945	Jul 1945	de Havilland Mosquito	Mk.TIII	Trainer	No	No	?
Jan 1945	May 1946	de Havilland Mosquito	Mk.XIX	Combat	No	Mk.X	Yes
Apr 1945	Apr 1946	de Havilland Mosquito	Mk.XXX	Combat	No	Mk.X	Yes
Apr 1945	Apr 1945	Fiesler Fi.156 Storch	‡	Recce	No	No	No
Apr 1945	Apr 1945	Messerschmidt Bf.108	‡	Recce	No	No	No
NOTES to accompany the table above: Pip-Squeak was removed and IFF installed as part of the change-over from HF to VHF radios. Hence the entries "Transitional" above. The whole Pip-Squeak system was obsolescent by 1941. Miles Magister and Miles Hawk were essentially the same aircraft, in military and civilian versions respectively. The Squadron used both during the time period listed in this table. See also the Serials information below. All AI equipment was removed from the Squadron’s aircraft in November 1942, before travel to Africa. Some was re-installed later the same month in Algeria and the remainder in December 1942. New aircraft equipped with Mk.VIII AI started arriving 03 Jul 1943 at La Sebala II. The change-over continued until about 05 August; the exact date is unclear from the ORB. Mosquito XIX aircraft were not normally fitted with Mk.X AI; this is a rare example. ‡ Captured Luftwaffe aircraft used by No.255 Squadron. Sources: ^[4] ^[5] ^[6] ^[7]

Aircraft Serials, WWI

The following DH6 aircraft are believed to have been flown operationally from RAF Pembroke during the period 6 July 1918 to 11 November 1918. Possible errors arise in part because the prefix letter was not always recorded in the Patrol Report and in part because some of the entries were written in minute handwriting, hard to read from a carbon copy nearly 100 years old. The squadron did eventually acquire a typewriter, but it was not accompanied by a proficient typist! Many errors were simply over-typed, creating ambiguity. The following list is believed to be reasonably accurate in respect of the Pembroke site but it does not include aircraft used at Llangefni, Bangor or Luce Bay prior to the spawning of Nos.244 and 258 Squadrons on 25 July 1918:

B2771, B2789, B3038, B3039, C2067, C5521, C5524, C7346 and/or C7436, C9412, C9413, C9415, C9418, C9423, C9428, C9430, C9438, C9439, C9440, F3349, F3350, F3351, F3353, F3354, F3367, F9340.^[8]

It is possible that other aircraft (even other aircraft types) were flown during or after WWI, without ever appearing in Patrol Reports. One such was almost certainly a Sopwith F1 Camel, D9542.

Other researchers have suggested that the following DH6 aircraft were also used by 255:

B2781, B2786, B2791, B2903, C2021, C2076, C9443, C9482, F3352, F3357, F3440.

Aircraft Serials, WWII, within the UK

After reformation in WWII, the following aircraft were flown by the squadron whilst based in the UK. Data in the tables below comes primarily from the ORB, Flying Log Books and Forms 78. "Dates in" are the dates taken on charge – normally the date of safe arrival at, rather than date of despatch towards, the squadron. "Dates out" are the dates taken off charge except in cases of Cat E damage, where the date of actual loss is given precedence if known to be different. Wherever possible, clerical errors in the ORB, aircrew logbooks and other reference works have been eliminated.

BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT Mk.I in Serial order
Serial	C/N	Code	Date in	From	Date out	To
L7012	063	YD-?	08.Dec.1940	19 MU	01.Feb.1941	256 Squadron
L7036	087	YD-?	08.Dec.1940	19 MU	01.Feb.1941	256 Squadron
N1581	133	YD-?	02.Feb.1941	264 Squadron	06.Jul.1941	43 Group DA
N1617	142	YD-?	10.Feb.1941	Boulton Paul SAS	14.Aug.1941	151 Squadron
N1625	150	YD-?	27.Nov.1940	6 MU	01.Feb.1941	256 Squadron
N1629	154	YD-?	27.Nov.1940	6 MU	01.Feb.1941	256 Squadron
N1687	195	YD-?	08.Dec.1940	19 MU	01.Feb.1941	256 Squadron
N1727	217	YD-?	09.Dec.1940	19 MU	30.Mar.1941	19 MU
N1740	230	YD-?	06.May.1941	24 MU	06.Jul.1941	43 Group DA
N1743	233	YD-?	02.Dec.1940	6 MU	≤ 23.Feb.1941	43 Group DA
N1763	253	YD-?	≥ 16.Jan.1941	Reid & Sigrist SAS	22.Apr.1941	24 MU
N1765	255	YD-?	23.Feb.1941	27 MU	19.Mar.1941	Reid & Sigrist SAS
N1770	260	YD-?	17.Jan.1941	19 MU	19.Mar.1941	Reid & Sigrist SAS
N1810	286	YD-?	28.Feb.1941	10 MU	14.Aug.1941	151 Squadron
N3306	289	YD-?	09.Dec.1940	19 MU	02.Feb.1941	FA, CAT E, 1 killed
N3309	292	YD-?	02.Feb.1941	264 Squadron	22.Jun..1941	43 Group DA
N3310	293	YD-?	02.Feb.1941	264 Squadron	17.Nov.1941	46 MU
N3312	295	YD-T	27.Nov.1940	6 MU	09.Jul.1941	Reid & Sigrist SAS
N3316	299	YD-?	16.Feb.1941	10 MU	12.Jun.1941	43 Group DA
N3318	301	YD-?	08.Dec.1940	19 MU	19.Aug.1941	409 Squadron
N3319	302	YD-?	05.Feb.1941	19 MU	23.Aug.1941	46 MU
N3321	304	YD-?	27.Nov.1940	6 MU	08.Apr.1941	Reid & Sigrist SAS
N3323	306	YD-?	27.Nov.1940	6 MU	12.Jan.1941	Reid & Sigrist SAS
--- Ditto ---		YD-?	19.Jun.1941	19 MU	30 Aug.1941	Reid & Sigrist SAS
N3324	307	YD-?	29.May.1941	43 Group DA	16.Jun.1941	43 Group DA
N3329	312	YD-?	09.Dec.1940	19 MU	07.Mar.1941	43 Group DA
--- Ditto ---		YD-?	31.Mar.1941	43 Group DA	18.Aug.1941	24 MU
N3333	316	YD-?	27.Nov.1940	6 MU	13.May.1941	FB, NON-FATAL CAT E
N3334	317	YD-?	27.Nov.1940	6 MU	23.Feb.1941	Reid & Sigrist SAS
N3335	318	YD-?	27.Nov.1940	6 MU	21.Jun.1941	43 Group DA
N3340	323	YD-?	09.Dec.1940	19 MU	20.Feb.1941	Reid & Sigrist SAS
N3364	324	YD-?	09.Dec.1940	19 MU	[Blank in original]	410 Squadron
N3378	338	YD-?	08.Dec.1940	19 MU	29.Aug.1941	FA or FB, CAT E, 2 killed
N3398	358	YD-?	02.Feb.1941	264 Squadron	19.Aug.1941	409 Squadron
N3422	367	YD-?	25.Feb.1941	19 MU	11.Sep.1941	60 OTU
N3458	403	YD-?	08.Apr.1941	27 MU	29.Aug.1941	456 Squadron
N3481	410	YD-?	25.Feb.1941	19 MU	23.Aug.1941	43 Group DA
N3511	440	YD-?	10.Jul.1941	19 MU	19.Aug.1941	409 Squadron
T3920	460	YD-?	09.Jul.1941	10 MU	14,Aug.1941	151 Squadron
T3995	516	YD-?	19.Jun.1941	19 MU	09.Jul.1941	Reid & Sigrist SAS
T3998	519	YD-?	16.Jul.1941	19 MU	22.Aug.1941	256 Squadron
T4005	526	YD-?	31.May.1941	24 MU	07.Sep.1941	125 Squadron
T4045	547	YD-?	09.Jul.1941	10 MU	24.Aug.1941	46 MU
T4059	561	YD-?	19.Jul.1941	10 MU	22.Jul.1941	46 MU
Matching of Serial to C/N in this table relies on work published by Alex Brew (1996). See bibliography below. Read symbol ≤ as "on or before". Read symbol ≥ as "on or after".

