No. 142 Squadron RAF

No. 142 Squadron was a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF).

History
No. 142 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was formed at RFC Ismailia, Egypt in 1918, flying a mixed bag of reconnaissance and bomber aircraft. On the formation of the Royal Air Force, on 1 April 1918, 142 Squadron was at RFC Julis in Palestine, becoming No. 142 Squadron RAF (142 Squadron). After operations in Palestine the squadron retired to RAF Suez where it disbanded on 1 February 1920, to form No. 55 Squadron RAF.

World War II
Re-formed at RAF Netheravon on 1 June 1934, 142 Squadron flew a variety of bomber aircraft but mostly the Fairey Battle and Vickers Wellington after hostilities opened in 1939, deploying as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to France. On 5 October 1944 142 squadron was disbanded at Regine in Italy to allow the Squadron to re-form at RAF Gransden Lodge flying de Havilland Mosquito bombers as part of No. 8 (PFF) Group's Light Night Striking Force. Soon after World War II ended the squadron was disbanded while still located at RAF Gransden Lodge.

Post war era
A brief period of existence occurred between 1 February 1959 and 1 April 1959 at RAF Eastleigh in Kenya, where the squadron flew de Havilland Venom FB.4s and de Havilland Vampire] trainers, before re-forming as No. 208 Squadron RAF.

The latest incarnation of 142 Squadron occurred on 22 July 1959 at RAF Coleby Grange as one of 20 Strategic Missile (SM) squadrons associated with Project Emily, equipped with three US Douglas Thor intermediate range ballistic missiles (IRBM). 142 The Thor missiles would be armed with W-49 thermonuclear warheads, each with an explosive yield of 1.44 megatons. The warheads remained under the control of the United States Air Force (USAF) under the "Dual Key" arrangement, whereby launch of a live missile would require authority from both the United Kingdom and US governments. RAF Coleby Grange was the base one of five squadrons, each armed with three missiles, based in Lincolnshire, with the headquarters at RAF Hemswell and a squadron each at RAF Bardney, RAF Caistor and RAF Ludford Magna.

During October 1962 142 Squadron was kept at full readiness, with the missiles aimed at strategic targets in the USSR, as part of the threatened response to the Cuban missile crisis. At the conclusion of the crisis, de-activation of the Thor missiles in the UK were offered up as part of the negotiations, along with the Jupiter medium range missiles in Turkey. The Thor missile squadrons were stood down in 1963, with 142 Squadron disbanding on 24 May 1963.

Operational airfields

 * Ismailia, Egypt
 * Julis, Palestine
 * Suez, Egypt
 * RAF Netheravon
 * RAF Andover 3 Dec 1936 – 9 May 1939
 * RAF Bicester 9 May −2 Sep 1939
 * Berry-au-Bac (France) 2 – 12 Sep 1939
 * Plivot 12 Sep – 16 May 1940
 * Faux-Villecerf 16 May – 6 Jun 1940
 * Villiers-Faux 6 – 15 Jun 1940
 * RAF Waddington 15 Jun 1940 – 3 Jul 1940
 * RAF Binbrook 3 Jul 1940 – 12 Aug 1940; 6 Sep 1940 – 26 Nov 1941
 * RAF Eastchurch 12 Aug 1940 – 6 Sep 1940
 * RAF Waltham & RAF Kirmington 26 Nov 1941 – Dec 1942
 * RAF Thruxton 7 Jun-7 Jul 1942
 * Blida 19 Dec 1942 – 5 May 1943
 * Fontaine Chaude 5–26 May 1943
 * Kairouan 26 May – 15 Nov 1943
 * Oudna 15 Nov – 16 Dec 1943
 * Cerignola 16 Dec 1943 – 14 Feb 1944
 * Amendola 14 Feb – 3 Jul 1944
 * Regine 3 Jul – 5 Oct 1944
 * RAF Gransden Lodge 25 Oct 1944 – 28 Sep 1945
 * RAF Eastleigh 1 Feb 1959 – 1 Apr 1959
 * RAF Coleby Grange 22 Jul 1959 – 24 May 1963

Memorial at Ashdown Forest
The Airman's Grave at Ashdown Forest is a memorial to the six man crew of a Wellington bomber of 142 Squadron who were killed when it crashed in the forest on the morning of 31 Jul 1941 on its return from a raid on Cologne. The memorial, which is a simple stone-walled enclosure on the heathland west of Duddleswell, shelters a white cross surrounded by a tiny garden of remembrance and was erected by the mother of Sergeant P.V.R. Sutton, who was aged 24 at the time of his death. A short public service takes place each year on Remembrance Sunday when a wreath is laid by an Ashdown Forest Ranger, at the request of Mrs Sutton, together with one from the Ashdown Forest Riding Association. The Ashdown Forest Centre has published a circular walk to the memorial from Hollies car park.