36 Squadron Royal Flying Corps 1918

[medals1976]

Hello,

Can any members help me with any information about 36 squadron Royal Flying Corps. I would appreciate it if anyone could share information about their role, theatre of war and whereabouts especially in 1918. I have tried the web and there seems to be no information on this squadron.

Thanks.

Mike.

[chrisharley9]

Please PM me to remind me & I will be able to deal with this for you Thu or Fri night

All The Best

Chris

[medals1976]

Thanks Chris, I will certainly PM you, and thanks for taking the time to help me.

Cheers.

Mike.

[Dolphin]

Mike

No 36 Sqn RFC was formed at Cramlington on 1 February 1916 as a night flying unit to defend against attacks by German airships; it was based on a flight of three BE 2c aircraft that had been based at Cramlington since November 1915. The squadron was initially equipped with the BE 2c, and other aircraft types (Bristol Scout, BE 12, BE 2e, FE 2b, FE 2d, Sopwith Pup and Bristol F.2b) were progressively added. Although initially charged with defending the Newcastle area, in May the squadron's responsibilities were expanded to include the Forth and Tees areas as well. Due to the comparative lack of enemy activity, No 36 Sqn was given the task of training night flying aircrew as well as its patrol work, but this ended in July 1916, when the training aircraft and some personnel were transferred away to become No 58 Training Squadron.

By October 1916 the squadron's headquarters was at Newcastle, and flights were stationed at Seaton Carew, Ashington and Hylton. On 27 November 1916 Lt I V Pyott, flying BE 2c 2738 from No 36 Sqn, attacked and shot down the German Navy Zeppelin L34 off the mouth of the Tees.

On 13 March 1918 2Lt E C Morris and 2Lt R D Lindford, flying FE 2d A6422 found Zeppelin L42 over Hartlepool and chased the airship for 40 miles out to sea, but were unable to get close enough to attack it. Nevertheless, the Zeppelin was unable to carry out its purpose of bombing.

On 1 April 1918, like the rest of the RFC, No 36 Squadron became part of the Royal Air Force.

By July 1918, as airship raids had dwindled away, No 36 Sqn concentrated more on training pilots and observers in night flying; the headquarters moved to Hylton/Usworth, with a flight at Seaton Carew and another at Ashington. No 36 Sqn was disbanded at Ashington on 13 June 1919.

Commanding Officers were:

1 February 1916 to 26 April 1916, Capt R O Abercromby;

26 April 1916 to 26 October 1916, Maj A C E Marsh;

26 October 1916 to February 1917, Maj C S Burnett;

February 1917 to 1 January 1918, Maj J H S Tyssen;

1 January 1918 to 26 July 1918, Maj S W Price'

26 July 1918 onwards, Maj W J Tempest.

I hope that this is useful.

Gareth

[Adrian Roberts]

26 July 1918 onwards, Maj W J Tempest.

Would that be Wultan Tempest who had previously shot down L31?

Adrian

[Dolphin]

Adrian

Yes, that's the man: 2Lt, later Major, Wulstan Joseph Tempest DSO.

Regards

Gareth

[medals1976]

Thank-you Gareth for your kind help, It is very much appreciated as there is very little information about this squadron. The information you have provided is very interesting.

Kind Regards.

Mike.

[mickdavis]

Mike

No 36 Sqn RFC was formed at Cramlington on 1 February 1916 as a night flying unit to defend against attacks by German airships; it was based on a flight of three BE 2c aircraft that had been based at Cramlington since November 1915. The squadron was initially equipped with the BE 2c, and other aircraft types (Bristol Scout, BE 12, BE 2e, FE 2b, FE 2d, Sopwith Pup and Bristol F.2b) were progressively added. Although initially charged with defending the Newcastle area, in May the squadron's responsibilities were expanded to include the Forth and Tees areas as well. Due to the comparative lack of enemy activity, No 36 Sqn was given the task of training night flying aircrew as well as its patrol work, but this ended in July 1916, when the training aircraft and some personnel were transferred away to become No 58 Training Squadron.

By October 1916 the squadron's headquarters was at Newcastle, and flights were stationed at Seaton Carew, Ashington and Hylton. On 27 November 1916 Lt I V Pyott, flying BE 2c 2738 from No 36 Sqn, attacked and shot down the German Navy Zeppelin L34 off the mouth of the Tees.

