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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 0984.PDF
444 FLIGHT No. 201 SQUADRON R.A.F. The late Brig.-Gen. R. M. Groves, who, as W/C. Groves, commanded the squadron in the early part of 1916. The R. M. Groves Memorial Prize is competed for annually at the R.A.F. College, Cranwell. The Sopwith Triplane was the single-seat fighter used by the squadron in 1917. a further 16 are recorded as being driven down out of control. The squadron diary for August 8th, 1918, gives a graphic picture of the work No. 201 was doing at the time. This day was the opening of the Battle of Amiens. Starting at 0530 hr aircraft, carrying 4X25-lb bombs each and a full load of ammunition, went up at intervals of 30 minutes throughout the day bombing and machine-gunning enemy troops, transport, machine-gun emplacements, gun teams and ammunition wagons from 50-iooft. Direct hits were obtained on three ammunition trains, four bombs were planted in the midst of six aircraft on Faucourt airfield, thousands of troops retreating in disorder were bombed and machine-gunned, and four bombs dropped on a dump near Coppy caused an enormous explosion. While shooting-up German infantry, Lt. MacKay was himself shot down 300 yards behind the enemy lines. Making a dash for freedom, he met one of our tanks and climbed inside. Finding it to be going in the wrong direction he hopped out again and, under intense fire, made off westward, eventually to rejoin the squadron. Four days later No. 201 lost its commanding officer, Major Booker. He was shot down while showing a newly joined pilot the battle lines. Command was assumed by Major C. M. Leman. The last remaining sectors of the vaunted Hindenburg Line were captured in the Battle of Cambrai, which opened on September 27th, 1918. Orders for the day said: "No. 201 Squadron will support the infantry attack, four machines being detailed for each Corps front." The following is from a typical report: "Capt. Gates dropped 4X25-lb bombs from 1,000ft on M.G. emplacements S.W. of Graincourt and at the same time saw Lt. Carter's machine crash between our shrapnel and H.E. barrage. Lt. Paton dropped 4 x 25 lb on stationary transport and then swept the road with M.G. fire three times; 2nd Lt. Tearle's four bombs landed within 15 yards of an A.A. gun and he used up his ammunition in attacks on troops from 600ft; 2nd Lt. Green also bombed and machine-gunned stationary transport from 800ft; 2nd Lt. Nicholas expended his bombs on billets and a road junction. He then fired 800 rounds on enemy troops near Graincourt and finished his ammunition by attacking the enemy in their trenches. He saw one of our tanks approaching the wreck of Lt. Carter's machine. All the above occurred between 0745 and 0830 hr on the morning of September 27th. This intensity was kept up the whole day." Just before the end of the war No. 201 was credited with its second Victoria Cross. It was won by Major W. G. Barker, D.S.O., M.C. The citation reads : "On the morning of October 27th, 1918, this officer observed an enemy two-seater over the Foret de Moral. He attacked this machine, and after a short burst it broke up in the air. At the same time a Fokker biplane attacked him, and he was wounded in the right thigh, but managed, despite this, to shoot down the enemy aeroplane in flames. "He then found himself in the middle of a large formation of Fokkers, who attacked him from all directions, and was again (Left) Capt. Kinkead, a pilot of No. 201 in 1918 and a member of the successful Schneider Trophy team in 1927. (Right) Major W. G. Barker, D.S.O., M.C., who, while at tached to No. 201 in 1918, won the second Victoria Cross for the unit. He was flying one of the very few Sopwith Snipes to see service in the 1914-18 war. Commanding Officers from 1914 to 191? W/C. A. M. Longmore W/C. R. M. Groves Sqn. Cdr. F. K. Haskins ... Major R. S. Dallas Major C. D. Booker Major C. M. Leman 15.10.14 19.1.16 23.4.16 14.6.17 18.3.18 18.8.18 severely wounded in the left thigh, but succeeded in driving down two of the enemy in a spin. "He lost consciousness after this, and his machine fell out of control. On recovery he found himself being again attacked heavily by a large formation, and singling out one machine, he deliberately charged and drove it down in flames. "During this fight his left elbow was shattered and he again fainted, and on regaining consciousness he found himself still being attacked, but, notwithstanding that he was now severely wounded in both legs and his left arm shattered, he dived on the nearest machine and shot it down in flames. "Being greatly exhausted, he dived out of the first fight to regain our lines, but was met by another formation, which attacked and endeavoured to cut him off, but after a hard fight he succeeded in breaking up this formation and reached our lines, where he crashed on landing. "This combat, in which Major Barker destroyed four enemy machines (three of them in flames), brought his total successes up to 50 enemy machines destroyed, and is a notable example of the exceptional bravery and disregard of danger which this very gallant officer had always displayed throughout his distinguished career." The last aircraft to fall to the squadron in the 1914-18 war was shot down on October 10th by Lt. Parkinson, who was on patrol over Clermont Wood. One of four Fokkers that attacked him from above overshot in its dive and gave Parkinson a chance to get in a long burst at 50 yards. At the time of the armistice, November nth, 1918, No. 201 was at La Targette. On January 23rd it was reduced to cadre, after handing its aircraft over to No. 203 Squadron. Returning to England on February 15th the squadron was stationed at Lake- down until it was disbanded on the last day of 1919. (To be continued)
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