Sep 1939 to June 1940 150 Squadron AASF Fairey Battle’s involved

K9483 Shot down near Bulson 14 May 1940 Plt Off Arthur Posselt; Sgt Donald Bowen; AC2 Norman Vano (18) all Kia.

The 150 Squadron were active in France as part of the Advanced Air Strike Force from 2^nd September 1939 to 17^th June 1940. During that time there were some 480 personnel based in the unit to support and crew their quota of 16 Fairey Battle aircraft. On the 2^nd September 39 the unit flew 14 Fairey Battles from Benson to Challerange along with one Miles Magister. On 12^th September they relocated to Ecury sur Coole and flew 16 Fairey battles to their new base. Of the original 16 planes 10 were lost with 14 crew killed and 8 injured.

During their stay in France a total of 57 planes were allocated to the unit over the period trying to maintain 16 fully functional planes ready for combat, 29 planes were lost either through combat or accidents. The sad part is that of these brave men 36 were killed in action with a further 13 injured and 13 made prisoners of war.

Below are compiled all the aircraft involved as per the records available, it just gives a picture of 150 Squadron’s involvement with the AASF and lists what happened to the crews. It is organized in a timeline arrival to departure. Note the JN-? numbers are as accurate as possible.

We should remember these lads who put their lives in the line of fire knowing the odds. Where I have photos of them I will put them in so if you have a photo of an individual please send it to me so we can put faces on these heros.

