It continued to carry out this role until it merged with no. Binbrook 1943 home of 460 squadron bomber command ww2. Over the course of the war, it developed from a limited and relatively ineffective force into a weapon of immense destructive power. A big thank you to mark for what i hope you will agree was an interesting read about raf bomber command during the second world war and the important role that the avro lancaster played. Family history, raf, raaf, bomber command 467 squadron. The aircraft flew the highest number of sorties on the squadron and the command with 62 ops, 610 hours 55 minute flying time. No 218 squadron was formed in april 1918 as a day bomber squadron in the 5th group under doverdunkirk naval command. Raf bomber command during the second world war imperial war. And then the fate of each aircraft used by the squadron just aircraft type, serial and a few words on fate depending upon the squadron, they probably get about 4 to 5 pages on average each. It received a major slice of britains economic and technological resources, and many of its brightest and best. Listed below are a number of biographies and autobiographies of airman who at one time operated and served with no.
I grew up with books such as han solo at stars end, and they meant everything to me. It flew 5,160 sorties and 1,129 men lost their lives in 188 aircraft. The history of 153 squadron, bomber command, october 1944 september 1945. The following pages include copies in full or in part of log books i have managed to view and copy over the past few years. Jan 01, 1979 bomber command was one of his first books. Bomber command crews and aircraft pictures has 8,729 members. Sep 23, 20 bomber command s air offensive against the cities of nazi germany was one of the most epic campaigns of world war ii. In 1930 the squadron became a torpedobombing unit and was the first squadron to receive the vickers vildebeest in november 1932. The squadron is still operational in the present day, flying the airbus voyager in the transport tanker role. Raf bomber command aircrew of world war ii wikipedia. Shortly after the end of the first world war the squadron was based near dublin and in 1924 it relocated to kent. It fought alongside the royal air force and operated from raf airfields in the united kingdom and italy. Each member was mutually dependent on the others and each had a vital part to play in ensuring that the aircraft reached its target, dropped its bombs and safely returned to base.
It flew its first raid on october 7 but, as was common practice, as soon as the new unit was fully established it was transfered to a station where more room was available. Early in 1942 101 squadron carried out trials with the gee navigation aid, which went some way to improve bombing accuracy. Our growing list of titles focuses on the aircraft, squadrons and above all the men and women who shaped the legend that endures to this day. Jun 25, 2018 a bomber command aircrew operated as a team. A total of 126 squadrons served with bomber command. An raf bomber command squadron commander was a wing commander, and in path finder force pff, where ranks were one higher than regular bomber command, a group captain. He also had direct communications with fighter command and the air ministry. The raf split into bomber, fighter, coastal and training commands. Raf rank structure varied according to the branch of the command. Our growing list of titles focuses on the aircraft, squadrons and above all the men and. Jul 22, 2014 hi guys, wondering if someone can help. It flew its first raid on 6 december 1942, and remained part of the main bomber force until late in 1943.
Hastings has a particular skill at weaving together the different aspects of a war such that one can see both the broad max hastings is arguably the top british war historian working today. A bomber command is generally used for strategic bombing although at times, e. Divbomber command s air offensive against the cities of nazi germany was one of the most epic campaigns of world war ii. Front left is johnnie wortley, johnnie went onto train as a flight engineer and return to the squadron and complete a tour in 1945. On the 30th may 1942 ten 101 squadron wellingtons took part in the first 1,000 bomber raid on cologne, but losses began. Harris was appointed as commander in chief of bomber command in february 1942, with a mandate to begin attacking german industry, much of which was located in large cities. The history of 153 squadron, bomber command, october 1944. I am very cynical of fresh take books often they are only published if they take a controversial. It was here that my crew and i were to complete the 30 missions o. Bomber command training 19423 part of the training needed to fly the lanasters bombers during ww2 before flying lancasters on operation at 460 squadron, our crew were required to train on other bombers which included the vickers wellington and the handley page halifax ii.
It would later play its own role in that expansion when c flight was used to form no. This book contains a full quotation of the two paragraphs quoted here, and cites the source as albert speer. Raf bomber command during the second world war imperial. Bomber command books is the sales site for mention the war ltd. Volume 5 raf bomber command squadron profiles 1 by ward, chris isbn. Royal air force operations record books 19111963 the national. On the 24th july 101 squadron lost its first wellington on another daylight raid against brest. Overviews like the individual aircraft histories will be of great use for amateur researchers. Rcaf units formed under the british commonwealth air training plan, for service with british operational formations.
