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142 Squadron History
142 Squadron returned from the Advanced Air Striking Force in France in May 1940 and served in 1 Group, flying Battles and Wellingtons from Waddington, Binbrook (twice), Eastchurch, Grimsby and Kirmington. Despatched to 38 Group (Thruxton) for parachute training in June and July 1942 but no operations were flown and the squadron returned to 1 Group.
The main body of the Squadron was posted to the Middle East in December 1942 and flew operations there until the squadron was disbanded in October 1944. Re-formed the same month in England and served as a Mosquito squadron in 8 Group's Light Night Striking Force until the end of the war, being based at Gransden Lodge during this period.
| Arrived | Group | County | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03/09/39 | AASF | France | Berry-au-Bac |
| 12/09/39 | AASF | France | Plivot |
| 16/05/40 | AASF | France | Faux-Villecerf |
| 06/06/40 | AASF | France | Villiersfaux |
| 15/06/40 | 1 | Lincolnshire | Waddington |
| 03/07/40 | 1 | Lincolnshire | Binbrook |
| 12/08/40 | 1 | Kent | Eastchurch |
| 06/09/40 | 1 | Lincolnshire | Binbrook (Wellington II, 11/40. Wellington IV, 10/41.) |
| 26/11/41 | 1 | Lincolnshire | Grimsby |
| 07/06/42 | 1 | Wiltshire | Thruxton |
| 07/07/42 | 1 | Lincolnshire | Grimsby (Wellington III, 09/42.) |
| 01/01/43 | 1 | Lincolnshire | Kirmington (Disbanded 10/44.) |
| 25/10/44 | 8 | Huntingdonshire | Gransden Lodge (Reformed. Mosquito XXV, 10/44.) |
Operation Performance
Raids flown
1 Group Battles – 16 bombing
1 Group Wellingtons – 132 bombing, 32 minelaying, 1 leaflet
8 Group Mosquito – 116 Bombing
Total – 264 bombing, 32 minelaying, 1 leaflet = 297 raids
Sorties and losses
1 Group Battles – 63 sorties, 4 aircraft lost (6.3 per cent)
1 Group Wellingtons – 1,073 sorties, 47 aircraft lost (4.4 per cent)
8 Group Mosquito – 1,095 sorties, 2 aircraft lost (0.2 per cent)
Total – 2,231 sorties, 53 aircraft lost (2.4 per cent)
Researched in 2002 by Martin Milnes
Updated in 2025 by Benjamin Milnes