	2 Sep 39 150 Squadron move from Benson UK to Challerange, France
L5225	Flown Benson to Challerange Sgt Pay  2 Sep 39.
L4947	Flown Benson to Challerange Sgt Beale 2 Sep 39 airborne 17 flights 3 of which were photography. This plane  ended up in Canada
K9392	Flown Benson to Challerange Sgt Andrews 2 Sep 39. After 27 flights in France, P/O Gulley Force landed at Sedan on 14/2/40 after which the plane did not reappear in 150 squadron.  The plane survived  then transferred to the SAAF on 09/07/41 where it became 981.
K9380	Flown Benson to Challerange Barker 2 Sep 39. Completed 24 flights in France. This plane eventually ended up in Australia and was lost in an training air collision.
P2394	Miles Magister p2394 Flown Benson to Challerange by P/O Weeks 3 Sep 39 left there and later went to 103 sq.
K9389	9 Sep 1939  recon first operation for 150 squadron from Challerange. Completed 16 flights in France
	12 Sep 1939 150 squadron move to Ecury sur Coole with 16 Fairey Battles
L4945	17 Sep 1939  recon survived. Completed 22 flights in France. Ended up in 15 Elementary Flight Training School EFTS Redhill UK
K9379	20 Sep 39 2.5 hour recon F/O Beale all ok. Completed 21 flights in France.
L5225	JN-L Crashes on takeoff from Ecury-sur-Coole on September 20, 1939. P/O James Lionel Calvert, Sgt Thomas B Woodmason, AC John Leonard Marsh (18), all killed P/O James Lionel Calvert, Sgt Thomas B Woodmason, AC John Leonard Marsh (18) Source  And David Marsh
K9283	JN-P Crash landed and destroyed at Ecury-sur-Coole on September 30, 1939 after combat. Sqn Ldr MacDonald, AC1 Alexander Murcar (inj), Sgt Fred Gardiner (inj) Sq Ldr. MacDonald
K9387	JN-R Shot down by Bf 109 on 30 September 1939. Fg Off Fernald Corelli kia, Sgt Leslie Bartle Webber bailed ok , AC Kenneth Vear Gay kia, Fernald Corelli
K9484	JN-Y Shot down by Bf 109s over Germany 30 September 1939. Plt. Off John Saunders (aged 20), and WOp/AG AC1 Donald Thomas (19) died but the observer, Sgt George J. Springett, ” Spike” baled out over German territory and was made a POW. He was born in Kildare Ireland. Sgt. G. J Springett 1938
N2028	JN-T ?Shot down by Bf 109 on 30 September 1939. Plt Off. Michael Arnold Poulton with Sgt Thomas Arthur Bates and AC1 Henry Ernest Albert Rose all bailed ok. But injuries. Poulton returned to the unit after recovery on 14/03/1940
N2093	JN-W Shot down by Bf 109 on 30 September 1939.Flt Lt Anthony E. Hyde-Parker bailed injured, with his observer, Sgt William Frederick  Cole (30 kia), and WOp/AG AC1 Denis Edmund Jones injured. Anthony Hyde-Parker
L4942	4 Nov 39 Formation flying, replacement battle arrived from Benson on 3 Oct 1939 flown by P/O Bennett. Ended up in No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School. Ontario
K9204	9 Oct 1939 arrived as a replacement Aircraft but after testing proved to be unserviceable. Later went to 142 Sqdn. Eventually joining the RCAF in 1941 as a training aircraft.
K9417	was replacement on 15/10/39 , Dec 39  Formation flying,and was in the air 9 times, eventually ended up in Canada as a training craft
L4948	JN-F ? Crashes while landing at night in Perpignan on March 3, 1940. over ran landing strip All Ok. This plane never returned to the Squadron. On the  24/10/39 this plane was fitted with a mockup of a gun from observer position. Is Fairey Battle JN-F  L4948 ? read the examination  Is Fairey Battle JN-F L4948 Possibly L4948 Photo supplied by Dave
P2244	Crashed at St Hilaire-le-Grand during an exercise on March 31, 1940. P/O David Devoto, Sgt Clifford Wall, AC William F. Taylor, all killed David Devoto
?	Accidentally destroyed by fire at Ecury-sur-Coole on April 22, 1940. faulty parachute flare
K9369	JN-G. Damaged on May 10, 1940 and abandoned at Ecury-sur-Coole. Did a belly landing P/O Walter Michael Blom, Sgt Ernest Desmond (DFC) Martin, AC Clifford Cooper All safe. Walter Michael Blom Source Walter Michael Blom
K9390	JN-I. Crash Landed  in Merl on May 10, 1940.  F/Lt Eric Parker kia, Sgt John Whalley, PoW, AC Rodney Kenneth Rye, PoW Eric Parker
L5539	JN-B Shot down near Thionville on May 10, 1940. Sgt Raymond White, Sgt CWK Booth, LAC Robert Henley Burrows. All returned safely on 13th Carl William Kay Booth as a teenager image supplied by family.
L5540	JN-C. Shot down at Bonnevoie on 10 May 1940. Three PoWs. F/O A. C. Roberts, Sgt E. H. Ward, AC David Meyrick Arthur Charles Roberts and David Meyrick
P2335 ?	Damaged by by bombs at Ecury-sur-Coole on May 11, 1940.
P2334	Destroyed by bombs at Ecury-sur-Coole on May 11, 1940. P2334 bombed out remains in the foreground.
P2262	12 May 40 attack mechanized column near Bertrik
P2184	JN-P 12 May 1940 Returned to base badly damaged by AA fire during attack on enemy column between Neufchâteau and Bertrix 3.00 p.m. Sergeant S. E. Andrews, Sergeant N. J. Ingram, and LAC H. R. Figg all unhurt. Aircraft JN*P damaged but repairable – abandoned May 15. P2184 was a replacement on 4 /10/39 It flew 22 missions while in France. More info Here Sydney Earnest Andrews P2184 Image supplied by Dave
P2336	JN-M Shot down near Neufchâteau on May 12, 1940. Three killed. P/O Ian Campbell-Irons, Sgt. Thomas Roy Barker and LAC Reg Hinder Fairey Battle JN-M at No 21 Aircraft Depot Nantes.Château Bougen. This not P2336 probably a replacement as P2336’s bombload exploded   B/W Photo supplied by Dave Thomas Roy Barker
