RAF No 249 (Gold Coast) Squadron

Supermarine Spitfire photographs

Spitfire MkVb RAF 249Sqn T-L Maurice Stephens EP706 Ta Qali Malta 1942

EP706 Vb CBAF M46 38MU 25-7-42 RAF Abbotsinch 3-8-42 ff Malta 6-9-42 249S C2 ops 12-10-42 Engine cut abandoned 23m N of Valletta Malta 3-3-43

Spitfire MkVcTrop RAF 249Sqn TB BP983 over Egypt IWM HU73183

Spitfire Mark VC, BP983 'TB', of No. 249 Squadron RAF, in flight over Egypt at the time of its transfer from Malta to North West Africa, where it joined No. 92 Squadron RAF.

Imperial War Museum IWM HU 73183 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205211268

RAF Hal Far airfield Malta IWM MOWH181

High oblique aerial view of Hal Far airfield, Malta, taken at 5,000 feet from the north-west.

Imperial War Museum IWM ((MOW) H 18-1) https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205023367

Spitfire MkVcTrop RAF 249Sqn TD BR130 at Ta Kali Malta IWM CM3270

Three Supermarine Spitfire Mark VC(T)s (BR130 'T-D' nearest), of No. 249 Squadron RAF at readiness in their dispersal at Ta Kali, Malta.

Imperial War Museum IWM CM 3270 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205208953

Spitfire MkVcTrop RAF 249Sqn at Ta Kali Malta IWM CM3215

Ground crew of No. 249 Squadron RAF take a break from maintaining their Supermarine Spitfire Mark VCs at Ta Kali, Malta, to observe the activity on the airfield.

Imperial War Museum IWM CM 3215 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205208952

Spitfire MkVcTrop RAF 249Sqn at Ta Kali Malta IWM CM3237

Ground crew of No. 249 Squadron RAF take a break from maintaining their Supermarine Spitfire Mark VCs at Ta Kali, Malta, to observe the activity on the airfield.

Imperial War Museum IWM CM 3237 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205208950

Spitfire MkVb RAF 249Sqn TJ TK n TU at Ta Kali Malta IWM HU72341

Supermarine Spitfire Mark VBs, 'T-J', 'T-K' and 'T-U', of No. 249 Squadron RAF at readiness at Ta Kali, Malta.

Imperial War Museum IWM HU 72341 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205090507

Spitfire MkVb RAF 249Sqn TM at Krendi Malta IWM HU72343

Supermarine Spitfire, 'T-M', of No. 249 Squadron RAF awaits at readiness at Krendi, Malta.

Imperial War Museum IWM HU 72343 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205090508

Aircrew RAF 249Sqn pilots between sorties at Grottaglie Italy IWM CNA2350

NCO pilots of No. 249 Squadron RAF enjoy an open-air game of cards between sorties at Grottaglie, Italy,

Imperial War Museum IWM CNA 2350 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205212492

Aircrew RAF 249Sqn John Lynch was credited with Maltas 1000 aerial victory IWM CM5096

Squadron Leader J J Lynch, Commanding Officer of No. 249 Squadron RAF, sits in the cockpit of his Supermarine Spitfire Mark VC at Krendi, Malta, as an airman chalks "Malta's 1,000th" below his victory tally. Lynch, an American who joined the RAF in 1941, served with No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron RAF in the United Kingdom before being posted to 249 Squadron in Malta in Novembe 1942. He became a flight commander in early 1943 and was given the command of the Squadron in March. He enjoyed much success during operations over the sea route between Sicily and Tunisia, and, on the 28 April 1943, shot down a Junkers Ju 52 five miles north of Cap Cefalu which was assessed as being the 1,000th enemy aircraft shot down by Malta based units since the start of the war. Lynch transferred to the USAAF in July 1943 having scored 10 and 7 shared victories with the RAF.

Imperial War Museum IWM CM 5096 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205209074