No. 35 Squadron
Badge:
A horse's head winged.
The badge commemorates co-operation with the Calvary during the First World
War.
Motto: "uno animo agimus" ("We act with one accord").
Authority: King Edward VIII, October, 1936
Unofficial W.W.2 name:
"Shrewsbury's 'own' squadron".
Based at Upwood from:
(February 1940 - April 1940)
Type of Aircraft:
Bristol Blenheim Mk. IV (November 1939 - April 1940)
Avro Anson (July 1939 - April 1940)
Canberra B.2.s (April 1954 - September 1961)
No. 35 Squadron R.F.C. was first
formed in 1st February 1916 at Thetford Norfolk, from the nucleus flight of
No.9 (Reserve) Squadron, R.F.C. In June it moved to Narboroughto complete
training and at the end of January, 1917 the Squadron went to France equipped
with Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8s for army co-operation duties. It remained
attached to the Cavalry Corps until March, 1918. It returned to England in
March 1919, and in June was disbanded at Netheravon.
35 Squadron reformed in March 1929 as a bomber squadron at Bircham Newton,
Norfolk equipped with D.H.9A's, but soon replaced with Fairey IIIF's. Then
in 1932 came Gordons. In October 1935 the squadron went to Sudan after the
italians had invaded Abyssinia, to reinforce the Middle east command, they
stayed for ten months. Once back in England their new base was Worthy Down
and during the latter part of 1937 they exchanged there Gordons for Wellesleys.
A move to Cottesmore in 1938 and re-equipped with Battles.
Following the outbreak of the Second World War, No. 35 Squadron was for some
months employed as a training unit. In April, 1940 (by which time the squadron
was equipped with Blenheims) it lost its identity on being absorbed into No.
17 Operational Training unit at RAF Upwood
In 1940 the Squadron reformed for the express purpose of introducting the
new Handley Page Halifax into operational service. 11th/12th March 1941 saw
its first Sorties in Halifaxes when the target was Le Havre. Six aircraft
were dispatched.
During the rest of 1941 the squadron bombed a variety of targets in Germany
and occupied France, some been in daylight. In July 1941 saw No 35 squadron
bomb Berlin for the first time. Two Halifaxes were dispatched and the pilot
of the only one known to have reached and bombed the target was none other
than Flying Officer-as he then was G. L. Cheshire, now Group Captain G. L.
Cheshire, V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C., R.A.F.
In February 1942 it was 35 squadron which attempted to stop the German warships
Scharnhorst and Gneisenau during the escape dash from Brest to North German
ports.
No 35 Squadron was one of the first five squadrons to join the Pathfinder
Force in August 1942 with the object of securing more concentrated and effective
bombing by marking targets with incendiary bombs and flares dropped by experienced
crews using the latest navigational equipment.
Awards gained by squadron members:
19 D.S.O.'s six bars to D.S.O.'s
1 M.C.
295 D.F.C.'s 27 bars to the D.F.C.'s
4 C.G.M.'s
173 D.F.M.'S and 2 bars to D.F.M.'s
The squadron converted from Lancasters to Lincolns in 1949 but a few months later the squadron disbanded in February 1950. September 1951 it re-formed with Washington aircraft supplied to Britain by the United States Under the U.S. Military Aid Programme. In Spring 1954 its Washingtons gave place to the Canberras. Two and a half years later several of its aircraft were detached to Cyprus to reinforce other Canberra squadrons during the Middle East crisis. It disbanded again in September 1961 which would have made it one of the last flying squadrons to leave RAF Upwood.
35 Squadron Losses while stationed at Upwood
6th April 1940
Blenheim IV P6918
Training
Sgt J D Stein died
Written off in a take-off crash from Upwood aerodrome
Canberra Days by John Kirk
RAF UPWOOD 1957 - 58
I served at RAF Upwood from April 1957 to December 1958. I was
posted to 35 Sqn equipped with Canberra B2 aircraft operating in the high
level light bomber role as part of Bomber Command. The Canberrra had entered
RAF service in 1951 and when the build up was completed there were 28 squadrons
in the Command. The unit was an enlarged sqn formed from the amalgamation
of 18 and 35 Sqns. Other units operating at Upwood at the time were 50 and
61 Sqns. Each sqn was commanded by a Wing Commander and divided into 2 flights
commanded by a Squadron Leader.
A Canberra B2 carried a crew of 3; pilot, navigator/plotter and navigator/radar
(observer). Apart from the 3 senior officers, crews were made up of junior
officers. By this stage there were very few SNCO aircrew in the Canberra force.
The life of a squadron Canberra crew was governed by two regimes: basic training
requirements and the Bomber Command Aircrew Classification scheme. The former
was designed to ensure that each crew member completed the minimum requirements
needed to maintain the necessary level of competence during a given period.
With regard to the latter, a new crew was initially categorised Unclassified,
which meant that they were unqualified to fly on operations. Flying hours
were therefore allocated to a crew to achieve Combat status as quickly as
possible, which meant meeting minimum competence in the role i.e. achieving
the necessary standards as a crew in navigation and bombing. As a crew became
more experienced it progressed through the classification system to Select
status.
A crew would fly approx. 300 hours a year. A sortie lasted about 2hrs 50 mins
and was largely carried out at heights between 35000 - 45000 feet while cruising
at about 460mph. On a typical training flight the aircraft would be loaded
with up to 8 x 25lb practice bombs which would be released at one of several
bombing ranges around the UK, mainly in the Wash area. Bombing was carried
out using a radar system called GH or visually using the Mk XIV bombsight.
There were also regular Station or Command exercises, involving all the squadrons,
that were used to test fighter and ground radar defences as well as crew's
individual navigation and bombing skills.
High level visual bombing practice up to 45000ft was carried out abroad. A
sqn would fly off on detachment to Malta and conduct bombing exercises against
a sea target at Filfla off Malta or practice ranges in Libya. A crew could
also be detailed to fly abroad on a Lone Ranger exercise to an RAF station
in the Mediterranean or Middle East. This exercise tested a crew's ability
to operate away from base; crew members carried out their own basic servicing
for which they had to pass a Bomber Command Basic Efficiency Examination.
A crew would be allocated a Lone Ranger about once a year and was a very popular
break from the normal routine.
When not flying, crews had to complete a programme of ground training. Requirements
varied widely and included: dinghy and parachute drills; aircraft recognition;
survival lectures; regular 12-mile walks to build up stamina; and escape and
evasion exercises. Aircrews were also encouraged to participate in sport to
maintain fitness.
I left Upwood on posting to RAF Shawbury but the Canberra sqns operated there
for some time afterwards. Both 35 and 50 Sqns were eventually re-equipped
with the Vulcan.
John Kirk
35 Squadron Upwood
35 and 61 Squadron Canberra taken at Upwood open day 1959
This Canberra was also used as the Upwood Gate Guardian
Also clearly seen on the tail is the Upwood imp, a Red Lion
35 Squadron Canberra's at Upwood
Thanks to Ken Delve for the use of this picture
35 Squadron Receiving the colours
35 squadron March Past
Preparation to receive the colours
Receiving the colours
Many thanks to Robert Chorley for sending me the pictures
Sean Edwards