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No.54 Sqn RAF - Squadron Profile.

No.54 Sqn RAF

Founded : 15th May 1916
Country : UK
Fate :
Known Aircraft Codes : KL, DL, HF

Audax omnia perpeti - Boldness to endure anything

No. 54 Squadron was formed on the 5th of May 1916 at Castle Bromwich. The squadron was equipped with BE2C's and Avro 504's and was part of the home defence force. Shortly after 54 squadron changed to day fighter duties and moved to France then equipped with Sopwith Pups. Their role was to escort bombers and attack observation balloons. Near the end of the great war 54 squadron was re -quipped with Sopwith Camels and tasked with ground attack as well as fighter sorties. In February 1919, the squadron returned to RAF Yatesbury and on 2nd October 1919 54 squadron was disbanded. On the 15th of January 1930, 54 squadron was reformed at RAF Hornchurch as a fighter squadron equipped initially with Siskin aircraft. The Siskins were subsequently replaced with Bulldog fighters and in September 1936 54 squadron was re-equipped with Gloster Gauntlets and in April 1937, they recieved Gloster Gladiators. In March 1939 the squadron recieved the new Supermarine Spitfire. After the outbreak of world war two, 54 Squadron was given the duties of patrolling the Kent coast, until having to support and give air cover to the evacuation of Dunkirk in May and June 1940. The squadron was heavily involved during the Battle of Britain until November 1940 and after the Battle of Britain had ceased the squadron moved in November 1940 to RAF Castletown where its duties were coastal patrols. In June 1942 the squadron moved to RAF Wellingore to prepare for the squadron moving to Australia. In January 1943 54 squadron joined No.1 Wing of the Royal Australian Air Force. The Spitfires of the squadron were given the role of air defence duties against Japanese air attacks in the Darwin area. After the war had ended 54 squadron was disbanded in Melbourne on the 31st of October 1945, although the squadron name continued when on the 15th of November 1945 No.183 Squadron was renumbered 54 Squadron and flew initially Hawker Tempests. Taking up jet aircraft, the squadron subsequently used Vampires, Meteors, Hunters, Phantom and Jaguars before disbanding on 11th March 2005. 54 Squadron reformed on 5th September 2005 as an ISTAR (Intelligence Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance ) unit equipped with Sentry, Nimrod and Sentinel aircraft.

No.54 Sqn RAF


Latest No.54 Sqn RAF Artwork Releases !
 The afternoon of 25th July 1940 was a desperate one for the already exhausted fighter pilots of the RAF defending the South coast of England.  As convoy CW8 made its way through the English Channel, sixty JU.87 Stukas and forty JU.88 bombers launched a brutal attack on the ships below, backed up by fighter cover of over 50 Messerscmitt Bf.109s.  Eight Spitfires of 64 Sqn (Kenley) were scrambled, together with twelve Spitfires of 54 Sqn (Hornchurch) and Hurricanes of 111 Sqn from Croydon.  The British pilots found themselves massively outnumbered, but nevertheless put up a spirited fight against the teeming enemy.  This painting shows Spitfires of 54 Sqn entering the fray, the pilots scattering as they choose their targets and go after the JU.87s. To the right of this, Bf.109Es of JG.26 are roaring in to join battle, whilst Adolf Galland's aircraft engages a Hurricane of 111 Sqn.

A Day for Heroes by Ivan Berryman. (PC)
 Adolf Galland claimed his 16th victory on the afternoon of 25th July 1940 when Spitfires of 54 Sqn were bounced by Messerschmitt Bf.109s of Gallands III/JG26.  A fierce battle ensued off Dover during which F/Lt Basil <i>Wonky</i> Way, flying R6707, found himself the subject of the great German aces attention, his stricken aircraft being observed to plunge into the sea after receiving numerous hits from the Bf.109s guns. F/Lt Way lost his life in the crash, presumed drowned.

