Photograph of Mosquito Night Fighter variant,  RAF Hurn 1944.

Mosquito believed to be NF Mk.XVII of 125 Sqn, with aircrew, at RAF Hurn in 1944.

NB: Number 604 (County of Middlesex) Squadron also operated Mosquitos NF Mk. XIIIs from Hurn at the same time as No. 125 (Newfoundland) Squadron; however I believe the aircraft in the second photo at least to be a NF Mk.XVII because of the identifying slight bulge under the radome, just above the aircrew member in cap and Mae West.  Also, NF Mk. XIII carried drop tanks, although perhaps not always. If this is a NF Mk. XVII, then presumably these are 125 Sqdn personnel, although I don't recognize Sqn Ldr Barwell - unless he is the aforementioned man in the cap.  I wonder if one of this men in the picture is his Navigator/Radar Operator on 23/24 April, Flt Lt David Haigh?

No 125 (Newfoundland) Squadron

Motto:      Nunquam domandi (Never to be tamed)

Formed at Old Sarum on 1 February 1918 as a training squadron, it was planned that it would mobilise as a day bomber unit for deployment to France in September, but was disbanded on 17 August.

Reforming as a night fighter squadron at Colerne on 16 June 1941, it was equipped with Defiants, which it used to cover the South West of England and Wales.  Beaufighters began to replace the Defiants in  February 1942 and the process of conversion was complete by April.  It remained based in this area until March 1944, having moved around between Colerne, Fairwood Common and eventually Valley from November 1943.  It also provided a detachment to Sumburgh from October to December 1942.  Whilst at Valley it operated a detachment at Ballyhalbert in Northern Ireland.

Before leaving Valley, the squadron converted to Mosquitos, which were then taken to Hurn (25 March 1944), from where the squadron could provide cover to the invasion forces assembling along the South Coast.  With the invasion over the squadron moved (31 July 1944) to Middle Wallop from where it undertook night interceptions of V-1  flying bombs.  When the threat from ground launched bombs subsided as the site were over-run by ground forces, the squadron moved to Coltishall in October.  Here it was able to carry on combating the V-1 but this time air-launched versions launched from He111s over the north Sea.  It was also tasked with the interception of night intruders attempting to attack returning bombers.  The squadron disbanded at Church Fenton on 20 November 1945.

The squadron briefly reformed once more from 31 March 1955 as a night fighter unit at Stradishall, equipped with Meteor NF 11s.  These were replaced by Venom NF Mk 3s in November but the squadron disbanded on 10 May 1957.

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