No. 639 Squadron RAF

No. 639 Squadron RAF
Active	1 December 1943 - 30 April 1945
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	anti aircraft co-operation
Part of	No. 70 Group RAF, Fighter Command[1]
Base	RAF Cleave
Insignia
Squadron Codes	R9 (Dec 1943 - Apr 1945)[2]

No. 639 Squadron RAF was an anti aircraft co-operation squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1945.

History

The squadron was formed at RAF Cleave on 1 December 1943, from 1602 Flight, 1603 Flight, 1604 Flight and 1618 Flight^[3] for anti-aircraft co-operation duties with the Hawker Henley. The main role was to provide target towing duties over Cornwall. In addition the Hawker Hurricane was used as a radar target and to fly low-level simulated attacks on troops. The squadron was disbanded on 30 April 1945.^[4][5]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 639 Squadron RAF, data from^[4][5][6]

From	To	Aircraft	Version
December 1943	April 1945	Hawker Henley	Mk.III
August 1944	April 1945	Hawker Hurricane	Mks.IIc, IV

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 639 Squadron RAF, data from^[4][5][6]

From	To	Base	Remarks
1 December 1943	30 April 1945	RAF Cleave, Cornwall	Dets. at RAF Portreath, Cornwall and RAF Perranporth, Cornwall

See also

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons

References

Notes

1. ^ Delve 1994, p. 72.
2. ^ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 104.
3. ^ Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 128.
4. ^ ^{a b c} Rawlings 1982, p. 258.
5. ^ ^{a b c} Halley 1988, p. 443.
6. ^ ^{a b} Jefford 2001, p. 102.

Bibliography

• Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1994. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
• Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
• Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
• Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE,BA,RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
• Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
• Sturtivant, Ray, ISO and John Hamlin. RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.

External links

• History of No. 639 Squadron
• Nos. 621-650 Squadron Histories on RAFweb

Related content