No. 139 Squadron RAF

No. 139 Squadron RAF
Unit name	No. 139 Squadron RAF
Dates	Formed 3 July 1918 – 1 February 1920, Reformed 3 September 1936 – 31 December 1959, Reformed 1 January 1962 – 31 December 1968
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Fighter, Light bomber, Photo-reconnaissance
Motto	Si placet necamus, ("We destroy at will")
Identification symbol	In front of a fountain, a mullet., Authorised by King George VI in September 1936.
Identification symbol label	Squadron Badge
Battle honours	Western Front 1918*, English Channel 1939-40*, Battle of Britain 1940*, Fortress Europe 1940-44*, France and Germany 1944-45*, Sicily 1943*, Italy 1943*, Burma 1944-45*, Honours marked with an asterisk are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard

No. 139 Squadron RAF. A distinguished unit of the Royal Air Force with a history spanning both World War I and World War II, as well as the Cold War. Initially formed as a Royal Flying Corps day-bomber squadron, it saw later fame as a pioneering Photo-reconnaissance unit during the Battle of Britain and as a Mosquito pathfinder squadron. Its service included varied roles across multiple theatres, from the Western Front to the Far East.

History

The squadron was first established at Villaverla in Italy on 3 July 1918, equipped with the Bristol F.2 Fighter, and conducted operations over the Italian Front supporting the Italian Army. Disbanded in 1920, it was reformed at RAF Wyton in 1936 as a light bomber unit with the Hawker Hind. At the outbreak of World War II, flying the Blenheim, it undertook early raids against the Kriegsmarine, including the Heligoland Bight. In a pivotal transition, it was reassigned to Photographic Reconnaissance Unit duties in 1940, its Spitfire aircraft providing critical intelligence during the Battle of Britain and the lead-up to Operation Overlord. Post-war, the squadron operated the English Electric Canberra in a strategic bombing role before finally disbanding in 1968.

Aircraft operated

The squadron operated a diverse fleet throughout its existence. Its initial equipment was the Bristol F.2 Fighter in 1918. Upon reformation, it used the Hawker Hind and Avro Anson before transitioning to the Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV at the start of World War II. For its renowned photo-reconnaissance work, it flew the Supermarine Spitfire (PR Mk.I, IV, and XI variants). From 1943, it converted to the de Havilland Mosquito B.IV, IX, XVI, and XX, serving as a Pathfinder unit with No. 8 Group RAF. In the post-war era, it was equipped with the Mosquito PR.34 and, from 1953, the English Electric Canberra B.2 and B.6.

Notable personnel

Several distinguished airmen served with the squadron. Wing Commander Hughie Edwards, who later received the Victoria Cross for a raid on the port of Bremen, commanded the unit in 1941. Renowned photographic interpreter Flight Lieutenant Constance Babington Smith worked on imagery from the squadron's Spitfire sorties, notably identifying the V-1 flying bomb at Peenemünde. Other notable commanders included Group Captain John H. G. McArthur, an ace with the Royal Flying Corps, and Squadron Leader R. W. "Babe" Hetherington, a pre-war Hendon Air Display pilot.

Squadron bases

The squadron was based at numerous RAF stations across the globe. Its first home was Villaverla in 1918. Key bases during World War II included RAF Wyton (reformation), RAF Horsham St Faith, and RAF Marham for Blenheim operations. For its photo-reconnaissance work, it operated from RAF Benson and later moved to RAF RAF Upwood with the Mosquito. Post-war deployments took it to RAF Hemswell with Canberra aircraft and, during the Cold War, to RAF Binbrook and RAF Wittering. A detachment also operated from RAF Tengah in Singapore.

Operations and deployments

The squadron's operational history was extensive. In World War I, it flew reconnaissance and bombing sorties over the Alps against Austro-Hungarian Army positions. In early World War II, it conducted anti-shipping strikes in the North Sea. Its most critical contribution was high-altitude photographic intelligence gathering over Germany, France, and the Low Countries, imaging targets like the *Tirpitz* and V-weapons sites. As part of the Light Night Striking Force, its Mosquitos led bombing raids on Berlin and other cities. Post-war, its Canberras participated in exercises during the Suez Crisis and were deployed to the Far East Air Force.

Squadron insignia and motto

The squadron badge, approved by King George VI in September 1936, features a fountain surmounted by a mullet (a heraldic star). The motto, "Si placet necamus" (Latin for "We destroy at will"), reflects the unit's offensive bomber origins. The badge and selected battle honours, including Battle of Britain 1940 and Fortress Europe 1940-44, were emblazoned on the Squadron Standard presented in 1955.

Category:Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons Category:Military units and formations established in 1918