6 Squadron Deployed to Mesopotamia, 1919

In April 1919, the commanding officer of 6 Squadron, Major George Pirie, received orders to move his squadron from Gerpinnes in Belgium to Mesopotamia where it would support 30 Squadron in its peace-keeping duties over that region. Photographs recently came to light (courtesy of Mark Kent, grandson of Lt Ernest Kent who served with 6 Squadron and took the photographs) that were taken during the redeployment. The photographs give a rare pictorial insight into the processes and risks involved in moving a Royal Air Force squadron from one country to another. Pictured below is a photograph of a 6 Squadron Bristol Fb2 Fighter, taken in day Iraq around 1920, after the 6 Squadron had deployed to Mesopotamia and replaced its ageing RE8s with Bristol Fighters. For the full story and more photographs, select the Mesopotamia tab on the 6 Squadron menu.

F2B Bristol Fighter of 6 Squadron