Victory Above Dover by Ivan Berryman. (PC)
 The Spitfires of 54 Squadron, quickly scrambled from nearby Hornchurch, clash with the Me109s from 1./JG51 over Kent.  Below, Me110s from KPRG210 are about to receive unwelcome attention as the rest of the Spitfires hurtle down upon them and in the distance, a group of Hurricanes rip through a dense formation of Do17s from KG76 as they struggle back to France.  What clouds there are will be unlikely to give much sanctuary and, for the onlookers on the ground far below, the skies will soon be filled with weaving trails of smoke and debris. For nearly a week the Luftwaffe had thrown everything they had into the attack on southern England in order to annihilate RAF Fighter Command, in preparation for Operation Sealion, the invasion of Britain.  And, heavily outnumbered, the young RAF Spitfire and Hurricane pilots of Fighter Command had so far repelled them, at a cost.  But on Sunday 18 August 1940, the Germans launched the heaviest formations of aircraft seen in the battle so far.  This was to be a grinding day of relentless assaults on the airfields of southern England, the hardest day of the Battle of Britain.

Valiant Response by Robert Taylor.
 On August 12th, 1940 the Luftwaffe turned their full attention to the RAF's forward fighter bases and radar stations with the intent to obliterate them once and for all.  The outcome of the Battle of Britain hung in the balance.  It was late in the afternoon of Sunday, 18 August 1940.  The previous week had seen the hardest days of fighting in the Battle of Britain as the young pilots of the RAF Fighter Command had engaged in deadly duels with the Luftwaffe.  Bystanders gazed cautiously upwards at the weaving contrails in the clear blue skies over southern England as they anxiously awaited the outcome.  For just a moment, all was at peace:  A gentle breeze floated across the airfield at RAF Hornchurch as the exhausted young pilots of 54 Squadron could rest for a few brief minutes and reflect on their own previous two encounters with the enemy that day.  The Luftwaffe had thrown everything at them in the past few days, but today had been the toughest of them all.  And then the calm was shattered by the shrill tones of the alarm, the Luftwaffe had launched another huge raid of over 300 aircraft across the Channel, and it looked like Hornchurch was the target.  Hornchurch Scramble, portrays the moment as 54 Squadron's commanding officer, Squadron Leader James Leathart, taxis out at Hornchurch to prepare for take-off.  Quickly following, the aircraft of New Zealander Colin Gray is guided out from dispersal by his ground crew.  Gray would claim 3 Bf110s in the encounter and would eventually become the top scoring New Zealand Ace of the war.

Hornchurch Scramble by Robert Taylor.

No.54 Sqn RAF Artwork Collection
Click the images below to view the fantastic artwork we have available to purchase!



Spitfires of No.54 squadron during the Battle of Britain by Graeme Lothian. (P)


A Quick Despatch by Ivan Berryman.


Clipped Signature - Stuart Nigel Rose.


Clipped Signature - Chris Taylor.


Spitfire Over Tower Bridge by John Young. (AP)


Victory Above Dover by Ivan Berryman.


A Day for Heroes by Ivan Berryman.


Hornchurch Scramble by Robert Taylor.


Valiant Response by Robert Taylor.


Richthofens Flying Circus by Nicolas Trudgian.


54(F) Squadron Farewell by Michael Rondot

Aces for : No.54 Sqn RAF
A list of all Aces from our database who are known to have flown with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking the pilots name.
NameVictoriesInfo
Colin Falkland Gray27.50
Alan Christopher Deere22.00The signature of Alan Christopher Deere features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
D A P McMullen19.00
Ernest James Salter9.00
George Henry Hackwill9.00
Francis Mansel Kitto9.00
Reginald Stuart Maxwell9.00
Bob Foster7.00The signature of Bob Foster features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Henry Hollingdrake Maddocks7.00
Oliver Manners Sutton7.00
Frank Neville Hudson6.00
William Victor Strugnell6.00
Michael Edward Gonne5.00
George Arthur Hyde5.00
Oliver Stewart5.00