The following Hawker Hurricane Mk.I aircraft were flown by the squadron mainly whilst based in Lincolnshire in 1941:

HAWKER HURRICANE Mk.I in Serial order
Serial	Mfg S/N	Sqdn Code	Date in	From	Date out	To
P2795	-	?	22.Mar.1941	310 Squadron	31.Mar.1941	55 OTU
P3644	-	?	22.Mar.1941	310 Squadron	31.Mar.1941	55 OTU
V6793	-	?	22.Mar.1941	151 Squadron	12.Oct.1941	55 OTU
V6796	-	?	22.Mar.1941	151 Squadron	27.Aug.1941	12 AAC Cp Flt
V6955	No record in Form 78 of allocation to 255 Squadron - possible clerical error in Squadron record
V7008	-	?	22.Mar.1941	310 Squadron	31.Mar.1941	55 OTU
V7009	-	?	22.Mar.1941	310 Squadron	31.Mar.1941	55 OTU
V7222	-	?	22.Mar.1941	151 Squadron	08.Sep.1941	56 OTU
V7286	No Form 78 survives in respect of this aircraft
V7304	-	?	22.Mar.1941	310 Squadron	27.Aug.1941	12 AAC Cp Flt

Bristol Blenheim Mk.I aircraft were initially used by the squadron for the purpose of basic training on twin-engined machines, prior to flying Mk.II Beaufighters, and thereafter for transport. This list may be incomplete:

BRISTOL BLENHEIM Mk.I in Serial order
Serial	Mfg S/N	Sqdn Code	Date in	From	Date out	To
K7116	-	?	28.Jan.1942	19 MU	03.Oct.1942	60 OTU
L1223	-	?	06.Jul.1941	18 MU	16.Aug.1941	FA, CAT E, 2 killed
L1301	-	?	16.Jun.1941	39 MU	12.Aug.1941	409 Squadron
--- Ditto ---		?	17.Jan.1942	409 Squadron	13.May.1942	256 Squadron
L8680	-	?	18.Jul.1941	68 Squadron	≤ 19.Nov.1941	SOC

The following Beaufighter Mk.IIF aircraft were used at various times by the Squadron in the UK, either at RAF Hibaldstow, RAF Coltishall or RAF High Ercall. This list is believed to be complete:

BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER Mk.IIF in Serial order, UK only
Serial	Mfg S/N	Sqdn Code	Date in	From	Date out	To
R2276	-	YD-A	19.Sep.1941	43 Group DA	23.Jan.1942	409 Squadron
R2304	-	YD-D	03.Aug.1941	19 MU	27.Apr.1942	410 Squadron
R2308	-	YD-P	22.Jul.1941	27 MU	29.Apr.1942	410 Squadron
R2309	-	YD-Q	22.Jul.1941	30 MU	13.Dec.1941	FA, CAT E, 1 killed
R2310	-	?	30.Jul.1941	32 MU	18.Sep.1941	600 Squadron
R2313	-	YD-H	[Blank line in record card]			600 Squadron
R2333	-	YD-B	15.Sep.1941	19 MU	28.Feb.1942	FB, CAT E, 2 killed
R2340	-	No record in Form 78 of allocation to 255 Squadron - possible clerical error. Maybe R2430?
R2370	-	YD-N	22.Jul.1941	27 MU	09.Aug.1942	54 OTU
R2377	-	YD-O	22.Jul.1941	27 MU	16.Oct.1941	FA, CAT E, 2 killed
R2397	-	YD-T	27.Jul.1941	19 MU	23.Jul.1942	96 Squadron
R2398	-	?	01.Aug.1941	27 MU	08.Dec.1941	FA, CAT E, 2 killed
R2399	-	?	02.Jul.1941	19 MU	14.Sep.1941	43 Group DA
R2400	-	YD-S	22.Jul.1941	19 MU	30.May.1942	96 Squadron
R2401	-	?	01.Aug.1941	27 MU	02.Jun.1942	60 OTU
R2402	-	YD-G	04.Aug.1941	19 MU	19.Apr.1942	410 Squadron
R2403	-	YD-D	31.Jul.1941	19 MU	22.Aug.1941	FA, CAT E, 2 killed
R2404	-	No record in Form 78 of allocation to 255 Squadron - possible clerical error.
R2430	-	YD-U	27.Jul.1941	19 MU	05.Jan.1942	Manufacturer
R2431	-	YD-E	03.Aug.1941	27 MU	20.Jul.1942	54 OTU
R2432	-	?	05.Aug.1941	19 MU	27.Sep.1941	43 Group DA
R2433	-	YD-V	30.Jul.1941	19 MU	13.Jul.1942	54 OTU
R2436	-	YD-R	06.Aug.1941	19 MU	19.Apr.1942	307 Squadron
R2448	-	?	14.Sep.1941	406 Squadron	15.Jan.1942	FA, CAT E, 2 killed
R2460	-	YD-J	25.Aug.1941	27 MU	02.Apr.1942	NON-FATAL CAT E
R2461	-	No record in Form 78 of allocation to 255 Squadron - possible clerical error.
R2470	-	YD-U	02.Jan.1942	27 MU	?	?
R2471	-	?	No record in Form 78 of allocation to 255 Squadron - possible clerical error. Maybe R2431?
R2480	-	?	No record in Form 78 of allocation to 255 Squadron - possible clerical error. Maybe R2430?
R2481	-	YD-E	No record in Form 78 of allocation to 255 Squadron - possible clerical error. Maybe R2431?
R2488	-	YD-O	No record in Form 78 of allocation to 255 Squadron - possible clerical error. Maybe R2448?
T2308	-	YD-P	Taken as being a clerical error for R2308
T3011	-	YD-C?	18.Sep.1941	27 MU	06.May.1942	410 Squadron
T3013	-	YD-G	30.Sep.1941	27 MU	12.Jul.1942	54 OTU
T3016	-	YD-K	30.Sep.1941	19 MU	19.Apr.1942	410 Squadron
T3018	-	?	30.Sep.1941	19 MU	18.Apr.1942	410 Squadron
T3023	-	YD-C?	30.Sep.1941	19 MU	25.Feb.1942	FA, CAT E, 2 killed
T3040	-	YD-?	23.Apr.1942	27 MU	27.Apr.1942	410 Squadron
T3061	-	YD-K	No Form 78 exists for this Serial. Taken as being a clerical error for T3016
T3073	-	YD-C?	No record in Form 78 of allocation to 255 Squadron. Taken as being a clerical error for T3023
T3143	-	YD-W	04.Jan.1942	27 MU	29.Apr.1942	410 Squadron
T3153	-	?	25.Feb.1942	19 MU	21.Apr.1942	410 Squadron
T3389	-	YD-?	24.Mar.1942	27 MU	19.Apr.1942	410 Squadron
Regarding Mk.II Beaufighters generally, see also V8187 in the section relating to Sicily, August 1943.

