The 150 Squadron were active in France as part of the Advanced Air Strike Force from 2nd September 1939 to 17th 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 2nd September 39 the unit flew 14 Fairey Battles from Benson to Challerange along with one Miles Magister. On 12th 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
 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)
 In November 1939 Sergeant Gardiner was awarded the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for meritorious services.  |
| 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. View Webbers account here Sgt Leslie B Webber account
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| 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. read more
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| 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. View Denis Jones interview Here Denis Edmund Jones account
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| 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- ? 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.New information has come to light which suggests that this photo rebadged as JN-F was actually L5539 which was thought to be JN-B |
| P2244 | Crashed at St Hilaire-le-Grand in fog during an exercise on March 31, 1940. P/O David Devoto (Ireland) age 25, Sgt. Clifford Wall age 25 (580439) age 25, AC William Fraser Taylor (Ireland) (545991) age 33, all killed
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| ? | 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.
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| K9390 | JN-I. belly Landed in Rue de la Barriere, Merl, Luxemburg on May 10, 1940. F/Lt Eric Parker kia, Sgt John Whalley, PoW (right thumb shot off), AC Rodney Kenneth Rye, PoW
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| L5539 | JN-F Shot down west of Thionville between Audun Le Roman and Hayange on May 10, 1940. Sgt. Raymond White, Sgt. C.W.K. Booth, LAC Robert Henley Burrows. All returned safely on 13th.This plane was always assumed to be JN-B and is noted in many publications as such but recent photos 2024 with notes on the back mention Audun Le Roman and Hayange which are 12 km. apart with forested areas in between. The photos are taken at different times probably by different people approaching it from either Audun Le Roman or Hayange. This suggests that it landed between the two.
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| L5540 | JN-C. Shot down at Bonnevoie on 10 May 1940. Three PoWs. F/O A. C. Roberts, Sgt European Harry Ward, AC David Meyrick
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| 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.
 was destroyed when its two 2501b bombs exploded
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| 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 Sydney Earnest Andrews, Sergeant Norman Jonathan Ingram NZ DFC, DFM (Ingram), and LAC Henry Robert 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
  
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| P2336 | JN-M Shot down near Neufchâteau on May 12, 1940. Three killed. P/O Ian Campbell-Irons 40603 age 23 , Sgt. Thomas Roy Barker 580937 and LAC Reg Hinder (Reginald Henry Hinder 551612 age 20)
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| 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
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| K9483 | Shot down in the Sedan sector on May 14, 1940. Plt. Off Arthur Posselt; Sgt. Donald Bowen; AC2 Norman Vano (18) Kia.
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| 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
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| 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
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| P5232 | Shot down in the Sedan sector on May 14, 1940. Flt Sgt. George Barker and Sgt. James Williams Kia. LAC Alan Summerson injured
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| 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 Houssay or Sommesous?. F/O Allen D Frank , okThe records are a bit confusing here as AIR-27-1008-18 notes he was flying L5541 along with Bailey and Wilson and returned to Pouan at 11:05. But AIR-27-1008-17 the summary states that individual reports of the outing are not available.
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| P5235 | JN-H. Shot down in action on May 19, 1940. Three PoW’s. P/O David Ernest Osment 40742, Sgt. George William Clifford 524803 , AC Walter Graham Slade 616565 more info here 
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| 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 39161, Ian Prior Bishop 580389 (Obs). AG. Robert Henley Burrows 551689
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| 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. Gordon Busby 581267 wounded in leg PoW, LAC Arthur W. Ruthland 755000 read more here
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| 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 36145 Kia, Sgt. George William Clawley 533480 Kia, LAC Jack Frederick Atkins 751819 Kia
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| L5112 | JN-K Shot down near Falencourt on June 8, 1940. Three killed. P/O Reginald A Weeks 37534, Sgt. William David Pittar 580624 , AC Leonard Grant 536339
William David Pittar 580624 |
| L5437 | Shot down at Merey on June 13, 1940. Three killed. F/Sgt. Roy Cuthbert Beale 44679, Sgt. Harold. J.F Tutt 506095 , Cpl. Douglas Barfield Carter 534454. 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 33385 kia, Sgt. Harold Berry 514724 PoW/escape, AC Donald Leslie Phillips 545177 PoW/escape
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| L5591 | JN-X Shot down by Bf 109 at Rebais on June 13, 1940. S/L R. M. Bradley, F/Sgt. A. Leitch, AC Harry V. Rickard 552557(inj) all ok |
| L5541 | JN-A Shot down by Bf 109 at La Ferté-Vidame on June 15, 1940. P/O Eric Arthur Benjamin 77777 , Sgt. Frank Allen Armstrong 581075 , LAC E. G. Hillyard 747947 (inj), All ok but Hillyard lost his right arm.
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| 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 40722 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? From new photos it has been identified as L5539 as above.
travelling in a campervan 