No. 626 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1945.
| 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 |
History
edit
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
edit10/11 November 1943
Last operational mission
edit25 April 1945
- 14 Lancasters bombed Obersalzberg[1]
Last mission before V.E. day
edit7 May 1945
The squadron flew 2,728 sorties during the Second World War for the loss of 49 aircraft.[5]
Aircraft operated
edit| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1943 | October 1945 | Avro Lancaster | Mks. I & III |
Squadron bases
edit| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| November 1943 | October 1945 | RAF Wickenby, Lincolnshire |
Notable personnel
edit- 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
editReferences
editNotes
edit- ^ 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
edit- 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
edit- 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.