No. 225 Squadron RAF

No. 225 Squadron RAF
Active	1 April 1918 - 18 December 1918 11 October 1939 - 7 January 1947 1 January 1960 - 1 November 1965
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Motto	We guide the sword

No. 225 Squadron RAF was formed on 1 April 1918 at Alimini, Italy from part of No. 6 Wing RNAS, and was equipped with Sopwith Camels. The squadron disbanded on 18 December 1918.

On 11 October 1939 the squadron was reformed at Odiham from 'B' flight of No. 614 Squadron, equipped with Westland Lysanders. In 1942 the squadron re-equipped with Hawker Hurricanes and North American Mustangs. After participating in the allied invasion of Tunisia "Operation Torch", the squadron began converting to Supermarine Spitfires in January 1943.

In September 1944 the squadron returned to Italy after the invasion of Southern France, where it remained until disbanding on 7 January 1947.

It was reformed on 1 January 1960, from the Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit, equipped with Bristol Sycamores and Westland Whirlwinds. The squadron was based at Andover until moving to Odiham in May 1960, and then Malaysia in November 1963. The squadron disbanded on 1 November 1965.

Aircraft operated

• 1918 Sopwith 1½ Strutter
• 1918 Hamble Baby Convert
• 1918 Sopwith Camel
• 1939-1940 Westland Lysander II
• 1940-1942 Westland Lysander III
• 1942 Hawker Hurricane II & IIC
• 1942 North American Mustang I
• 1942-1943 Hawker Hurricane IIB
• 1943 Supermarine Spitfire VB
• 1943 North American Mustang II
• 1943-1945 Supermarine Spitfire VC
• 1944-1946 Supermarine Spitfire IX
• 1960-1962 Bristol Sycamore HC14
• 1960-1962 Westland Whirlwind HC2
• 1961-1965 Westland Whirlwind HC10

Squadron Codes

225 Squadron aircraft wore two different squadron codes during the period 1939-1947.

Code LX was allocated in April 1939 and worn until April 1942.

Code WU was used from April - July 1942, then February 1943 - January 1947.

Notable members

• Leonard E.H. Williams, CBE, DFC, (1919–2007).
• Stanley Waldman
• Air Commodore Geoffrey Millington, Commanding Officer, 225 Squadron and author of `The Unseen Eye'.

Surviving aircraft

Three aircraft that were operated by 225 Squadron during WW2 are known to survive. They are:

• Westland Lysander III R9125 coded LX-L, RAF Museum, Hendon, London

link: http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/collections/aircraft/westland-lysander-iii.cfm

This aircraft was used by the Squadron for reconnaissance patrols along the south coast of England between September 1940 and April 1941.

• Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX EN 199, operated by 225 Squadron in Italy during World War II, was restored in the 1990s and is now on static display at the Malta Aviation Museum.

Link: http://www.maltaviationmuseum.com/spitfire.asp This Spitfire was photographed at Florence, Italy wearing the code WU-S.

• Supermarine Spitfire IXc PV270 was flown on Army Co-operation missions by 225 Squadron during March–April 1945. It was restored to flying condition over 8 years by a team led by Brendon Deere in New Zealand. The first post-restoration flight was on 18 March 2009. This aircraft currently resides at RNZAF Ohakea airbase and may be seen flying at displays in New Zealand. [link:

http://www.spitfirepv270.co.nz/

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1980. ISBN 0-85130-083-9.
• Jefford, C.G., Wing Commander MBE, BA, RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1998 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
• Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (Second edition 1976). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.

• Millington, G., Air Commodore, RAF, "The Unseen Eye", London, 1961.