BASES.
Formed on 30. 9.42 as No. 454 Squadron
Aqir, Palestine.......................................Sep. 1942 -- Oct.
1942
Qaiyara, Iraq..........................................Oct. 1942 -- Jan.
1943
Egypt......................................................Jan. 1943 --
July 1944
Berka, Libya..........................................July 1944 --
Aug. 1944
Pescara, Italy.........................................Aug. 1944 --Sep.
1944
Falconara, Italy.......................................Sep. 1944 -- Dec.
1944
Cesenatico, Italy....................................Dec. 1944 -- May 1945
Vvilla-Orba, Italy.....................................May 1945 -- Aug.
1945
Disbanded
14. 8.45
.
AIRCRAFT.
Bristol Blenheim, Mk V
Nov. 1942 -- July 1944
Martin Baltimore, Mk 1V and V
July 1944 -- Aug. 1945
BASES.
Swinderby, Links..........................................Jun. 1941 --
Feb. 1942
Wigsley, Notts...............................................Feb. 1942
-- Apr. 1942
Leuchars........................................................Apr. 1942
-- May. 1945
Disbanded
May, 1945
AIRCRAFT.
Handley Page Hampden
Jun. 1941 -- Dec. 1943
Bristol Beaufighters
Dec. 1943 -- May 1945
458 Squadron was established in Britain on August 25th, 1941 at Holme-on-Spalding
Moor as a medium bomber unit in No. 1 Group. It flew Wellington
aircraft on operations from 20/21 October, 1941 and was reputed to have
the highest aircraft serviceability in the United Kingdom.
In January, 1942, the Squadron was transferred to the Middle East, ferrying
36 Wellingtons safely to Egypt but their aircraft were issued to other
hard-pressed units. The squadron was re-formed in September, 1942 at Shallufa,
Egypt, as a Wellington torpedo-bomber unit, rendering valuable service
in the Mediterranean area. It was dis-banded in Gibraltar in June, 1945.
BASES.
Holme-on-Spalding Moor, Yorks...................Aug. 1941 -- Jan. 1942
Shallufa, Egypt..................................................Sept.
1942 -- June 1945
Disbanded
June, 1945
AIRCRAFT.
( Code letters "FU")
Vickers Wellington Mk IV
Aug. 1941 -- June 1945
No. 460 Squadron was formed at Molesworth, Huntingdonshire on 15th November,
1941, as a bomber squadron equipped with Wellington aircraft. It transferred
to Breighton, Yorks. in January, 1942 and began operations on the 12/13
March.
In September, 1942, the squadron re-equipped with Halifaxes but in October
changed to Lancasters. In May, 1943 it moved to Binbrook, Lincs.,
where it remained until July, 1945.
The squadron attacked many major targets, including Berlin and Peenemunde,
logging on Lancasters alone 5700 operational sorties. The squadron is reputed
to have dropped more bombs than any squadron in the RAF.
One of its aircraft, "G" for George was presented to the Australian War
Memorial, Canberra.
In July, 1945 it moved to East Kirby and was disbanded in October, 1945
BASES.
Molesworth, Hunts..........................................Nov. 1941 --
Jan. 1942
Breighton, Yorks.............................................Jan. 1942
-- May. 1943
Binbrook, Lincs...............................................May.1943
-- July 1945
East Kirby, Lincs.............................................July 1945
-- Oct. 1945
Disbanded
10.10.45
AIRCRAFT.
(Code letters "AR". Originally "UV". Changed May, 1943)
Vickers Wellington Mk IV
Nov, 1941 -- Sep. 1942
Handley Page Halifax BII
Sep, 1942 -- Oct. 1942
Avro Lancasters BI & III
Oct. 1942 -- Oct. 1945
BASES.
Fayid, Egypt...................................................Sept. 1942
-- Nov. 1942
Bir El Baheira, Libya.....................................Nov. 1942 --
Dec. 1942
Slouch, Libya..................................................Dec. 1942
-- Feb. 1943
Gardabia Main, Libya....................................Feb. 1943 -- May
1943
Hosc Raui, Libya............................................May 1943 --
Oct. 1943
Terria, Libya....................................................Oct. 1943
-- Jan. 1944
El Adem, Libya...............................................Jan. 1944
-- Feb. 1944
Celone, Italy........ ............................................Feb.
1944 -- Aug 1944
Driffield, Yorks.................................................Aug. 1944
-- Dec. 1944
Foulsham, Norfolk...........................................Dec. 1944 --
Sept. 1945
Disbanded
24. 9.45
AIRCRAFT.
