User:Saltmarsh/Sandbox2
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[edit] Hawker Typhoon
Like the Whirlwind, the Hawker Typhoon 1B was a fighter bomber or strike fighter. Although only powered by a single engine, the Napier Sabre, it was more powerful (2,260 hp) than the two Peregrines (885 hp each) Whirlwind engines. As well as four cannon it could be armed with two (later four) 500 lb (227 kg) bombs or eight 60lb rockets.
In December 1943 263 Squadron became non-operational while aircrew and ground staff became familiar with the new plane. By the end of the month flying on the Whirlwind had shrunk to 22 hours and over 309 hours had been flown on the Typhoon. After two weeks Armament Practice Camp at RAF Fairwood Common, the squadron became operational again on 1 February 1944 and attacked for the first time on 3 February when three divebombing operations took place.
[edit] Commanding officers
| Served from | Name | Missing/killed in action | |
| October 1939 | Sqn/Ldr John W Donaldson, DSO, AFC | 9 June 1940 aged 29 | – |
| 10 Jun 1940 | Sqn/Ldr H Eeles | – | – |
| December 1940 | Sqn/Ldr Munro | – | – |
| February 1941 | Sqn/Ldr A E Donaldson, DFC, AFC | – | – |
| August 1941 | Sqn/Ldr Thomas P Pugh, DFC | 2 August 1943 aged 23 | later W/Cmdr with 182 Squadron |
| February 1942 | Sqn/Ldr Robert S Woodward, DFC | 7 December 1942 aged 23 | – |
| 11 December 1942 | Sqn/Ldr Geoffrey B Warnes, DSO, DFC | – | – |
| June 1943 | Sqn/Ldr Ernest R Baker, DSO, DFC Bar | 16 June 1944 aged 30 | later W/Cmdr |
| December 1943 | Sqn/Ldr Geoffrey B Warnes, DSO, DFC | 22 February 1944 aged 29 | – |
| 25 February 1944 | Sqn/Ldr Henri A C Gonay | 14 June 1944 aged 30 | ex. of Belgian Air Force |
| June 1944 | Sqn/Ldr R D Rutter, DFC | – | – |
| January 1945 | Sqn/Ldr Martin T S Rumbold | – | – |
| August 1945 | 263 Squadron disbanded | – | – |
[edit] References