A solitary Fairey Battle Mk.I was attached to the Squadron in 1942. Its deployment is unknown:

FAIREY BATTLE Mk.I in Serial order
Serial	Mfg S/N	Sqdn Code	Date in	From	Date out	To
N2174	?	?	27.Jul.1942	27 MU	15.Nov.1942	27 MU

The following Beaufighter Mk.VIF aircraft were used at various times by the Squadron in the UK, either at RAF High Ercall or RAF Honiley or both. This list may not be complete:

BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER Mk.VIF in Serial order, UK use only
Serial	Mfg S/N	Sqdn Code	Date in	From	Date out	To
V8433	-	YD-	16.Sep.1942	51 MU	27.Oct.1942	Damaged at RAF Honiley. After repair, passed to Station Flight.
X7590	No Form 78 exists for this Serial. Taken as being a clerical error for X7950
X7695	?	No record in Form 78 of allocation to 255 Squadron.Taken as being a clerical error for X7965
X7853	No Form 78 exists for this Serial.Taken as being a clerical error
X7926	?	No record in Form 78 of allocation to 255 Squadron.Taken as being a clerical error
X7931	?	YD-A	02.Apr.1942	19 MU	15.Sep.1942	125 Squadron
X7933	?	YD-U	08.Apr.1942	27 MU	15.Sep.1942	125 Squadron
X7934	?	YD-F	05.Apr.1942	19 MU	15.Sep.1942	125 Squadron
X7943	?	YD-?	09.Aug.1942	19 MU	01.Sep.1942	FATAL CAT E
X7944	?	YD-L	03.Apr.1942	27 MU	25.Sep.1942	96 Squadron
X7945	?	YD-Q	02.Apr.1942	19 MU	12.Jul.1942	FATAL CAT E
X7949	?	No record in Form 78 of allocation to 255 Squadron.Taken as being a clerical error
X7950	?	YD-J?	24.Apr.1942	27 MU	23.Sep.1942	96 Squadron
X7954	?	YD-C	18.Apr.1942	19 MU	15.Sep.1942	125 Squadron
X7955	?	YD-?	12.Apr.1942	27 MU	16.Sep.1942	125 Squadron
X7957	?	YD-?	01.Apr.1942	27 MU	04.Sep.1942	FATAL. Check Form 78 for Cat E
X7959	?	YD-J?	02.Apr.1942	27 MU	19.Sep.1942	96 Squadron
X7960	?	No record in Form 78 of allocation to 255 Squadron.Taken as being a clerical error
X7961	?	YD-D	05.Apr.1942	27 MU	08.Sep.1942	125 Squadron
X7964	?	YD-?	24.Apr.1942	19 MU	24.Sep.1942	96 Squadron
X7965	?	YD-?	29.Mar.1942	27 MU	02.Oct.1942	96 Squadron
X7966	?	YD-P	04.Apr.1942	19 MU	Left behind in UK for Station Flight, RAF Honiley
X7969	?	YD-?	03.Apr.1942	27 MU	10.Oct.1942	96 Squadron
X8001	?	YD-?	16.Apr.1942	19 MU	25.Oct.1942	96 Squadron
X8002	?	YD-G	29.Mar.1942	27 MU	25.Sep.1942	96 Squadron
X8019	?	YD-T	?	?	?	?
X8021	?	YD-?	18.Apr.1942	27 MU	27.Jul.1942	FATAL CAT E
X8266	?	YD-?	04.Aug.1942	19 MU	17.Sep.1942	125 Squadron
Aircraft taken on in preparation for the move to Africa appear in the separate table below, The following aircraft may well have been intended to form part of the initial group sent to Algeria, but it was damaged (belly-landed) on 27.Oct.1942 and V8550 substituted.
X8433	?	YD-?	?	?	?	?

Extracts of Forms 78 suggest that a solitary Beaufighter Mk.IF was attached to the Squadron in 1942. The timing of its arrival suggests a possible stop-gap replacement for X7945:

Beaufighter Mk.IF in Serial order
Serial	Mfg S/N	Sqdn Code	Date in	From	Date out	To
V8266	?	?	04.Aug.1942	141 Squadron	[Blank]	141 Squadron

Miles aircraft were used by the Squadron for the purpose of rapid transport within the UK.

MILES aircraft, all types
Magister Mk.I (the military version of the Miles Hawk trainer) serial T9820. An error on this aircraft’s Form 78 erroneously places it with No.225 Squadron. In fact it arrived from 37 MU in January 1941. It was transferred to 43 Group DA on 24.Jul.1941 following a forced landing consequent upon engine failure. Pilot: Sgt. S.J. Johnson. The Form 1180 survives in respect of this incident, documenting the connection with 255. Magister Mk.I serial T9910. This aircraft seems to have joined the Coltishall Station Flight on 26.Sep.1941 from 32 MU. It returned to 32 MU on 19.Oct.1941, then came back to Coltishall 01.Nov.1941, leaving again 10.Nov.1941 for Phillips & Powis SAS having sustained some damage. There is no specific record on the aircraft’s Form 78 of allocation to 255 Squadron. M14A Hawk Trainer Mk.3 BB665, impressed, ex G-AFWY. Collected from 37 MU, RAF St.Athan, 01.Jan.1942. Remained with 255 until the Squadron’s departure for Africa, at which time it was transferred to Station Flight, RAF Honiley. It subsequently left Honiley for 54 OTU on 16.Mar.1943. As with T9910, the aircraft’s Form 78 incorrectly records it being with 225 Squadron. Piers Kelly’s logbook incorrectly records it as BB650 on two occasions but BB650 did not exist. Situation clarified by reference to Freddie Lammer’s logbook, which has the correct Serial in it for the same flight as Kelly on 18.May.1942. At least one Miles Master Mk.III aircraft, W8455, was used by the Squadron in the UK for the same purpose. Incoming from 61 OTU Rednall on 24.Apr.1942. The Squadron CO’s Flying Log Book refers to a flight 09.May.1942 from High Ercall. Out to Phillips & Powis SAS 18.May.1942.

