Fly Past

118 FLYPAST September 2018

evacuated via St Nazaire on the SS

Lancastria, but she was bombed just

outside the harbour with heavy loss

of life, including 90 men from

the unit.

ICELANDIC SOJOURN

In mid-1940 No.98 was

deployed to Iceland,

to prevent the enemy

establishing bases in the

northern country. The

unit began moving in

the summer, but it was

late August before the first Battles

arrived safely at Kaldadarnes,

30 miles (48km) south east of

Reykjavík. It was the first RAF unit

to be based in Iceland and although

trained as a bomber unit it was used

for coastal patrol, convoy escort and

anti-submarine duties. Flights were

also detached north to Melgerdi and

Akureyri to extend patrol coverage.

Operations began in early

September, but the harsh climate

and fierce weather sometimes led to

losses, the first being L5343 which

went missing on the 13th, though

its crew was eventually rescued.

Many years later this aircraft was

found near a glacier and after a

painstaking restoration was placed

on display in 98 Squadron markings

at Hendon’s RAF Museum.

Anti-submarine patrols and convoy

escorts were flown through the

winter into 1941, the unit’s first

contact with the enemy coming on

March 22 when Flt Lt Clayton

‘Willy’ Wilcox, a Canadian, spotted

a U-boat but was unable to hit it. A

week later Sgt Henry Talbot bombed

1918 2018

“On May 26 the Battle fl own by 26-year-old

Fg Off Arthur Round went missing –

“On May 26 the Battle fl own by 26-year-old

Fg Off Arthur Round went missing –

“On May 26 the Battle fl own by 26-year-old

the aircraft was found 59 years later on

Fg Off Arthur Round went missing –

the aircraft was found 59 years later on

Fg Off Arthur Round went missing –

a glacier”

the aircraft was found 59 years later on

a glacier”

the aircraft was found 59 years later on

another that he spotted at periscope

depth, though without result.

On May 26 the Battle flown by

26-year-old Fg Off Arthur Round

went missing – the aircraft was

found 59 years later on a glacier, and

the crew were laid to rest at

Fossvogur cemetery in Reykjavík.

Soon afterwards some Hawker

Hurricanes were delivered to

counter marauding German Focke-

Wulf Condors, but on July 15, the

unit disbanded, with the Battles

being shipped off to Canada and

the Hurricane element forming

1423 Flight.

TACTICAL BOMBING

No.98 was eventually re-formed

at West Raynham, Norfolk, on

September 12, 1942 under Wg

Cdr L A Lewer. It was the first RAF

squadron with the North American

Mitchell medium bomber. Once

more part of 2 Group, it had

completed its training but niggling

, but she was bombed just THE BADGE AND BATTLE HONOURS

outside the harbour with heavy loss

of life, including 90 men from

ICELANDIC SOJOURN

Badge: Cerberus – in Greek mythology the monstrous multi-headed dog that guards

the gates of the Underworld. The squadron claims to have barred the way (front and

rear) during the German retreat in 1918 and so considered Cerberus, as the hound of

Hades, a suitable subject for a badge. The Never Failing motto commemorates a

message of congratulation received from the General Offi cer Commanding in

1918. It was authorised by HM King George VI in October 1937.
      Battle Honours: Western Front 1918, Amiens, Lys, Atlantic 1940-1941, Fortress
      Europe 1940-1944, Normandy 1944, France and Germany 1944-1945, Rhine. (All
      are emblazoned on the Squadron Standard.)

Right

At the start of World

War Two the unit was

tasked with supplying

trained Battle crews

to operational

squadrons in France.

VIA M GOODMAN

Above right

Wg Cdr Christopher

Paul (second from

the right) and his

crew in front of their

personally marked

Mitchell II FW189

at Dunsfold during

the period of the

Normandy landings.

Above

The CO Gp Capt G

R Ashton (right)

surveys the heavy

snow covering one

of 98’s Battles at

Kaldadarnes, Iceland,

on January 5, 1941.