419th sqn Whittleys

[Brunner]

Hello guys,

I am searching for some info about the Whittleys bombers belonging to 419th sqn during the 2ww.
I am especially interested in the special flights they performed - drops of the agents, etc.



Do you have any info about Sqn Leader Keast - a pilot of the Whittley Mk V, Z6473 which made the first flight to Poland in 1942 and dropped three Cichociemni (Silent and Dark) agents.

[mosquitoman]

I know that Whitleys made the first drop of agents into Poland, unfortunately all my info is at home, not at uni

[pbfoot]

as far as i could see 419 sqn never flew the whitley

[Jabberwocky]

No.419 (Moose) Squadron RCAF
Group Squadron Base County Arrived Comments
3 419 Mildenhall Suffolk 15/12/41 Formed. Wellington IC, 01/42. Wellington III, 02/42. To 4 Group, 13/08/42.
4 419 Leeming Yorkshire 13/08/42 Ex-3 Group.
4 419 Topcliffe Yorkshire 18/08/42
4 419 Croft Yorkshire 30/09/42
4 419 Middleton St. George Durham 09/11/42 Halifax II, 11/42. To 6 Group, 01/01/43.
6 419 Middleton St. George Durham 01/01/43 Ex-4 Group. Lancaster X, 03/44. To Canada 04/06/45.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

as far as i can tell these were the only squadrons with which the whitley saw major operational service, other squadrons did use her a bit but nothing worthy of note, and 419sqn did not operate them.......

10
51
58
77
78
97
102
138
161
166

[NiallC]

I think the unit involved is not 419 Squadron but 419 (Special Duties) Flight, formed August 40 with Lysanders and Whitleys at North Weald. As with all the 400 series flights it was renumbered in March 41 (to avoid confusion with the new 400 series Squadrons then being formed) as 1419 (Special Duties) Flight. In August of that year it became the better known 138 Squadron with Whitleys, Lysanders, Halifaxes and I think at least one Stirling and a Liberator.

NiallC