Talk:No. 20 Squadron RAF

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In the First World War 20 squadron was arguably the highest scoring and possibly most decorated fighter squadron on the Western Front, with over 600 combat victories, a posthumous Victoria Cross, five Distinguished Conduct Medals, and over forty Military Crosses and Military Medals awarded to its members.

The original contributer states "There was some rumour about the Squadron not being allowed back into the country due to it's history. It apparently left it's groundcrew to the mercy of the enemy when all the pilots flew away."

On 12th April 1918 the squadron had to abandon its airfield at St Marie Cappel in northern France in the face of enemy advances during the second phase of the German "spring offensive". The squadron was given orders to move (from Brigade HQ) at one hour's notice in the early evening, and given the short notice and the fact that their Bristol Fighters could only carry two men - the crew - they should not be accused of leaving the "groundcrew to the mercy of the enemy". There was no choice!

Is this the incident to which the original contributer refers? Or was there another incident later in the squadron's history? Perhaps the original contributer would like to clarify the date of the incident to which he/she refers.

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