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Appendices (Printable Version) History of No.269 Squadron Royal Air Force
This History is an open-ended document inasmuch as it will be updated from time to time whenever additional data is to hand. The document is a historical account of No 269 Squadron, with a detailed background of associated early aviation activities and World War I events relating to the origins of the RNAS with particular emphasis on Cdr CR Samson, a pioneer of Naval Aviation and the first Commanding Officer of the Seaplane Carrier Squadron which later yielded No 269 Squadron. The World War II period is mostly concerned with the time that the unit was based in Kaldađarnes, Iceland including accounts of the policy and plans concerning the Allied use of Iceland as a vital base in the Battle of the Atlantic and the development of the airfields at RAF Kaldađarnes and RAF Reykjavik. Note that where the day of month is shown as ‘1’ it may be because, although the month is known, the actual day is not known. It will be most welcome if any reader can supply the missing date/s. Acknowledgement is given to Ragnar J. Ragnarsson for permission to use a considerable amount of his copyright research material concerning the operations of No 269 Squadron and other RAF units in Iceland; to Guđmundur Kristinsson of Selfoss for much of the material concerning the development of Kaldađarnes airfield; to Ross McNeill and Peter Rackliff for the history of No 269 Squadron after it re-formed in 1944 until it was disbanded in 1946; to David Hill for the history of the squadron after it re-formed again in 1952 until it disbanded in 1958 and to Ian M. Burns for his very well researched article ‘The story of HMS Ben-my-Chree’. Code Key: I for matters concerning the need for and use of Iceland as a military base in the Battle of the Atlantic. A for airfield development and administration. S for operational items concerning No 269 Squadron, other flying units and events affecting flying operations.. O for items concerning organisation, personnel and administration. P for matters concerning the formulation of overall military policy and strategy. |