MILES aircraft, all types

Magister Mk.I (the military version of the Miles Hawk trainer) serial T9820. An error on this aircraft’s Form 78 erroneously places it with No.225 Squadron. In fact it arrived from 37 MU in January 1941. It was transferred to 43 Group DA on 24.Jul.1941 following a forced landing consequent upon engine failure. Pilot: Sgt. S.J. Johnson. The Form 1180 survives in respect of this incident, documenting the connection with 255.

Magister Mk.I serial T9910. This aircraft seems to have joined the Coltishall Station Flight on 26.Sep.1941 from 32 MU. It returned to 32 MU on 19.Oct.1941, then came back to Coltishall 01.Nov.1941, leaving again 10.Nov.1941 for Phillips & Powis SAS having sustained some damage. There is no specific record on the aircraft’s Form 78 of allocation to 255 Squadron.

M14A Hawk Trainer Mk.3 BB665, impressed, ex G-AFWY. Collected from 37 MU, RAF St.Athan, 01.Jan.1942. Remained with 255 until the Squadron’s departure for Africa, at which time it was transferred to Station Flight, RAF Honiley. It subsequently left Honiley for 54 OTU on 16.Mar.1943. As with T9910, the aircraft’s Form 78 incorrectly records it being with 225 Squadron. Piers Kelly’s logbook incorrectly records it as BB650 on two occasions but BB650 did not exist. Situation clarified by reference to Freddie Lammer’s logbook, which has the correct Serial in it for the same flight as Kelly on 18.May.1942.

At least one Miles Master Mk.III aircraft, W8455, was used by the Squadron in the UK for the same purpose. Incoming from 61 OTU Rednall on 24.Apr.1942. The Squadron CO’s Flying Log Book refers to a flight 09.May.1942 from High Ercall. Out to Phillips & Powis SAS 18.May.1942.

At least one Spitfire was available for the Squadron’s use at RAF Coltishall. Serial AB329 appears in Piers Kelly’s logbook, entry dated 20.Feb.1942, but the Form 78 for this aircraft places it elsewhere, casting doubt on the accuracy of the logbook entry. Another Spitfire entry, dated 28.Dec.1941, lacks Serial.

Aircraft Serials, WWII, within Africa

Research into the Serials of Beaufighter aircraft flown by the squadron in the Mediterranean theatre of operations is ongoing. More information will be added here as it becomes available. It is likely to produce results less detailed and less complete than the listings above. This is because surviving records relating to North Africa, Sicily and Italy only show aircraft allocation to the Mediterranean area, not to individual squadrons.

BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER Mk.VIF The original 18 flown from RAF Honiley to Africa, in Serial order
Serial	Mfg S/N	Sqdn Code	Date in	From	Date out	To
V8386	10544	YD-	22.Sep.1942	19 MU	28.Dec.1942	NON-FATAL CAT E – Landing at Souk-el-Arba
V8390	-	YD-	13.Sep.1942	19 MU	02.Jan.1943	FA
V8391	-	YD-	13.Sep.1942	19 MU	26.Jan.1943	CAT E
V8392	-	YD-	10.Sep.1942	19 MU	?	?
V8396	-	YD-	25.Sep.1942	27 MU	20.Nov.1942	NON-FATAL CAT E – Air raid on Maison Blanche
V8399	-	YD-	22.Sep.1942	27 MU	31.Dec.1942	SOC
V8401	-	YD-	19.Sep.1942	27 MU	26.Jan.1943	CAT E
V8405	-	YD-	15.Sep.1942	51 MU	28.Feb.1943	SOC
V8407	-	YD-	16.Sep.1942	51 MU	01.Jul.1943	To Malta
V8409	-	YD-	14.Sep.1942	51 MU	31.Jul.1943	CAT E
V8413	-	YD-	13.Sep.1942	19 MU	21.Nov.1942	Damaged CAT B (at Maison Blanche?). After repair, sent to Malta.
V8416	-	YD-	15.Sep.1942	19 MU	26.Jan.1943	CAT E
V8417	-	YD-	15.Sep.1942	51 MU	20.Nov.1942	NON-FATAL CAT E – Air raid on Maison Blanche
V8418	-	YD-	15.Sep.1942	51 MU	20.Nov.1942	NON-FATAL CAT E – Air raid on Maison Blanche
V8550	-	YD-	02.Nov.1942	19 MU	20.Nov.1942	NON-FATAL CAT E – Air raid on Maison Blanche
X8269	-	YD-	10.Sep.1942	19 MU	?	?
Plus two more not yet identified - try V8461, V8462

Following the heavy losses sustained by the Squadron during the night of 20/21 November 1942, some aircrew returned to the UK to collect replacement aircraft from RAF Lyneham. These are included in the following list of top-ups received December 1942 to June 1943:

BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER Mk.VIF in Serial order, interim top-ups received in Africa
Serial	Mfg S/N	Sqdn Code	Date in	From	Date out	To
?????	?	YD-	?		01.Apr.1943	FATAL CAT E off Sardinia, 2 killed
?????	?	YD-	?		13.Apr.1943	FATAL CAT E off Sardinia, 2 killed
V8500	?	YD-	.1942		?	?
V8523	?	YD-	.1942		27.Jun.1943	FATAL CAT E in Algeria, 1 killed
V8547	?	YD-	.1942		06.Jan.1943	FATAL CAT E in Algeria, 2 killed
V8582	?	YD-	?		12.Mar.1943	NON-FATAL CAT E
V8685	?	YD-	?		03.Jul.1943	FATAL CAT E in Tunisia, 1 killed
X7892	?	YD-	.1942		?	?
X8010	?	YD-			?	?
X8409	?	YD-	.1942		?	?
This table does not include re-equipping with new aircraft pre-fitted with Mk.VIII radar prior to the move to Sicily and is likely to be incomplete in other respects. Please report observed omissions/corrections, quoting source.

