The squadron was re-formed on March 16 th 1936 when C Flight of No.57(B) Squadron then based at RAF Upper Heyford was hived off and used as the nucleus of the new 218(B) Squadron.
The squadron was to be equipped with the Rolls Royce kestrel V engined Hawker Hind biplane light day bomber.
Initially the squadron was no more than a flight under the command of Flight Lieutenant B.M Carey, all day to day squadron activities were issued and controlled by the commanding officer of No.57(B) squadron's commanding officer.
On March 27 th 1936 No.57 (B) Squadron and No.218 (B) Squadron, which were in effect acting as a third flight departed Upper Heyford for No.2 Armament Training Camp located at North Coates Fitties for the first of a number of annual armament training exercises. The following months would see the squadron slowly expand in both pilots and aircraft. On October 6 th , Flight Lieutenant Cary left the squadron to take up a post at RAF Station Calshort. Within 2 days of his departure the squadron would suffer it's first fatalities since the Great War.
During dive-bombing practice Sergeant George Chapman Dodsworth and his observer, Acting sergeant Walter James Devoil were seen to attempt to recover from his dive, witnesses described the following seconds as the top wing inexplicitly folded up and the Hind (K5516) crashed into the ground on the Theddlethorpe Ranges , Lincolnshire . Both crewmen were killed instantly. On October 20 th Flight Lieutenant Arnold Louis Christian was posted onto the squadron via RAF Uxbridge to assume temporary command of the squadron. Unknown to the squadron crews at the time, Christian was a relative of Fletcher Christian of Mutiny on the Bounty fame.
Due to the loss of Sergeant Dodsworth on the 6 th the annual Armament Camp exercise was terminated four days early for 218 Squadron. It had been decided that until the cause of the tragic accident could be found restrictions on dives would be imposed, this coupled with the high winds experienced over Lincolnshire gave the squadron a well earned rest.
On October 24 th 1936 the squadron finally become independent of No.57 (B) Squadron. 218 Squadron staff now carried out all day-to-day activities. On November 2 nd 1936 the squadron received its first permanent commanding officer. Squadron Leader Francis Harbroe Shales formally of No.40 (B) Squadron assumed command via Flight Lieutenant Christian.
Confirmation of the squadron's long awaited independence would see the unit receive a number of high-ranking visits. On November 27 th Air Chief Marshall Sir John M Steel, Air Officer Commanding in Chief visited the squadron. Within 4 days Air Commodore A.T.Boyd carried out an A.O.C's inspection, finally on December 7 th Air Chief Marshall Sir Robert Brooks-Popham carried out a squadron inspection.
Squadron Leader Shales command of the squadron came to an end when on June 14 th 1937 the recently promoted Squadron Leader Cunningham assumed command.
The squadron suffered another fatal crash on November 26 th 1937 when Pilot Officer Eric Arthur Hunt and his gunner Aircraftman 1 st Class Joseph Thomas crashed while on a routine flight. Their Hind (K6632) suffered an engine failure, attempting to descend through cloud the aircraft crashed into the sea off Workingham, Cumberland.
Another change of command took place on just before Christmas 1937, with the posting of Squadron Leader Cunningham to Andover Staff College , his replacement was Squadron Leader Lewin Bowring Duggan. With a new command came a new aircraft. The now outdated Hawker Hind an aircraft that had served the squadron so well since its reformation began to be phased out in January 1938 in favour of the new Fairey Battle single engined monoplane. The first aircraft delivered from Fairey's factory at Stockport was Fairey Battle K7647 which arrived on the squadron on January 17 th 1938 . The delivery of aircraft was completed by February 11 th . when the last four aircraft were delivered from Messrs Fairey Aviation Co, these aircraft were K7663 (N) K7664 (O) ,K7665 (P) and K7666 (Q). The squadron had a effective strength of 16 aircraft 12, I.E and 4 I.R.
Two years after it reformation the squadron moved from RAF Upper Heyford to RAF Boscombe Down. 1938 was the last full year of peace, the squadron carried out a number of air exercises and air pageants, the first of which was the Empire Air Day in May, this was followed by a month's detachment to West Freagh practice camp. In July the squadron carried out a faultless flying display at the opening of the new Luton Airport . Two 2 day Observer Corps Exercise's were flown in July and August.
During late August the squadron was partially mobilised during the International European Crisis, all squadron members were inoculated and ominously the squadron Battles had their pre war code letters SV repainted to HA. The initial batch of Battle Mk.I's with the Merlin I was gradually phased out in October in favour of the Merlin II power plant. The first batch was collected from Fairey Aviation Co based at Ringway Aerodrome, Stockport.
Another round of high level inspections was carried out in November when the Inspector General Sir Edward Ellington GCB, CBE, DSC made a day long visit to the squadron. On November 14 th the Commander-In-Chief, Bomber Command, Air Chief Marshall Sir Edgar Ludlow Hewitt, ECB, CMG, DSO,MC visited the station and inspected the squadron.
December 1938 saw a change in squadron policy, the squadron would now be commanded by a wing commander, either a squadron leader or flight lieutenant would command the flights. At the A.OC's annual inspection Air Vice Marshall Playfair presented the squadron with its own squadron crest. The crest, which had been approved and signed by H.M the King, depicted an Hour Glass. The significance of the hourglass was that the squadron as formed ‘In-Time' to take part in the Great War.
1939 started with the squadron being affiliated with the town of Weston-Super-Mare . The last peace time Empire Air Day was flown in May, the squadron carried out a demonstration of formation flying with 12 aircraft in a diamond formation. In June the establishment of the squadron was increased, with the addition of a third flight. The aircraft from this flight were collected from the Austin Works at Birmingham.
July, found the squadron carrying out two very successful flights over France , the squadron visited a number of towns and villages that would within a year be remembered with the bloody massacre of the Battle squadrons.
August, began with a major tactical exercises, this was quickly followed by a major Home Defence Exercise. Unfortunately this exercise was marred by the tragic death of three squadron airmen. While carrying out a low-level flight on Friday 11 th Flying Officer William Kinane a 22-year-old Australian hit a recently installed electrical pylon located at Carlton , the ensuring crash resulted in the death of the crew of three. A official visit by the squadron was undertaken by a formation of 12 aircraft to Weston-super-Mare on August 19 th . With yet another war looming, the squadron like so many others based in Great Britain prepared for the inevitable conflict with Nazis Germany. No.218 Squadron received orders on August 24 th 1939 to mobilize as a part of No.75 Wing A.A.S.F.
The day before the declaration of war the squadron once again set off for France.
Next: AT WAR, The End of a Dream
© 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron Association
© Steven SMITH
