Bomber Command

 

Bomber Group

Sorties and Loss Percentage

By Aircraft Type

 

Updated: January 2008

Aircraft

Sorties

Aircraft Lost

Percent

Battles

287

6

2.1

Wellington’s

12170

395

3.2

Halifax’s

137

12

8.8

Lancaster’s

43836

1016

2.3

 

Total Sorties

54430

1429

2.5

 

Comments

At least 199 Lancaster’s were destroyed in crashed. Other types not known

Crest

Image

Unavailable

No. 1 Group, RAF

Bomber

 

Motto:

 

SWIFT TO ATTACK

Aircraft

Sorties

Aircraft Lost

Percent

Blenheims

11311

421

3.4

Boston’s

1215

41

3.4

Fortress

52

3

4.0

Mosquitoes

793

40

5.0

 Ventura’s

868

31

3.6

Mitchell’s

221

6

2.7

 

 

 

 

Total Sorties

14460

542

3.7

 

Comments

At least 78 Blenheims, 3 Boston’s and 1 Ventura were destroyed in crashes. Other types not known

No. 2 Group, RAF

Bomber

 

Motto:

 

VINCEMUS

(We Will Conquer)

No. 3 Group, RAF

Bomber

 

Motto:

 

NIET ZONDER ARBYT

Aircraft

Sorties

Aircraft Lost

Percent

Wellington’s

20584

608

3.0

Stirling’s

15895

577

3.6

Lancaster’s

26462

380

1.4

Other Types

Mostly on Resistance and RCM Operations

3672

103

2.8

 

 

 

 

Total Sorties

66613

1668

2.5

 

Comments

At least 227 Stirling’s and 78 Lancaster’s destroyed in crashes

No. 4 Group, RAF

Bomber

 

Motto:

 

KNOWN

Crest

Image

Unavailable

Aircraft

Sorties

Aircraft Lost

Percent

Whitley’s

9169

288

3.1

Wellington’s

2901

97

3.3

Halifax’s

45337

1124

2.6

 

 

 

 

Total Sorties

57407

1125

2.6

 

Comments

No reliable figures for aircraft destroyed in crashes available

Aircraft

Sorties

Aircraft Lost

Percent

Hampden’s

15771

417

2.6

Manchester’s

1185

69

5.8

Lancaster’s

52262

1389

2.7

Mosquitoes

1133

13

1.1

Mustang’s

6

0

0

 

 

 

 

Total Sorties

70357

1888

2.7

 

Comments

At least 28 Manchester’s and 253 Lancaster’s were destroyed in crashed. Other types not known

No. 5 Group, RAF

Bomber

 

Motto:

 

KNOWN

No. 6 Group, RCAF

Bomber

 

Motto:

 

SOLLERTIA ET INGENIUM

(Initiative And Skill)

Aircraft

Sorties

Aircraft Lost

Percent

Wellington’s

3287

127

3.9

Halifax’s

28126

508

1.8

Lancaster’s

8171

149

1.8

 

Total Sorties

39584

784

2.0

 

Comments

At least 56 Lancaster’s were destroyed in crashed. Other types not known

No. 8 Group, RAF

Pathfinder

 

Motto:

 

WE GUIDE TO STRIKE

Aircraft

Sorties

Aircraft Lost

Percent

Wellington’s

305

17

5.6

Halifax’s

2106

77

3.7

Stirling’s

826

37

4.5

Lancaster’s

19601

444

2.3

Mosquitoes *

28215

100

0.4

 

 

 

 

Total Sorties

51053

675

1.3

 

Comments

At least 12 Stirling’s and 72 Lancaster’s were destroyed in crashed. Other types not known

* The operations of No. 1409 (Meteorological) Flight are included in the Mosquito sorties total

No. 100 Group, RAF

Bomber Support

 

Motto:

 

WE GUIDE TO STRIKE

Radio Counter Measure (RCM) Sorties

Aircraft

Sorties

Aircraft Lost

Percent

Halifax’s

3383

23

0.7

Fortress

1465

4

0.3

Stirling’s

1235

13

1.1

Liberator’s

615

3

0.5

Wellington’s

589

1

0.2

Mosquitoes

544

1

0.2

Ligthning’s

101

2

2.0

 

 

 

 

Total RCM Sorties

7932

47

0.6

 

Serrate And Intruder Operations

Beaufighter’s

12

0

0

Mosquitoes

8802

75

0.9

 

Total

Sorties

8814

75

0.9

 

Comments

The number of aircraft destroyed in crashes are not available