On 13 March 1918 2Lt E C Morris and 2Lt R D Lindford, flying FE 2d A6422 found Zeppelin L42 over Hartlepool and chased the airship for 40 miles out to sea, but were unable to get close enough to attack it. Nevertheless, the Zeppelin was unable to carry out its purpose of bombing.

On 1 April 1918, like the rest of the RFC, No 36 Squadron became part of the Royal Air Force.

By July 1918, as airship raids had dwindled away, No 36 Sqn concentrated more on training pilots and observers in night flying; the headquarters moved to Hylton/Usworth, with a flight at Seaton Carew and another at Ashington. No 36 Sqn was disbanded at Ashington on 13 June 1919.

Commanding Officers were:

1 February 1916 to 26 April 1916, Capt R O Abercromby;

26 April 1916 to 26 October 1916, Maj A C E Marsh;

26 October 1916 to February 1917, Maj C S Burnett;

February 1917 to 1 January 1918, Maj J H S Tyssen;

1 January 1918 to 26 July 1918, Maj S W Price'

26 July 1918 onwards, Maj W J Tempest.

I hope that this is useful.

Gareth

A bit more detail taken from an article I did for C&C a few years ago

36 SQUADRON RFC/RAF

Bases

Formed at Cramlington for Home Defence 1.2.1916 with nucleus from existing HD Flight. Turnhouse was intended as a Flight Station but was not taken up. A Flight detached May 1916 to Seaton Carew. Flight detached October 1916 Hylton (B Flt) and Ashington (C Flt). HQ to Jesmond (Newcastle) 12.10.1916. Flights re-titlrd 12.8.1917; A Flt at Hylton, B Flt at Ashington and C Flt at Seaton Carew. Establishment at 6.1918 intended as 20 BF. HQ to Hylton 1.7.1918. Hylton re-named Usworth 15.7.1918. Autumn 1918 establishment set at 4 Pup + 4 BF per flight. Disbanded 13.6.1919.

Commanding Officers

Captain RO Abercromby from 1.2.1916. Major CS Burnett from 26.4.1916. Captain Murray (temporary) 10.1916. Major ACE Marsh from 26.10.1916. Major JHS Tyssen MC from 22.1.1917. Major SW Price MC from 1.1.1918. Major WJ Tempest DSO MC from 26.7.1918 until 16.1.1919.

Landing Grounds († later upgraded to Flight Station/aerodrome, ‡ existing aerodrome)

Acklington (Southfields), Alnwick/Rennington, Beacon Hill, Benton, Bishopton, Cleadon, Cramlington‡, Currock Hill, Easington (Seaham), Horsegate, Longhorsley, Ponteland, Seaton Carew†, Snipe House, Spennymoor, Stamford (Alnwick), Thornaby (Yarm), Trimdon (Catley Hill), Tynemouth, West Town Moor (Hylton but not the later Flight Station).

Squadron Searchlights

Alnwick Moor, Beknowl, Birtley, Broomhill, Castle Eden, Coxhoe, Easington, Fencehouses, Greatham, Hebron, Helm, High Boston, Hirst, Newton-on-the-Moor, Sedgefield, Sherburn, Snableazes, Whalton, Widdrington.

Representative Aeroplanes

Avro 504 2911, 2912, 2913, 2914, 2924, 2935, 7735, 7739.

AW FK3 5514, 5517, 5526, 5529.

Bristol Scout D 5569.

RAF BE2b 2772.

RAF BE2c 2071, 2471, 2483, 2724, 2725, 2738, 2739, 2740, 2749, 4121, 4130, 4394, 4559, 4590.

RAF BE2e 6310, 7342, 7344, B4414, B4444.

RAF BE12 6139, 6140, 6141, 6490, 6494, 6499, 6510, 6616, 6634, 6662.

RAF FE2b 4976, A5470, A5534, A5538, A5542, A5561, A5622, A5634, A5653, A5683, A5684, A5719, A5738, A5740, A5741, B421, C9793, D9773.

RAF FE2d A6422, A6429, A6442, A6451, A6461, A6462, A6474, A6535, A6582, A6584, A6586, B1883.

Bristol F2B B1185, C4780, C4896, C4897, C4698, D8084.

Sopwith Pup B849, B1763, B1805, B1807, B5905, B5906, C291, C303, C306, C326.

[medals1976]

Thank - you Mick, that was an excellent piece of information as there is so little about this squadron, I will be printing this and adding it to my research file, thank-you.

Kind Regards.

Mike.