Page 81 - Aviation News (February 2020)

Rhodesian Eagles

266 Sqn’s Typhoon Years

The mostly Rhodesian-manned
266 Squadron fl ew the Hawker

Typhoon from 1942-45 and
was engaged in some of the
heaviest battles of the war,

as Tom Spencer recounts.

he air forces of the Commonwealth Main photo: With the war over there was no frustrating experience as the Typhoon had
and Dominions, among need for dispersal, as shown by these 266 Sqn many bugs and several aircraft were lost in
them Rhodesia, made a huge Typhoons being serviced at Hildesheim in accidents. The fi rst fatal crash was on March
Tcontribution during World War June 1945. R E G Sheward via author 8, 1943 when 27-year-old Plt O Charles
Two. Many Rhodesians joined the RAF and Below: Rhodesian Sqn Ldr Charles Green was Lees in R7637 spun and crashed near
in Britain manned two squadrons, one of the OC of 266 Sqn when it re-equipped with Oxford. Initially, 266 Sqn fl ew the Typhoon
which was 266, which established a superb Typhoons. He later led 121 and 124 Wings Ia, but the cannon-armed Mk Ib began
reputation in the skies over Western Europe. before becoming a PoW. Via C H Thomas arriving in March. In spite of many problems,
Having fl own Spitfi res through the 266 was eventually fully converted and
Battle of Britain and on the early o ensive fi nally disposed of its last Spitfi res in June.
sweeps over Europe, on January 29, 1942, The fi rst Typhoon operation was on
266 Sqn under its Rhodesian OC – Sqn May 28 when several were scrambled to
Ldr Charles Green – moved to Duxford investigate an unidentifi ed radar plot that
in Cambridgeshire. There it became the transpired to be a Spitfi re! Finally, on June
second unit to convert to the powerful new 20, the Duxford Wing began operations
Hawker Typhoon. However, due to teething when 56 and 266 Sqns fl ew an uneventful
problems with this complex new type, 266 sweep in support of a ‘Circus’, a heavily
initially retained Spitfi res for operations. It escorted bombing mission designed to goad
thus led to ‘B’ Flight converting at Duxford Luftwa e fi ghters into combat. The Typhoon
while ‘A’ Flight was detached to Coltishall, fi nally found success on August 9, when Plt
Norfolk, for operations. O s Norman Lucas in R7696/ZH-C and Ian
Sqn Ldr Green worked hard to get Munro in R7822/ZH-H claimed a Junkers Ju
his squadron ready, though it proved a 88 o Cromer as the Typhoon’s fi rst victim,

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