| No. 626 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 7 November 1943 – 14 October 1945 |
| Country |
United Kingdom |
| Branch |
Royal Air Force |
| Type | Inactive |
| Role | Bomber Squadron |
| Base | RAF Wickenby |
| Motto(s) | To Strive and not to Yield [1] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | On the waves of the sea, an ancient ship, sails furled, charged on the bow with an eye [1] [2] |
| Squadron Codes | UM (Nov 1943 – Oct 1945) [3] [4] |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber |
Avro Lancaster four-engined heavy bomber |
No. 626 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1945.
History
The squadron was formed on 7 November 1943 at RAF Wickenby from C Flight of No. 12 Squadron. [1] [2] It operated in the strategic bombing role with the Avro Lancaster. It was disbanded on 14 October 1945, having spent the last months of the war on food droppings ( Operation Manna) and transport duties (Operation Exodus), repatriating former prisoners of war and bringing British troops home from Italy. [1]
First operational mission
10/11 November 1943
Last operational mission
25 April 1945
- 14 Lancasters bombed Obersalzberg [1]
Last mission before V.E. day
7 May 1945
The squadron flew 2,728 sorties during the Second World War for the loss of 49 aircraft. [5]
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1943 | October 1945 | Avro Lancaster | Mks. I & III |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| November 1943 | October 1945 | RAF Wickenby, Lincolnshire |
Notable personnel
- Michael Bentine – Intelligence Officer [7]
- Colin Tapley – Flying Control Officer [7]
- Eric Simms – bomb-aimer [7]
- Jack Currie, Lancaster (later Mosquito) pilot, writer, broadcaster and artist
- Stewart Jacques - Flight Sergeant
See also
References
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Moyes 1976, p. 288.
- ^ a b c d Halley 1988, p. 440.
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 101.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 109.
- ^ Falconer 2003, p. 257
- ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 102.
- ^ a b c "626 Squadron and RAF Wickenby". Retrieved 6 April 2015.
Bibliography
- Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
- Falconer, Jonathan (2003). Bomber Command Handbook, 1939–1945. Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-3171-X.
- Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
- Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Moyes, Philip J.R. (1976). Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
Further reading
- Currie, Jack. Lancaster Target: The Story of a Crew Who Flew from Wickenby. Goodall Publications Ltd., 1997. ISBN 0-907579-32-9.
- Smith, Ron. Rear Gunner Pathfinder. Manchester, UK: Goodall Publications Ltd./Crécy, 1998. ISBN 0-907579-27-2.
- Ward, Cris. Royal Air Force Bomber Command Squadron Profiles, Number 122: 626 Squadron, "To Strive and Not to Yield". Berkshire, UK: Ward Publishing, 1998.
- West, Dennis. To Strive and Not to Yield: No. 626 Squadron and the Battle of Berlin . Woodfield Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-873203-95-0.
External links
- Tom Bint – 626 Squadron & RAF Wickenby
- 626 Squadron on RAF website
- History of No.'s 621–650 Squadrons at RAF Web
| formations and units |
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| branches and components | |||||||
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| equipment | |||||||
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| appointments | |||||||
| symbols and uniform | |||||||
| associated civil organisations | |||||||
| No. 626 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 7 November 1943 – 14 October 1945 |
| Country |
United Kingdom |
| Branch |
Royal Air Force |
| Type | Inactive |
| Role | Bomber Squadron |
| Base | RAF Wickenby |
| Motto(s) | To Strive and not to Yield [1] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | On the waves of the sea, an ancient ship, sails furled, charged on the bow with an eye [1] [2] |
| Squadron Codes | UM (Nov 1943 – Oct 1945) [3] [4] |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber |
Avro Lancaster four-engined heavy bomber |
No. 626 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1945.
History
The squadron was formed on 7 November 1943 at RAF Wickenby from C Flight of No. 12 Squadron. [1] [2] It operated in the strategic bombing role with the Avro Lancaster. It was disbanded on 14 October 1945, having spent the last months of the war on food droppings ( Operation Manna) and transport duties (Operation Exodus), repatriating former prisoners of war and bringing British troops home from Italy. [1]
First operational mission
10/11 November 1943
Last operational mission
25 April 1945
- 14 Lancasters bombed Obersalzberg [1]
Last mission before V.E. day
7 May 1945
The squadron flew 2,728 sorties during the Second World War for the loss of 49 aircraft. [5]
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1943 | October 1945 | Avro Lancaster | Mks. I & III |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| November 1943 | October 1945 | RAF Wickenby, Lincolnshire |
Notable personnel
- Michael Bentine – Intelligence Officer [7]
- Colin Tapley – Flying Control Officer [7]
- Eric Simms – bomb-aimer [7]
- Jack Currie, Lancaster (later Mosquito) pilot, writer, broadcaster and artist
- Stewart Jacques - Flight Sergeant
See also
References
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Moyes 1976, p. 288.
- ^ a b c d Halley 1988, p. 440.
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 101.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 109.
- ^ Falconer 2003, p. 257
- ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 102.
- ^ a b c "626 Squadron and RAF Wickenby". Retrieved 6 April 2015.
Bibliography
- Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
- Falconer, Jonathan (2003). Bomber Command Handbook, 1939–1945. Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-3171-X.
- Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
- Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Moyes, Philip J.R. (1976). Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
Further reading
- Currie, Jack. Lancaster Target: The Story of a Crew Who Flew from Wickenby. Goodall Publications Ltd., 1997. ISBN 0-907579-32-9.
- Smith, Ron. Rear Gunner Pathfinder. Manchester, UK: Goodall Publications Ltd./Crécy, 1998. ISBN 0-907579-27-2.
- Ward, Cris. Royal Air Force Bomber Command Squadron Profiles, Number 122: 626 Squadron, "To Strive and Not to Yield". Berkshire, UK: Ward Publishing, 1998.
- West, Dennis. To Strive and Not to Yield: No. 626 Squadron and the Battle of Berlin . Woodfield Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-873203-95-0.
External links
- Tom Bint – 626 Squadron & RAF Wickenby
- 626 Squadron on RAF website
- History of No.'s 621–650 Squadrons at RAF Web
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| branches and components | |||||||
| reserve forces | |||||||
| equipment | |||||||
| personnel | |||||||
| appointments | |||||||
| symbols and uniform | |||||||
| associated civil organisations | |||||||