X-Nico

2 unusual facts about Westland Lysander


Heigham Holmes

It has been suggested that Heigham Holmes was used by the Special Operations Executive as a secret airfield between 1940 to 1944, with Lysander aircraft operating from the airfield to ferry agents to occupied Europe.

Jean Savy

On the 19/20 July 1943 Savy and Antelme, both now hunted, were expatriated from France by Lysander operation near Tour (Tours?).


Flying Regiment 1, Finnish Air Force

The equipment consisted of some 200-240 aircraft, including Curtiss Hawk 75As, Fokker D.XXIs, Morane-Saulnier MS.406s, Gloster Gladiator IIs, Curtiss P-40M, LaGG-3, Fokker C.Xs, Westland Lysanders, VL Viima IIs, VL Myrsky IIs, Blackburn Ripon IIFs, and Bristol Blenheim Mk.Is.

No. 116 Squadron RAF

The Squadron reformed at Hatfield on 17 February 1941 from No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Calibration Flight with Westland Lysanders.

RAF Firbeck

The airfield was opened in late 1940 and was closed in 1948, during this time it was mainly used an relief landing ground (RLG) and small planes such as the Westland Lysander and the Taylorcraft Auster.

Shoreham Airport

During the Second World War the airfield operated a variety of military aircraft including Westland Lysanders that were later replaced by Supermarine Spitfires, Hawker Hurricanes, Boulton Paul Defiants and a pair of Bristol Beaufighters.


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