Aircraft Serials, WWII and beyond, Sicily through to Disbanding

Following the defeat of Rommel and the DAK, 255 Squadron completely re-equipped. This was a consequence of the change from Mk.IV to Mk.VIII AI, the latter requiring the RF-transparent plastic "thimble nose cone" to house the microwave radar dish. That in turn required airframe modifications too extensive to be done by squadron ground crew in the field. The whole squadron needed to change simultaneously so as to retain the ability for each aircraft to see the others’ IFF. The next table includes not only the full re-equip in Tunisia but also replacement aircraft right through to (but not including) the time when the Squadron commenced another full re-equip in northern Italy at the end of 1944, consequent upon the change to Mosquito aircraft. The table appearing here is a "work in progress"; more detail will be added as it becomes available:

BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER Mk.VIF in Serial order, received Jul.1943–Jan.1945
Serial	Mfg S/N	Sqdn Code	Date in	From	Date out	To
?????	?	YD-	.1943		10.Sep.1943	FATAL CAT E off Italy, 2 killed
?????	?	YD-	.1943		12.Sep.1943	FATAL CAT E off Italy, 1 killed
?????	?	YD-	.1943		26.Sep.1943	FATAL CAT E off Sicily, 2 killed
?	?	?	06.Feb.1944	Blida	06.Feb.1944	NON-FATAL CAT E in Sicily
KV933	?	YD-?			25.Jan.1944	110 RSU
KV924	?	YD-?
KV926	?	YD-?
KV944	?	YD-?
KV977	?	YD-?
KW115	?	YD-?	06.Jan.1944	155 MU	05.Feb.1945	155 MU
KW123	?	YD-	.1943		03.Apr.1944	FATAL CAT E off Italy, 1 killed
KW133	?	YD-?	11.Jan.1944	114 MU	21.Jan.1944	110 RSU
KW147	?	YD-?	11.Jan.1944	114 MU
KW154	?	YD-?
KW167	?	YD-?			02.Feb.1945
KW190	?	YD-A
KW198	?	YD-Q
MM838	?	YD-	.1943		31.Aug.1944	FATAL CAT E in Serbia, 2 killed
MM842	?	YD-?	.1943		01.Jan.1944	110 RSU
MM864	?	YD-	.1943		07.Jan.1944	FATAL CAT E in Italy, 2 killed
MM870	?	YD-?			01.Aug.1944	Non-fatal Cat E in Italy
MM900	?	YD-?	.1943		01.Jan.1944	113 MU
MM904	?	YD-?			25.Jan.1944	110 RSU
MM911	?	YD-?	07.Jan.1944
MM920	?	YD-?
ND142	?	YD-?			.1944
ND148	?	YD-?			05.Feb.1945	155 MU
ND151	?	YD-	.1943		08.Jan.1944	FATAL CAT E in Italy, 2 killed
ND157	?	YD-?	.1943		04.Jan.1944	113 MU
ND169	?	YD-?
ND208	?	YD-?			25.Jan.1944	110 RSU
ND248	?	YD-?
ND258	?	YD-?	11.Jan.1944	114 MU
ND263	?	YD-?
ND295	?	YD-	.1943		24.Nov.1944	FATAL CAT E off Italy, 2 killed
ND312	?	YD-	.1943		13.Nov.1944	FATAL CAT E in Italy, 2 killed
ND322	?	YD-?
T3227	?	YD-?
V8547	?	YD-	.1943		?	?
V8589	?	YD-?
V8847	?	YD-?			01.Feb.1945	?? MU
V8877	?	YD-	.1943		16.Dec.1943	FATAL CAT E in Italy, 2 killed
V8884	?	YD-?	.1943		01.Jan.1944	155 MU
V8896	?	YD-	.1943		23.Aug.1943	FATAL CAT E in Sicily, 2 killed
X8265	?	YD-?
This table is likely to be incomplete. Please report observed omissions/corrections, quoting source. The Squadron’s last operational sortie using a Mk.VI Beaufighter took place on 25.Feb.1945.

Early on in the time period covered by the table above, a solitary Mk.II Beaufighter was attached, with crew, from the RDF Calibration Flight. It fell victim to a "friendly fire" incident blamed on a patrol of USAAF Spitfires:

BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER Mk.IIF in Serial order, Mediterranean Area only
Serial	Mfg S/N	Sqdn Code	Date in	From	Date out	To
V8187	?	?	Seconded to 255 with crew from RDF Calibration Flight, North Africa		27.Aug.1943	FATAL CAT E

The Flying Log Book of "Stew" Stewart (40646 Wing Commander C.L.W STEWART, AFC), 255’s Squadron Leader Feb–Nov 1944, is reported to contain references to the following miscellaneous aircraft being used by the squadron in Mainland Italy:

Hurricane Mk.II serial LB592, used as a comms/liason aircraft,
Spitfire Mk.Vc, serial JK180, similarly deployed. Some records give the serial as KJ180 in error.
A captured German Bücker Bü-181 Bestmann, Werk No.7154, repainted in RAF markings.

No Serial or Werk Numbers have yet been discovered identifying the captured Fiesler Fi.156 Storch and Messerschmidt Bf.108 used in France in the last days of the war.

De HAVILLAND MOSQUITO TIII and XIX in Serial order, Feb.1945–May.1946 All Mk.XIX night fighters fitted with Mk.X A.I., except LR585 which was a dual-control TIII pilot trainer
Serial	Mfg S/N	Sqdn Code	Date in	From	Date out	To
LR585	?	?	.1945		?	SOC 19.7.45
TA127	?	YD-Z	28.Feb.1945	144 MU	06.May.1946	FATAL CAT E in Egypt, 1 killed
TA128	?	YD-L	03.Feb.1945		?	u/c collapsed Hal Far 22.11.45
TA129	?	YD-?	03.Feb.1945		?	u/c collapsed Istres 18.4.45
TA130	?	YD-?	01.Feb.1945	144 MU	?	?
TA131	?	YD-H	11.Feb.1945	144 MU	?	?
TA132	?	YD-?	24.Feb.1945	144 MU	?	?
TA395	?	YD-?	.1945		?	SOC 26.9.46
TA399	?	YD-?	.1945		?	SOC 26.9.46
TA408	?	YD-D	.1945		?	?
TA412	?	YD-?	.1945		?	?
TA427	?	YD-	03.Feb.1945		10.Mar.1945	FATAL CAT E off Corsica, 2 killed
TA428	?	YD-A	26.Jan.1945	Malta	?	?
TA430	?	YD-?	03.Feb.1945		?	?
TA431	?	YD-N	.1945		?	?
TA432	?	YD-?	01.Feb.1945	144 MU	?	?
TA437	?	YD-S	.1945		?	?
TA440	?	YD-G	06.Feb.1945	144 MU	?	?
This table is thought to be a complete list of the Squadron’s T111 and XIX aircraft. Please report suspected omissions/corrections quoting source.

De HAVILLAND MOSQUITO Mk.XXX in Serial order, Apr.1945–May.1946 Otherwise described as NF30, fitted with Mk.X A.I.
Serial	Mfg S/N	Sqdn Code	Date in	From	Date out	To
MV569	?	YD-	.1945		?	SOC 29.10.45
NT246	?	YD-	.1945		?	SOC 31.12.46
This table is thought to be a complete list of the Squadron’s NF30 aircraft. Please report suspected omissions/corrections, quoting source.

