Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The original grant of the squadron badge for ‘No. 233 G. R. Squadron’, hand-illuminated badge and motto, as painted by an artist of the College of Arms, dated December 1937, and signed by the Chester Herald and Inspector of Royal Air Force Badges, J. Heaton-Armstrong, and H.M. King George VI, mounted on card, in excellent condition £100-£150

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2009.

No. 233 Squadron was formed at Dover in August 1918 and flew anti-submarine patrols over the Straits of Dover prior to being disbanded in May 1919. Reformed at Tangmere as a general reconnaissance unit equipped with Ansons in May 1937, the Squadron was based in Scotland at the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939, where it converted to Hudsons. A flight of Blenheims joined No. 233’s strength at the end of the year, shortly before its move to Bircham Newton, where from April to December the unit’s aircraft carried out anti-shipping sweeps. Having then carried out similar duties in Northern Ireland, the Squadron moved to Cornwall to carry out patrols over the Bay of Biscay, and thence to Gibraltar, where it was based from July 1942 until February 1944.

Returning to the U.K., No. 233 next undertook conversion to Dakotas, and thereafter lent gallant service in support of the Airborne, 33 aircraft towing gliders or carrying paratroops on D-Day, followed up by 21 re-supply sorties in which four aircraft were lost. During Arnhem in September 1944, the Squadron flew 37 sorties in the first 48 hours of the operation, followed by 35 re-supply missions in which three aircraft were lost. And once again went into action at the Rhine crossing in March 1945, supplying 24 Dakotas. Latterly moved to India, No. 233 was merged with No. 215 Squadron in December 1945, but re-emerged as a Valetta flight in September 1960, being disbanded for a final time in Jan 1964.