No. 625 Squadron RAF

No. 625 Squadron RAF
Active1 October 1943 – 7 October 1945
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeInactive
RoleBomber Squadron
Part ofNo. 1 Group RAF, Bomber Command
Motto(s)We Avenge[1][2]
AircraftAvro Lancaster
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryWithin a circular chain of seven links, a Lancaster rose[2]
The Lancaster rose stands for the aircraft used, the seven links the number of personnel in one such aircraft[1]
Squadron CodesCF (Oct 1943 - Oct 1945)[3][4]
Aircraft flown
BomberAvro Lancaster
Four-engined heavy bomber

No. 625 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

History

The squadron was formed on 1 October 1943 at RAF Kelstern, Lincolnshire from 'C' flight of 100 Squadron. It was equipped with Avro Lancasters, as part of No. 1 Group RAF in Bomber Command, of which it formed part between 18 October 1944 and 25 April 1945. The squadron mainly carried out night raids against Germany. On 5 April 1945, it moved to RAF Scampton. At the end of the war, the squadron dropped food to the starving Dutch people (Operation Manna), and flew Prisoner of War repatriation flights from Belgium (Operation Exodus) and repatriated British troops from Italy, before it was disbanded on 7 October 1945.

In December 2010 the entire 625 Squadron Operational Records (ORB) and an Air Crew Roll Of Honour was compiled into a searchable database - contact www.lancaster-archive.com for more information

[1][2][5]

First operational mission

CWGC graves in Spanbroek, North Holland, of five members of 625 Squadron who died in 12/13 June 1944 returning from Operation Gelsenkirchen. Target was the Nordstern Synthetic Oil Refinery.

18–19 October 1943

Last operational mission

25 April 1945

Last mission before V.E. (Victory of Europe) Day

7 May 1945

  • 13 Lancasters dropped supplies to Dutch at Rotterdam and another Lancaster aborted[6]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 625 Squadron RAF, data from[2][5][6]
From To Aircraft Variant
October 1943 October 1945 Avro Lancaster Mks.I & II

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 625 Squadron RAF, data from[2][5][6]
From To Base
October 1943 April 1945 RAF Kelstern, Lincolnshire
April 1945 October 1945 RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire

The squadron memorial stands near the village of Kelstern. It was erected in 1964 and was the first to be erected to the memory of a single squadron.

Notable members

  • David Mattingley, DFC
  • Robert Byron Pattison, DFC
  • Donald Fairborn DFC
  • Francis Aldred
  • William Stuart Telford, DFC
  • Edward Norman (Ted) Bell, Distinguished Flying Cross, Australia.
  • James King law
  • Flt. Lt. Burford (Skipper, Kelstern 44-45)
  • F/S Tony Gilbert (Rear Gunner, Kelstern 44-45)
  • Sgt. Forder (Engineer, Kelstern 44-45)
  • F/O Lines (B/A, Kelstern 44-45)
  • F/S Hood (Navigator, Kelstern 44-45)
  • Sgt Baker (Mid Upper, Kelstern 44-45)
  • F/S David Bernard Colebrooke (Bomb Aimer Kelstern 44-45)
  • Flt. Lt. AB Fulbrook DFC (Pilot, Kelstern, 44-45)

See also

Francis Aldred

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Moyes 1976, p. 287.
  2. ^ a b c d e Halley 1988, p. 440.
  3. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 26.
  4. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 65.
  5. ^ a b c Jefford 2001, p. 102.
  6. ^ a b c d e Moyes 1976, p. 288.

Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • 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.
  • Mattingley, Christobel (2007). Battle Order 204. Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-74175-161-1.
  • 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.
  • Ward, Cris (1998). Royal Air Force Bomber Command Squadron Profiles, Number 121: 625 Squadron. "We Avenge". Berkshire, UK: Ward Publishing.