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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 0474.PDF
214 FLIGHT, 22 February 1952 Bulldog . . . . Gauntlet .... METEOR 8 Another comparative pair of photographs, this time showing the squadron Gauntlets and Meteors in Flight Line Astern. The extra span of the Meteors, although only three feet, made it necessary for the photographing aircraft to fall back just a trifle in order to include the rear section leader. as we found while taxying through their slipstream to take off immediately afterwards. In the air, the present-day pilot has the great advantage of intercom and R/T. to aid in building up a perfect forma tion. On the other hand, throttle response is much slower with turbojets than it was with Bristol Jupiter and Mercury radials. The most useful "station-keepers" on the Meteor are, of course, the air brakes. But all this is really beside the point: from the photographs it is quite clear that No. 19 Squadron is as good as ever it was —and was as good as it is now. No. 19 Squadron was formed in September, 1915, at Castle Bromwich and went to France in July of the following year, equipped with B.E.I2S. In October, 1916, it was re- equipped with Spads and did much air-fighting and contact- patrol (Tac.R) work with them until Sopwith Dolphins were issued in 1918. A dolphin was incorporated in the badge and remains part of the official design. At the end of the First World War, during which they claimed 145 enemy aircraft destroyed, the unit was disbanded. In 1923 it was re-formed at Duxford as a training flight and in the following year brought up to strength as a fighter squadron and issued with Gloster Grebes. Duxford remained the squadron's home until 1938, but the equipment changed first to Bristol Bulldogs, then to Gloster Gauntlets, and for the Battle of Britain it had various marks of Supermarine Spitfires. From 1941 to 1943, with Spitfire VBs and 22s, the unit was engaged on fighter sweeps, interceptions and convoy patrols. The score of enemy aircraft destroyed reached the century mark in 1943. The next year, 1944, saw a change of role to Tac.R. Mustangs were issued and No. 19 joined 2nd T.A.F. at Bayeaux. This work lasted but a short while, and in 1945 they were back in England doing long-range escort work with daylight bombing raids. There was another change in 1946. The squadron reverted to Spitfires, but again this was only for a year. In 1947 D.H. Hornets were taken on charge and No. 19 became a day- intruder fighter unit. Last year the Hornets were changed for Meteors and the squadron again reverted to its interceptor fighter role. It is one of the units which recently qualified for the King's Standard.
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