Volume 7 raf bomber command profiles 1 by chris ward isbn. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. More than 56,000 british and commonwealth aircrew and 600,000 germans died in the course of the rafs attempt to win the war by bombing. The lancasters of 460 squadron and their home in binbrook binbrook was the home of 460 squadron from 1943 until the end of the war. Books the history of 153 squadron, bomber command, october 1944 september 1945. Raf bomber command was created in 1936 and comprised the rafs light and heavy bomber squadrons. In 1942 he was appointed to command another wellington squadron, no 104, at kabrit in egypt. These are the key roles and responsibilities of a heavy bomber crew during the second world war. On the 15th december 1942, 100 squadron reemerged at raf station waltham, close to grimsby, in lincolnshire, equipped with lancaster mkiii aircraft. Inaction by the raf downham market memorial appeal please note, 214fms 218 gold coast and 623 squadron have no connection or dealings with this appeal. Mar 22, 2012 raf bomber command s offensive against the cities of germany was one of the epic campaigns of the second world war. This online collection also includes some operations record books for dominion and allied air force squadrons under british command. Disbanded in 1919, it was reformed in 1936 as a bomber squadron and served continuously throughout wwii against germany.
Bomber command is an organisational military unit, generally subordinate to the air force of a country. Raf bomber command controlled the rafs bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. Bomber command books from mention the war publications home. Yates book came out somewhat later, but was, and is, remarkable for a first book written at the age of 77. Bomber command crews and aircraft pictures public group. The most famous ones were in britain and the united states. Jun 05, 2009 it was the main reason that the men of bomber command did not get a campaign medal.
It was formed during the first world war as a home defence fighter squadron, and operated as a bomber squadron during the second world war and the cold war. It was also known as no 218 squadron after the governor of the gold coast and people of the gold coast officially adopted the squadron. Buy 10 squadron raf bomber command profiles by chris ward, ian macmillan isbn. This reflects the number of men in the unit and the various levels of responsibility.
If you can provide copies of any log books of former no. In 1939 there were 6 groups in bomber command, 5 no 2 gp to no 6 gp the united kingdom and a sixth advanced air striking force aasf in france. Group bomber command by chris wardrafcommands archive. Bomber command by the air ministry and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This group was set up so that people can post pictures of bomber command aircrewground. The squadron had stumbled in its journey, but it was just a stumble, as 100 torpedo bomber squadron metamorphosed into 100 bomber squadron in bomber command back in england at the end of 1942. Amongst them are three classics, miles tripps eight passanger is recognised as one of the great books on bomber command aircrew. I read it in preparation for an upcoming trip to lincolnshire, where there is a museum on bomber command. Bomber command ceased to be in 1968, when it was merged with fighter command to form strike command. It provides the reader with a myriad of facts and the opportunity to compare the records of a single squadron with another.
Im currently researching my family history and have found that my great uncle ernie flew lancasters with 467 squadron in the later stages of ww2 and for a while after the war mainly returning pows to england. We specialise in publishing and selling books about raf bomber command in the second world war and related topics. It was not until 1942 that bomber command gained a real sense of direction, with the advent of air marshal arthur bomber harris. In 1939 raf bomber command had 23 operational bomber squadrons, with 280 aircraft.
Life and death in bomber command imperial war museums. During world war 2 12 squadron suffered the second highest percentage losses in bomber command. Many of the senior officers in bomber command were experienced from world war one but none of them had experienced modern bombing as seen at guernica in the spanish civil war. Made up of about 30 british commonwealth heavy bomber squadrons, a reduction of the original plan of about 1,000. Raf bomber command and the avro lancaster by mark simner. Produced with the full support and assistance of squadron veterans, the royal new zealand air force association and the new zealand bomber command association, it is a testament to the duty and sacrifice of all those who served with this famous unit throughout the second world war. Much of the information on the lack of accuracy and the success of the germans at dispersing production are already in the public domain. Bomber command books is a community site from mention the war publications, a specialist in publishing and selling. In 1941 he dropped rank from squadron leader to flight lieutenant to join bomber command, and in december of that year joined no 458 raaf squadron flying wellingtons as a flight commander. This modest force gave britain the means to immediately strike back at.
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