P2179	Plt Off Peacock-Edwards, Sgt. H A Scott, AC Dearnley  all ok P2179. 14/May/40 attacked pontoon bridges. P2179 was a replacement on 5/10/39 F/O Peacock – Edwards full image here Ivan George Dearnley Source Harry Alexander Scott source
K9483	Shot down in the Sedan sector on May 14, 1940. Plt. Off Arthur Posselt; Sgt. Donald Bowen; AC2 Norman Vano (18) Kia. Arthur Posselt 21, Donald Bowen 21, Norman Vano 18 K9483 did 17 flights while in France
L4946	JN-W Shot down at Donchéry on May 14, 1940. Ft Off John Ing; Sgt. John Turner; AC1 William Nolan (from Limerick) ,all Kia John Ing 25, John D. Turner 25, William Nolan 20
P2182	Shot down at Douzy on May 14, 1940. Plt. Off John Boon; Sgt. Thomas Fortune; AC1 Sydney Martin  all Kia. P2182 was a replacement  4/10/39 John Boon 27, Thomas Fortune 29, Sydney Martin 21
P5232	Shot down in the Sedan sector on May 14, 1940. Flt Sgt. George Barker and Sgt. James Williams Kia. LAC Alan Summerson injured George Thomas Barker 27, James Williams 27, Alan Summerson
	15 May 1940 150 Squadron Abandon Ecury sur Coole and relocated to Pouan near Arcis sur Aube
L5583	JN-B Very damaged in a mission on May 19, 1940 and abandoned in Sommesous. F/O Allen D Frank , ok
P5235	JN-H. Shot down in action on May 19, 1940. Three PoW’s. P/O David Ernest Osment, Sgt. George William Clifford, AC Walter Graham Slade more info here Walter Graham Slade
L5237	delivered to 150 Sqdn 21 May 40 from 218 Sqdn
L5543	23 May 40 Target road Echtenarch Sgt. Andrews. This plane crashed on 3 Aug 1940 at Cottesmore in Rutland
P2327	23 May 40 Target road Echtenarch P/O Donald George Long. Recorded as airborne for 9 missions
L5113	23 May 40 Target road Echtenarch the plane eventually moved to 142 squadron
L5106	23 May 40 Target road Echtenarch P/O Frank. eventually Assigned to No. 1 Training Command in Ontario.
L5510	25 May 40 Target Monthanes F/O Blom. Ended up in No. 1 Training Command on 10 May 1941 Canada
L5545	24 May 40 Target Libramont  F/Lt  Hugo Russell Macdougall Beall, Ian Prior Bishop (Obs). AG. Robert Henley Burrows W/Cmd Hugo Russell Beall 1945 Source read his history here
L5474	Delivered May 25, 1940 at 150 Sq. JN-. Probably abandoned in France. ?
P6602	26/may/40 Thionville bomb mission all returned.  Flew 14 missions between 23/ May to 15 June. Moved to 142 squadron then Apr 41 to RAAF Australia
L5459	JN-L Shot down at Avioth by hunters on 26 May 1940. P/O James Edward Vernon ok , Sgt. G Busby wounded in leg PoW, LAC A. W. Ruthland PoWread more here Photo supplied by Dave of L5459 JN-L note the Props are not twisted so the engine was stopped when landing.
	June 3, 1940, departure for Houssay, Loire-et-Cher, France
L5579	23/5/40 Target Ransart  P/O Elliott and crew
L5288	Shot down at Vergies on June 7, 1940. .P/O James Edward Vernon Kia, Sgt. George William Clawley Kia, LAC Jack Frederick Atkins Kia James Edward Vernon George William Clawley Click here for more detail
L5112	JN-K Shot down near Falencourt on June 8, 1940. Three killed. P/O Reginald A Weeks, Sgt. William David Pittar, AC Leonard Grant F/L R A Weeks LAC L O Grant
L5437	Shot down at Merey on June 13, 1940. Three killed. F/Sgt. Roy Cuthbert Beale, Sgt. Harold. J.F Tutt, Cpl. Douglas Barfield Carter. This aircraft was active from 14/may to 13/june and carried out 12 missions. The OBR’s sometimes refer to it as L5457 but that was in a different squadron.
L5524	JN-V Shot down by Bf 109 at Aigleville on June 13, 1940. P/O Alfred Gulley kia, Sgt. Harold Berry PoW/escape, AC Donald Leslie Phillips PoW/escape P/O A R Gulley
L5591	JN-X Shot down by Bf 109 at Rebais on June 13, 1940. S/L R. M. Bradley, F/Sgt. A. Leitch, AC Rickard (inj) all ok
L5541	JN-A Shot down by Bf 109 at La Ferté-Vidame on June 15, 1940.  P/O E. A. Benjamin, Sgt. Armstrong, LAC Hillyard (inj), All ok but Hillyard lost his right arm. P/O E. A. Benjamin, Click here for more detail
K9323	11 June 1940 appears on a mission from Houssay, eventually ending up in Canada as a trainer aircraft
L5563	15 June 1940 Target any movement in Evraux- Vernon area F/Lt Blom. Aircraft lost with the sinking of the S.S Huntingdon en route to South Africa Feb. 1941
L5593	15 June 1940 Target any movement in Evraux- Vernon area P/O Charles Hamerton Elliot
P2227	15 June 1940 Target any movement in Evraux- Vernon area P/O Donald George Long Read about him here
L5528	Not sure about L5528, it may have operated in France listed 19/5/40 on a mission. But it came to a sorry end on 27/7/40 exploding while being bombed up and taking the lives of Flight Lieutenant W H Blom (RAAF), Sergeant W H Franklin, Corporal D H Sharp, Leading Aircraftman G A Hall: killed; Leading Aircraftman W Cann: died of injuries; Sergeant A E F Gould, Leading Aircraftman H Flynn: injured; aircraft accident,
	Returned to Abingdon, UK 15 June 1940
	Of 57 planes used 29 were lost, 36 crew Kia, 13 injured, 13 PoW
	Of the first 16 Fairey Battles to arrive in Ecury 10 were lost with 14 killed and 8 injured.

Here is one we need to Identify JN-F  Any Ideas which serial number it is?