Damage categories. This section courtesy of the RAF Museum, Hendon

Cat. U	Undamaged
Cat. M(u)	Capable of being repaired on site by the operating unit
Cat. M(c)	Beyond the unit’s capacity to repair
Cat. R(B)	Repair on site is not possible; the aircraft must be dismantled and sent to a repair facility
Cat. W	Write-off

Cat. U	Undamaged
Cat. A	Aircraft can be repaired on site
Cat. Ac	Repair is beyond the unit capacity, but can be repaired on site by another unit or a contractor
Cat. B	Beyond repair on site, but repairable at a Maintenance Unit or at a contractor’s works
Cat. C	Allocated to Instructional Airframe duties (for ground training)
Cat. E	Write-off
Cat. E1	Write-off, but considered suitable for component recovery
Cat. E2	Write-off and suitable only for scrap
Cat. E3	Burnt out
Cat. Em	Missing from an operational sortie (Missing aircraft were categorised 'Em' after 28 days)

TNA Records available online

The National Archives are (as at January 2015) part-way through copying large parts of their military collection into .pdf form. The results are being made available online, mostly on a pay-per-download basis. All parts of No.255 Squadron’s operational records are already available, but some are highly fragmented. For example AIR27/1518, the Operations Record Book for November 1940 to December 1943, is available but is split into 70 fragments. A key to what’s where appears below.

At a “Have your say” meeting of The National Archives User Forum, held in the Talks Room at Kew on 22 January 2015, a question was put by a representative of 255 Squadron Association regarding the irrational fragmentation of Class AIR27 records generally and AIR27/1518 in particular. It seems that TNA’s management is aware of the problem, but no timetable yet exists for remedial action. An undertaking was given that the microfilm copies will remain available for consultation at TNA Kew until such time as the online copies have been rationalised.

255 Squadron Association has submitted a recommendation that the existing seventy .pdf files be consolidated as follows:

AIR27/1518/1 through AIR27/1518/24 (Reformation in Nov.1940 to Dec.1941)
AIR27/1518/25 through AIR27/1518/46 (The calendar year 1942)
AIR27/1518/47 through AIR27/1518/70 (The calendar year 1943)

There appears to be no good cause to alter the digitisation of AIR27/1519 through AIR27/1522, the rest of The National Archives records relating specifically to No.255 Squadron. Comment is invited.

This table relates TNA Online references to original file/folio numbers and event dates

Online file	Start Date	End Date	Content	From folio	To folio	Footnote(s)
AIR27/1518/1	23.Nov.1940	29.Jan.1941	Form 540	1 side 1	6 side 1	A , B
AIR27/1518/2	08.Jan.1941	15.Jan.1941	Form 541	7 side 1	7 side 1	C
AIR27/1518/3	01.Feb.1941	28.Feb.1941	Form 540	8 side 1	9 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/4	01.Feb.1941	26.Feb.1941	Form 541	10 side 1	11 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/5	01.Mar.1941	31.Mar.1941	Form 540	11A side 1	12 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/6	01.Mar.1941	31.Mar.1941	Form 541	13 side 1	14 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/7	01.Apr.1941	30.Apr.1941	Form 540	15 side 1	16 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/8	05.Apr.1941	30.Apr.1941	Form 541	17 side 1	18 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/9	01.May.1941	31.May.1941	Form 540	19 side 1	20 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/10	01.May.1941	29.May.1941	Form 541	21 side 1	24 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/11	01.Jun.1941	30.Jun.1941	Form 540	25 side 1	26 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/12	01.Jun.1941	30.Jun.1941	Form 541	27 side 1	28 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/13	01.Jul.1941	31.Jul.1941	Form 540	29 side 1	31 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/14	30.Jun.1941	31.Jul.1941	Form 541	32 side 1	34 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/15	01.Aug.1941	30.Aug.1941	Form 540	35 side 1	37 side 1	A
AIR27/1518/16	01.Aug.1941	23.Aug.1941	Form 541	38 side 1	39 side 1	D
AIR27/1518/17	01.Sep.1941	30.Sep.1941	Form 540	40 side 1	41 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/18	26.Sep.1941	30.Sep.1941	Form 541	42 side 1	42 side 1	D
AIR27/1518/19	01.Oct.1941	31.Oct.1941	Form 540	43 side 1	44 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/20	01.Oct.1941	31.Oct.1941	Form 541	45 side 1	46 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/21	01.Nov.1941	30.Nov.1941	Form 540	47 side 1	48 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/22	01.Nov.1941	30.Nov.1941	Form 541	49 side 1	50 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/23	01.Dec.1941	31.Dec.1941	Form 540	51 side 1	53 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/24	01.Dec.1941	31.Dec.1941	Form 541	54 side 1	55 side 2	E
AIR27/1518/25	01.Jan.1942	31.Jan.1942	Form 540	57 side 1	60 side 2	E
AIR27/1518/26	01.Jan.1942	31.Jan.1942	Form 541	60A side 1	61 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/27	01.Feb.1942	28.Feb.1942	Form 540	62 side 1	64 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/28	01.Feb.1942	28.Feb.1942	Form 541	65 side 1	66 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/29	01.Mar.1942	31.Mar.1942	Form 540	67 side 1	70 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/30	01.Mar.1942	31.Mar.1942	Form 541	71 side 1	71 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/31	01.Apr.1942	30.Apr.1942	Form 540	72 side 1	75 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/32	01.Apr.1942	30.Apr.1942	Form 541	76 side 1	77 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/33	01.May.1942	31.May.1942	Form 540	78 side 1	81 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/34	01.May.1942	31.May.1942	Form 541	82 side 1	83 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/35	01.Jun.1942	30.Jun.1942	Form 540	84 side 1	86 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/36	01.Jun.1942	30.Jun.1942	Form 541	87 side 1	89 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/37	01.Jul.1942	31.Jul.1942	Form 540	90 side 1	96 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/38	01.Jul.1942	31.Jul.1942	Form 541	97 side 1	99 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/39	01.Aug.1942	31.Aug.1942	Form 540	100 side 1	101A side 1	None
AIR27/1518/40	02.Aug.1942	31.Aug.1942	Form 541	102 side 1	104 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/41	01.Sep.1942	30.Sep.1942	Form 540	105 side 1	106 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/42	01.Sep.1942	30.Sep.1942	Form 541	107 side 1	107 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/43	01.Oct.1942	30.Nov.1942	Form 540	108 side 1	115 side 1	F
AIR27/1518/44	16.Nov.1942	30.Nov.1942	541 substitute	116 side 1	116 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/45	01.Dec.1942	31.Dec.1942	Form 540	117 side 1	120 side 1	F
AIR27/1518/46	04.Dec.1942	31.Dec.1942	Form 541	121 side 1	127 side 2	G
AIR27/1518/47	01.Jan.1943	31.Jan.1943	Form 540	129 side 1	130 side 1	G
AIR27/1518/48	01.Jan.1943	31.Jan.1943	Form 541	131 side 1	139 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/49	01.Feb.1943	28.Feb.1943	Form 540	140 side 1	140 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/50	01.Feb.1943	28.Feb.1943	Form 541	141 side 1	143 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/51	01.Mar.1943	31.Mar.1943	Form 540	144 side 1	148 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/52	01.Mar.1943	31.Mar.1943	541 Substitute	149 side 1	155 side 1	H
AIR27/1518/53	01.Apr.1943	30.Apr.1943	Form 540	156 side 1	159 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/54	01.Apr.1943	30.Apr.1943	541 Substitute	160 side 1	176 side 1	H
AIR27/1518/55	01.May.1943	31.May.1943	Form 540	177 side 1	178 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/56	01.May.1943	31.May.1943	541 Substitute	179 side 1	194 side 1	H
AIR27/1518/57	01.Jun.1943	30.Jun.1943	Form 540	195 side 1	197 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/58	01.Jun.1943	30.Jun.1943	541 Substitute	198 side 1	208 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/59	01.Jul.1943	31.Jul.1943	Form 540	209 side 1	211 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/60	01.Jul.1943	31.Jul.1943	Form 541	212 side 1	219 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/61	01.Aug.1943	31.Aug.1943	Form 540	220 side 1	222 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/62	01.Aug.1943	31.Aug.1943	Form 541	223 side 1	235 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/63	01.Sep.1943	30.Sep.1943	Form 540	236 side 1	237 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/64	01.Sep.1943	30.Sep.1943	Form 541	238 side 1	249 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/65	01.Oct.1943	31.Oct.1943	Form 540	250 side 1	251 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/66	01.Oct.1943	31.Oct.1943	Form 541	252 side 1	257 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/67	01.Nov.1943	30.Nov.1943	Form 540	258 side 1	260 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/68	01.Nov.1943	30.Nov.1943	Form 541	261 side 1	264 side 1	None
AIR27/1518/69	01.Dec.1943	31.Dec.1943	Form 540	265 side 1	266 side 2	None
AIR27/1518/70	01.Dec.1943	31.Dec.1943	Form 541	267 side 1	272 side 2	None
Online file	Start Date	End Date	Content	From folio	To folio	Footnote(s)
AIR27/1519	01.Sep.1944	31.Aug.1945	Form 449	2 side 1	13 side 2	J
AIR27/1519	01.Feb.1946	31.Feb.1946 [sic]	Form 449	14 side 1	15 side 1	K
AIR27/1519	01.Jan.1944	31.Dec.1945	Forms 540/541	16 side 2	160 side 2	L
AIR27/1519	01.Feb.1946	31.Mar.1946	Form 540	161 side 1	166 side 2	M
Online file	Start Date	End Date	Content	From folio	To folio	Footnote(s)
AIR27/1520	25.Sep.1942	13.Sep.1943	Diary	Front cover	33 side 2	N
Online file	Start Date	End Date	Content	From folio	To folio	Footnote(s)
AIR27/1521	12.Nov.1942	25.Dec.1942	Diary	1 side 1	25 side 1	P
Online file	Start Date	End Date	Content	From folio	To folio	Footnote(s)
AIR27/1522	Estimate: End of November 1944		Callsign list	Inside front cover		Q
AIR27/1522	23.Mar.1943	13.May.1943	Ops. Summary	1 side 1	1 side 1	R
AIR27/1522	31.Oct.1944	21.Jan.1945	Diary	2 side 1	10 side 1	S

