The Wartime Memories Project - No. 111 Squadron

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Information. No. 111 Squadron was first formed at Dier-el-Belah, Palestine on 1 August 1917. The Squadron was reformed at Duxford in 1923. 111 Squadron flew with 11 and 12 Groups during the Battle of Britain and replacing its Hurricanes with Spitfires in April 1942. No: 111 Squadron supported the 1st Army in tehinvasion of North Africa, then moving to Malta in June 1943 to cover the invasion of Sicily. No 111 moved north was the Allies advanced through Italy. It was disbanded May 1947 and reformed again in 1953. Airfields at which No. 111 Squadron were based: Northolt Sept to 27 Oct 1939 Acklington 27 Oct 1939 to 7 Dec 1939 Drem 7 Dec 1939 to 27 Feb 1940 & 8 Sep 1940 to 12 Oct 1940 Wick 27 Feb 1940 to 13 May 1940 Northolt 13 May 1940 to 21 May 1940 Digby 21 May 1940 to 30 May 1940 North Weald 30 May 1940 to 4 Jun 1940 & 20 Jul 1941 to 1 Nov 1941 & to 22 Dec 1941 Croydon 4 Jun 1940 to 19 Aug 1940 & 3 Sep 1940 to 8 Sep 1940 Debden 19 Aug 1940 to 3 Sep 1940 & 1 Nov 1941 to 15 Dec 1941 & 22 Dec 1941 to 30 Jun 1942 & 7 July 1942 to 28 Jul 1942 Dyce 12 Oct 1940 to 20 Jul 1941 Gravesend 30 Jun 1942 to 7 July 1942 Kenley 28 Jul 1942 to 21 Sep 1942 Martlesham Heath 21 Sep 1942 to 27 Sep 1942 Fowlmere 27 Sep 1942 to 20 Oct 1942 Maison Blanche 20 Oct 1942 to Nov 1942 Gibraltar Nov 1942 The Wartime Memories Project would like to hear from anyone who was with 111 Squadron during the war years. Please contact us: Click to send an email. or Click here to complete the online form. I am researching Hurricane Mk1 V7400 which flew with 111 Squadron during the Battle of Britain. Does anyone have any details of the pilots who flew her or any photos? I would like to find out her squadron code. The aircraft was damaged on 22 Feb 1941, who was the pilot that day and what happened? Michael Ferriss DFC was a cousin of my father. He was a member of 111 Squadron and flew out of Croydon Airfield. Michael was at Oxford University studying to be a doctor when war broke out. He had learned to fly at Oxford and joined the RAF to fly Hurricanes. Michael followed the family tradition of smoking a pipe and loved life and the good times that went with being a young man. While at Croydon he spent any spare time with his friends visiting clubs and dances in London. Michael's squadron were the first to practise the tactic of head on attack, flying directly at bombers threatening London and the south east. On his last day (16th August 1940) Michael and his squadron were scrambled to intercept an emormous attack from the German Luftwaffe and they intercepted them over Dungeness. Michael and his fellow pilots harried and attacked as the bombers flew inland to attack London. Over the Weald of Kent he flew directly towards a Dornier as he had done so many times before. This time he collided with the Dornier and his plane crashed on a farm outside Marden. Michael was killed. He is buried in the Catholic cemetery in Chislehurst but his plane is still underground, watched over by the son of the farmer. This young lad witnessed the dogfight and subsequent crash landing of the Hurricane. They have marked the site of the crash with a lovely apple tree and this young lad, now an elderly man, spends his Remembrance Sundays sitting under the apple tree. After many years and a very intensive search he mange to arrange a for a wonderful ceremony to mark the 60th anniversay of Michael's death with a commemoration service and flypast of a Sptifire locally restored. He gave each family member a few apple pips from the apple tree to try to grow at their homes to spread and keep the memory of a very brave man. Catherine Huntley. Photographs If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch. List of those who served with No. 111 Squadron during World War Two. R.H.Atkinson G.S.P.Bain J.Bayly A.G.Biggar P.Blaize R.J.W.Brown D.C.Bruce R.F.Bumstead R.Carnall S.D.P.Connors J.H.H.Copeman J.B.Courtis J.T.Craig E.E.Croker K.Dawick A.H.Deacon R.G.Dutton W.L.Dymond Michael Ferriss DFC. pilot. (d. 16 Aug 1940) Read his Story A.G.A.Fisher M.B.Fisher H.S.Giddings P.R.J.Gilbert K.A.G.Graham A.H.Gregory C.W.Hampshire H.G.Hardman Jiri Hartman T.P.K.Higgs O.Hruby E.R.Jessop J.K.Kay M.Kellett O.Kestler V.A.Kopecky J.V.Kucera C.W.MacDougal J.Macinski K.M.Macujowski J.L.Malinski M.J.Mansfeld A.G.McIntyre J.W.McKenzie H.S.Newton B.Olewinski A.D.Page O.W.Porter R.P.R.Powell J.Poplawski J.R.Ritchie D.H.Richards J.Robinson R.Sellers P/O Leslie Mark Sharp F.H.Silk R.B.Simm P.J.Simpson R.H.Smythe S.Stegman Squadron Leader J.Thompson. L.J.Tweed K.J.Vykoural Waghorn T.Y.Wallace R.W.M.Walsh R.R.Wilson T.V.Worral If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch. If you have a story which you would like to share, or a website dedicated to a soldier or regiment please get in touch. Send an E-mail to Links Allied Forces Index The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation. 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