61st Wing RAF

[Regulus]

Hi,

Forgive my ignorance on British Wings, but what Squadron was this ?

VBR from Regulus

[Graeme]

Regulus

61 Wing began life as No 1 Wing RNAS in June 1915 and became No 61 Wing upon creation of the RAF on 1 April 1918 and was part of No 5 Group RAF. As No 61 Wing it controlled numbers 202, 204, 210, 213 217 and 218 Squadrons.

The Wing was commanded by Lt-Col P F M Fellowes until May 1918 when he was temporarily replaced by Major B L Huskisson DSC who was in turn replaced by Lt-Col E Osmond in June. The Wing disbanded on 13 November 1918.

Graeme

[Regulus]

Thanks Graeme, really disbanded that early ? Hmm, this gives me trouble. I read somewhere that the wing was for a short time at the Jabbeke-Snellegem-Varsenare aerodrome by the end of the war. Must have been a really short moment in that case !

VBR from Regulus

[Graeme]

Regulus

I'm not sure where the Wing HQ was based, but No 217 Squadron moved to Varssenaere on 23 October 1918 and stayed there until its move back to the United Kingdon in February 1919.

While 61 Wing seems to have disbanded very soon after the Armistice, some of the units that it controlled were not disbanded until some time later, No 213 Squadron not disbanding until December 1919; by that time it was part of No 3 Group.

Graeme

[Regulus]

Hello Graeme,

And 202 Sqdn was also stationed quite some time at Varsenare-Jabbeke or Snellegem (confusing sometimes), from just after the Armistice till somewhere in march 1919. So that is already the second unit that stayed there for quite some time. It's getting more and more interesting !
So even if the Wing was disbanded, it could be that all of these units stayed here for quite some time !
Never would have dared thinking that the history of my home town's airfield was that spectacular ! I think no less than 22 or 23 units stayed here during the war ! Fascinating. Thanks !

Very best from Regulus