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Vildebeest No Photo Available
Manufacturer : Vickers
The Vildebeest entered service with No 100 Squadron at RAF Donibristle in October 1932 and was soon equipping four front line units, two in the UK and two in Singapore. The Vincent, entered service with No 84 Squadron at RAF Shaibah, Iraq in 1934 and, by 1937, was equipping six Middle East squadrons. At the outbreak of the Second World War, 101 Vildebeests were still in service with the RAF. The two British-based squadrons flew coastal patrol and convoy escort missions until 1940 when their Vildebeests were replaced by the Bristol Beaufort. The two Singapore-based squadrons were still waiting for their Beauforts when Japan invaded Malaya in December 1941 and the obsolete biplanes had to be deployed against the Japanese attackers, making an abortive torpedo attack on a Japanese cruiser off Kota Bharu on 8 December. The Vildebeests continued to attack the Japanese as their forces advanced down Malaya, sustaining heavy losses from Japanese fighters, particularly when no fighter cover could be provided. On 26 January 1942, the Japanese landed at Endau, 250 miles from Singapore, and 12 Vildebeests of 100 and 36 Squadrons were sent to attack the landings. Despite an escort of Brewster Buffalo and Hawker Hurricane fighters, five Vildebeests were lost. The attack was repeated later that day by eight Vildebeests of 36 Squadron and three Fairey Albacores, resulting in six more Vildebeests and two Albacores being shot down. The surviving Vildebeests were withdrawn to Java on 31 January and attacked another Japanese landing force off Rembang, claiming eight ships sunk but sustaining further losses. The final two Vildebeests of 36 Squadron attempted to escape to Burma on 6 March but were lost over Sumatra. The last Vildebeests in RAF service, operated by 273 Squadron at Ceylon were retired in March 1942 |
Vildebeest
  Operation Charge of the Knights, Basra, Iraq, April 2008 by David Rowlands. (AP) |   Sunrise over Bristol Docks by Rodney Charman. (Y) |   Tragedy by Moonlight by Ivan Berryman. (PC) |   Tugging the Tiger's Tail by Ivan Berryman. (PC) |
| Squadrons for : Vildebeest | ||
| A list of all squadrons from known to have used this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name. | ||
| Squadron | Info | |
Country : UK Founded : 12th July 1917 Sarang tebuan jangan dijolok - Never stir up a hornets nest | No.100 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st September 1915 Preux et audacieux - Valiant and brave | No.22 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : August 1918 Fate : Disbanded 31st January 1946 Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.273 Sqn RAF | No.273 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st December 1916 Fate : Disbanded 3rd November 1975 Rajawali raja langit - Eagle King of the sky | No.36 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 26th February 1916 Fortiter in re - Bravely in action | No.42 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
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