Service History

Apart from a short detachment to Lossiemouth in April 1940 for service with Coastal Command, the squadron remained with No. 3 Group from the outbreak of the war until August 1942. At which time it was transferred to No. 5 Group and remained with this bomber group until the end of the war.

Squadron Identity Letters

Stations

KA, WS

Honington, Waddington, Brandey

Logistics

Operational Performance

Operational Sorties And Losses

Group

Aircraft

Bombing Targets Tasked

Mine Laying Areas Tasked

Leaflets

Total Sorties

Flown

Aircraft Lost

Percent

3 GP

Wellington

272

7

8

2333

66

2.80

5 GP

Lancaster

289

12

0

3496

111

3.20

Totals

561

19

8

5828

177

3.0

Of Note:

With the exception of the short detachment to Costal Command the squadron served continuously in Bomber Command for the duration of the war

Flew operations and suffered first casualties on the second day of the war

Victoria Cross : F/Sgt. G. Thompson, posthumously – Dortmund-Ems Canal, 1 January 1945

In 1944 and 1945 the squadron’s Lancaster’s were fitted with bomb bays capable of carrying Tallboy bombs and were the only main force squadron aircraft to carry out precision bombing alongside No. 617 Squadron

An additional 12 Lancaster destroyed in non-operational crashes