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Squadron movements 1937-1946
A brief summary of 211 Squadron movements and equipment, after Delve, Jefford, Lake and Sturtivant, extended and amended from the Squadron Operations Record Book, the Log Books of CFR Clark and other Squadron members, other contemporary primary sources and other published accounts.
Jefford has well described the difficulties of interpreting the surviving records. Dates may reflect thus the signal date, promulgation of a movement order, or the actual date of movement (departure or arrival), depending on available records. Some movements, though recorded as ordered, may not have occurred at all. The list also shows the dates at which aircraft types were held or released. These, too, may reflect administrative records rather than the exact circumstance on the ground.
Having arrived in the Middle East in the Spring of 1938, by the time war broke out 211 Squadron was already accustomed to desert life. The posting of a Detachment of one or more of a Squadron’s established Flights to a more remote location was common practice throughout Middle East and Far East Commands, and the Squadron was no exception.
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Date
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Remarks
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24 Jun 1937
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Re-formed Mildenhall
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Jul 1937
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Hawker Audax (Oct 37)
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Aug 1937
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Hawker Hind (May 39)
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2 Sep 1937
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to Grantham
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Jan 1938
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detachment Aldergrove
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30 April 1938
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Embark HMT Lancashire for Alexandria
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10 May 1938
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Arrive Alexandria and depart to Helwan
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12 May 1938
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established Helwan (RAF Middle East, Egypt)
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18 Jul 1938
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to Ramleh (Palestine) detachment Semakh (Palestine)
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29 Sep 1938
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to Helwan, det El Daba (29 September to 7 October)
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27 Jan 1939
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to Ismailia (Egypt). Advance party 3 Jan, main party 21 Jan, rear party 27 Jan.
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Apr 1939
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Blenheim I (Nov 41) detachment El Daba (Western Desert)
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10 Aug 1939
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to El Daba detachment Qotafiyah
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17 Jul 1940
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to Qotafiyah
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8 Nov 1940
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to Ismailia
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11 Nov 1940
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MT and equipt to Alexandria (Seagull Camp)
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14 Nov 1940
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Personnel to Alexandria/Sidi Baber
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15 Nov 1940
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Personnel board HMS Gloucester (dep Alexandria) MT and equipt vessel nk
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16 Nov 1940
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disembark Piraeus
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17 Nov 1940
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to Menidi (Tatoi) detachment Paramythia [sic: arrival of ground party at Tatoi but no indication, by ORB or Log, of movement to Paramythia at this date]
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23 Nov 1940
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to Menidi (Tatoi) Air Party: dep Ismailia via Fuka
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9 Feb 1941
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to Paramythia detachment Menidi
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17 Apr 1941
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to Agrinion
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19 Apr 1941
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to Menidi
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22 Apr 1941
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to Heraklion
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23 Apr 1941
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to Heliopolis (air echelon only)
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27 Apr 1941
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to Ramleh
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30 Apr 1941
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to Lydda
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10 May 1941
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to Aqir
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May 1941
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Blenheim IV (Feb 42)
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5 Jun 1941
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to Heliopolis
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10 Jun 1941
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to Wadi Gazouza (to form and operate as 72 OTU). Squadron commanders continue to sign Log Books under their 211 Squadron titles
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18 Nov 1941
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absorbed into 72 OTU. Commanders cite their 72 OTU titles.
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20 Dec 1941
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re-established as 211 Squadron. A number of experienced 211 ground and air personnel are posted in from 72 OTU as the nucleus of the Squadron.
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16 Jan 1942
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groundcrew depart Helwan to embark HMT Yoma, enroute Far East
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25-28 Jan 1942
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air party departs Helwan en route FE. 2 flights of 3 aircraft daily for 4 days.
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2-6 Feb 1942
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air party arrivals at P II Sumatra
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13 Feb 1942
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HMT Yoma arrives Oosthaven, Sumatra with groundcrew
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14 Feb 1942
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HMT Yoma departs Oosthaven for Batavia, Java, arriving 15 Feb
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16 Feb 1942
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air party to Kalidjati, Java
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21/22 Feb 1942
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last 211 Squadron operations from Java
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26 Feb 1942
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remaining a/c of 211 Squadron and 84 Squadron pooled, 211 Squadron dispersed: personnel withdraw via Poerwokerto to Tjilatjap
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27 Feb 1942
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Tjilatjap: Abbekerk and Kota Gede sail
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2 Mar 1942
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Tjilatjap: RAFA Tung Song sails with 26 Officers, 169 OR RAF personnel of 205 Squadron, 211 Squadron, 84 Squadron, 151 MU et al.
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14 Aug 1943
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Re-formed, Phaphamau
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Oct 1943
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Beaufighter X (May 45)
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10 Nov 1943
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to Ranchi
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23 Dec 1943
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to Silchar West
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26 ]an 1944
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to Bhatpara detachments Nazir, Ramu
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26 May 1944
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to Feni
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10 Jul 1944
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to Chiringa detachment Ranchi
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31 May 1945
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to Yelahanka
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Jun 1945
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Mosquito FB VI (Feb 46)
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11 Jul 1945
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to St Thomas Mount
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2 Nov 1945
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to Akyab
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27 Nov 1945
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to Don Muang, Thailand
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15 Mar 1946
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Disbanded, Don Muang
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Sources
72 Operational Training Unit Operations Record Book TNA AIR 29/686
211 Squadron Operations Record Book 1937 TNA AIR 27/1302, TNA AIR 27/1303
Flying Units of the RAF A Lake (Airlife 1999)
RAF Flying Training and Support Units Since 1912 R Sturtivant (Air Britain 2007)
RAF Squadrons C G Jefford (Airlife 2001)
The Source Book of the RAF K Delve (Airlife 1984)
www.211squadron.org © D Clark & others 1998–2010
Site created 15 Apr 2001, last updated 1 Feb 2010. Page created 21 Feb 2005, last updated 31 Jul 2008
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