FOOTNOTES:

Signed off as if also covering the last day(s) of the month.

No Forms 541 exist for November or December 1940. Squadron non-operational.

No known operational flying outside this date range.

No combat missions whilst retraining on Beaufighters.

Folio 56 is a blank in the original and has not been copied to the .pdf file.

Entries not in strict date order, due to split travel by sea/air.

Folio 128 is a blank in the original and has not been copied to the .pdf file.

See also AIR27/1522 folio 1.

A good place to match Names with Service ("Dog Tag") numbers as well as 'posting in' dates. This 12-month uninterrupted run of surviving Forms 449 is somewhat unusual.

February 1946 had 28 days, it was not a leap year.

Forms 540 and 541 (where existing) are interleaved on a monthly basis.

Records for January 1946 appear to be missing. It is likely that only a 540 ever existed; there are no known incidents that would have given rise to the creation of a 541.

Handwritten. This version documents the move to Africa from the Sea Party’s viewpoint.

Handwritten. This version documents the move to Africa from the Aircrew’s viewpoint.

Date estimate based on presumed date of death of 132071 Flight Lieutenant Thomas William Reynolds and 145097 Flying Officer Roy Edward Rudling.

Logically, this belongs in AIR27/1518. It comprises a typewritten summary of Intruder Operations over Sardinia.

Handwritten.

Combat Reports in respect of WWII fighter activity over England (AIR50/98) are available online but are split at individual crew member level.

World War One service records have, in the main, been declassified and are available online in Class AIR76. See table in our page about WWI History.

Background study applicable to WWI

Admiralty, The (1919). C.B.1515(22) Technical History and Index, Vol.3 Part 22 of The War Work of the Hydrographic Department (1914–1918). London : Technical History Section, Admiralty. This lengthy work, originally secret and for internal use only but now declassified, includes details of the cartographic theory, production, coverage and use of Squared Charts. Short title "TH.22". Available as a .pdf file from the archivist of the UK Hydrographic Office, Taunton.

Brock, D. (1989, 2008). Wings Over Carew, Milford Haven : Forrest Print. A 36-page collection of photographs of RNAS/RAF Pembroke (1915–1920) and RAF Carew Cheriton (1939–1945) plus, in the second edition, details of the restoration of the control tower ("Watch Office") in the years 2000–2008.

Campbell, J. (2013). Royal Air Force Coastal Command, Cirencester : Memoirs Publishing. This comprehensive history of Coastal Command and its constituent parts includes a detailed analysis of the development of anti-submarine aerial warfare, including several specific references to No.255 Squadron as it was in 1918. ISBN 978-1-909544-73-4.

Dyfed Archeological Trust (2012). Twentieth Century Military Sites: Airfields. A threat-related assessment 2011–2012. Downloadable.

Background study applicable to the period between the wars

Lamb, R. (1989). The Drift to War 1922–1939, London : W.H.Allen & Co. Not exactly light reading, this thoroughly researched tome written by an accomplished journalist-historian explores the political and economic turmoil that was Europe in the inter-war years. As with many political commentaries, it is necessary to bear in mind the writer’s own standpoint – in Lamb’s case Liberal with Conservative tendencies, subject to Catholic influence. Born 1911, much of his writing drew on personal experience as a teenager and young adult, as well as the results of his later extensive delving into many archives. However, the work is light on affairs of the Monarchy, the Established Church, the likes of the Mitford sisters and the Right Club in comparison with the author’s in-depth analysis of the motives and actions of mainstream politicians. ISBN 1-85227-116-7.

Background study applicable to WWII

Aarons, N. (2011). "The Aristocrat and the Balkan Communists." Series 1, Episode 13 of Secret War. 50 minute video, Acorn Media, 29 Jun 2011. The background story explaining No.255 Squadron’s involvement in the Balkans.

Beale, N. (2001). Ghost Bombers : The Moonlight War of NSG 9. Crowborough : Classic Publications. ISBN 1-903223-15-6. The background to No.255 Squadron’s involvement in the Battle of Ancona, Italy, July 1944, analysed primarily from the Luftwaffe perspective.

