No. 124 Wing RAF

Summary

No. 124 Wing RAF was a Hawker Typhoon Wing of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. It comprised No. 137 Squadron RAF, No. 181 Squadron RAF, No. 182 Squadron RAF and No. 247 (China-British) Squadron RAF.

No. 124 Wing RAF
No. 124 (Rocket Projectile) Wing RAF
Active1944-46
1953-57
Country United Kingdom
BranchRoyal Air Force
RoleClose air support
SizeWing
Part ofRAF Second Tactical Air Force
Aircraft flown
AttackHawker Typhoon

On 10 June 1944 the wing took part in the Attack on Panzer Group West's headquarters at La Caine. Prior to the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, the headquarters of Panzer Group West was established in the Chateau at La Caine. On 9 June 1944, three days after the Normandy landings, the headquarters' location was revealed to British Intelligence by deciphering of German signals traffic.[1] On 10 June 1944, aircraft of the Second Tactical Air Force bombed the village.[1] The raid was carried out by 40 rocket-armed Typhoons of No. 124 Wing (consisting of Nos. 181, 182 and 247 Squadrons) which attacked in three waves from low altitude and by 61 Mitchells of No. 137 and 139 Wings (comprising Nos 226, 98, 180 and 320 Squadrons) which dropped 500 lb bombs from 12,000 ft.[2]

The wing was active from 12 December 1944 until 30 April 1946 as a Rocket Projectile unit and from 1 April 1953 - 2 October 1957 as a fighter unit.[3]

On 1 July 1956, the wing was part of No. 2 Group RAF, RAF Second Tactical Air Force and located at RAF Oldenburg.[4] It comprised No. 14 Squadron RAF, 20 Squadron, and 26 Squadron, all flying Hawker Hunters.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "D-Day 1944 Air Power Over the Normandy Beaches and Beyond". HyperWar Foundation. Archived from the original on 9 May 2007. Retrieved 23 April 2007.
  2. ^ RAF Air Historical Branch Records (typed manuscript), The Liberation of North-West Europe - Operation "Overlord", Volume 3 - The Landings in Normandy, pages 129 and 130.
  3. ^ Air of Authority, Wings 111-192 Archived 6 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine, verified October 2011
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 March 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)