No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron

A Brief History

1918-1945

No.218 Squadron was formed on April 24th 1918 at Dover, Kent under the command of Major D.S.Wemp, D.S.O. This new squadron was equipped with the De Havilland D.H.9 day-bomber, commonly referred to as the 'Nine-ack'.

After less than a month of forming orders were received on May 23rd to depart to Petite Synthe aerodrome located south of Dunkirk. The squadron would operate as a part of the 5th Group working under the Dover-Dunkirk Naval Command. After the initial settling in period the squadron undertook it's first wartime operation on June 10th 1918, the target was the Belgium town of Ostend.

Within a matter of weeks the squadron obtained it's first aerial victory. On Thursday June 26th 1918 Captain M.G Baskerville shot down a Fokker DVII over Zeebrugge, unfortunately this date also witnessed the squadron's first loss. A Fokker DVII fighter shot down Lieutenant Briggs RAF in D.H 9 D5687 over Blankenberge, both crewmembers were killed. Lieutenant Briggs was laid to rest at Blankenberge Town Cemetery, strangely 2nd Lieutenant Warner was buried in the Hamburg Cemetery, Germany.

On July 17th 1918 the squadron made the first of a series of moves, the unit's new home was Frethun situated near the French port town of Calais. It was while based at Frethun the squadron participated in the Belgium Coast Offensive. The squadron's role was to support both the French and Belgium Armies. During one particular period of the offensive, a portion of the French Army was cut-off due to flooding; No.218 Squadron was called upon to drop essential supplies by air to the troops below, Operation Manna 1918 style.

On September 28th 1918 No.218 Squadron lost D.H.9 C1206, in losing this aircraft the squadron unknowingly made history. The D.H.9 was flown by 2nd Lieutenant F.Nelms, USMCR, an American, his Observer, 2nd Lieutenant C.C Barr, USMC become the first U.S Marine aviator to be killed by enemy action in World War I.

On October 25th 1918 the squadron moved once again, this time south to the Le Chateau Front. No.218 Squadrons new home was Reumont aerodrome, situated 15 miles S.E of Cambrai. The squadron's role, which it served with distinction, would once again be close co-operation with allied ground forces, this time the Third Army. With the end of the war yet another move was undertaken, this time the squadron took up residence at Vert-Galand on November 16th 1918, here the squadron would stay until it's departure back to the United Kingdom on February 7th 1919. Number 218 Squadrons final home before disbandment was R.A.F Hucknell. On June 24th 1919, exactly 14 months after it's formation, No.218 Squadron was disbanded, it would be a further 17 years before the squadron would take to the skies again.

During 14 months of war, 117 raids were carried out on enemy targets. A total of 94 tons of bombs were dropped, plus 3 tons of food. 38 enemy scouts were also officially credited to the squadron.

The DH9 day bomber as used by No.218 Squadron during 1918

The squadron did not reappear until March 16th 1936 when it was recreated from 'A' Flight of No.57 (B) Squadron, then based at R.A.F Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire. On reforming the squadron was equipped with the Rolls Royce Kestrel engined Hawker Hind 2 seat light bomber, which was later superseded by the single engined Fairey Battle light bomber. On December 5th 1938 the squadron was presented with its official badge, which was approved and signed by H.M. The King. The significance of the hour glass was that the squadron was formed 'in time' to take part in the Great War. With yet another war looming, the squadron like so many others based in Great Britain prepared for the inevitable conflict with Nazis Germany. No.218 Squadron received orders on August 24th 1939 to mobilize as a part of No.75 Wing A.A.S.F.

No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron was one of the few Bomber Command squadrons to serve continuously throughout World War II.

The day before war was officially declared on September 3rd 1939 the squadron once again flew to France. During the early days of the 'Phoney' War the squadron carried out a limited number of reconnaissance flights and leaflet dropping raids. The squadron was however actively involved in the frantic aerial campaign to stem the German Blitzkrieg during May 1940.

The casualties in both men and machines become so alarming towards the end of May the future of the squadron was uncertain. A number of senior N.C.O's ground crews, plus a number of experienced air gunners and wireless operators were posted off the squadron to join other decimated A.A.S.F squadrons.

Before the storm breaks. A Flight of Battles of No.218 Squadron over France during the Phoney War.

On return to England the remains of squadron was re-equipped with the twin engined Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV. Only a limited number of operations were flown during the summer of 1940. Most of the raids flown were against the masses of barge's concentrated in coastal waters along France and Holland. In early 1941 the squadron converted to the Vickers Wellington. Mk.Ic.

With the Wellington the squadron took the war to the very heart of the enemy, with raids being carried-out on almost all key German industrial towns and cities. In January 1942, the Wellington was replaced with the mighty four-engined Short Stirling Mk.I. For the next 32 months the squadron attacked targets as far apart as Turin in Italy to Rostock on the Baltic Coast. The squadron participated in all of the major bombing campaigns throughout 1942 and 1943. During the period commonly referred to as the Battle of the Ruhr the squadron sustained heavy losses. Over 20 aircraft and their crews, including two flight commanders failed to return, The series of attacks against Hamburg during July / August 1943 would witness the tragic loss of No.218 Squadrons commanding officer, Wing Commander Donald Teale Saville, D.S.O, D.F.C. Wing Commander Saville and crew were shot down by a nightfighter on the first Hamburg raid on July 24th/25th 1943. The squadron was also involved in the attack on Peenemunde, the V2 Rocket Research Establishment on the Baltic on August 17/18th 1943. One of the final operations the squadron undertook while equipped with the Stirling was the spoof convoy operation on D-Day, June 4/5th 1944, OPERATION GLIMMER.

During August 1944 the squadron finally converted to the Avro Lancaster Mk.B.I. With the experience gained with the use of the blind bombing aid G-H, squadron crews would often lead 3 Group raids on Hitler's Oil and transportation facilities. The squadron's final bombing raid of the war was on April 24th 1945 when the squadron dispatched 22 Lancaster's to attack the Marshalling Yards at Bad Oldesloe, a small town, situated close to Luneburg Heath. Within weeks of this attack, Field Marshall Montgomery would accept the surrender of the German armed forces at Luneburg Heath. With the signing of Germany's unconditional surrender No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron's war would finally came to an end.

Bombing Up. The imposing D-Donald of No.218 Squadron.

Between December 1940 and VE Day 1945 the squadron dropped more than 13,000 tons of bombs and laid almost 2,800 mines.

The squadron was adopted by the Governor and peoples of the Gold Coast in 1941, but in the United Kingdom it was known as "Weston-super-Mare's Own.'

The squadron took great pride in the award of the VICTORIA CROSS posthumously awarded to Flight Sergeant Arthur Louis Aaron, D.F.M. The citation in the London Gazette stated, " He showed the greatest qualities of courage, determination and leadership and, though wounded and dying, he set an example of devotion to duty which as seldom been equalled or passed."

Other awards gained by the squadron members included four D.S.O's, two bars to the D.S.O, 109 D.F.C's, 46 D.F.M's and two Conspicuous Gallantry Medals, 25 Mention in Despatches one Military Medal, and finally one BEM.

The squadrons last operation before the end of World War 2 was to drop supplies to the starving Dutch at The Hague, after VE Day the squadron was tasked with ferrying liberated prisoners of war home. The squadron was finally disbanded on August 10th 1945.

The over-worked and all to forgotten Ground crews. Wing Commander Oldbury and squadron Ground crews 1943.