No. 625 Squadron RAF explained
| Unit Name: | No. 625 Squadron RAF |
| Dates: | 1 October 1943 – 7 October 1945 |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Branch: | Royal Air Force |
| Type: | Inactive |
| Role: | Bomber Squadron |
| Command Structure: | No. 1 Group RAF, Bomber Command |
| Motto: | We Avenge |
| Equipment: | Avro Lancaster |
| Equipment Label: | Aircraft |
| Identification Symbol: | Within a circular chain of seven links, a Lancaster rose
The Lancaster rose stands for the aircraft used, the seven links the number of personnel in one such aircraft |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Squadron Badge heraldry |
| Identification Symbol 2: | CF (Oct 1943 - Oct 1945) |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Squadron Codes |
| Aircraft Bomber: | Avro 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
First operational mission
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
Aircraft operated
Aircraft operated by no. 625 Squadron RAF, data from!From!To!Aircraft!Variant| October 1943 | October 1945 | | Mks.I & II | |
Squadron bases
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
Bibliography
- Book: Bowyer, Michael J.F. . John D.R. . Rawlings . Squadron Codes, 1937–56 . Cambridge, UK . Patrick Stephens Ltd. . 1979 . 0-85059-364-6 .
- Book: Flintham . Vic . Andrew . Thomas . Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938 . Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK . Airlife Publishing Ltd. . 2003 . 1-84037-281-8.
- Book: Halley, James J. . The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988 . 1988 . Tonbridge, Kent, UK . Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd.. 0-85130-164-9 .
- Book: Jefford, C.G. . RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 . 2001 . 2nd . Airlife Publishing Ltd. . Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK . 1-85310-053-6 .
- Book: Mattingley, Christobel . Battle Order 204 . Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia . Allen & Unwin . 2007. 978-1-74175-161-1.
- Book: Moyes, Philip J.R. . Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft . London . Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd. . 1976 . 0-354-01027-1 .
- Book: Ward, Cris . Royal Air Force Bomber Command Squadron Profiles, Number 121: 625 Squadron. "We Avenge" . Berkshire, UK . Ward Publishing . 1998.
External links
