RAF HARROWBEER
YELVERTON
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193 SquadronThe moto translates as: "To govern the air and the earth" © Crown Copyright: Marks of the Secretary of State for Defence and used with their permission. |
A Brief History of 193 Squadron
193 Squadron originally formed as a training squadron in WWI but to all intents and purposes, it re-formed at RAF Harrowbeer in December 1942. According to the Squadron's ORB, its early days were marked by a lack of pilots, and planes! New arrivees were forced into borrowing aircraft from other squadrons just to get flying practice. Eventually, the Squadron took delivery of the new Typhoon aircraft. (As you will see from the notes of Ed Mckay, these weren't very reliable aircraft to start with and several fatal accidents were recorded against them in the early days.)
After becoming fully operational, the Squadron was tasked with intercepting enemy raiders crossing the Channel and attacking South Coast targets. It also assisted in providing cover for anti-shipping missions and then later on, it was used in the fighter-bomer role. Once the war in Europe moved away from the Channel, 193 moved from RAF Harrowbeer to airfields in France, following the frontline as it moved eastwards. 193 Squadron disbanded in August 1945.
Additional information:
with permission from - http://www.amnesta.net/other/index_mcbride.html
"No. 193 Squadron existed, I believe, during the last war, simply as a training squadron and no records exist now to show the type of aircraft with which it was equipped, nor any of the operations in which it took part. During the demobilization in 1919, the Squadron lapsed again into just a number, and to all intents and purposes it really formed at Harrowbeer [Airfield, near Yelverton, 10 miles north of Plymouth, on the far southwest coast of England] in September 1942, with Typhoon aircraft. [193 Squadron was formed and mostly remained at Harrowbeer until February 20, 1944.]
It was designated one of the "Brazilian" Squadrons in honor of our ally (if such she is), Brazil. The inauguration ceremonies before the Brazilian staff in October 1943 at Harrowbeer are still remembered in the squadron with a great deal of hilarity. The day in question was stormy with a high wind and pouring with rain. A grand parade was held, however, and a number of aircraft handed over with due formality to the squadron, whilst the Ambassador and various other personages of note made speeches suitable to the occasion. A recording unit operated the while, preserving the words of the night for transmission to posterity, and incidentally to Brazil radio.
A ceremonial fly past had been arranged, but due to the appalling weather, it was thought best not to attempt it and as a last resort, the brilliant idea of a solemn "taxi past" the saluting base was formulated. When put into effect, a formulation of nine aircraft came weaving up the field, strung out in a Vic [an inflexible V-shape that was the RAF's standard tactical fighter formation until it was outmoded in the spring of 1941], past the ranks of rain soaked ground-staff and the very important personages; the whole unimpressive show being totally marred by the fact that one of the wing men, in his frantic effort to keep his position, taxied straight into the recording van and wrote off completely the records of the historic occasion, together with the van, and most of his aircraft. The remaining eight returned without further loss."
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An undated photo of 193
Squadron and two of their Typhoon aircraft. The aircrew back-centre
are standing on the end of the middle arm of a dispersal bay. The
photo must have been taken with a panoramic camera (like the old school
photos) with the two planes turned to face inwards. Note the two civilians
standing at either end of the line-up. Could they be Hawker personnell? |
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193 squadron pilots at readiness From L to
R: Ian Ross; Peter Thorne(?); V-J; Kilpatrick; Davidge; Lowe; Richardson;
Switzer; unknown. |
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On the left,
Flt/Lt F H R Hulbert pictured at Harrowbeer
with his Hawker Typhoon 1A in 1943. On the right, Ray in his Uniform. © Andrew Smith |
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The photo on the left is the famous "pilots scrambling during the Battle Of Britain" photo. Ray Hulbert is third from left. The photo on the right, of pilots playing cricket, (RH crouched in the centre) must have been taken at the same time! Note the planes in the background! The line up is identical! |
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193 Squadron Pilots A group photo
of 193 Squadron pilots taken in 1943. |
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193 Squadron ~ 16th October 1943 A formal picture
of 193 Squadron taken on the 16th October 1943, |
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Ed Mckay ~ Canadian Typhoon Pilot Studio picture taken by a professional photographer in the Ritz Hotel, Piccadilly, in 1943. Ed is a regular contributor to the website, read his memories of Harrowbeer etc on the reminiscences page. |
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193 Sqdn Reunion Former members
of 193 Sqdn gathered around the memorial stone at Harrowbeer during
a reunion visit. |
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On the 21st September 2008, Chris Woodcock arranged for former 193 Squadron members, (L to R) Percy Beake, David Ince and 'Doc' Chapman, to formally present 193 Squadron's crest to the RAF Club in London. The Squadron's crest now joins all the other crests attached to the famous Club's walls. |
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A Typhoon
IIB of 193 Sqdn taxis out from one of the dispersal bays |
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