(Code letters "UK")
Handley Page Halifax Mk II, & III
No. 463 Squadron was formed at Waddington, Lincs, on 25th November, 1943
as a Lancaster bomber squadron in 5 Group. Formed from "C" Flight of 467
Squadron, it began operations the next day attacking Berlin. There followed
more raids on that city and many other targets. The squadron was prominent
in connection with the Allied invasion of Europe. One aircraft recorded
on cine the successful attack on the Tirpitz in Tromso fjord in November,
1944.
During its wartime career, No. 463 Squadron dropped a total of 11,430 tons
of bombs.
Early in July, 1945 this unit moved to Skellingthorpe where it was disbanded
in September, 1945.
BASES.
Waddington, Lincs.......................................Nov. 1943 -- July
1945
Skellingthorpe, Lincs...................................July 1945 -- Sep.
1945
Disbanded
25. 9.45
AIRCRAFT.
(Code letters "JO")
Avro Lancasters Mk 1 & 111
Nov. 1943 -- Sep. 1945
464 Squadron was formed at Feltwell, Norfolk on the 1st September, 1942,
as a light day-bomber squadron equipped with Ventura aircraft and began
operations on the 6th December when 14 Venturas, at low-level, raided
the Philips factory at Eindhoven. Other such operations followed.
On the 10th July, 1943, the squadron and the Group transferred to the Second
Tactical Air Force. In August, 1943, No. 464 Squadron converted to
Mosquito aircraft -- a fighter-bomber version of the famous "Wooden Wonder".
From then on it operated by both day and night, sometimes as a light bomber
and sometimes as a fighter-intruder..
Notably, it was involved in the raid on the Amiens prison on February 18,
1944, along with 467 (R.N.Z.A.F.) and 21 Squadrons. The prison walls were
breached and 258 prisoners were able to escape, including patriots who
were awaiting execution.
No. 464 Squadron was also involved in the raids on Gestapo Headquarters
at Aarhus, Denmark on 31 October, 1944 and Copenhagen on 21 March 1945.
From February, 1945 the squadron operated from the Continent from Melsbroek,
Brussels and was disbanded on 25 September, 1945.
BASES.
Feltwell, Norfolk..............................................Sep. 1942
-- Apr. 1943
Methwold, Norfolk...........................................Apr. 1943 --
July 1943
Sculthorpe, Norfolk.........................................July 1943 --
Dec. 1943
Hunsdon, Herts................................................Dec. 1943
-- Apr. 1944
Gravesend, Kent..............................................Apr. 1944
-- June 1944
Thorney Island, Hants......................................June 1944 --
Feb. 1945
Rosieres-en-Santerre, France........................Feb. 1945 -- Apr. 1945
Melsbroek, Brussels.........................................Apr. 1945 --
Sep. 1945
Disbanded
25. 9.45
AIRCRAFT.
(Code letters "SB")
Lockheed Ventura Mk I & II
Sep. 1942 -- Aug. 1943
de Havilland Mosquito FBVI
Aug. 1943 -- Sep. 1945
This squadron was formed at Driffield, Yorks on October, 1942 as a medium
bomber squadron. It was equipped with Wellington aircraft and attached
to 4 Group. It moved to Leconfield in December, 1942 then returned to Driffield
in June, 1944, remaining there until the end of the war.
First operation was a mine laying mission off the Frisian Islands. The
squadron continued operating with Wellingtons until August, 1943 having
dropped 620 tons of bombs and laid 330 tons of mines.
Halifax BIII's replaced the Wellingtons in September, 1943 and the unit
in these made 170 raids against 92 different targets, including Berlin,
Cologne, Essen and many others.
On 7 May, 1945 the squadron was transferred to Transport Command and re-named
No. 10 Squadron R.A.A.F. This was not implemented and after moving
to Bassingbourn in September to convert to Liberators the squadron disbanded.
BASES.
Driffield, Yorks...............................................Oct. 1942
-- Dec. 1942
Leconfield, Yorks...........................................Dec. 1942 --
June 1844
Driffield, Yorks................................................June 1944
-- May 1945
Disbanded
Sept. 1945
AIRCRAFT.
(Code letters "HD")
Vickers Wellington Mk lll & X
Oct. 1942 -- Sep. 1943
Handley Page Halifax B ll
Sep.1943 -- May 1945
BASES.
Scampton, Lincs.......................................Nov. 1942
Bottesford, Leics......................................Nov. 1942 -- Nov.
1943
Waddington, Lincs...................................Nov. 1943 -- June 1945
Metheringham, Lincs...............................June 1945 -- Sep. 1945
Disbanded
30. 9.45
AIRCRAFT.
(Code letters "PO")
Avro Lancaster B l & lll
Nov. 1942 -- Sep. 1945