Bingham, V. (1994). Bristol Beaufighter. Shrewsbury : Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-122-2.

Bowyer, C. (1976). Beaufighter at War. London (Shepperton) : Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-0704-7. See especially pages 54 and 60–63. Some errors slipped into these pages. The left hand column of the Tally Board depicted on p.54 lists 255's victories, not 600's, and the Combat Report on p.60 should read "255 Squadron" not 225. It also omits O'Sullivan’s first initial.

Brew, Alex (1996). The Defiant File. Tonbridge : Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-226-2.

Collier, R. and Wilkinson, R. (1990). Dark Peak Aircraft Wrecks 1 (Revised). Barnsley : Leo Cooper. p.28–32. ISBN 0-85052-457-1. Includes photographs of the crash site of N3378. The speculative remarks quoted at p.31 fail to take account of the fact that the pilot of a Defiant had no control over the aircraft’s guns and that the occupant of the Air Gunner’s seat on the day was not trained in the operation of the gun turret. Would "friendly fire" have been returned anyway, had it been possible? Probably not.

Croft, P.L. (1992). A History of No 255 Squadron Royal Air Force. Unpublished typescript held at the RAF Museum, Hendon, as "Object number B3788". This 34-page document contains a number of uncorrected errors. See also annotated update held by 255 Squadron Association.

Croft, P.L. (2011). The Night Fighter World. Brighton : The Book Guild. p.13–40. ISBN 978-1-84624-580-0. Peter Lionel Croft (1920–2012) served with No.255 Squadron as a Navigator, joining at Hibaldstow at the point in time when the Squadron was converting from Defiants to Beaufighters and leaving whilst the Squadron was in Algeria equipped with Mk.VI Beaufighters and Mk.IV AI sets. Regarding the Mk.II Beaufighter issue, he suggests (at p.23) that the Squadron was “in disgrace because of the number of flying accidents that had occurrred” with the Mk.II Beau. He nevertheless concludes, as have others, that the underlying problem was with a mis-match between the airframe and the Rolls-Royce Merlin in-line engines rather than a case of collective incompetence amongst the pilots.

Cross, Sir K. and Orange, V. (1993). Straight and Level. London : Grub Street. This account of the RAF career of Sir Kenneth 'Bing' Cross does not specifically mention No.255 Squadron, but does provide an insight into the Senior Officers’ view of the Tunisian campaign and NACAF (North-west African Coastal Air Force), Bing holding the rank of Air Commodore at the time. Relevant part commences at p.229. ISBN 0-948817-72-0.

Cunningham, A. (1953). Tumult in the Clouds. London : Peter Davies. An authorised reprint of articles that originally appeared during WWII in the Royal Air Force Quarterly. Andrew Cunningham was a nom-de-plume; the author’s true identity being Walter Thomas Cunningham (1911–1979), one time Senior Navigator of No.255 Squadron. The content is not quite as fictitious as the Author’s Note in the preface might suggest. For example, compare pp.166–167 of Tumult with the bibliographic reference Eley, G.W. (1944) below. Publication predates the creation of the ISBN system.

Eley, G.W. (1944). Night Fighting : Five hours of a navigator’s life. Originally written as a private diary record, this account of one No.255 Squadron intruder mission was published by the BBC in 2005 and is archived on The People’s War website.

Goulding, J. and Jones, R. (1970–1971). Camouflage & Markings. London : Ducimus Books. In magazine format, Edition No.9 "Bristol Beaufighter". In book format, p.194–216.

Greaves, D.H. (Posthumous, 2016, re-edited from original manuscript by Marshall, S.). Diary of a Night Fighter Pilot, 1939–1945. Amazon (Kindle option). ISBN 978-09-558909-9-4.

Horlings, H. (2008–2010). Controlling Multi-Engine Airplanes after Engine Failure. Online publication, a mathematical approach to describing the asymmetrical forces at work when a multi-engined aircraft suffers an engine failure.

Kaššák, P. and Gunby, D. (2017). Gardening by Moonlight, Bratislava : Degart. ISBN 978-80-971891-3-6. Available in the UK via the Print-on-Demand service of Lulu.com. Language - English. See especially Chapter 12 (pages 127–134), which deals exclusively with No.255 Squadron’s activities over the Rivers Danube and Sava.

Pretz, B. (1983). A Dictionary of Military and Technological Abbreviations & Acronyms. London, Boston, Melbourne and Henley : Routledge & Kegan Paul. ISBN 0-7100-9274-1.

Rawlings, J.D.R. (1969). Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their aircraft. London : Macdonald. p.359–361. The work perpetuates the ORB’s Le/La Vallon discrepancy regarding airfield names in France. Publication predates the creation of the ISBN system.

Scutts, J. (2004). Bristol Beaufighter. Marlborough : Crowood Press. ISBN 1-86126-666-9.

Skybrary (2013). Engine Failure After Take-Off – Light Twin Engine Aircraft. Online publication, a non-mathematical approach to describing the essentials of retaining control during such an emergency. Page edition date: 13 June 2013.

Watson-Watt, R.A. (1937). Patent GB593017. “Aircraft, marine craft, or other objects are located by radiating intermittent carrier wave pulses and receiving in an indicating receiver the pulses reflected or re-radiated from the object”.

Wisdom, T.H. (1944). Triumph over Tunisia. London : George Allen & Unwin. The author, a Wing Commander and member of the Press Corps, was writing subject to wartime censorship. In consequence, not all squadrons are identified but the first part of Chapter 14, "Hunters of the Night Sky", is linked to No.255 Squadron both explicitly and through the many genuine names of both people and places appearing on pages 110–118.

Wynne-Willson, M.F. (1996, 2003). Before I Forget! Bloomington : 1st Books. Volume One of the autobiography of No.255 Squadron pilot Michael F. Wynne-Willson (1919–2013). His very revealing account of squadron life begins at page 148 and, at page 163, identifies supercharger failures as a relevant factor in many take-off accidents involving Mk.II Beaufighters (Page numbers refer to the 10 May 2001 revision).

Citations and Footnotes

Click on the ^ symbol to return to the text you were reading.

1. ^	TNA : WO201/2639, especially at folio 2a. Original document; requires TNA Readers Ticket to view.
2. ^	Bingham, V. (1994). Bristol Beaufighter. Shrewsbury : Airlife Publishing, p.85. ISBN 1853101222.
3. ^	Pers. Corr. with Squadron Leader Mike Dean, MBE, of the Historical Radar Archive.
4. ^	Halley, J.J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988, Tonbridge : Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd, p.323. ISBN 0851301649.
5. ^	TNA : AIR27/1518 and AIR27/1519, various folios.
6. ^	Personal papers of the late Freddie Lammer held in the Lammer Family Archive.
7. ^	Pratt, D. and Grant, M. (1998). Wings Across the Border : History of Aviation in NE Wales and the Northern Marches, Vol.1. ISBN 9781872424750.
8. ^	Gathered together from Patrol Reports contained in multiple files within TNA Class AIR1.

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