29Sqn / 29 Squadron

29Sqn

Badge: An Eagle in flight, preying on a buzzard
Motto: Impiger et acer (Energetic and keen)

29Sqn's North East history
29Sqn had a night-fighter role during the second world war, a role which it continued during the peace that followed. The squadron arrived at Acklington from West Malling in early 1947 with their Mosquito NF.36 aircraft while still performing this role. For the next twelve months the squadron split it's time between here and West Malling, where it finally left for in February 1948.

The squadron was then absent from the airfield until 1957 when it returned this time from Tangmere with Meteor NF.11 aircraft again in the night-fighter role. The squadron had become the RAF's first jet equipped night-fighter squadron while at Tangmere. The squadron lost Meteor NF.11 on 15 April 1957 when WD725 overshot the runway after an abandoned take-off at Acklington and caught fire.

During late 1957 29Sqn converted to the Javelin FAW.6 thus becoming the last squadron in Fighter Command to use the Meteor NF.11. In summer 1958, now with all weather capability the squadron and it's Javelin's moved North to Leuchars in Scotland bringing its association with the North East of England to an end.

A 'diary' of North East squadron history follows :-

Date	Event
26/02/1947	Arrived at Acklington from West Malling with Mosquito NF.36 (in use until Oct 1950)
31/03/1947	Left for West Malling
16/06/1947	Arrived at Acklington from West Malling
24/07/1947	Left for West Malling
05/01/1948	Arrived at Acklington from West Malling
26/02/1948	Left for West Malling
14/01/1957	Arrived at Acklington from Tangmere with Meteor NF.11 (in use until Dec 1957)
Nov 1957	Received Javelin FAW.6 (in use until Aug 1961)
Feb 1958	Received Meteor NF.12 (in use until Jul 1958)
22/07/1958	Left for Leuchars

Representative Aircraft

Meteor NF.11	WD613	WD616	WD617	WD625	WD703	WD709
	WD710	WD715	WD722	WD725	WD739	WD742
	WD762	WD768	WD786	WD787	WD792	WM143
	WM155	WM157	WM174	WM176	WM178	WM187
	WM224	WM236