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This unofficial site is an ongoing documentation of the brief, yet intense, period of 197 Squadron’s existence from its formation in November 1942 to its disbandment in August 1945. Originally created as a documentation platform for 197 Squadron veterans it now remains in their honour and for their families.
We wish to thank the former veterans of 197 Squadron and their families as well as Richard Hadley, Chris Thomas, and Janice Mullin at the Imperial War Museum for their generous support and contributions of information images and advice to this website.
Please note: Images may not be reproduced without permission of the owners. Imperial War Museum images may not be copied without permission from the Imperial War Museum. For an order form and price list of their images please contact the Imperial War Museum directly at www.iwm.org.uk
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Further Reading
Victory Fighters: The Veteran’s Story – Winning the battle for supremacy in the skies over Western Europe 1941-1945 by Stephen Darlow, pub. Grubb Street, 2005
“Victory Fighters is largely a collection of eyewitness accounts of the struggle that raged in the skies over occupied Europe after the Battle of Britain. Expertly selected and interwoven by Stephen Darlow, the book centres on the stories of six pilots and one navigator, the telling of which covers every aspect of this battle over land and sea.”
Includes accounts from Derek Lovell, Ken Trott, Derek Tapson and Jimmy Kyle DFM from 197 Squadron.
Brotherhood of the Skies – Wartime Experiences of a Gunner Officer and Typhoon Pilot by David Ince DFC, pub. Grubb Street, 2010
“David Ince only managed to pass the RAF medical board on his third attempt – but this did not stop him from forging a highly successful aviation career. After flying Hurricanes and Mustangs at 41 OTU, he converted to Typhoons and flew with squadrons 193 and 257, from Normandy until the end of the conflict in Europe. He completed almost 150 sorties.”
The Typhoon and Tempest Story by Chris Thomas and Christoper F. Shaws, pub. Arms & Armour Press, 1988
“The standard work on the Hawker heavy fighter from the development of the Typhoon and Tornado as interceptors in the late 1930s to the final service of the Tempest a decade and a half later. It covers the attributes of the aircraft, developmental and operational problems, roles of the Typhoon and Tempest during World War II, and veterans’ memories of the aircraft. Profusely illustrated, with maps, colour views and more. Details of all squadrons, losses, performance and production data. An essential resource for the Hawker historian.”
Hawker Typhoon: The RAF’s Ground-Breaking Fighter-Bomber by Tony Buttler, pub. Key Publishing Ltd., 2020
“…during the final year of World War Two, following the D-Day landings in June 1944, the Typhoon performed a crucial role in the European theatre. After May 1945 it disappeared from RAF squadrons very quickly, so to leave such a record of success over such a short time is nothing short of outstanding! It was not a world-beater, but the Typhoon was perfect for the job that was required of it. Many books that document the Typhoon cover it in conjunction with its successor, the Hawker Tempest. However, this work, fully illustrated with over 180 photographs, gives this heavyweight machine a well-deserved volume of its own.”
Unsung– the Story of the Rocket Firing Typhoons a tribute film made by Richard Hadley, grandson of a 181 squadron pilot around the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion.
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