No. 139 Squadron RAF

139 Squadron Royal Air Force was formed on 3 July 1918 at Villaverla in Italy and was equipped with Bristol F2b fighter aircraft.

On 3 September 1939 a Blenheim IV of the squadron piloted by Andrew McPherson was the first British aircraft to cross the German coast after Britain had declared war on Germany.

In December 1939, the squadron was moved to Betheniville, France and in May 1940 when based at Plivot it was overrun by the German advance and lost most of its aircraft.

In June 1942, the squadron returned to England and re-equipped with the Blenheim V before quickly switching to the de Havilland Mosquito at Horsham St.

On 3 March, it carried out a daring air raid on the molybdenum processing plant at Knaben in Norway.

Blenheim IV, L8756/XD-E of No. 139 Squadron, in flight over northern France (Mid-April 1940). This aircraft survived the early stages of the war to be struck off charge in May 1944. [ 2 ] A Blenheim bearing the bomber's markings is preserved in the RAF Museum London . [ 3 ]
Canberra B.2 of 139 Squadron in 1953