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The following is brief account of the history of 103 Squadron from it's reformation before World War 2 to the end of the Battle of France in the summer of 1940. During the retreat and evacuation from France all the Squadron records were lost. These were reconstructed when the Squadron returned to Britain from the memories of the surviving personnel and their log books but the new record is by no means complete. In an attempt to further reconstruct the events in France I have referred to a number of books on the subject. These are :- Black Swan by the late Sid Finn, The Battle File by Sidney Shail, Valiant Wings by Norman Franks and Twelve Days in May by Brain Cull, Bruce Lander and Heinrich Weiss. I have also made reference to the RAF Year Book 1980 and Bomber Command War Diaries 1939/40 by Bill Chorley. I have no doubt that this record is still by no means comprehensive and various operations. Some important incidents may not be included but, based on the available information, this will give the reader a very good insight into the events of that time and the experiences of those involved. I shall be delighted to hear from anyone who has further information or photographs relating to this period in the Squadron's history. Neither the whole or part of this account can be reproduced, published, broadcast or transmitted in any form without the prior permission in writing of either D W Fell or K Audsley. Reformation With the increasingly uncertain political climate in Europe in the mid thirties, the British Government embarked on a rearmament programme to counter the rising threat of Hitler's Germany. As part of this the number of RAF squadrons was increased and 103 Squadron was reformed in August 1936 at Andover in Hampshire under the command of Squadron Leader D H Carey. The aircraft flown at this time was the Hawker Hind, which was a single engined biplane day bomber soon to be obsolete. In February 1937 the Squadron flew North to its new base at RAF Unsworth in the North East of England. Later that year the squadron crest, featuring a black swan, was chosen along with the motto "Noli me Tangere" which translated means "Touch Me Not". The Squadron exchanged their Hawker Hinds for the new Fairey Battle Mk 1 in August 1938. This aircraft was a single engined monoplane day bomber and a great improvement on the Hind carrying twice the bomb load twice as fast and twice as far. At the time the Battle was thought to be a very modern and effective machine. As it became increasingly clear that war was inevitable the Squadron returned South in September 1938 to its new base at Abingdon in Berkshire and, in January 1939, Wing Commander H J Gemmel took over command of the Squadron. In April 1939 the Squadron was on the move again this, time to Benson in Oxfordshire. Throughout the spring and summer there was a considerable amount of formation flying practice and cross country flights with low level bombing exercises. During this period there was a very tense atmosphere at Benson as rumours of war were rife amongst the station personnel and much activity preparing equipment and stores. As August progressed, convoys were readied to transport these overland. As a result of the massive German attack on Poland on the 1st September 1939, the Squadron was ordered to leave for France. 103 Squadron was chosen to be part of the AASF (Advanced Air Striking Force) alongside 9 other Squadrons of Fairey Battles all drawn from No 1 Bomber Group. Their planned role was to act as a deterrent bombing force by threatening the Ruhr and the industrial Saar from advanced bases in Alsace and the Reims area. Other units of the RAF also relocated to France in support of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) to make up the Air Component which initially consisted of 4 fighter squadrons with Hawker Hurricanes, four bomber and general reconnaisance squadrons with Bristol Blenheims and 4 army co-operation squadrons with Westland Lysanders. On the 2nd September 1939, one day prior to Britain's declaration of war against Germany, 103 Squadron flew their 16 Battles from Benson across the Channel to their new base at Challerange in the Ardennes and arrived at 17:30. The main Squadron party flew on in three Dakota transports with the rest travelling overland and by ferry with motor transport, stores and equipment. | |
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